Chapter 85

Chapter 85
Emily's POV.

Few months later...

Leia's anguished cries shattered the stillness of Nirian Castle.

Brielle, Laura, and Adalyn, now my ladies-in-waiting, ran around in the room, seeing to it that everything was in order to receive the baby-several staff members stood by, ready to assist.

I sat on the tied with Leia, gently massaging her shoulders as she endured the throes of labor.

"What's happening?" I asked the midwife. "Why is it taking so long?"

Everything is fine, Your Majesty. The baby has just crowned."

I might not be conversant with all medical terms, but ever since i discovered I was pregnant, I have read extensively Crowning meant the baby's head had appeared at the mother's opening prior to emerging

I turned to my mate's cousin and massaged her back. "You're doing great, Leial" I encouraged. "You're almost there."

She let out deep huffs and, with another cry, pushed...

A tiny feeble cry of a baby filled the room.

The newborn squirmed, covered in blood and vernix-white substance, as the midwife raised her in the air. "It's a girl," the midwife announced.

The room erupted into a celebration. The staff hugged each other.

While Leia was delivered of the placenta, her pup was cleaned up, swaddled, and brought to her Silence settled in the room as we watched mother and child bond

Leia was all smiles as she studied her pup's features. She glanced up at me. She has her father's eyes and nails"

"She's beautiful," I muttered.

Leia broke into a grin. "Thank you, Your Grace," she said and quirked her brows. "It turns out your mother won the bet."

"Yes, she did. I'll be writing to her in the morning announcing her victory."

Leia chuckled softly. But her laughter tapered as Brielle approached with a warm towel. Leia wiped herself clean before guiding her pup to latch on.

Another silence slithered in the room as the newborn sucked eagerly, her tiny fingers curling against Leia's skin.

Leia lifted her gaze and glanced at my rotund belly, "You'll be joining me in a few weeks."

"Months," I corrected.

Leia shook her head. "I'm not sure, Judging from how big you are. Multiple Oregnancies don't usually make it to full term.

My brows knitted with curiosity. "What are you saying?"

What if there are two pups in there?" she asked

I gasped. "Leia, that's not possible. The midwife picked up only one fetal heartbeat, I dismissed and carefully, climbed down from the bed.

However, my reflection in the mirror as I walked past leaned toward Leia's assertions. I wasn't only glowing and bigger, my belly was noticeably larger for my gestational age. I turned slightly, pressing my hand against the curve of my stomach and felt those kicks that often left me smiling or rarely, rushing to the washroom.

Smiling, I rubbed the spot as Leia's words echoed in my mind. What if she was right? Would anything change?

Life has been fair, so far. Two weeks after my Luna Ceremony, shortly after I discovered I was with child, we'd relocated here. Calix was right, the people of Nirian are kind and warm. They welcomed me with open arms, giving me the love and respect which they accorded Calix.

Nirian was the most advanced kingdom I had ever encountered, its civilization surpassing even the grandest tales I had read.

A knock on the door pulled me back to the present. Brielle answered the door, revealing Calix, Randolph, and Han standing at the threshold. Calix's gaze swept past Brielle and settled on me. A warm smile spilled on his lips.

"Mate!' Rehya purred.

"Is it decent enough for us to come in?"

Calix asked.

The midwife gave me a slight nod. The sheets had been changed, and Leia had Been cleaned up and dressed in fresh nightclothes.

Turning to Calix, I nodded. "Yes, it is."

The three men waltzed into the room and admired the baby. Randolph's eyes shimmered with emotion as he cradled both his mate and their newborn pup. It was a moment none of us would forget.

Later that night, as Calix and I settled into bed, I raised a topic about what Leia said. "She thinks I'm carrying twins."

Calix smiled and wrapped his arms around me. "No matter how many pups we're having, I promise to make sure you and them never lack, and are safe forever," he whispered. I pressed his hand against a strong kick. A kick so forceful it stole my breath for a moment.

Days turned into weeks, and before I knew it, I was waddling through the castle halls, barely able to see my feet. I couldn't shake the feeling that my time was coming sooner than expected.

Tonight was the naming ceremony of

Leia's pup. Seraphina as they named her, tas grown into a chubby and happy baby.

The hall was filled with guests who chattered in groups, while some danced

Calix and I were dancing too, twirling and gliding across the polished floors when, suddenly, a sharp paint hit my stomach. It came again, so forcefully that I let go of his hand and doubled over.

"What's happening?" Calix asked

Something warm and wet spilled down my legs I looked my mate in the eyes and gasped. "I think I've just gone into labor.



One mornent. I was in the hall and the next, I was in the delivery room, screaming out my lungs.

"Push the midwife commanded.

I bore down with all my strength, panting from the effort. I could hear Calix in the hallway, insisting he wanted to come in, Han and the men with him telling him it wasn't decent enough

Leia dabbed the sweat on my face and gave me some warm water to drink "Have some," she encouraged. After a sip, I resumed my struggles

"Push" the midwide commanded, and I gave it my best. But even my best was not good enough. I was quickly losing strength and faith in myself.

"Matel" Rehya purred for Calix. I wanted him in here with me, to stand by me as we delivered our pup. "Calix!" I called him through our bond.

That was I needed to do.

A familiar guttural growl filled the hallway and the door swung open. A sigh of relief left my lips as he entered the room. "Bella"

"Stay! Please, stay with me, I begged.

Calix settled by my side on the bed, took my hand and kissed it. I'm not going anywhere, he promised. "What's the situation? Calix demanded the midwife.

"The birth is proceeding as expected, Your Majesty. The baby's head is visible now!" the midwife replied before turning to me. "You're almost there, my Queen. Only one more push and we're done."

I nodded and Calix held my hand tightly, soothing me, grounding me

"Push!!" the midwife beckoned.

I gave it my best try and the tiny cry of a newborn filled the room. A wave of euphoria swept through the room. "It's a boy!" the midwife announced.

Calix cupped my face and plarited a kiss on my forehead. "But I think we have another coming!" the midwife alerted. The forceful contractions came again. Screaming, I found myself pushing until another cry, just as full of life, filled the room.

"It's another boy!" the midwife announced

A ripple of amazement coursed through the room.

Tears blurred my vision, my entire body. trembling with exhaustion and overwhelming joy.

There's another one!" the midwife blurted.

Gasps filled the room. A stunned silence soon settled over us as Calix cupped my face. "You can do this, my love. I trust you," he whispered.

The contractions gripped me again, so Intensely that I growled. A guttural scream tore from my lips as I pushed with everything I had.

Then, another cry-softer, filled the air.

"It's a girl!" the midwife declared, and a wave of joy filled the room. Tears of joy slipped down my cheeks, mixing with sweat as I gasped for air.

Calix heaved a sigh, his eyes misty as he pressed a kiss on my damp forehead. "Thank you for these gifts. I'm grateful."

Leia chuckled and dabbed the sweats on my forehead once more with her handkerchief. "Three pups. You certainly outdid yourself, my Queen."

My newborn pups were taken away, cleaned, and swaddied up. Then, they were brought back to me.

"Congratulations, Your Majesties!" the midwife said.

Lela stepped away just as Randolph entered the room with Seraphina in his arms, Calix settled behind me, and together we admired our three adorable pups. The boys were the spitting image of their father, while our daughter mirrored me her sparkling blue eyes peeking at us before fluttering shut again.

Who would have thought that I'd be making three adorable pups with the same man I rejected a few months ago in the forest of Cathena? I guess no one