Chapter 11
Pain!
That is all I can feel, gripping my body with terror as I wake up clutching at my sides. I let out a scream as a spasm rocks through my body, causing me to curl up as best as I can. Something inside me tells me that something is wrong while tears stream down my face.
“Tate!” I scream out, praying that the sleeping wolf beside me wakes up quickly. I don't know how much I can endure. I feel my mate jump out of bed and catch his green orbs glow, searching for danger. His eyes soon land on my curled-up form. I whimper as another streak of pain shoots through me with tears continuing to flow out.
“What's wrong, baby?” I see the panic-stricken look on Tate's face as he rushes around the bed and to my side, his hand brushing away my hair, which sticks to my face. My body shivers from the cold sweat now coating my skin as I cry out in pain once again.
"I... I don't know." I cry out, fear lacing my voice. I close my eyes as yet another spasm rocks through me. I need help, and I need it now. A light flashes across my closed eyes and I turn to see Tate bringing a cellphone to his ear.
"Doc, have a bed ready at the hospital now." He orders, ending the call just as swiftly as he started it before stuffing the device into his pocket and gently picking me up. He makes a move to leave but stops as something catches his eyes.
"Fuck." He curses, panic radiating off of him as I turn to look down at the spot I was just in. Once again, fear grips my heart as I clutch at my pregnant stomach. I pray to whoever is listening that my babies are okay. Tate rushes out the house as fast as he can go and places me into the passenger side of his Jeep, strapping me in and shutting the door to rush to the other side, where he climbs into the driver's side and speeds out of the driveway.
"Hang on, Laina." He pleads as I scream with pain again. I am grateful for being strapped in as Tate speeds up, quickly avoiding wolves that cross the road and screaming at them to stay out of the way. Fear and despair lace his voice, and I notice that his knuckles are white from gripping the steering wheel too hard. The Jeep screeches to a stop in front of the building I remember to be the pack hospital as wolves rush out to greet Tate while he rushes to my side and gingerly takes me out of the passenger side.
"Let's get her to an ultrasound." A man says, pushing a bed towards Tate and allowing him to settle me onto the surface. The group of doctors and nurses rush us inside. My eyes become hazy with pain, and all I can do is clutch at Tate's hand. The next thing I know, I am in a room with something pressed against my stomach.
"Alpha, you need to stay calm and listen to what my team says." The man states, his eyes looking sternly at Tate while a nurse does her job. My eyes wander over to a screen, the ultrasound image showing a picture of what I know to be my babies, even with my blurry eyes.
"She is going to have to go for emergency surgery now if we are to save their lives.” I hear the nurse state grimly. The scent of blood continues to grow as I feel something pierce my arm and note the IV dripping fluid into me. Soon the medicine takes effect, and drowsiness begins to settle in.
“Baby, listen to me. Everything will be fine, and when you wake up, I will be right here waiting for you.” I hear Tate's voice as his fingers brush away my tears. He kisses my lips gently and nuzzles his face into the crook of my neck. Finally, darkness takes me, and the pain disappears. I just hope that my babies are okay.
-÷-
Beep A soft beeping fills the room, causing annoyance to bubble inside me. The pain from earlier is finally gone, and all I wanted is to sleep.
Beep There it goes again, and I sigh with exasperation, realizing that this sound isn't going to stop until someone turns off the stupid machine making said noise.
Beep Groaning, I open my heavy eyes and see a spotless white ceiling above me. The room is dimly lit, making it comfortable for me to open my tired eyes without flinching.
Beep My eyes search around the room, looking for where the sound is coming from. I notice the strange machines only to land on the one machine causing that annoying noise. A stupid heartbeat monitor glares back at me, and I wish that someone would shut it off so that I can return to peace and quiet.
"How are you feeling, beautiful?" My head turns to a hoarse voice as I catch Tate smiling at me with relief. He looks haggard and tired, dark circles under his eyes while he moves the chair he is sitting on closer to the bed I lay on.
"I feel numb and not as bloated. Why do I feel normal again?" I answer a frown on my lips. My limbs refuse to move for me to rest my hand on my stomach as usual, to feel the twins inside me, so I go to turn my head, Tate stopping me and forcing me to look into his eyes.
"Before you look, listen to me." He says sadly, his green eyes tearing up as a sad smile plays at his lips. A bad omen sinks into my heart as he kisses my forehead and takes a deep breath.
