Kamrynn's POV
The month following the breaking of the Amethyst curse had been a whirlwind. Kyven and Thalia's mating ceremony two weeks ago was a grand affair, their love shining brighter than ever. Now they were off on their honeymoon, leaving the Pack in high spirits.
As for me, I had embraced my role as the Pack's Guardian with pride. The respect I received from the Pack members was overwhelming, their gratitude fueling my determination to serve. Yet, my heavy pregnancy had prevented me from fully stepping into the position. I promised myself that after the birth of my babies, I would devote myself entirely to the Pack's prosperity.
I sat on my bed, a book in my hands. My swollen belly rested heavily on my thighs, and the occasional kick from my little ones brought a smile to my face. It was a quiet moment, one I cherished. But as always, peace was fleeting.
The serenity that came with being lost in a good book was suddenly shattered by a pain so sharp and consuming that it felt like I'd been struck by lightning. My fingers released the book I'd been holding, and it fell to the floor with a dull thud. My hands flew to the headboard, gripping the cool wood as I tried to steady myself.
A low groan escaped my lips, trembling and desperate as I struggled to breathe through the relentless waves of agony crashing over me. Each second felt like an eternity. My abdomen tightened painfully, the muscles stretching and pulling in ways that felt unnatural and unbearable.
"Aryna!" I gasped inwardly, my voice trembling in my mind. "What's happening?"
Her calm response was immediate. "You're having a contraction, Kamrynn. Focus on your breathing. Let the pain pass."
I tried, desperately inhaling through my nose and exhaling through my mouth, but the pain lingered, sharp and unyielding. This wasn't like the other times. The dull aches and cramps I'd been experiencing for days now seemed like mere whispers compared to this deafening roar of agony.
Sweat dripped down my temple, and I clutched the edge of the mattress, my nails digging into the fabric. Finally, the pain began to fade, leaving behind a dull, throbbing ache that radiated from my lower back to my hips. I leaned back against the pillows, gasping for air.
"Aryna," I whispered weakly. "This one… it's not stopping."
Her voice grew serious. "Kamrynn, you're in labor. Our pups are coming."
My eyes widened as panic gripped me. "No… no, it's too soon!"
"Calm yourself," Aryna soothed, though there was an edge of urgency in her tone. "Our pups are ready to come into the world. You need to focus. What we need to do now is get help."
I nodded to myself, even though terror was making my limbs tremble. My heart pounded wildly as I swung my legs off the side of the bed. The movement sent another wave of pain shooting through me, and I cried out, clutching my belly. My vision blurred as the pain surged, every muscle in my body tightening in rebellion.
"You have to move, Kamrynn," Aryna urged. "You can't do this alone."
With a deep breath, I forced myself to stand, my legs wobbling beneath me like those of a newborn fawn. The weight of my belly pulled me forward, and I had to grab the edge of the dresser to keep from collapsing. Every step was a monumental effort, each one accompanied by another stabbing pain that made my knees buckle.
I reached for the door, my fingers barely grazing the handle when another contraction hit, this one so strong I doubled over with a scream.
Suddenly, a warm gush of liquid soaked my legs and pooled at my feet.
"My water… it broke," I whispered, panic flooding me as I stared down at the wet floor.
"You're doing well," Aryna said, her voice steady and reassuring. "Now open the door and call for help."
Gritting my teeth, I wrenched the door open and leaned against the frame. "Help!" I screamed, my voice cracking. "Someone, please help me!"
The sound of hurried footsteps echoed down the hallway, and within seconds, Rmonica and the maids appeared, their faces etched with concern.
"Kamrynn!" Rmonica's voice was sharp, and she rushed to my side, her hands hovering near me like she didn't know where to touch.
"What's wrong? Are you okay?" Rmonica's words tumbled out in a rush as her hands finally gripped my shoulders, steadying me.
I clung to her arm, gasping. "The babies… they're coming."
Her face paled. "Now? Are you sure?"
I winced, another contraction slicing through me like a knife. "I'm sure! I can feel one of them... already pushing down!"
Rmonica quickly composed herself, her voice steady. "All right. We'll get you to the hospital."
She turned to one of the maids, voice sharp. "You! Have the driver prepare the car immediately!"
"Yes, Luna!" The girl quickly hurried away, sprinting towards the door
"No!" I shouted, barely able to catch my breath. "I… I can't make it to the hospital. The first baby is already… I can feel it coming!"
Rmonica froze, her wide eyes locking onto mine. She nodded sharply, regaining her composure. "Alright. Then we'll do it here."
She turned to the maids again, her voice firm and commanding. "Bring clean towels, warm water, antiseptic, scissors-everything you can find that might help with a delivery, we'll need it for when the doctor arrives. Quickly!"
The maids scattered in different directions, and Rmonica gently guided me back into my room. "Come on, Kamrynn. Let's get you lying down."
My legs barely carried me to the bed, and I collapsed onto the mattress, my body trembling.
