Nicole’s POV
One year later.
Here I am, under the warm lights of the delivery room, feeling like I just finished the world's most intense marathon, every muscle in my body aching and exhausted. Sweat glues my hair to my forehead and neck. After hours and hours of what felt like an endless, grueling battle, I'm drained of both energy and pride.
Contractions keep crashing over me like relentless tidal waves, pushing me to my limits. Each push feels like I'm coming apart at the seams. I am clutching Alex's hand so tightly my nails might actually be leaving marks. I'm shouting, I'm cursing, at just about everyone and everything—Alex, the doctor, the nurses, even the little munchkin causing all this chaos. Tears are mingling with sweat.
And there's Alex, my beloved mate. He's by my side in
