Chapter 67

The royal guard came into the hospital to speak with King Frances who was outside of his mate's bedroom who is resting, lucky it was only bumps and bruises but the driver has cuts with head injury so the doctor is to keep a close eye on him.

“Lord Frances, Noah has escaped custody, we don’t know where he went but his father is in the cell so is mother,” said the guard

“How can this happen?” King Frances used his command, his voice firm and demanding answers as tension filled the corridor. The guard shifted nervously before responding, “We’re investigating, Your Majesty. It appears someone inside may have helped Noah escape, but we’re not sure who yet.”

The royal guard knelt before King Frances, bowing his head in deference as the weight of the news settled over them both. Inside the room, Anthony remained unconscious, oblivious to his mate’s absence and the turmoil that threatened their safety. With urgency, Frances resolved to dispatch his best tracker to search for Kathy and Noah, determined to bring Kathy back safely and uncover the truth behind their disappearance.

To safeguard those most vulnerable, Frances ordered a guard to be assigned to Vanessa, Grace, and Anthony, wary of Noah’s intentions and unwilling to leave anything to chance. Seth, whose vampire senses surpassed even those of the lycans, stepped forward to join the search, signaling a rare moment of cooperation between the groups. Together, they moved swiftly, united by a shared purpose as the tension in the corridor continued to mount.

While Anthony lay in the bed, a sharp pain began to radiate through his stomach, causing him to grip his abdomen tightly. Noticing his distress, the nurse quickly called for Dr. Quin, who hurried into the room to assess the situation. Dr. Quin leaned over Anthony, gently asking questions and checking his vitals as the nurse prepared to administer pain relief, determined to uncover the source of his discomfort and stabilize him as quickly as possible. He is clawing at his stomach, but the nurse ties him down to keep from hurting himself. Frances came into the room to see Anthony twisting and turning, sweating beading on his brow as he struggled against the restraints. Concern etched across Frances's face, he quietly approached, speaking softly to calm both Anthony and the vigilant nurse. The room was tense, every movement watched for signs that Anthony might harm himself further, and Frances's presence brought a brief sense of reassurance amid the chaos.

“Doctor what is going on with him?” asked Frances

“If seem Prince Anthony is pain but I don’t know why. Where is mate?” asked Dr. Quin

“She is missing and pregnant,” said

Dr. Quin’s brows knitted together in concern, turning toward Frances as the realization dawned. “My King, you say his mate is pregnant?” he asked, voice low but urgent, seeking confirmation. Frances nodded grimly, his expression grave as he affirmed, “Yes, Doctor, she’s four months along with twins, and now she’s missing.” The weight of the revelation hung heavy in the room, amplifying the urgency of the situation as Dr. Quin quickly assessed the implications for both Anthony and his absent mate.

“My Lord, you must find her because, as I said, if she is in labor, there are a lot of things that can happen,” said Dr. Quin, his tone urgent and filled with worry. He glanced anxiously at both Frances and the nurse, emphasizing the gravity of the situation. “Complications with twins are unpredictable, and if she’s alone, the risks are even greater,” he added, hoping to impress upon them the need for immediate action.

“I don’t get what you are saying doctor,” said Frances, his brow furrowing as he tried to grasp the full extent of Dr. Quin’s warning. Dr. Quin turned to him, voice steady but urgent. “Your Majesty, with twin pregnancies, complications can arise suddenly. If Kathy goes into labor without proper care, both her life and the babies’ could be at serious risk.”

Robert came into the room and bows his head, as Frances whisper into his ear as Robert nods his head and leave the room. Dr. Quin can give Anthony painkiller to numb him because he is mate bond to Kathy, so he is feeling her pain.

Kathy P.O.V

Kathy felt a sharp pain begin to radiate from her lower back toward the front, forcing her to get off the bed and pace anxiously around the room. She tried to regulate her breathing, hoping that each inhale and exhale might ease the discomfort, but the pain persisted, growing more intense with every step. Kathy pressed her forehead against the cool wall, desperate for relief, when suddenly she felt a gush of warmth as her water broke, pooling onto the floor beneath her.