"Amara, call the doctor here immediately! Tell her to get here as soon as possible." Rmonica ordered and Amara left to do as she had been told.
The pain was relentless now, rolling over me in waves so strong I couldn't think straight. Rmonica propped me up with pillows, smoothing the hair from my damp forehead.
"You're going to be fine," she said softly, though her hands shook as she pulled the blankets away. "We've got this."
A maid hurried in with clean towels, placing them beside the bed. Rmonica worked quickly, spreading them beneath me and removing my soaked underwear. I spread my legs in an attempt to ease the pain but I could feel warm liquid gush down my ass, soaking into the fresh towels. The smell of blood filled the room, and I bit back a scream as another contraction hit, this one so strong it felt like my entire body was being torn in half.
"Rmonica, I can't… I can't do this," I whimpered, tears streaming down my face. "It hurts too much!"
She took my hand, squeezing it tightly. "Yes, you can. You're one of the strongest women I know, Kamrynn. You've fought through worse than this. You're going to bring those babies into the world, and I'm going to help you every step of the way."
Tiona entered the room with a steaming basin of water, her hands scrubbed clean. She took one look between my legs and turned to Rmonica. "We can't wait for the doctor, Luna. The baby's crowning. If we don't deliver now, it'll suffocate."
My heart leapt into my throat. "What? No! I need the doctor-what if something goes wrong?"
Tiona crouched at the foot of the bed, her voice calm but firm. "Kamrynn, listen to me. I've delivered dozens of babies in my time. You're in good hands. Trust me."
I nodded weakly, clutching Rmonica's hand as Tiona positioned herself.
"Alright, Kamrynn," Tiona said, her tone steady. "When your body tells you to push, I want you to push with everything you've got. Don't force it-wait for the signal."
I gritted my teeth, focusing on her words. A moment later, another contraction ripped through me, and I screamed. "I have to push!"
"Then push!" Tiona encouraged, her hands ready.
I bore down, every muscle in my body straining as I pushed with all my might. The room blurred around me; all I could hear was Rmonica's soothing voice and Tiona's steady instructions.
"You're doing great, Kamrynn," Tiona said. "I can see the head. Just a little more!"
The pressure was unbearable, like my body was being ripped apart. I let out a guttural scream, pouring every ounce of strength I had into the push. And then, suddenly, the pressure lessened, replaced by a sharp, piercing cry.
"It's a boy!" Tiona announced, lifting the squirming baby into view. His tiny body glistened with blood and fluid, his cries filling the room.
Rmonica laughed through her tears. "Kamrynn, you did it! Look at him!"
I blinked through the haze of exhaustion, my heart swelling as I caught a glimpse of him. "He's… he's beautiful," I whispered, tears streaming down my cheeks.
Tiona handed the baby to a maid, who quickly cleaned him and wrapped him in a soft blanket. But before I could fully revel in the moment, another contraction hit, stealing the air from my lungs.
"The second one," Tiona said briskly. "We're not done yet. Stay with me, Kamrynn."
This time, it wasn't as easy. I pushed and pushed, but exhaustion began to take its toll.
"I can't," I sobbed, my body sagging against the bed. "I'm too tired. I can't do it anymore…"
"Yes, you can," Tiona said firmly, her eyes meeting mine. "You're almost there. Don't give up now."
Rmonica leaned closer, her voice soft but determined. "You've come this far, Kamrynn. Think about holding them both in your arms, two beautiful babies. You can do this."
"Our pups are waiting, Kamrynn," Aryna added in my mind, her voice filled with pride. "You're so strong. Just one more push."
Their words gave me strength. Gritting my teeth, I nodded. "Okay. Let's do this."
The next contraction hit like a tidal wave, and I bore down with everything I had left. The seconds stretched into eternity, my screams echoing through the room.
"One more!" Tiona urged. "Push, Kamrynn!"
With a final, desperate effort, I pushed again, and the sound of a second cry filled the air.
"It's a girl!" Tiona announced, holding up the tiny, wailing baby.
I collapsed back against the pillows, my chest heaving as relief and joy washed over me. Aryna's voice rumbled in my mind, filled with emotion. "We're mothers now, Kamrynn. Our pups are here."
Tiona handed the baby to another maid, who cleaned and wrapped her before bringing both babies to me. My hands trembled as I took them, their tiny faces scrunched and pink, their cries quieting as they nestled against me.
I kissed their foreheads, my heart bursting with indescribable love for them.
Rmonica wiped a tear from her cheek, smiling down at us. "You're amazing, Kamrynn. You're going to be an incredible mother."
Tiona placed a hand on my shoulder. "You did wonderfully, congratulations on your bundles of joy. Now, relax while I help you deliver the placenta."
I nodded weakly, cradling my babies close as exhaustion pulled at me. Despite the pain, despite the fear, my heart swelled with gratitude and love.
"Thank you, Moon Goddess," I whispered, tears streaming down my face. "Thank you for bringing them to me safely."