Baby System: I'm the Beast World's Only Hope!-Chapter 105: Episode : Naming the Pups

Roxy had to return immediately.

But she had to go back with gifts so she stood in the center of the cabin living room, staring down at the open chests Torian had brought.

They were overflowing with gold bars, uncut gemstones, and bolts of silk so fine it looked like woven water.

"We are not giving them the gold," Roxy stated firmly, swatting Zarek’s hand away as he reached for a gold bar to use as a paperweight. "I have plans for the gold. Big plans."

"Then what are we taking?" Torian asked, picking lint off his sleeve. "You insisted on ’gifts’ for the new mother. Surely my presence is enough of a gift?"

"Your presence is a headache," Roxy retorted, though she smiled to take the sting out of it. She reached into the chest and pulled out a bolt of soft, pale blue cotton less expensive than the royal silks, but durable and gentle. "We’re taking this. For swaddling clothes. And..."

She opened her System interface.

[Shop: Earth Essentials]

• 50lbs Sack of Potatoes: 500 LP

• 50lbs Sack of Rice: 500 LP

• Refined Sugar (5lbs): 200 LP

• Postpartum Recovery Kit (High Tier): 5,000 LP

• Infant Formula (Emergency Stash): 1,000 LP

Roxy winced at the price of the recovery kit, five thousand points was a lot when she was pinching pennies for the Manor, but she remembered how sore she had been after the triplets.

Mara had pushed out four puppies she deserved all the love she could give.

"System, purchase," Roxy commanded internally.

Ping.

Several heavy sacks and boxes materialized on the table, causing the wood to groan.

"Potatoes?" Kaelen sniffed the sack, wrinkling his nose. "Wolves eat meat, Roxy. This doesn’t always walk"

Roxy rolled her eyes at him.

No one asked for your opinion, little Kae.

"She needs carbs for energy, Kaelen," Roxy explained, tossing him a bag of sugar. "And this is sugar. Trust me, after four kids, she’s going to want something sweet. Pack it up."

It took them an hour to load the wagon. Torian complained the entire time about carrying "peasant food," but he lifted the heaviest sacks without breaking a sweat.

When the wagon rolled back into the Wolf Village towards Mara’s cabin, the sun was high in the sky, reflecting blindingly off the snow.

Usually, the village was quiet during the day, with hunters out patrolling and others working in their cabins. But today, Mara and Vorn’s porch was packed.

It was a sea of anxious faces.

Every female in the pack seemed to be there. Pregnant females, young females who had yet to mate, and older she-wolves who had never successfully carried a litter. They huddled together, whispering, in awe that one of them had successfully given birth.

"What is happening?" Torian frowned, peering out the wagon window. "Is it a riot?"

"No," Kaelen said softly, his voice thick with emotion. "It is hope."

As the wagon stopped and Roxy stepped out, a hush fell over the crowd.

Then, as one, the sea of females moved.

One by one, the female wolves fell to their knees in the snow, bowing their heads low. It was a wave of submission and reverence that rippled through the crowd until the path to Mara’s den was lined with kneeling figures.

"All hail the Luna!" a young female cried out, her voice trembling.

"Blessings to the Mother!" an elder shouted. "She who brings life to the barren snow!"

Roxy froze, one foot on the wagon step. Her face heated up. She was used to Kaelen treating her like a queen, but this... this was something she didn’t expect.

She experienced the same thing back at the Dragon cave.

"Oh, god," Roxy whispered. "Kaelen, make them stop. My teeth ache just looking at them."

"They honor you," Kaelen said, his chest swelling with pride. "You brought four living pups into a pack that hasn’t seen a litter in two winters."

Roxy stepped down into the snow. She couldn’t walk past them like this. It felt wrong.

"Please!" Roxy called out, waving her hands frantically. "Stand up! The snow is freezing! You’re all going to get sick, and then I’ll have to heal all of you, and I don’t have enough strength!"

A few females looked up, surprised by her frantic, un-royal concern.

"Get up, please!" Roxy insisted, walking over to the nearest elder and gently pulling her to her feet. "I’m not a goddess. I’m just Roxy. I just caught the babies. Mara did the work."

"You are the best Luna we have ever had," the elder wept, clutching Roxy’s hand with weathered fingers. "May you reign for a thousand moons."

"Okay, okay, thank you," Roxy said, blushing furiously as she gently extricated herself. "I appreciate it. Really. But let me through, I have presents for the babies!"

She practically ran the gauntlet of praise, ducking her head as the females cheered and sang her name. Behind her, Torian carried the sacks of potatoes with a look of bemused shock, while Zarek carried the baby clothes, looking bored but secretly pleased that his mate commanded such respect.

Inside the cabin, the air was warm and smelled of milk.

When Roxy entered, it was quiet, quite different from outside.

Vorn was sitting by the fire, looking exhausted but blissfully happy. He was carefully folding a small fur blanket. When he saw Roxy, he immediately jumped up to bow, but Roxy held up a hand to stop him.

"Sit, Papa Wolf," she ordered gently.

Roxy walked over to the large pile of furs in the corner. Mara was awake, propped up against a mound of pillows. She looked tired, her hair matted and her face pale, but her eyes were bright.

Curled against her stomach were four tiny, wriggling shapes.

"Roxy," Mara breathed, her face lighting up. She tried to sit up straighter, wincing. "You came back."

"I told you I would," Roxy smiled. She gestured to the boys behind her. "And I brought reinforcements. Put the stuff on the table, guys."

Torian and Kaelen unloaded the loot.

Roxy sat on the edge of the bed and began to explain.

"Okay, listen up. This sack is potatoes. Boil them, mash them, and eat them. Good for energy. This is rice. Same deal."

She pulled out the white box with the System logo (which she had scratched off).

"This is a postpartum kit. There are cooling pads here. You put them... down there. It will help with the swelling. Trust me, it’s magic."

Mara looked at the box like it was made of solid gold. "Cooling pads? Oh, thank the Goddess."

She didn’t know what Roxy was giving her, but she knew that whatever it was, was good stuff!

"And these," Roxy pulled out the soft cotton onesies she had bought, "are for the beans. Fur is warm, but cotton is softer for their skin right now."

Mara reached out, touching the soft blue fabric. Her hands shook.

"It is too much," Mara whispered, tears welling up again. "You delivered them and saved me. And now you bring treasures fit for a King?"

"Fit for a Pack," Roxy corrected. "We take care of our own."

She watched the pups. They were sleeping, piled on top of each other in a chaotic heap of limbs and ears.

"How are they?" Roxy asked softly.

"Strong," Mara said, stroking the back of the largest male. "They eat well. They are loud."

She looked up at Roxy, her expression turning serious.

"Roxy... I have a favor to ask."

"Anything," Roxy said. "You need more food? I can get more."

"No," Mara shook her head. She looked down at her children, then back at Roxy with intense vulnerability. "In our tradition, the one who brings the spirit from the Other Side into the world... holds a special bond with the child."

Roxy blinked. "Okay..."

Confused.

"I want you to name them," Mara said.

The room went silent.

Kaelen, standing by the door, stood straighter. Naming a child was a massive honor. Usually, it was reserved for the Alpha or the parents. For Mara to offer it to Roxy was the ultimate sign of submission and trust.

"Mara," Roxy stammered. "Are you sure? That’s... that’s your right. You’re their mother."

"You are the Pack Mother," Mara insisted. "Please. Give them names so they can be strong like you."