Panic surged through her—she knew it was far too soon to go into labor, and the fear of complications threatened to overwhelm her. In that moment, Kathy remembered Noah's chilling words before he left the room; a sinking suspicion told her that he must have done something to trigger her labor, setting these events into motion. Kathy starts to cry because she doesn’t want to go into labor on her own.

She walked toward the bathroom, clutching her belly as waves of pressure built with every step. Anxiety flickered through her mind as she wondered if the babies were in the right position, her uncertainty growing with each contraction. Kathy hesitated at the threshold, unsure whether she would be able to handle this on her own. She felt her heart pounding as she braced herself for what might come next. The contractions are getting stronger and close together, walk back into the bedroom and grab the blanket to place the babies to stay warm.

Kathy’s body trembled as an overwhelming urge to push gripped her, making it impossible to ignore the instinctive drive. She lowered herself onto all fours, hoping that gravity would help ease the delivery and give her some control over the chaos unfolding around her. With every contraction, she focused on breathing and pushing, determined to bring her babies safely into the world despite the fear and uncertainty threatening to consume her. Kathy keeps pushing until she felt the baby's head, just holds her breath and just keeps pushing until the first baby is free from her body it’s a boy — and he is crying.

As Kathy cradled her newborn son, she knew she couldn’t linger—not with Noah due to return at any moment. Desperation lent her strength, and when the next wave of pain hit, she braced herself, gritting her teeth and pushing hard. The pressure intensified, and finally, the second baby was born—another boy, his cries echoing in the small, dim room. For a fleeting moment, relief washed over her; she had feared a breech delivery, but her second son emerged safely, wailing with life and vigor.

Her hands shaking, Kathy quickly untied her hair, using the elastic band to secure each umbilical cord just as she had seen in pregnancy books. She glanced at her reflection in the bathroom mirror and noticed a shimmer—the Pearl of the Ocean, glinting in her hair. Acting on instinct, she used the magical pearl to carefully cut the cords, ensuring both babies were free and safe. With trembling determination, she prepared herself to deliver the afterbirth, her mind racing with thoughts of escaping before Noah could return and find her and the twins.

As Kathy gently placed the twin boys in the tub, she braced herself and bore down, relieved when the afterbirth came out easily. Still, her mind raced with worry, and she carefully inspected everything to make sure no pieces had broken off and that she would not suffer any complications. Satisfied, Kathy moved quickly into the bedroom, eyes darting to the window as she weighed her options for escape. Suddenly, she remembered the chain still fastened around her ankle. Spying a hairpin on the bedside table, she grabbed it and worked with trembling fingers to free herself. Once she had loosened the chain, Kathy hurried back into the bathroom, scooping up her boys, now wrapped snugly in the blanket, and prepared to flee.

Just as Kathy gathered her strength, the Pearl of the Ocean pulsed with a gentle light in her palm. Suddenly, a shimmering portal appeared before her, its edges sparkling with magical energy. Although exhaustion weighed heavily on her, Kathy knew she could not hesitate. Clutching her newborn sons tightly, she stepped through the portal, feeling a rush of wind and magic surround her as she was transported outside.

Kathy emerged from the portal into the crisp night air, the rain pattering softly against her skin. The portal snapped shut behind her, leaving only the distant rumble of thunder as evidence of the magic that had just unfolded. Steeling herself, she hurried to a broad, leafy tree where the ground remained dry, gently laying her twin boys down on the blanket beneath its sheltering branches. Her heart pounded with urgency. Kathy brushed a kiss across each tiny forehead, whispering reassurances before glancing up at the dark sky. She had unfinished plans—she couldn’t stay here, not yet. Swallowing her fear, Kathy squeezed the pearl in her palm, determined to finish what she’d started and secure a future for her sons.