"The doctor tried to do everything he could. Only one of them made it." His words are soft and slow, and silence follows as they begin to sink into my hazy mind. With eyes widening, tears blur my vision before they cascade down my face. My heart begins to break when everything settles.
I lost one.
My babies and I lost one.
“Hush, Laina, it's going to be okay.” Tate consoles climbing into the bed with me and wrapping me in his arms. I clutch at his shirt as I bury my face into his chest, letting the heart-wrenching sobs out. All the praying I did to save my twins did nothing as one has passed away on me. I feel like a failure of a mother.
"W-What h-happened?" I hiccup out through my sobs pleadingly. I needed to know how one of the twins passed away.
"The umbilical cord choked her to death. Somehow she managed to get it wrapped around her neck, and her sister tried to help free her on instinct. It's why you bled so much." I can't help but feel pride for the sisterly love the two had built inside my womb, but my sobs grow, knowing that the two would never grow up together. The daydreams I pictured of two little pups chasing each other around the home Tate and I built in the last few days shatter as sadness takes hold of me. Knowing they will never grow up together breaks everything inside me while sorrow fills my heart and mind. Suddenly the sound of a tiny wail has my sobs stopping and bringing me back to my senses. Tate sighs, brushing away the stray tears on my face and kissing my eyelids before getting up and making his way to the end of the bed, where the sounds of the wailing are coming from a wooden bassinet. Bending over, Tate rises with something wrapped in a pink bundle with a soft smile on his face, slightly bouncing while making his way back to me.
“Hush little one. Mommy just woke up and is hurting too. You'll be in her arms soon.” He coos as the tiny bundle quiets slightly but continues its cries quietly.
“Is she?” I ask hopefully, my eyes following the tiny crying baby in his arms.
"Yes. She is your—I mean—she is our little girl." He answers with a loving smile as he passes the bundled-up baby into my waiting arms. I can't help but stare down at the little pup, her cries silencing as she settles into my embrace. I smile at her, swiping tears off of her tiny little face and watching her doze off once again.
“Hi, sweetie. Welcome to the world.” I whisper, gently kissing her face while Tate climbs into the bed with us. He wraps his arms around me, letting me lean into his chest as we just sit in the quiet room. Well, almost quiet room. That stupid heartbeat monitor needs to be destroyed.
"Hello, Alpha, I—oh, Luna, you're awake." A nurse says as she comes in with a bottle suited for a newborn in her hand as she stops at the door smiling at the three of us.
"I was going to come feed the little princess, but would you like to?" She asked, coming to my side of the bed and extending the bottle towards me.
“Actually, I wanted to breastfeed her if that's okay,” I state, wanting to refuse the formula-filled bottle. I watch as the nurse sends a sympathetic smile my way as she takes on of my hands gently and places the bottle into it before backing away a respectful distance.
“Unfortunately, Luna, because of the drugs that had to be used, you will be unable to breastfeed. I'm sorry to ruin your plans.” She says quietly. I understand her meaning, knowing that some medicines can affect the breast milk of a nursing mother and nod dejectedly at her. I move the bottle in a more comfortable position in my hand, bringing the rubber nipple to my baby's lips and coax her into accepting her. I smile happily as she proceeds to drink, knowing that she will need the nutrients to grow.
“You're a natural!" The nurse states, and I smile at her enthusiasm.
"I used to babysit and help out at the pack hospital at my old Pack. I learned how to care for pups and how to coax newborns into drinking from a bottle.” I answer, my eyes never leaving the pup in my arms. I could see the nurse visibly relax with my words. I know she knows I am sixteen and probably had a feeling that with me being so young, I wouldn't know how to raise my child.
“That's good to know. The doctor will be in tomorrow morning, and another nurse will come to bring the next bottle when you need it. I'll leave the three of you now to enjoy the rest of your evening. Have a good night, Alpha Tate and Luna Laina.” The nurse gives a respectful bow before exiting the room. Tate and I stay silent the both of us enjoying the calm night as our baby sips at her bottle. Soon, with the bottle empty and the little pup burped, Tate takes her away to have her diaper changed before placing her back into her bassinet and crawling back into bed with me. Both of us needed sleep after the last few days we've had. Snuggling into my mate's embrace, I close my eyes and let my exhausted body gain the rest it needs.