Chapter 1: The Sacrifice
“Jaxson, It's time!” Annalynn exclaims.”We
have got to go now!” Annalynn struggles to remain calm as the intensity of her contractions increase. Jaxson panics and begins rushing to get the bags, throwing them one by one into the car. Within the blink of an eye he is back by his wife's side to help her out of the house and into the car. Jaxson helps Annalynn into the car and buckles her in.
Jaxson then sprints around the car jumping in and speeds off in the direction of the packs midwife. During the short drive Jaxson places a few frantic phone calls to fellow pack members that Annalynn was in labor. Shortly Jaxson pulls into Zada's drive way surprised that his brother Slate is already there waiting. Slate helped Annalynn out of the car and into the house leaving house. It doesn't take Jaxson long to find the room where Annalynn set up; Once he enters the room, the first thing he notices is his wife has begun to lose color and is shivering as if she was freezing. The machine that Annalynn is hooked up to shows that the contractions are coming on stronger and closer than ever before. Zada informs Annalynn that she needs to do a pelvic exam to check her cervix to see how she is progressing. Annalynn uses what strength she has to nod her head to allow Zada to do her exam. Jaxson stands by his wife wiping her head as cold sweat beads down her forehead. With his other hand Jaxson takes a hold of her hand seeing that his beloved wife is getting weaker and the spark in her eye has begun to fade. Zada tells Annalynn that she must remain calm as she does the exam, Zada then opens Annalynns legs spread eagle and reaches up to her vigina and checks the cervix. Zada looks up at Annalynn and lets her know that she is in fact fully dilated.
Zada then looks to Jaxson and tells him that it's time to have this baby. Annalynn grips her husband's hand as she tries to remain calm and takes deep breaths to prepare herself to push. Annalynn looks over at her husband and whispers i love you as Zada begins to count down for her to push. Annalynn pushes as hard as she can, bearing down with all her might. Zada tells her to break and take a few deep breaths. Once again Zada starts to count as soon as she says two she sees Annalynns body fall limp.
Zada panics and quickly gives commands for everyone to get out. I'm losing them. Jaxson quickly kisses his wife as water begins to glaze over his eyes and tears stream down his face, he walks out of the room and waits in the hall. Jaxson starts pacing in the hall not knowing if they were going to make it or not. So he does the only thing he knows to do and that's to pray, he prays for the moon goddess to save his wife and child. Meanwhile inside the room Zada grabs the emergency scalpel and makes an incision down Annalynn’s abdomen. Blood fills the area making Zada have to suction the blood before she could continue., then went back to make the last incision to the water bag making sure not to cut too deep so she didn't graze the baby.
She lays the scalpel down taking both hands and threads them into the opening wrapping her hands around the baby’s head and guides the baby out. As soon as the baby is free it begins to cry, relieved Zada clamps the cord then cuts it. Zada proceeds to wipe the baby clean of blood and does a quick exam to make sure the baby is okay. Once she finished she wrapped the baby up and laid her under a heat lamp to keep warm. Zada returns her attention to Annalynn clearing the placenta and making sure her belly was free of blood then sewed her up on the inside and placed 12 staples down her abdomen to close the incision.
Zada, not being trained for anything other than prenatal care realizes there is only a faint pulse found in Annalynns body. Zada tried for the next two hours performing CPR to try and bring Annalynn back but failed Annalynns body began to grow colder and began to turn a light blue in color. What pulse was present was now gone. Annalynn
has just died on the table. Zada covered her body with a sheet ,and went back to caring for the baby. Zada wanted to make sure everything checked out to be okay for the fact her mother had just died. Jaxson was still pacing the halls back and forth in front of the door. He had finally waited long enough and wanted to know what was going on so he peeked his head in the door.
The first thing he saw was his wife covered over with a sheet and Zada quicking checked the baby over. Jaxson ran to his wife's side and fell to his knees crying "You can't leave me like this Anna, Baby not now we have a family, and our child needs you" Slate comes in and walks over to his brother
placing his hand on his brothers shoulder "i know you think your alone right now ,but your not. It may take a village to raise a child but you have us, we are your village."
Jaxson askes Slate to help him up, once
Jaxson is up on his feet they walk over to Zada to see his child for the first time. Jaxson reaches out for Zada to hand over his child, Zada abides and lays the baby in his arms and smiles. Jaxson looks down
at his baby and sees the brightest set of blue eyes looking back up at him. Jaxson felt his heart melt into a puddle; it was true love. Jaxson was wrapped around its little finger from first sight. Zada tells Jaxson that his daughter checks out to be in perfect health. Jaxson looks over at his brother with a beaming smile “did you hear that its a girl.” Slate looks shocked and congratulates his brother on his new baby.