Page 63 of A Luna's Revenge

The pressure in my abdomen intensifies, and I want so badly to push against it. It feels like I’m fighting an invisible foe, my body instinctively doing the necessary work even as my mind slips. Someone grabs my hand—firm, large, warm, steady. I open my eyes to see Reggie’s loving face before me, and I cling to his touch, my anchor in the storm. “Reggie.” I sob weakly. “You are here?”

“There's nowhere else I would be." He chokes out. “Roland told me. I watched your ambulance pull away, baby.”

There’s a cacophony of noise around us: beeping monitors, the hurried scrape of feet on the floor, the muttering of voices discussing my pup. I focus intently on the voice closest to me, attempting to stay calm despite my fear. I’m overwhelmed by pain and anxiety, and each contraction feels like it's tearing me apart.

I close my eyes, taking deep, ragged breaths as Reggie tries to coach me through the labor.

The mood is tense as the medical team works quickly. I notice their voices rising; at first, it's an indecipherable buzz. Then I hear the anxious words.

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

“Focus on me, baby, and our pup.” Reggie soothes. “We will all get through this together.”

The anesthesiologist who sits at my head proclaims loudly. "Starting oxygen at 2 liters per minute." He slips a plastic cannula around my ears and into my nose, ignoring my tears. "Oxygen is set up, and anesthesia is starting now," he reports calmly.

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

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

My scream pierces the air: "Aaaaaahhhhhhhhh!" Then, silence as the anesthesia takes effect.

Dr. Emily Sutton

The pup's father stands and cradles the upper part of my patient's stomach. She has succumbed to the anesthesia. He is dressed in sterile garb with gloves on his hands. He bends down and whispers sweet words of love and comfort to the pup, still nestled in themother's womb. “Shhhh. It’s okay, little guy. Daddy is here. You are safe, and we are eager to meet you.” He coos. The pup stills at his father’s voice, and his heartbeat begins strumming across the fetal monitor in a steady rhythm.

“Oh, thank the goddess!” The nurse breathes as everyone lets out a sigh of relief.

“Okay, team, let’s deliver this little one safely.” I grin. “Dad, keep your hands on the top of Momma’s stomach. This pup knows his Daddy and is responding to you.”

Jenson

Goddess!This has been a bad day.After leaving the chaos at headquarters, I searched the grounds for Charlie. I finally found out that they had sent her to the hospital. Most everyone is preoccupied with the injured being carried in, so I go unnoticed as I search the emergency room for signs of her.

"Charlie!" I shout. "Charlie! Where's Charlie?" I frantically approach the double doors that lead to the med bays.

I hear, "Sir! You can't go back there!" But I totally ignore the woman and begin ripping curtains back and throwing doors open. No one is going to keep me from finding her.

My rampage doesn't stop at the emergency room; I circle back to the front desk. "Where is Charlie Black–uh--Charlie Marks? She’s pregnant!" I shout.

A man in a suit approaches me hesitantly. "Are you looking for Charlie Marks? I am her assistant, Roland."

I whip around and recognize one of the men in the conference room with Charlie earlier. I grab the man by his collar and shove him against the door frame. My face inches from his. "Where's Charlie?" I seethe.

"Release me." He gasps for air as he pulls my hands from around his throat. "They took her to labor and delivery."

I drop the man like a stone and he collapses to the floor. Whipping around to the receptionist, "Where is labor and delivery?" I demand like a madman, nearly frothing at the mouth.

"Sixth floor." She squeaks and points to the elevator bank.

I race over to the elevators and punch the call button. Once inside, I press the button for the 6th floor. “Come on! Come on! Can this elevator go any slower?” I huff out.

As the elevator stops, I dart out. While I search for which way to go to labor and delivery, I pass a nurse coming out of a set of double doors. “Excuse me. I am looking for Charlie Black–uh--Charlie Marks. They just sent her up from the ER. I’m her mate.”

She looks at me oddly. “I just came out of her delivery room.” She gestures to the double doors behind her. I attempt to charge through, but she stops me. “Alpha, the pup’s father is in there. I don’t know the situation, but it would probably be in everyone’s best interest if you didn’t go in.”

I blow out a huff. Reggie. He must be in there with her. I nod to the nurse and sit down in the adjacent waiting room. When the nurse leaves, I peer through the operating theater window. It’s difficult to see much for the sea of doctors and nurses working around Charlie, but I can see her silver hair draping off the table and Reggie squatting beside her. He remains close to where the doctor appears to be removing the pup from her abdomen.

As I stand and watch another male in the place where I should be, I have an epiphany. Things I’ve learned over the last months weigh down on me. I’ve loved Charlie forever with all my heart. Every conscious breath I remember taking was for her. Somewhere along the way, I stopped thinking of her and became selfish and egotistical.

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