Chapter 199 Dragon POV

Chapter 199 Dragon POV
Lilith woke me with a scream—raw, sharp, full of pain that ripped me straight out of sleep. By the time I got my bearings, her water had already broken, soaking through everything as we rushed out of the house.

I drove fast—but careful. Too careful and not careful enough all at once. My hands gripped the wheel so tight my knuckles ached. Beside me, Lilith breathed through the contractions, her jaw clenched, her fingers fumbling with her phone.

She managed to send out her pre-typed message. Tristan is on his way.

By the time we reached the hospital, my heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might crack my ribs open.

We’re in a room within minutes. Nurses move around us in a practiced blur—efficient, calm, controlled. They check Lilith’s vitals, hook her up to monitors, adjust machines that beep steadily in the background.

Dr. Jones comes in once Lilith is settled, rolling over on her stool as she checks her progress.

"Almost there!" she says brightly, looking between us.

Almost there.

I stay at Lilith’s side, holding her hand—while she absolutely crushes mine.

"We have time if you want it," Dr. Jones adds gently. "If the pain is too much..."

"Nope. I’m fine," Lilith insists. Another contraction hits.

My hand—

My poor, mangled hand.

Man up, asshole. It’s just a hand. It’ll heal. I nod to myself, swallowing it down. This isn’t about me.

But fear creeps in anyway.

Because of my mother.

Because of everything that could go wrong.

I can’t—I can’t do this without her.

My phone buzzes nonstop in my pocket. Messages pour in—my father, Rose and Matt, Lucas and Lacy, Rage, Nova, Ares...everyone who couldn’t make it.

The door bursts open.

Alpha Taylor and Luna Bella rush in, slightly out of breath like they ran the entire way. Jenna and Frankie follow close behind.

Frankie’s eyes drop immediately to my hand.

"Switch me," he says without hesitation. "Let that heal."

Lilith turns, already apologizing, but I shake my head, calming her. "It’s fine. I’m good."

She’s the one giving birth.

Bella presses ice chips to Lilith’s lips. Jenna moves behind her, rubbing her back, taking quiet instruction from Lilith on where it helps most.

Dr. Jones returns, rolling back into position. She checks again, then nods.

"Alright. We’re ready to push."

Her eyes flick around the room. "Lilith, is everyone staying?"

We all go still, waiting.

There’s no way I’m leaving.

"Whoever wants to stay can," Lilith says, breath tight. "But no one better look down there."

Another contraction takes her, cutting off anything else.

I take my place beside her again, offering my hand. Bella stands on her other side. Dr. Jones guides us—where to stand, how to support her, when to encourage her.

Alpha Taylor hangs back with Frankie and Jenna.

Jenna’s eyes glisten with tears she keeps trying to blink away. I feel for her—this can’t be easy—but she stays. For Lilith.

My focus snaps back to my mate.

She pushes. Breathes. Pushes again.

Over and over, like a relentless rhythm.

A cycle we can’t escape.

Something feels off.

Dr. Jones’ expression tightens—just for a second.

Then—

She smiles.

"Alright," she says. "He’s crowning."

Her gaze lifts to me. "Dad, do you want to see?"

I hesitate.

Do I?

I’ve seen a lot. Things most people wouldn’t survive.

I step forward anyway.

And it’s—

The most beautiful, terrifying thing I’ve ever witnessed.

I go lightheaded instantly, the color draining from my face.

"Are you okay, Dragon?" Lilith asks mid-push.

I blink at her.

She’s giving birth—and she’s worried about me.

A laugh breaks through the tension. Nurses chuckle, Dr. Jones smiles, even her parents let out a breath.

Jenna grins wide.

"I’ll survive, butterfly," I murmur, pressing a kiss to Lilith’s forehead. "Let’s get this boy out."

A few more pushes—

And then he’s here.

Dr. Jones lifts him gently.

Tristan.

Small. Perfect. Strawberry blond hair, bright blue eyes.

He doesn’t cry.

He just...looks. Like he’s already taking everything in.

They carry him off to be cleaned, and I barely have time to process it before—

Something shifts.

Dr. Jones freezes.

"Oh my Goddess," she breathes. "We have another."

The room goes silent.

"I thought—the scans—the heart rate—" She shakes her head. "It was always one."

"What are you saying?" Bella asks sharply.

Lilith looks at me, confusion written all over her face.

"Twins," Dr. Jones says. "You’re having twins."

Lilith doesn’t stop pushing. Her body takes over, driving her forward.

I hold her hand, pressing kisses to her damp forehead, breathing her in—grounding myself in her scent.

Then—

Something changes.

The color starts to drain from her.

Her hair fades first, shifting back to white and silver. Her skin pales, glowing faintly. Her eyes—

Black.

Gone is the color I just got used to.

Gone.

My stomach drops.

Lilith collapses back, unconscious.

"Lilith..." Panic claws up my throat.

But Dr. Jones doesn’t stop.

Moments later—

"It’s a girl!" she announces.

Another tiny baby, strawberry blonde and blue-eyed—but this one screams, her cries filling the room.

I barely register it.

I’m shaking Lilith.

"Don’t do this to me," I choke. "Wake up, Lilith—don’t do this to me!"

She surges upright suddenly, gasping.

"What—what’s happening? Did you say twins?"

Dr. Jones smiles calmly. "I still need you to push. The placenta needs to come out."

A loud, wet splosh follows.

I regret looking immediately.

Lilith actually laughs at my face—until she catches her reflection in my eyes.

Her expression shifts.

"What happened? Why do I...."

"You look like yourself again," I say quickly, trying to steady her.

Then Ruth’s words echo in my mind.

What was given...will be taken away.

"What was given...will be taken away." Lilith repeats, reading my mind, the premonition.

Lilith goes still. "...Sorry," she says softly. "I know you wanted three."

Even now—she jokes.

The nurses place both babies in her arms.

Two.

We have two.

The weight of it crashes into me all at once. My knees almost give out, but I lock them, gripping the edge of the bed.

Lilith carefully passes me our daughter.

She’s so small.

So warm.

We don’t even have a name for her.

"Lilith...what are we going to call her?"

Names flash through my mind—none of them right.

Not my mother’s.

Not hers.

Something else. Something that’s ours.

Lilith watches me, quiet, waiting.

The answer comes suddenly.

“Dahlia.”

\-The End.