Bonus Epilogue #2
I nod. “Okay.”
He leaves me in the darkness, with only the flashlight on my cellphone illuminating the side of the bed beside me. It feels like he’s gone forever, but before he walks back through the door, a contraction hits. He drops everything on the bed and crawls over to me.
“That’s it, you’re doing great, baby.”
“How far apart?”
“Still around eight minutes,” I breathe.
The contraction passes, and he helps me pin my hair up and gets me out of my wet clothes.
I want to be naked. I don’t want anything clinging to my skin.
Sweat glistens off my naked body. He sits me in the wicker egg chair with a towel underneath me and a heated water bottle on my lower back, alleviating some of the pain in my lower back.
On the bed, he lays down a shower curtain, multiple towels, and blankets before helping me crawl back into bed.
“Dom—”
“I’m here, Jasmira, I’m here.” He smiles, breathing with me, whispering nothing but sweet love down the bond.
You’re strong.
You’re beautiful.
Your body is amazing.
I’m proud of you.
I love you.
Our children are beyond lucky to have you.
He holds my hand, never letting go. The contraction passes, and I take a sip of water.
He sets up candles and lanterns all over the room and turns on the playlist I created on my phone, specifically for labor and delivery. The music and flickering candlelight bring some comfort, regardless of the snowstorm brewing outside.
“I’m going to go grab a few things we need.”
“But I don’t want to be alone.”
“I know,” he coos, giving me a lingering kiss on my forehead, gently rubbing our noses together. “But I’ll make it quick, I promise. Take my phone and see if a call or text comes through.”
I take his phone, placing it beside me, while he dashes around in the darkness of the house, gathering more of what we need. Suddenly, the phone vibrates with a flood of text messages from Sadie.
Sadie: Will send for help, but we’re all snowed in. For low back pain, have her go on all fours. You need towels, blankets, gloves, warm water, scissors, a nasal aspirator, a clean string, alcohol, and a bowl. Dry baby off immediately, place baby skin-to-skin with Jas.
She sent instructions on cutting the cord, the afterbirth, how to care for me if it’s a simple birth, and what to look out for in case something is wrong.
What if something goes horribly wrong? I try to send her a text, but nothing happens. It won’t send.
The pain slams into me, and I toss the phone to the side before I throw it. I fold forward with a sound not quite a scream, but isn’t a sob either, my hands gripping the blankets.
“Fucking hell!” I shout, the words ripping out of my throat. I inhale a shaky breath—quickly—through my nose and let it out of my mouth, my belly tightens into an angry, tense ball.
Pant-pant-blow. Goddess, it hurts.
I’m with you. I’m coming, love. I hear him say. My heart warms as love floods me.
“Sadie’s texts came through,” I pant, trying to catch my breath when he returns. “We still can’t call or text anyone. It’s a blessing her texts came through.”
I whimper as I stretch, trying to lie in any position and get comfortable, but that won’t happen until this baby is out of me.
“Dom—we’re going to have to deliver this baby. I’m scared. What if something goes wrong?”
He gently takes my face. “Jasmira, my wife, my love—look at me.”
I look at him, really look at him. I wince at the pain in my lower back, but his eyes are steady.
“Nothing will go wrong. I am confident in that. I am confident in you and this body. We will take this slow, yeah?” With his forehead pressed against mine, he whispers a quick prayer to Moiraya. “Now, what did Sadie say?”
I hand him the phone, and he reads it. I can see it on his face, he’s starting to come up with a plan. He tells me what we’re going to do as he helps me breathe through another contraction.
Five minutes apart now. It’s not slowing down. It’s happening. He gathers everything my midwife said to get, washes his hands, and sterilizes what he can with rubbing alcohol. I feel like I’m watching a movie, but this is real life. We’re about to have our pup.
“Pant-pant-blow. That’s it, that’s my girl.”
He checks to make sure Seren is okay in her room. It’s late, but he did put a small lantern in her room in case she wants to read or draw, and some light music, but I doubt it will drown out any of the sounds.
“Let’s get on your knees,” he says, helping me turn to my side, lifting me to all fours. I may look like a cow grazing in the pastures, but it helps. He massages my lower back in between each contraction and applies heat, coaching me through the contractions. They’re coming quicker now.
“How far apart are they now?” I pant. They have to be less than five minutes. I can barely think.
“About every two to three minutes.”
I shake my head and lean forward, resting on my arms with my ass in the air. My hips sway side to side gently until the pressure between my legs builds, the pain in my back eases, and the urge to push takes over.
I pop my head up, turning slowly to lean back against the pillows. “Dom—”
“You got this, baby. I love you.”
And with the next contraction, I push. My body is ready.
I scream, feeling the head crowning. There’s no ring of fire sensation, only intense fucking pressure. I want to meet my sweet baby. I want this baby out!
