Page 27 of A Luna's Revenge

I grip Roland tighter around his neck and dig my face into his coat in an effort to draw in a clean breath. Finally, we make it to the ground floor. We exit the building, but Roland keeps running to the park across the street. As Roland sits me on a bench, we look up to see that a massive chunk of the building is missing as it sags to the side.

It’s utter chaos. Ambulances and fire trucks begin to arrive. Coughing and choking to breathe, I feel horrible pain in my lower back. I lean forward, screaming as a gush of water soaks the front of my skirt and legs. "Goddess, Roland. My water just broke."

Without missing a beat, he rushes me to the nearest ambulance. "We need help." He yells. "She's in labor. She has inhaled a lot of smoke."

A burly EMT rushes up. "Let's lay her on the stretcher." He and Roland manage to help me lie down. I am writhing in pain and can't seem to manage a full breath. The EMT lays me back gently and straps an oxygen mask to my face. "Breathe deeply,"he says. "Shhh. Relax, ma’am. You are safe." He doesn't skip a beat but continues to connect wires and leads to my chest and stomach. The monitors come to life, and we can hear the racing heartbeats of both my pup and me. "Take deep breaths, for the pup." He goes to the back door of the ambulance and shouts. "Rex, we need to transport. Female in labor." After closing the doors, he places a blood pressure cuff on my arm and continues his ministrations.

I feel the vehicle shift as his partner climbs in the front and puts the ambulance in drive. Through the window, I watch Roland, disheveled and panting, as he turns to look up at the chaos of the burning building. My eyes stay on him until we turn down the street toward the hospital, and he disappears from view.

Chapter 17 - Highway to Hell

Jenson

"What was that?" I yell as an explosion rocks the building. Before I can react, a portion of the ceiling comes crashing down. A dust plume rises as I shake my head to clear it. Blood streams down my face. Wiping my eyes with my sleeve, I look around to survey the damage. It's bad, but it could be worse. Alpha Commander shouts and digs at the ceiling structure covering most of the floor.Goddess! Where is Charlie? Whereshe had been standing mere minutes before is now a pile of rubble. Getting to my feet, I shout, "Charlie!" and frantically dig.

"Roland got her out!" Alpha Commander yells. "Help me get the rest of the Alphas free!" He orders. Compelled by his command, I join him and dig. But my thoughts are only on Charlie. I hope she is okay. I still feel that itch, but it’s decreasing.

We manage to dig everyone out. Alpha Stone is the only one who sustained severe injuries. Alpha Commander throws him over his shoulders, and with everyone accounted for, we start for the exit.

I mind link my Beta."Ben! Are you okay?"

I get a weak reply."Help."

"I’ve to go get my Beta," I yell. "He's in trouble." While everyone else clamors down the stairs, I race to the opposite end of the corridor.

"I'll help you!" I hear footfalls behind me and see Alpha Rowan. The hallway is a mess, as most of the roof on this side appears to have caved in. The building seems to be tilted this way slightly as well. This is precarious. I make it to the conference room. "Ben!" I see a hand waving amongst the debris. Thankfully, he is just under some ceiling tiles. His head is bleeding, and he seems dazed. "Was anyone else in here?" I ask. He shakes his head. Rowan helps me lift him across my shoulders in the fireman's carry position. He sags in my arms, out cold.

"The damage looks worse on this side of the building," I shout over the alarms going off. "We should probably go back to the other side to descend."

He nods in agreement. The smoke is becoming increasingly thick. I watch as Alpha Rowan removes his jacket, rips the lining free, and tosses the coat aside. He makes a mask for me and himself. With no further time to spare, he ties themask on me and yells, "Get going!" As I run down the hall, he is behind me, tying his mask on as we go.

We reach the stairs, and I am infinitely grateful for the mask he fashioned as smoke and dust billow up the stairwell. Rowan has another piece of cloth in his hand, and as we pause in the doorway, he drapes it over Ben's head and ties it hastily.

"I'll go first," he says. As we enter theblack cloud, the songHighway to Hellby AC/DC runs on a loop in my brain.

Chapter 18 - My Pup

Charlie

Reality fades in and out while I float on the edge of my subconscious, as if on the ocean. Rising and cresting in my mind, I hear the water lapping and splashing. Lana takes charge, but we don’t physically change places; that would be fatal for the pup. Instead, she takes the lead while I retreat to the recesses of my mind, watching and waiting, barely aware. It’s for the best. Lana embodies pure instinct and nature. We need to work as a team for our pup to survive this—for all of us to survive.

Deep silence cocoons me. Peace washes over my mind and body. I feel every nerve ending, down to my very atoms. I shatter, and the pieces scatter like dandelion seeds, carriedby a child's breath. At this moment, I feel both nothing and everything simultaneously.

As the pieces of my soul reassemble, I am gripped by the darkness; shadows converge around me. I hear silky whispers caressing my body and flowing across my soul. What are they saying?

Suddenly, I am ripped from the edge, like a bubble popping. My senses are overwhelmed by the bright lights, the harsh humming of medical devices, and the pain ripping through me. My eyes remain closed, and I cannot move, but I am achingly aware of everything around me. Tears pool and drip down my temples.

The mood is tense as the medical team works quickly around me, their voices rising in a murmur. Soon, their anxious words become clear.

"The baby's heartbeat is getting weaker, doctor," a nurse exclaims, looking at the monitors and then at the team.

The anesthesiologist who sits at my head responds promptly. "Starting oxygen at 2 liters per minute." He slips an oxygen cannula around my ears and into my nose despite my tears. “Oxygen is set up, and anesthesia is ready, should it be needed," she reports calmly.

The doctor nods, her face serious. The monitors suddenly begin to blare, signaling fetal distress. The heartbeat becomes frenzied, its rhythm rapidly deteriorating into a distressing flatline.

"Please pass me the knife," the doctor instructs firmly. "We need to rescue the baby now! Get the neonatal team in here, STAT!"

My scream pierces the air: "Aaaaaahhhh!" Then silence.

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