CHAPTER 78 Pregnancy and Labor

Fire

China, After 5 years

Starting a family was harder than I imagined. After deciding to wait until I reached twenty-one to get pregnant, the heat I experienced every year was something I absolutely dreaded. Although there was an elixir to curb the heat, when it came, it felt like someone threw me in a firepit. While my body's temperature rose to beyond feverish, every part of my body was in pain.

But the sex during heat was utterly and completely amazing. Every nerve, every fiber of my being was alive. Every touch made me quiver, every scent was arousing, every sound was music to my ears. Mmmm...all of that put together sent me to a cataclysmic orgasm each time that left my very core squirting... blissfully.

However, each year was met with disappointment. The pregnancy we prayed for never came. During my twenty-third birthday, I had lost all hope in giving Drew an heir.

On Christmas eve, I decided to go to the Pink Meadow on my own. It was a beautiful moonlit night. The snow beneath my feet shone like diamonds under the moonlight. I sat down in the middle of the meadow, looking up at the moon in despair.

"I thought that was you," a familiar voice said. I knew a vampire was nearby by the scent of his flesh.

"Duke, what brings you here? Shouldn't you be back at the castle for Christmas?" I asked. He sat down beside me and looked up at the moon, then pointed to the sky.

"That star is the star of the golden-eyed wolf," he said. "But look, two small stars are beside it. I heard Alexander's mate is pregnant. She must have given birth to twins."

"Yes. I heard they are very happy," I said sighing. "I'm envious actually."

"You've been trying too hard," the Duke said. "The Moon Goddess will bless you with a pup when it is the right time. I know your aunt has been anticipating for you to give us a grandchild."

"What if I'm cursed just like Ying Yue?" I asked. "All I've done is cause trouble. Maybe I will never get pregnant." He put his arm around me to console me. I gave him a weak smile.

Who would have known that a big Vampire like Duke Stefan Acheron was a teddy bear?

"Fire, you sound like you're nearing forty and going on menopause. You are still young and have many fruitful years ahead of you-" He suddenly stopped and sniffed. I saw the confused expression on his face.

"What is it?" I said, the hairs on my neck standing up. "Is Kai Long nearby?"

"No, but your scent is different," he said. "Your aunt told me you were in heat last month. Have you gone to see Tyler's mom for a check-up?"

I stared at him wide-eyed, shocked at the possibility I was already pregnant. Could it be?

I quickly stood to head back to the territory to confirm the Duke's suspicions.

"If you are indeed pregnant, my niece, then you should take it easy. I will carry you and bring you back to your mansion. You... I mean, we need to start taking care of your little one."

The Duke lifted me in his arms. "Hold on tight. I don't want you to get hurt."

The Duke took me directly to Tyler's mother's clinic for a check-up. When the pregnancy test came out positive, I actually cried.

"Hormones. I knew that sadness was just hormones," the Duke said. "Charles, call the Alpha. He needs to hear the great news. By the way, I have to call your aunt. Tabitha will want to hear this now. She's been praying to the Moon Goddess every night for you to give her grandkids."

Drew suddenly appeared with a big smile on his face. "Now this is a wonderful Christmas present. Fire, we're pregnant?" I nodded my head and he kissed me on my forehead, extremely happy.

"Yes, Alpha. She is six weeks on the way," Doctor Chang-Maxwell said. "I'm prescribing her prenatal vitamins. Since this is her first pregnancy, I want her to take it easy. No physical and magical training. These are activities that can drain a lot of your energy, Fire, especially magic. I will need to monitor you every month until birth. I will also call a colleague of mine, so she can come before your delivery to help assist you with your birth. You'll like her. She's the wolf pack doctor of Alexander Ulrich."

If I had thought being in heat was a problem, being pregnant with the heir of the pack was worst. Everything I did was monitored. It was like I was a prisoner the whole time.

I thought my aunt would treat me differently, but she was way worse than Drew. She only wanted me to lay in bed the whole time and didn't like that I wasn't gaining enough weight during my pregnancy.

She would have her husband bring all kinds of food. I would refuse vehemently, locking myself in the bathroom to vomit.