“Good job, love, slow it down some and take a few breaths,” Dom says.
My curls are clinging to the sweat dripping down my face. I breathe, my head resting back, waiting for the next contraction to build.
Dominik eyes my stomach when it tightens. I give another push, my hands digging underneath my knee, every muscle straining as I bear down with everything I have.
“You got it.”
I cry out, exhausted and shaking, but he tells me to push again, one small push, we’re almost done. Our baby is almost born. I push, his soothing voice keeping me grounded, focused. He believes in me completely, and the relief is immediate.
I gasp, letting out a low moan, my body collapsing back against the pillows and headboard. I want to rest. I need rest. I’m exhausted.
Jasmira. Amataria, open your eyes.
A cry floods the room, and it's the sweetest sound. I open my eyes to see Dominik holding our baby.
I cry—tears of happiness, listening to the healthy cries as Dom rubs the baby with a warm towel. He uses a nasal aspirator, clearing the nose and mouth of mucus before wrapping a towel and a small blanket around our cub.
“Born at one o’clock in the morning, exactly,” Dominik says, handing the small bundle to me.
“Shh…shh...” I coo, laying the baby against my breast for skin-to-skin. I gently rub the dark curly hair, placing a kiss on the soft locks. “Is it a boy? He looks like you. I dreamt of him.”
Dominik blinks at me with wet eyes. A tear falls down my cheek as I smile at him.
Goddess, I love this man.
His little mouth begins to root, and he immediately latches onto my nipple.
“He’s beautiful,” Dominik breathes, his voice soft and unsteady.
He begins the process of delivering the afterbirth, cutting the cord, and performing a uterine massage.
He switches the towels regardless of the new ones getting more discharge on them, covers us with a blanket, and snuggles beside us.
He keeps checking his phone for any communication from outside our little world here.
Our little boy is perfect. He has light brown skin, the most perfect little lips, and a button nose. He has a head full of beautiful, soft black curls, and his eyes, which are closed, I'm sure are hazel. I remember them from my dream.
I stare in amazement at his tiny hand, holding my finger as he falls asleep at my breast, suckling off and on.
“Our son,” I whisper, taking Dominik’s shirt into my hand and tugging him towards me. His soft, warm lips kiss mine. “You always protect your pack.”
“Always.” He gives me another kiss and presses a light kiss on our son’s forehead, “Thank you for trusting in me. You were amazing, Jasmira.”
I beam at him. My heart is full.
“He’s so tiny,” Dominik says, voice quivering. He brushes a finger over his small cheek.
Seren peeks from the door. A few tears stream down her face.
“Aw, come in, sweet girl.”
She climbs into bed, sitting between us to see.
“You have a baby brother,” I whisper.
She watches his little cheeks move as he nurses in his sleep, and she gently uses a finger to glide against the curls beside his little ear, just as we taught her.
“Oh, Mom—he’s so cute!” she cries, and my heart aches for the love she has for him already.
“Are you okay, Mama?” Seren’s eyes grow with worry. “Do you hurt?”
“I’m doing a lot better. It hurts for a little bit. But you were so brave, little Star.” I kiss the top of her head.
“What is his name?” she asks curiously.
“We’re still deciding,” Dom says, scooping Seren up to take her back to her room.
“We’re going to let mama finish feeding the baby and get some rest, and hopefully the midwife will be here soon.
I need you to try to get some sleep, too.
You’re a big sister now. You have to show him how to be one of the coolest kids ever, and you have to be fully rested. Okay?”
She laughs as she leaves the room. “Okay, Dad.”
I look down at my son, smiling in the silence, the candles flickering in the dark. What a beautiful, chaotic way to start today.
It finally stopped snowing. Seren and Dominik have been having a blast outside in the backyard.
Jace and I were both examined by Sadie when she was able to arrive, and we are in good health—this sweet baby is twenty-one inches long and seven pounds, twelve ounces.
We both got our baths, and now I’m sitting by the fire with a mug of tea.
Jace is asleep in his bassinet beside me.
“How are you feeling?” Dominik asks, taking a seat beside me. He pulls me close, rubbing my shoulder in soothing circles.
“I’m good, tired but good," I say, sighing as I look at our sweet baby boy. "I’ll take a nap later, I promise, but I can’t sleep. This doesn’t feel real. I can’t believe he’s here.”
I rest my head against Dom's shoulder as we stare, completely enamored with our blessings.
“Are you okay with his name?” he asks, pressing a kiss to my temple.
Jace was Aaryn’s middle name. We named him after Dom's best friend—his brother and my late husband, and it’s perfect.
“It’s beautiful.”
“You were magnificent.” He smiles, joy spilling out of him. “I’m so proud of you. I love you.”
“You're our hero, my mate.” I kiss him deeply, threading my fingers in his hair before we pull apart. “I love you.”
Forever. And I let my promise wash over his mind.