Alcina faded in and out of consciousness as Brent forced her child into the world. Once he was already covered in her blood and her daughter lay on her chest screaming, then Anastasia came bursting in.
"What the hell have you done?" She yelled pushing Brent hard enough to slam him into the wall. She quickly got to work clamping the cord before cutting it. Alcina could feel her strength start to return and the room grow clear as Anastasia finished her work. Alcina made the mistake of looking at Brent to see him licking her blood from his hands. He had truly gone insane. Anastasia took the baby and wrapped her in a clean shirt before wiping some blood from her face and laying the baby back down. Next she removed the straps holding Alcina.
"Run. Do not look back. Just run." Anastasia said turning away from Alcina. She froze for a moment making sense of what she just heard before leaping to her feet and darting from the room. Her body racked with pain every step she took but the baby girl in her arms was priority. The child had stopped crying and fallen asleep in her mother's arms as she ran from the strange place. Stopping for only a moment Alcina turned her nose to the air.
Once she had her sense of direction she adjusted slightly and began running again. A few miles from the pack border she stepped in a small hole, twisting her ankle. When she did her insides felt as though they had been cut once more. Limping from her sore ankle, she did her best to keep moving. The sun was beginning to set and she started to feel as though someone was coming from behind.
"Xavier. Hear me. See this!" She looked up to see her home a just outside of the tree line, which was a few feet away. As she stepped forward darkness began to take hold. Her last thought was of her daughter and she turned, falling on her back.
A mere twenty feet away Xavier stood abruptly to his feet, jumping over his desk and running outside, sending his guests into a panic. Isabelle was watching the boys, and Elvira, Eli, and elder Damien were helping to strategize a plan when Alcina forced the link, blinding him for just a moment. As soon as his vision was restored, he was on his feet. Slamming the door open her ran immediately to her. He could hear their daughter from the moment he opened the door. Scooping them both up, he ran directly to the hospital.
"I need help! It's the queen!" He yelled stepping into the emergency room.
"Alpha-king! Over here! Lay her down and step back." Dr. Samuels, the night surgeon instructed. Within seconds she and the baby were surrounded by doctors as the worked to check on them. Lifting her shirt the doctors all gasped. For wolves, cesarean births didn't happen. All she-wolves were able to give birth without intervention by a doctor. They quickly rushed Alcina and the baby away as Xavier stood frozen. The wound on his mate forever burned into him. He walked over to a chair and sat down, feeling nothing at all. It was as if the world had stopped and he had gone completely numb. Reaching out mentally, the link felt empty and cold.
"My king." Someone said pulling him from his daze. Looking up, he saw a small blonde nurse holding a bundle of pink blankets. "She's a little ahead of schedule, but she's absolutely perfect. The queen did wonderful."
Smiling, she carefully placed the small child in Xavier's arms and walked away. The tiny child looked up at him before sneezing and letting out a small coo.
"Well hello little one. You're a bit early you know? Daddy wasn't expecting you just yet." He talked to her while rocking her gently. He placed with his new baby for a few more hours before the doctor finally came out.
"Alpha-king, I'm happy to say the queen is alive and resting well. We were able to stop the bleeding and fix it so she could heal properly. She's on the royal floor. Room 2134." The Dr. shook his hand and walked away. Xavier quickly went to her room and stepped in, taking a good look at her. She lay on her back, breathing gently and evenly. Sitting down he shifted the baby to one arm, and with the other brushed a piece of hair from her face. She stirred slightly before opening her eyes.
"Xay? Is it really you?" She said opening her eyes.
"It's me love. I'm sorry I failed you." He said kissing her forehead.
"You didn't fail me, Xavier. I'm okay. I'm alive because of you." She replied kissing his hand. "Is that her?"
Taking notice of the tiny bundle, Alcina changes the subject. Xavier nodded and handed her the baby. Looking down at the beautiful girl in her arms Alcina began to cry. She truly was the best of both of them. She had Alcina's nose, Xavier's hair, and just above her left eye was a small cherry red birthmark that edged into her hair line, turning a small patch of hair white. When the baby looked up, alcina gasped. She had one brown eye, one blue. She took after both parents equally. A tightness began in her chest as she thought of how her daughter entered this world. Whether she cares to admit it or not, Anastasia saved her life.