Chapter 28 #2
Throwing the straps of all three of our bags over my shoulder, I drop them by the door and head to the bathroom.
Steam covers the mirror, and soft groans fill the air as I step into the shower and rip the door open.
Hannah’s wide brown eyes fly to mine, flushed with pain.
“We’re going to the hospital,” I growl. Her lips part to argue, but another contraction steals her voice.
I shut the water off and wrap her in a big, fuzzy towel. Her hair is in a messy bun, so I leave it be and focus on drying her body and slipping her into underwear and a comfy dress. Her outfit doesn’t matter when she’ll have to change into a paper gown at the hospital.
Foster meets us at the door with a half-asleep princess in his arms. He has their bags in his free hand.
I grab the other three, and we’re out the door.
I’m glad I took the time to install the new car seat last weekend, as that’s one less thing we have to remember as we rush down to the parking garage.
“Oh, Fates,” Hannah gasps, nails digging into the door handle as she folds over on herself. Yeah, she’s in real labor this time. Our son is ready to make his entrance into the world.
I park at the front to the hospital, tossing my keys to a nearby valet who rushes over to help us when he sees me dive out of the car.
“Pack Wilson,” I tell him, rattling off my cell number so he can log us into the system.
None of us glance back as he pulls away; all our focus is on the panting woman being wheeled into the emergency room.
Everything moves quickly after we’re inside. I stay glued to Hannah’s side as she’s taken to the maternity ward, only pausing at the doors to kiss Kaitlin and Foster. He’s going to stay in the waiting room with her until my mom arrives, then he will join us.
Hopefully, that happens before the baby arrives.
Inside the room, I drop our bags in a corner after making sure with a nurse that they won’t be in the way.
Hannah is quickly changed and set up with monitors along her stomach.
I stand by her head, letting her hold my hand as the lead nurse positions her legs to check how she is progressing.
“Well, Mrs. Wilson, you are almost six centimeters dilated. If you would like an epidural, now is the time to get one.”
Another contraction makes her fingers lock down around mine. “I-I don’t know,” she pants as it releases. “I didn’t have one with my daughter.”
“Was that your choice, or was it never an option?” I ask her.
I wouldn’t put it past the brainwashed doctors in Whitlan to have refused to perform them.
Hannah winces, and not from the pain. Leaning down, I push a stray strand of hair away from her cheek and stare into her eyes.
“If you want one to lessen the pain, then get one, Wildfire. The choice is yours. Not the doctors, not mine, not your fathers. Yours.”
She chews on her lip, biting too hard and making it bleed when the next contraction hits.
I pull the broken flesh loose and wipe the blood away.
“I would like to go without. An epidural isn’t something I considered in preparing for labor, and I would rather not rush into getting one without researching it first.”
The lead nurse nods and tells us she will be back in a few minutes to recheck how she’s progressing.
Foster rushes in as she is leaving, quickly joining me at Hannah’s side.
“Good, I made it! Momma Brooke has Kaitlin. Apparently, the children’s wing has an indoor playground, so she’s going to take her over there to play for a bit. ”
Hannah smiles, her lips tight around the edges. “She’ll love that.”
Nursing staff bustle around the room, setting things up for the baby and the delivery.
We focus on our Beta. Soothing her with cool washcloths and holding her through the contractions.
Her contractions are getting stronger, so it isn’t surprising when the lead nurse tells us she’s at nearly eight centimeters only half an hour after the first check.
“Did things progress this quickly with Kaitlin?” Foster asks, rubbing her back with his palm to help ease a little of the pain.
“Mhmm.” Hannah nods, body tense as she braces for the next contraction. “As soon as she decided she was ready to enter the world, there was no stopping her.”
I’m in awe of her strength as she rides the contractions, gripping our hands tightly but never breaking.
The pain in her body must be immense; I wouldn’t fault her for crying or screaming.
Hell, I want to scream for her. Bark at the nursing staff and demand they check her again.
Hannah grimaces and groans, letting her body do the work until it is time for her to push.
“Mrs. Wilson! Looks like this little one wanted to come a few days early! You’re progressing nicely, and the baby’s heartbeat is strong. Let’s see where we’re at.” Hannah’s doctor finally joins us, smiling brightly at her. The nurse had told us she was with another patient. Today must be baby day.
Doc slides a small stool to the end of the bed and checks Hannah’s cervix.
When her brows bounce, I know it’s time.
“Okay, Hannah, you are fully dilated, and the baby is crowning. Let’s get you into position and start pushing.
Foster, I want you to climb on the bed behind Hannah and purr.
