Ethan hesitated only a second before slipping through the gate. Lily held her breath as he crept across the grass, every step deliberate. Shira’s massive head was turned away, eyes half-closed, clearly soothed by Margaret’s touch. Ethan knelt beside her, his voice low. “What are we looking at?”
Margaret glanced toward the lump near Shira’s stomach, her tone grim. “Not what I expected,” she murmured. He leaned closer. For a moment, no one outside could hear a thing, only the faint rustle of straw. Then, suddenly, Ethan’s hand shot forward. “Got it!” he hissed, stumbling back. Shira’s roar split the air, deep and furious, echoing through the entire sanctuary.