Chapter 61
SKY
It was coming.
It was coming and there was nothing I could do to stop it. My memories of being strapped to a table, screaming through the agony alone, wrapped tendrils of fear around my heart like barbed wire.
“ADAM!” I wailed, panic choking me despite the fact that my Alpha was right there on the bed beside me, stroking my sweaty hair and peppering kisses atop my head. “I can’t do this! I CAN’T!”
“Yes, you can, Sky,” Adam assured me in that soft, steady Alpha tone. “We’re here, baby. We’re right here.”
Fletcher squeezed my hand, encouraging me. “You’re doing amazing, baby,” he breathed, his mossy eyes shiny with tears. “Just breathe. Breathe.”
Another contraction hit and I howled in pain, my body awash with so many sensations and emotions that I felt both overstimulated and overwhelmed. I just wanted to escape.
“I wanna go home,” I cried.
“You are home,” Adam murmured. “You’re home and we’re right here beside you. Just a little longer. You can do it.”
“She’s almost here, daddies,” the midwife called from between my legs, and a sob broke from me. “Push, daddy, push!”
I screamed and gripped Fletcher’s hand with everything that I had, my inner-wolf howling and my thoughts a scrambled mess, and the pressure, the pain and—
“WAAAAAAH!” a bleated cry filled the air. My heart stuttered and damn near stopped. My baby.
My baby was alive.
“What a powerful set of lungs,” the midwife said with a chuckle, turning away, blocking my view of the bloody mess, and my chest constricted.
She was taking my baby, just like him!
“N-No!” I struggled, but Adam held me down with one arm. He kissed my sweaty bangs and pressed his forehead to mine.
“Shh, it’s okay. Just wait a second, love. Give it a second.”
The baby was wailing in little lamb cries, and I cried right along with her, hiccuping.
Fletcher smoothed my hair. “We’re right here. Almost done, darling. Almost done.”
Through my tears, I couldn’t see much but the blur of shapes in front of me. I blinked fast and furiously as the midwife came over and gently tucked my infant daughter into my arms, cleaned up and wrapped in a buttery-yellow blanket.
My baby…
I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t see her face through the tears because they wouldn’t stop falling, but I cradled her close. I breathed her in, brushed my nose against her soft, still-damp skin and listened to her snuffling whimpers. I felt her tiny warmth against my bare chest. She was right here.
Fletcher dabbed at my face with a tissue. I sniffled and blinked down at the scrunch-faced little angel in my arms. Her cheeks were bright red and her face was puffy. She had golden eyes, just like Adam, and absolutely no hair.
I let out an abrupt laugh. I couldn’t believe it. This was actually happening. I had a daughter. I laughed again, but it cracked somewhere down the middle. I shook my head and held her close.
“Breathe, Sky,” Adam murmured, rubbing my arm.
“It’s okay. We won’t let you fail her. We’ll be right here—for both of you, come rain or shine, night or day.
If she cries, we’ll come running, and if you cry?
We’ll be right there, by your side. I promise, as your Alpha and as your mate. We won’t let you down. I love you.”
Adam kissed me gently, and tears spilled free again. I was so overwhelmed, but his words made my heart ache in the best of ways.
“Adam took the words right out of my mouth,” Fletcher added. “I love you, Sky, and I already love this little angel. She’s so beautiful.”
I huffed out a low laugh. “She’s the ugliest baby I’ve ever seen.”
Fletcher gasped. Adam just laughed. “That’s because she’s been squished up in your womb for nine months. She’ll look normal soon, I promise.”
“She’s beautiful,” Fletcher said again. “But she needs a name.”
The baby fussed a bit, and Fletcher carefully helped us situate so that she could nurse. As she latched on, a flood of warmth filled me, my throat knotting with emotion.
My baby. My ray of sunshine. I gazed up at my mates, nibbling on my lip. “I think she already has one.” Adam and Fletcher exchanged a look. “Sunshine.”
“That’s absolutely perfect, Sky,” Adam said, smiling at me. “Our little Sunshine.”
I brushed my finger against the infant’s soft cheek and smiled. It really was perfect.