Chapter 253

Rion's POV

I slammed my fist against the desk, sending papers flying. The frustration had been building for months, and now it was boiling over. "Dammit!" I cursed, pacing the room in a futile attempt to calm myself. We had conquered the Rain Forest Pack with ease, but it had been a hollow victory. Hadrian, that fool, had chosen to die rather than betray his cousin, Isla. He'd poisoned himself before we could get any information out of him. Another dead end.

The Fishers were a twisted bunch. Part of me relished the thought of wiping them out for good, to rid the world of their poison. Isla had slipped through our fingers, and I was beginning to fear we’d never find her. If I could only get my hands on her, I would make her pay for taking Celio. She would wish she had never been born.

Blade had been another disappointment, another dead end in our search for Celio. We had pushed him to his absolute limits, hoping that the pain and pressure would force him to betray Isla and give up her location. Each day, the intensity of the torture increased, designed to break his resolve, but Blade proved to be more resilient than we had anticipated. He held out, even as his body gave in to the punishment.

We had been so close. He was teetering on the edge, his eyes glassy with pain and exhaustion. I could see the struggle in him, the flicker of a decision being made behind his bloodshot eyes. But then, in the dead of night, when everyone thought he was too weak to move, he made his final choice. The guards said it happened so fast—one minute he was silent, his head slumped forward, and the next, there was a sickening crunch as he bit down hard, severing his own tongue.

By the time they realized what he’d done, it was too late. He lay there, choking on his blood, a gruesome smile on his face as he bled out, his eyes rolling back in his head. They tried to save him, but the blood was everywhere, pouring from his mouth, his lips stained red. His breaths came in wet, gurgling gasps, and then he was still, his body limp, his secrets dying with him.

To die for that witch... What kind of hold did she have over him? Love? Loyalty? Or just plain stupidity? It didn’t matter now. He was gone, taking any chance we had of finding Isla with him to the grave. I shook my head, anger surging through me. Another lead turned to dust. Another dead end.

“Rion!” Larose’s voice shattered my thoughts, pulling me back to the present as she burst into my office, her face flushed with urgency.

“What is it?” I demanded, instantly alert, my heart racing with a sudden surge of fear.

“It’s Jaselyn,” she gasped. “She’s in labor!”

A surge of adrenaline shot through me, my mind immediately shifting gears. “Labor? Now?” I didn’t wait for an answer. I was already moving, sprinting down the halls with Larose close behind. My heart pounded in my chest, not from the exertion but from the sheer terror of what was happening. This was it. Our sons were coming into the world, and I had to be there for Jaselyn.

When we reached the room, a midwife stood in the doorway, barring Larose from entering. “Only the Alpha is allowed inside,” she said firmly, her face set in a no-nonsense expression.

Larose nodded and gave me a quick, reassuring smile, her eyes soft with understanding. “Go,” she urged. “She needs you.”

I rushed into the room, my eyes immediately locking onto Jaselyn. She was on the bed, her face contorted with pain, her body tense as she fought through another contraction. Sweat drenched her brow and ran down her temples, her hair sticking to her face in wild strands. She gripped the sheets tightly, her knuckles white, her body trembling with the sheer effort of labor. Her eyes met mine, filled with a mixture of fear and determination, and my heart clenched at the sight.

“I’m here, my love,” I said, crossing the room in two strides and taking her hand in mine. I squeezed it gently, feeling the strength and courage that radiated from her through that single touch. “I’m here. I’ve got you.”

The midwife was by her side, her voice calm and steady as she gave instructions. “You’re doing great, Luna. The first baby is almost here. Just a little more. Breathe, and when the next contraction comes, I want you to push.”

Jaselyn nodded, her face tight with concentration as she focused on her breathing. I could see the strain in her eyes, the effort it took to bring our child into the world. Her body was trembling with exertion, and I could feel the tension in her muscles through the grip she had on my hand.

Her breath hitched as another contraction ripped through her, a guttural scream tearing from her throat. Her body arched, her face contorting in pain as she bore down. I could see the tendons in her neck standing out, the way her muscles quivered with the strain. Blood trickled down her thighs, pooling beneath her, the sheets quickly becoming soaked in red. The smell of sweat and iron filled the air, a sharp, metallic tang that made my stomach churn.

I stroked her hair with my free hand, murmuring words of encouragement. “You’ve got this, Jas. You’re so strong. Just a little longer. I’m right here with you.”

She let out another cry, her body trembling as she pushed with all her might. I could see the veins bulging in her forehead, the sweat pouring down her face in rivulets. Her lips were drawn back in a grimace, her teeth bared as she fought through the pain. She squeezed my hand so tightly I thought my bones would break, but I didn’t care. I would endure anything to help her through this.

“I’m so proud of you,” I whispered, leaning down to kiss her forehead, my voice choked with emotion. “So proud.”

The midwife’s voice cut through the tension. “I can see the head, Luna. You’re almost there. One more big push.”

Jaselyn nodded, her face a mask of determination as she took a deep breath and pushed again, her body arching off the bed with the effort. I could see the strain in every muscle, the way her hands trembled as she gripped the sheets. Her face twisted in pain, a guttural scream escaping her lips as she gave it everything she had. I wished I could take the pain from her, bear it myself, anything to make this easier for her. But all I could do was hold her hand and offer my strength.

Suddenly, the tension broke, and there was a wet, squelching sound as the baby’s head emerged, slick with blood and amniotic fluid. Jaselyn’s body shook with the effort, her eyes squeezed shut, tears streaming down her cheeks. She let out a strangled sob, her body going limp for a moment as she gasped for breath, her chest heaving.