CHAPTER 6 - BIRTH - LYRA'S POV
1346 Words
In this dark pit, the contractions began to hit me hard. Every wave of pain made me grasp Kaels hand so tightly that both our knuckles went white. The only light I had, was from the small fire in the entryway of the small cave I was in.
Elly remained calm, talking to me through the birth. ''You can do this, Lyra, your body is designed for it. Just let it happen.'' She said, her voice steady even when I felt like I was falling apart.
As the hours crawled on, my contractions progressed, and my dilation was on track, though I wished it would hurry up.
With each painful contraction and push, I could feel my baby boy inching closer, my tiny light of hope amid the darkness, but I was weakening and the urge to give up was strong, but Kael's presence pushed me forward.
''Dig deep, Lyra'' He encouraged. ''You can't give up now.''
I started crying in between contractions, ''I don't want to have him in this wretched place.''
''Well too bad, girl.'' Kael kissed my forehead, ''You don't exactly have a choice. There's no carriage waiting to whisk you off to the hospital.''
''Really?'' I tried to joke in between tears, ''I ordered one hours ago. You'd think it would be here by now.''
Kael smiled and kissed my head again. ''Come on, now. It's nearly over.
The pain hit worse than before, and I gripped Kaels hand again, my fingers digging into his hand, as waves of agony crashed over me.
"Push," Elly instructed. Her voice firm but calm.
I screamed in pain but pushed hard, the sounds echoing off the hard walls.
''That's it Lyra, you're doing great,'' Elly told me, ''The heads out, one more big push now.''
I was exhausted, and didn't have it in me, but Kael encouraged me, and I bared down once more, pushing hard, and crying out again.
I felt something slip out of me, and then pure relief. I only had a second to enjoy the lack of pain, when I heard the most beautiful cry I'd ever heard.
''Is he okay?'' I asked.
''How did you know it was a boy?'' Kael asked, as he looked down at my son, who was being checked on by Elly. ''He's an Alpha.'' Kael frowned and looked at me, but I avoided his eyes.
''I know.''
''The father's an Alpha?''
I nodded, and tried to look at me son, who was being wrapped up by Elly. ''He's healthy, you did great.'' She gently passed him over to me.
I held him close, and started crying. ''Oh my Goddess, he's so beautiful.''
''What are you going to call this little Alpha?'' Elly asked, as she continued to do something between my legs, and I felt a strange tugging.
''Aidan, it means little fire.'' I answered, ''He's my light in the darkness. My warm fire.''
''That's beautiful. Welcome to the world little Aiden.'' Elly smiled, and started washing her hands, ''The placenta is all out, you should heal just fine, but get some rest for now.''
''I will, thank you, Elly.''
''You're welcome.'' She smiled, and I saw tears in her eyes, ''It's nice that the last baby I help come into the world, will live.''
''It wasn't your fault that the baby died.''
She smiled and nodded, but otherwise, didn't respond.
''Can we come in now?!'' Kaliah asked. ''I want to see the baby!''
I laughed. I was exhausted, but allowed everyone to come over to see the newest member of our little pack, and watched with a smile on my face, as he was past around, being cuddled and cooed over. We might be in the darkness, but he would be loved.
I must have fallen asleep, because I woke up frantically looking around, when I heard Aidan crying.
''Easy, Lyra, I've got him.'' Kael told me, as he cuddled my newborn.
''Is he okay?''
''He's just hungry, Alpha's eat more than other Lycans. Try feeding him.''
I blushed a little as I slowly sat up.
''Don't be shy, girl.'' He shook his head at me, as I hesitated and peeked at him, ''I've told you a million times, my mate's the only woman I want.''
I nodded and pulled my dress down, as he passed over my son, and he latched instantly, ''Oh, this feels weird.'' I laughed.
''He's a greedy little thing, isn't he?'' Kael commented, before sitting back against the wall. ''So. Do you want to tell me who the father really is?''
I gulped nervously. He'd asked this several times before, but I'd always avoid the question.
''I don't want to tell you.''
''Why?''
''I'm afraid you or the others will hurt him.''
Kael looked heartbroken by my confession. ''I would never harm a child.''
I nodded, and looked at my son, ''Prince Tyson.''
''The b*stard who threw you in here for the death of his father?''
''Yes.''
''You sure know how to pick them, don't you, girl?'' He shook his head at me. ''Can't wait for him to realize he's never going to have an heir with his mate.''
''What do you mean?''
''He will only ever have one Alpha child, and he's right there.'' He pointed to my arms, ''His mate and him will only procure Beta's, and he'll never know why.''
''He has a twin, Chace will have an heir. He's already got a chosen mate. Actually, they're probably already married by this point.''
''Nope. Not how it works. Even with twins.'' Kael gently stroked my son's head, ''Twins are connected in ways even we don't fully understand. The first one to have a child is the one who produces the heir. If you'd gotten pregnant by the brother, it would still have been an Alpha child. I'm glad they'll never have an heir for their pathetic Kingdom. And the irony of you being the one to take that away from Keres's line after what he did to us. It's poetry.''
''I do like that he's being scr*wed over.'' I smiled, and looked at my baby, ''I hate that he's related to that monster though.''
''How did you even end up sleeping with the Prince?'' He asked, ''It was consensual, wasn't it?''
''It was. I loved him. I... I love him still, despite everything.'' I admitted, hating how weak that made me feel. ''How do I stop?''
''I don't know.'' He shrugged, ''It's been years and I still love my girl just as much as the day I met her.''
''But you were mates.''
''And you think you and this prince aren't'' He asked, and I frowned at him, ''You were able to carry an Alpha's child to term without a mark. I assured you. You are his mate.''
''No.'' I shook my head, as tears filled my eyes. ''I.... I can't be. He'd never have believed that I'd killed his father if we were mates, he'd have believed me.''
''Life's not always black or white, girl.'' He told me, as he stood up, ''Grief can make you do horrible things. Things you'll regret until the day you die.''
''So what? I should forgive him?'' I asked angrily.
''That's up to you.'' He told me, ''Finish the feeding, I'll go get you some food.''
''Thank you.''
I looked down at my son. I'd really never seen anyone so beautiful. ''I'm so sorry, Aidan.'' I started crying, ''I'm so sory you had to be born here. That have to live here, but I swear to you. I will get you out. I will never give up, and I will always love you, even if your father won't.''
I sat in the silence until the Alpha returned and gave me some food.
''So, how did you meet the Prince? You've never really told me about your past after leaving the pack. I assume because you were hiding who the father of this little pup was.''
''Do you really want to know?'' I asked.
''Nothing else to do?'' He shrugged, ''And I could use a good story.''
''Okay.'' I smiled.
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