Soon, I was approaching my seventh month of pregnancy and was due at any time. My aunt became a regular visitor and she fussed over me like a protective mama bear.

"Aren't you suppose to be eating for two?" She asked, eyeing the broth I was sipping. "Can't you eat steak or potatoes or something more that will fill you up?

"You know steak makes me nauseous, Aunt Tabby," I said.

"What about pasta? Spaghetti with meatballs or a thick juicy burger? Pizza? You can't possibly subsist on soup. How about some dumplings? Or some noodles?" I groaned, feeling dizzy.

"Aunt Tabby, just thinking of all that food makes me want to puke."

"What about some cake? Or a croissant? I can have someone drive to Beijing and get you some, including a box of donuts." That actually sounded good. I nodded my head, agreeing to the pastries to her surprise. "Finally, something more than soup." She whipped out her phone and called the Duke.

Surprisingly, the buttery croissant stayed down. My pup was picky with expensive tastes. She obviously got that from her father.

She... I actually didn't know the gender of my pup. I just assumed. But if I were to give birth to a boy, I wouldn't love him any less. I already imagined him looking like his father.

We heard a knock and the door opened to reveal Doctor Chang-Maxwell accompanied by a caucasian woman. I glanced at my aunt. No wonder she was wearing contact lenses.

"Luna Fire, I would like you to meet my colleague, Doctor Frances Williams, the pack doctor of Dark Moon Wolf Pack. She is an excellent wolf doctor and has assisted in many wolf deliveries," Tyler's mom said, introducing us. "She has promised to keep the birth of your pup confidential until the proper time arises."

"Hi, Doctor Williams!" I pushed myself up in a sitting position on the bed. "How is Alexander?" I asked curiously. I wanted to know how he was.

"He's doing well. He and Hope are busy with their twins," she answered, checking my vitals. "Luna Fire, I need to get an ultrasound. Your vitals are stable, but you have lost a bit of weight and you look quite pale."

"See, Fire. I told you you should try and eat more," my aunt said. I sighed.

"Doctor Williams, my overprotective aunt, Duchess Tabitha Acheron," I said. I didn't use queen because there were only a few queens around the world and none of them had the name Tabitha.

"Royalty. It's nice to make your acquaintance, Duchess," Doctor Williams said, smiling. Charles suddenly appeared, pushing the ultrasound machine into the bedroom. Doctor Chang-Maxwell began hooking it up to an outlet, so Doctor Williams could take a look.

After spreading some really cold gel all over my protruding belly, she slid the probe on the gel, slightly pressing against my skin.

"I saw on your file you are experiencing hyperemesis gravidarum. Many pregnant humans experience it, including wolves. I'll be putting you on an IV to prevent dehydration," Doctor Williams said, pointing at the monitor. "And there she is, Luna. Heart beat is strong. Weight of the pup is normal. Ten fingers and ten toes. Looks like she's waving." She clicked on the control panel and a print of the ultrasound image came out. Doctor Williams clicked on the control panel again and jumped.

"What is it, Doc?" I asked, concerned.

"Oh my Goddess, it says here your cervix is already dilated about two centimeters. I need to check," she answered. I was already in labor?

She put on a pair of medical gloves, removed my underwear and checked. "Yes, your cervix is dilated. Doctor Chang, I need to do a spinal block. Get an IV drip started first, then prepare the OR. I'll be doing a cesarean section. Luna Fire is too weak for a normal delivery," she told Doctor Chang-Maxwell. "Luna Fire, I know we've only met today, but I assure you, I will deliver your baby safely. Come tomorrow, after you have rested, you will be cradling your new baby girl in your arms."

"Aunt Tabby," I exclaimed, reaching out to her. I was frightened. Everything was going so fast. One minute I was asking about Alexander, the next, I was in labor.

"Fire, don't panic," my aunt said. "Breathe, love. Your baby is coming." She started taking long breaths with me to calm me down.

Easy for her to say. She wasn't the one who was going to be sliced open by a scalpel.

An image of a scalpel flashed before my eyes...

And I fainted.