Chapter 143 Kaden's POV
I drove like my life depended on it. Because in a way, it did.
Elara was in the back seat, gasping through contractions. Kira was unconscious beside her, barely breathing after fifteen years of torture and starvation.
Damian was on speakerphone, giving instructions. "How far apart are the contractions?"
"Two minutes!" Elara screamed through another one. "Maybe less!"
"You need to get her to the medical wing immediately. She is too far along to stop the labor now."
"I'm driving as fast as I can!" I took a turn too sharply, tires screeching.
In the rearview mirror, I could see the other vehicle following us.
.
"Kaden," Elara gasped between contractions. "I need to tell you something. About Xavier."
"Later focus on breathing-"
"No! You need to know!" She grabbed the back of my seat.
"Xavier is working with Erebus. Has been all along. Dark Moon Pack they're creating Erebus followers. Through torture through dark magic. I saw the cave's branding. Everything."
My hands tightened on the steering wheel. "What?"
"It was all planned to bring me there, keeping me safe. It was all to trap me. To use me and the baby for something."
Tears streamed down her face. "They have a cave deep in their territory, hundreds of people chained up. Being converted being branded with Erebus's mark."
Rage and betrayal crashed over me. Xavier. I'd trusted him. Believed him when he said he'd protect Elara let her stay in his territory thinking she'd be safe.
And he'd been working for the enemy the entire time.
"I will deal with Xavier,"
I said, my voice deadly calm. "After Adrian is born. After you're safe. I will make him pay for this."
Another contraction hit her. She screamed, the sound tearing at my heart.
"Almost there," I said. "Hold on, just hold on."
We crossed into Blue Moon Pack territory. I could see the pack house in the distance.
"Damian! We're two minutes out!"
"The medical wing is ready. I have everything prepared just to get her here!"
I pulled up to the entrance. Damian was already there with a gurney and medical staff.
"Get Kira to intensive care!" I ordered as they pulled my sister from the car. "Do whatever it takes to stabilize her!"
"And Elara-"
"Go to the delivery room. Now!"
They loaded her onto the gurney. I ran alongside as they wheeled her inside.
"You're not allowed in the delivery room-” one nurse started.
"Try to keep me out."
Elara grabbed my hand. "Don't leave me. Please don't leave me."
"I'm not going anywhere. I promise."
They got her into the delivery room. Damian was washing up, preparing.
"Kaden, you need to scrub in if you're staying-"
"Tell me what to do."
He threw me scrubs. I changed faster than I ever had in my life.
When I came back, Elara was on the bed, legs in stirrups, breathing hard through another contraction.
"I can see the head," Damian said. "Elara, on the next contraction, I need you to push as hard as you can."
"I can't. It hurts too much-"
"Yes, you can." I took her hand.
"You're the strongest person I know. You survived being poisoned and survived losing your memories. Survived torture and captivity you can do this."
She looked at me, tears streaming. "Stay with me?"
"Every second."
The contraction hit she pushed, screaming.
"Good!" Damian encouraged. "Again! Push again!"
Hours passed the longest, most agonizing hours of my life.
Elara pushed and screamed and cried. I held her hand through all of it, whispering encouragement, wiping sweat from her face.
Outside, I heard commotion as the pack had gathered waiting for news of their future Alpha.
The entire pack house was shaking with each of Elara's screams. With the power radiating from her and the baby.
"One more push!" Damian said. "One more and he's here!"
Elara gathered every ounce of strength she had left pushed with everything in her.
And Adrian was born.
His cry filled the room, strong , healthy , and perfect.
Damian held him up. "It's a boy. A healthy, perfect boy."
But there was something else glowing on Adrian's chest. A crescent moon marks bright blue pulsing with power.
As Damian cut the cord and wrapped Adrian in a blanket, the mark flared.
A wave of energy exploded outward from the baby. I felt it wash over me over the pack house over the entire territory.
The pack members outside gasped. I heard them crying out in shock and awe.
"What was that?" I asked.
"The blessing," Damian whispered. "Manifesting your son just announced himself to the world."
He placed Adrian in Elara's arms.
She looked down at our son, tears of joy streaming down her face. "He's perfect, he is absolutely perfect."
"Just like his mother," I said.
She smiled and started to say something then her eyes rolled back. She went limp, Adrian sliding from her arms.
I caught the baby as Elara collapsed back onto the bed.
"Elara!" I handed Adrian to a nurse. "Elara, wake up!"
"She's hemorrhaging!" Damian shouted. "I need blood! Now!"
Machines started beeping frantically and my mate, the woman I loved more than life, lay unconscious and bleeding.
Dying in front of me.