~After Seven Months~
~Celine~
“…one more time! One more push and the baby is out.” The midwife charged me, even though I could barely pay attention to what she was saying.
My heart was pumping against my chest, threatening to burst out. The pain between my legs was unbearable and at some point, it felt like I was going to die.
“I… I can’t do this.” I cried, shaking my head as I felt extreme heat. All my body was covered in sweat, and there was Ethan, holding my hand firmly as he tried to give me support.
“You can do it, Celine. You can do it.” He uttered, planting kisses on my hand. I nodded and closed my eyes, gathering all the power I had left in me.
“Hmm…” I pushed and instantly, I began to have flashbacks from months ago, when I was still in Alpha Kilhan’s house and when we were still a couple.
“Kilhan!” I yelled, and as I heard the cry of my newborn fill my ears, I broke into tears.
“Let me have him, please.” I stretched out my hands, not minding that the baby wasn’t cleaned.
“It’s a boy.” The midwife said happily as she placed him in my hands. I looked at his face and broke into more tears.
His eyes and nose were that of Kilhan. He looked so much like him. ‘How will I survive this? He’d keep reminding me of him all the days of my life.’ I thought as I held him close to my chest.
After a minute of holding onto him, I heard Ethan speak.
“You should let her clean him up and put some clothes on him. It’s pretty cold.” He uttered, and the midwife reached out to take him from me.
I reluctantly gave him to her, cleaning my eyes with my arm. I looked at Ethan with tears in my eyes, and he smiled widely.
“You did it, Celine. Congratulations.” He uttered, and I lowered my head.
“I… I want to sleep.” I answered, my eyes already closing before I could hear his response. And as I drifted into slumberland, I felt him pull the sheets up to cover me.
***
I finally opened my eyes again, and I realized I was still lying in the same bed. There was no one in the room except me and my baby.
Next to my bed was the cradle where my baby boy lay. I hastily stood up to check up on him and I found him sleeping peacefully.
A wide smile lit up my face as I admired him. There was joy inside me that I was able to give birth to such an angel like him. He was so tiny, and his hair looked so soft, shining, and well-laid.
‘It’s crazy I’m yet to come up with a name for him.’ I thought.
And just when I leaned over to kiss his forehead, I perceived the odor that came from the cloth I had on.
“Oh God, I need a bath,” I mumbled, walking out of the room. Getting to the living room, I met Martina and Ethan sitting on the couch.
“You’re up!” Martina uttered with a large grin as she stood up and ran up to me.
“You were asleep for more than three hours?” She asked, turning to look at Ethan so he could confirm the time, but he just remained silent, staring at me.
“It seemed like a minute to me,” I replied, with my eyes fixed on Ethan too.
“How do you feel?” She further asked, and this was when I looked at her. I nodded, letting out a faint smile.
“I feel so much better. I felt stronger after I saw him sleeping in his cradle. It’s the best feeling ever.” I answered, and she bobbed excitedly.
“Yes! He’s so cute! Just like you and his father!” She uttered with a chuckle. We remained silent and the smile on my face slowly faded off.
She looked at Ethan and then at me to figure out what she had done wrong, and when she realized, she raised her eyebrows in regret.
“I’m sorry. I…”
“It’s okay, Martina. Right now, what I need is a thorough bath. I stink.” I answered with a giggle and made my way into the room again.
Shutting the door behind me, I let out a deep sigh and rested my back on the door.
Since the day I pushed Ethan off me, things haven’t been the same. I mean, he is still as nice as ever, but I can feel this invisible wall between us.
He doesn’t sleep on the bed anymore. He now sleeps on the floor, sometimes in the living room with Gary and Martina since they are aware our relationship was a lie.
I dragged my feet into the bathroom after getting rid of my stinking clothes and I turned on the shower. Standing under it, I let the water flow down my body freely, bowing my head.
“You know you can’t keep holding on to Kilhan right? It’s been almost a year!” Kiara muttered.
“Ten Months, Kiara,” I answered.