That will help her muscles relax and make the breaks between pushing easier on her body. ”
I help Hannah sit up enough for us to adjust the bed, and Foster slides behind her.
He takes his shirt off, tossing it to me, and presses against her skin-to-skin.
I feel the moment his purr rattles to life, because Hannah’s limbs melt.
The relief on her face makes me wish I’d known to do that earlier.
Next time, I’ll know. If she decides she wants more children. If she doesn’t, that’s fine, too.
“Shepherd, you’re going to take one of her legs, behind her knee, and bring it to her chest.” A nurse mimics me on the other side, spreading around the baby bump so we don’t crush him. “Perfect. Okay, Hannah, it’s all you now. As soon as you feel the need to push, do it.”
A few seconds pass before she grits her teeth and bears down. Pain laces her cry, and a tear slips from her eye. Foster rests his head on her shoulder, breathing with her when she relaxes. “You’re doing so good, Angel. I’m so damn proud of you.”
Time slows as she continues to push. What feels like hours but is only twenty minutes later, the doctor pulls a pink, gooey baby into her arms. “Congratulations, Pack Wilson!” A nurse hastily dries our crying son before they pull aside Hannah’s gown and press him to her chest. A head of dark brown hair covers his skull, and the loudest cry fills the room.
“You did it, Wildfire.” Awestruck isn’t an accurate enough word to describe how I feel gazing down at my Beta holding our son.
The love in her eyes as she rubs a finger over his chubby cheek brings tears to my eyes.
She smiles up at me, exhausted but so damn happy.
I press a kiss to her sweaty head and bring my forehead to hers.
“I love you so much, Hannah. Thank you for letting us take this journey with you.”
Foster sniffles, hugging her closer as he stares down at our baby. “Your momma is one amazing woman,” he whispers. “We’re the luckiest pack in the world to have a mate like her.”
I can barely take my eyes off them, enraptured by the sight of the three of them wrapped up on the bed. Even sweat-soaked and tired, Hannah shines brighter than the sun. We’re lucky indeed.
After Hannah feeds him, the nurses take him to be weighed and measured. She peeks up at me, cheeks tinted pink. “Would you like to hold him after they’re done?”
Fuck yes, I would love that. Emotion clogs my throat, so all I can do is jerk my head in agreement.
A nurse re-wraps his blankets, keeping him nice and snug, and then places him in my arms. Staring down at his small face, I fall harder than ever before.
This is my son. Not by blood, but that will never change the way my heart feels.
As his teeny palm wraps around the tip of my finger, I vow to protect him, always. All of them. My pack.
An hour after our son made his way into the world, we’re cleared to bring Kaitlin back. I can’t stop smiling as I make my way to the waiting room to find them. A few feet from their chair sits an agent I recognize from the DAU. We share brief nods, but I don’t stop to chat.
“Sheppie! How’s Hannah?” Mom asks when she looks up from the puzzle they are building.
“Tired, but good.” I squat next to them and tap my daughter on the shoulder. “Hey, Princess, ready to meet your baby brother?”
I chuckle as she jumps to her feet, ready to run to our room.
She pouts when I remind her to put the puzzle back first, but Mom helps her clear it quickly.
With my princess in my arms, I lead Mom through the double doors and toward my mates.
Foster holds the baby when I arrive, cooing softly as he walks him around the room.
He grins when he sees us and passes our son back to Hannah.
“Come here, Little Bug,” she says, patting the bed beside her. I let Kaitlin go so she can clamber up. “This is your brother.”
“He’s tiny. And wrinkly.” We all laugh as she scrunches her nose. One hand reaches out to touch his hair. “Hello, brudder. I is your big sister. I can’t wait to play with you.”
Dragging my phone from my pocket, I snap a picture, capturing the way she stares down at him softly.
It doesn’t last long, because despite her excitement, the baby won’t be able to play with her the way she wants for several months.
She is quickly distracted by telling Hannah about the indoor playground and the food Mom bought her in the cafeteria.
I take the baby from Hannah, leaving her to cuddle with our big kid, and lay him in Mom’s arms. “Your grandson.”
Mom speaks to him softly, tears streaming down her cheeks in happy rivulets. “Does he have a name?” My head shakes. That’s Hannah’s decision, and it isn’t one she has made yet. For now, he is Baby Wilson. “I’ll call him Little Bear, then. He certainly is a fuzzy little fellow.”
She takes the rocking chair in the corner and enjoys holding her grandson for the first time. Our family has grown so much, and I’m incredibly grateful for all of them. My mates, our parents, our kids. This is a dream come true.