He turned his head toward Dawson and was about to say something when a screeching pain crossed my stomach. My grip on his hand tightened as I panted through my mouth.
“Riley!” I gasped for air and the next thing I knew, Riley was carrying me in his arms out of the dining room toward the packhouse grounds.
RILEY.
Today was supposed to be just an ordinary day, except Nadia started having contractions. I have prepared for this moment over and over in my head, advising myself not to panic. And I thought I did well, except we were all in the car without a car key. Without her nursery bag.
Dawson had to rush into my office to get the key, and Ellie had to go to Nadia’s office for her hospital bag before we were able to drive to the labor infirmary.
Nadia wanted to have a home birth, but I went against it. It’s not that I didn’t want to honor her request, but I was afraid something might go wrong.
I didn’t tell her my fears, but I’ve been carrying them since the moment Genevieve, her doctor, talked with us about her labor plan. There was nothing wrong with Nadia’s pregnancy. In fact, Genevieve said she was impressed with how easy it was for Nadia. And that was what scared me the most.
Veronica, Nadia’s mother, died during childbirth. Although I had no idea why she died or what she went through for her labor to end that way, I didn’t want to take any risk.
I would be lost if Nadia did not come out of this alive. So I opted for hospital care. In the end, Nadia agreed after I explained that I wanted to make sure that medical care was within reach in case it was needed for our pup. I knew I lied, but I didn’t want to add anything to her worries. I was okay carrying my own fears alone.
But I prayed to the Goddess every day that she would keep an eye on my mate—keep her and our pup safe and healthy. After all of my losses, losing Nadia would never be an option for me.
“Don’t drive too fast. I’m okay. The pain disappeared.”
“It will come back soon, depending on how near you are to giving birth.” It was Ellie. And instead of calming me, it just added to my nervousness. I wanted to be at the hospital soon before another contraction came.
Everything happened fast after that. Nadia was already in labor and I felt fucking useless in the delivery room.
I was trying my best not to let my Alphaaura out so that everyone could do their function well, but seeing Nadia in pain was making me and Hunter restless.
Sweat formed on my forehead as I clutched her hand tighter. The moment the pain subsided, I kneeled beside her bed and wiped the sweat off her face. “Baby, you’re blocking your walls. I can’t feel anything from you. Open it.”
She shook her head. “No. It’s too painful…”
“Let me take it then. Let me help you. We’ve talked about this.”
“I can handle this.”
“I know you can. But please, let me ease a bit of the pain.”
“Aaah!” She bit her bottom lip as the pain came, and Genevieve told her to push again. And then I felt it. Nadia lowered her walls and the surge of physical pain came rushing in.
It was something I wasn’t prepared for. I was used to the pain of cuts, bruises, and burns. But never from internal pain. This was almost similar to the silver that was burning my body from the inside when I almost died in Caspian’s territory.
Sweat formed all over my body, but I was doing my best not to flinch. Nadia was giving me half the pain, and she was doing so well in controlling her pain.
I asked for this. I couldn’t let her down.
Her grip on me tightened as her eyes locked with mine. She was pushing but she was checking if I was alright. Even in her own pain, Nadia would always look after me.
I smiled as I sent her a mindlink. ‘I’m okay. It’s nothing that an Alpha can’t handle.’
But fuck this! I wondered how long it would be before my pup would come out because the pain building inside me wasn’t funny at all.
Chapter 109
NADIA.
My eyes fluttered openas the smell of antiseptic reached my nose. It was only then that everything came back. I was at the infirmary giving birth, or I had already given birth.
Yes. I gave birth.
