Page 74 of Bewitching her Highland Savior

EPILOGUE

One year later

“Out of me way!” Liam shouted as he sprinted down the corridors of the McAlpine castle; tripping over his own feet and shoving aside everyone who happened to be in front of him. Sweat dripped from his brow already, drenching his face and his shirt and he only stopped running when he reached the door, hesitating for a moment in front of it.

He was going to be a father. He could hardly believe it – let alone confront it with any sort of calmness.

When the news had reached him, he was with Ron in his study, discussing the recent trade deals with the neighbouring clans. When one of the guards informed him that Muriel was in labor, he dropped everything and dashed to the other side of the castle to find her, eager to meet his child.

But now that he was standing in front of the door, his knees shook and he could barely support his weight. He had to lean against the wall, taking deep breaths to calm himself as his vision darkened at the edges and panic gripped him. Muriel's screams could be heard through the wooden panels. She sounded in excruciating pain, as if she were subjected to unimaginable torture, and Liam had no idea how to prepare himself for what he was about to witness.

Now’s nae the time for panic. I must be there for Muriel.

She was the one who would have to go through the entire ordeal, after all. Liam didn’t want to leave her alone, no matter how much the midwives had insisted he shouldn’t be in the room.

With one last steadying breath, Liam opened the door slowly and walked in; finding Muriel on the bed just as drenched in sweat as he was; her face scrunched up with the effort it took to push. It took her a few moments to notice him, but once she did, she extended her hand for him to take.

Liam pushed his way through the half a dozen women in the room and knelt by Muriel’s side, holding onto her hand. Her grip was crushing, to the point that her strength surprised him. He could only imagine the pain she was in.

In the midst of the chaos, Liam saw Amelia on the other side of the bed. She held Muriel's other hand, gently encouraging her as she pushed.

“Here he is!” the midwife said; carrying the baby in her arms. For a short while, Liam could hear nothing, no crying, no sounds to reassure him it was alive and well but then the baby’s first cry echoed around the room. Liam’s heart all but leapt out of his chest; beating faster than it ever had before.

“It’s a laddie?” he asked, a little dazed. “Muriel, mo ghràdh, did ye hear that? We have a wee laddie.”

But Muriel didn’t seem to hear him. Instead of responding, she screamed, her nails digging deep enough into his skin to draw blood.

“What’s happenin’?” Liam demanded; his stomach dropping to his feet. “What’s wrong?”

“The second one is comin’,” the midwife said. “They sure are fast to come out.”

“The… second one?” No one had told Liam there was a second one. Though many had commented on the size of Muriel’s belly – no one thought it was big enough to carry twins.

He looked at Amelia, who appeared to be as taken aback as he was. He wasn't sure whether he should stay by Muriel's side or go see his son, but Muriel made the decision for him by gripping his hand even tighter when he tried to leave. However, Liam could still hear the little boy cry, so he assumed that everything was fine with him and that he would see him soon.

Muriel pushed and pushed, her jaw clenched; trying to keep her screams at bay. It felt like hours to Liam, but it was only minutes before the second baby emerged, crying just like the first.

“A lassie!” the midwife announced. “They’re both big and strong. Ye made some healthy bairns!”

Muriel finally slumped back against the bed; breathing hard and fast. She looked exhausted, cheeks reddened from the effort and eyes filled with tears but Liam had never seen her so happy before. The smile on her face was blinding.

Though he would never admit it, his eyes were welling up with tears. He hid his face in his hand for a moment, wiping away as much moisture as he could before returning his gaze to Muriel, grinning like a mad man.

“Ye did it,” he said. “Ye gave me the best gift of me life.”

Muriel seemed too tired to respond but the look on her face told Liam everything he needed to know.

“Where… where are they?” she managed to ask.

"Right here," the midwife said, bringing one of the babies to her, while her assistant brought the other. The midwife placed the boy in Muriel's arms while Liam took the girl, and he fell in love with both of them right away. They were stunning, and he breathed a sigh of relief when the midwife assured them that they were also healthy.

He didn’t know it was possible to love anyone so much. Just holding the little girl and looking at the boy in Muriel’s arm – he felt his heart would burst; eyes brimming with tears that he blinked back. He had never felt this tightness in his chest before – a feeling as sweet as it was painful as if his body wasn’t built for so much joy.

“They really do look just like ye,” Liam said. They seemed so perfect to him that he thought they must look like Muriel, his perfect woman.

“I dinnae ken… I think they look like their faither, too,” Muriel said.

Too soon, the women took the babies back and Amelia dragged Liam out of the room – disregarding his protests.