“That’s why I said ‘Almost’, okay? Honestly, I think Ethan is a great guy. Even after you fought him off, he’s still here, taking care of you. And the way he looks at you?…”
“Kiara, I am not taking relationship advice from you ever again. The last one didn’t end well. Why would I listen to you now?” I butted in angrily, reaching for my sponge and body wash.
“It didn’t go well because of you! I told you to tell him the truth, but you didn’t listen. Honestly, it’s not his fault. But it’s unfair of him not to even try to check up on you after so many months.”
“That is because he’s so done with me. He was done the very moment he rejected me.” I mumbled sadly.
“Exactly! That’s why I’m saying you should give Ethan a chance. I mean, I won’t tell you what to do, but I must say, he is a good man.” Kiara added, causing me to heave a loud sigh.
I knew Ethan was a good man. I didn’t need my wolf to remind me of that, but then…
There is this part of me that believes we can still be together in the future, and that if I get together with Ethan, we may never get the chance to be together.
And maybe that is stupid of me. You know… I don’t even know.
I finished freshening up, put on a clean dress, and checked on my boy again. He was still sleeping, but I wanted to hold him so badly, so I reached for him and carried him.
I placed him perfectly on my chest, letting him rest his little head on my shoulder. Heading out of the room again, I saw only Ethan in the living room this time.
“Where is Martina?” I asked, looking around the living room.
“She’s out with Gary. I’m beginning to suspect those two.” He answered, standing up from where he sat. He moved the cushion off the couch and tapped it.
“Come and sit here.” He said to me, and I nodded with a smile. I approached him and carefully sat.
“He’s still sleeping?” He asked.
“Yes. But I couldn’t wait to hold him. He can just continue sleeping in my arms.” I answered with a soft chuckle, and he nodded.
He looked at the television that was on display and that was when I noticed my favorite series was on.
“Vampire diaries?” I asked, and he nodded.
“I wanted us to watch it together. That’s the best way to relax after such a stressful time.” He answered, staring into my eyes.
I gulped and nodded, turning my gaze to the television. While I was watching, I felt his gaze on my face, and it didn’t seem like he was going to look away.
“You called his name.” He said, causing me to look at him.
“What?” I asked, and I saw him gulp.
“You called Kilhan when you were pushing. Are you still in love with him?” He asked, and immediately, I shook my head.
“No, Ethan. I’m not in love with him.”
“But you…”
“Ethan, it’s been months. I am not in love with him anymore.” I asserted firmly.
“Okay.” He answered calmly and turned his gaze back to the television. And when I wanted to do the same, I felt his hand cup my face.
I looked into his eyes and I saw him staring at my lips. He moved his face very close to mine, leaving less than an inch between our lips.
“I’m going to kiss you now, Celine. Tell me if you don’t want me to, then I’ll back off.” His breath greased my lips as he spoke.
I swallowed hard and held onto my baby firmly, unsure of what to say to him. I didn’t want to say no to him again, and I wasn’t sure if I wanted his kiss.
When he saw I was hesitant, I felt his hand slowly slipping off my face.
“I’m sorry…” Before he could continue speaking, I leaned over and covered his lips with mine.
And as if he saw it coming, he didn’t hesitate to grab my face and kiss me even deeper. He kissed me so passionately that I almost forgot I was carrying my baby in my arms.
His breathing grew intense as he refused to break the kiss or even give us the chance to breathe. It was like he finally got his favorite cravings after years of begging.
While we kissed, there was a knock on the door, causing us to stop.
“Martina?” I asked in a whisper as we both breathed hard.
He planted a peck on my lips before rushing to get the door. I stared at him, adjusting my baby in my arms. I looked at his face and I saw he was awake.
“Hey, baby,” I whispered with a wide smile, staring at his face.
“Celine, look,” Ethan uttered, and I raised my head to look at him. In his hand was a bouquet and a card.
“It says for you.” He said, showing me the card. I furrowed my brows in confusion as I stared at it.
“Isn’t this Martina and Gary playing tricks? Can you please read what is in it?” I asked, and he nodded, placing the flower on the couch.
He opened the card and read;
“Congratulations, darling. What are we going to call him? From an admirer.”
“An admirer??”