Chapter 2

The old woman's expression turned solemn. "Your family is cursed. A swarm of female spirits, their eyes glowing like those of the wolves that roam the night, have cast a shadow over your home. No male child would dare enter such a place,". Grandma's face paled, and she stumbled back, as if struck by a physical blow. With a flourish, she reached into her bag and pulled out a statue. It was a sculpture of the Fertility Goddess. "This is the Fertility Goddess. She can bring a son to your family. In less than a year, you'll hold your grandson in your arms," the old woman promised. At the mention of a grandson, Grandma's face lit up with joy. She turned to Father and nodded eagerly, urging him to fetch the money. But the old woman stopped him with a wave of her hand. "Keep it and worship it. Just return it to me when the baby is born. And remember, don't place it in the main hall. Put it in the back room," she instructed, her eyes flickering with a strange light. As she turned to go, she looked at me, her eyes lingering on mine for a moment too long. In the following days, Mother's appetite became a ravenous beast, consuming everything in its path,as if possessed by a primal hunger. Despite her voracious eating, Mother's body wasted away before our eyes. Her once-plump figure shrank, and her skin clung to her bones. Her collarbones jutted out sharply, and the bones in her wrists looked like they could snap at any moment. It was as if a pack of wolves had been feasting on her flesh, leaving behind nothing but a hollow shell.​ We initially dismissed her condition as a result of the abortion, assuming that with time and proper nutrition, she would regain her strength. But as the days turned into weeks, her condition only worsened. Her stomach, instead of shrinking, began to swell at an alarming rate.​ One fateful night, as the full moon bathed the house in an eerie glow, Mother suddenly doubled over, retching violently. Grandma's eyes lit up with excitement, and she let out a shrill cry. "She's pregnant! She's finally pregnant!" I knew something was terribly wrong. It had only been a month since the abortion. Even if Mother were pregnant, it was impossible for her stomach to be so swollen so soon. But Grandma was blinded by her desire for a grandson. She refused to listen to my concerns, muttering to herself, "This time, it has to be a boy. It just has to be."​ I tried to reason with Father, urging him to take Mother to the hospital in the pack for a proper examination. In response, he backhanded me across the face. "Mind your own business, you little brat!" ​ Grandma, meanwhile, was beside herself with excitement. "Go get Healer! Let her see if it's a boy!"​ Without a word, Father sped off into the night. In their eyes, Mother was nothing more than a vessel for their long-awaited son. They didn't care about her health or well-being; all they caBlack about was the promise of a male heir wolf.​ And Mother had resigned herself to this fate. She sat there in silence, her eyes blank and lifeless, as if she had given up all hope. Father returned in a flash. The moment they stepped into the room, a deathly hush fell over everything. Healer froze, her eyes widening in horror as she took in Mother's gaunt, grotesquely swollen form. Her pupils dilated, and for a long, terrifying moment, she was rendeBlack speechless.​ "Well? Is it a boy?" Healer finally snapped out of her shock and gently placed her trembling hand on Mother's belly.