Page 89 of Rescued By Four Alphas
"They're perfect," I whisper, overwhelmed by the sight of all four babies arranged around me. "How did they survive? They were so early."
"Marianna says Reid's accelerant helped their lung development," Leo explains, though his voice tightens when mentioning Reid's name. "And they're receiving the best care possible. The east wing is now a fully equipped NICU."
I try to shift my position to see the babies better, but searing pain shoots through my abdomen, stealing my breath.
"Careful," Axl cautions, his hand supporting my shoulder. "You had emergency surgery, remember? You were bleeding internally."
"I want to sit up," I say, frustrated by my weakness. "I need to see them properly."
Leo adjusts the bed controls, raising me to a semi-reclined position. For the first time, I take stock of my physical condition—an IV line snakes from both arms, delivering fluids and medication into my body. The heart monitor beeps continuously beside my bed, and a catheter tube runs beneath the sheets. My body feels hollow and diminished somehow.
"How bad was it?" I ask quietly.
Axl and Leo exchange another glance, and I know that neither of them wants to deliver bad news.
"The surgery was touch and go," Leo admits finally. "You'd lost a lot of blood, and your heart stopped during the procedure. Marianna managed to repair the tear in your uterus, but..."
"You were in a coma," Axl finishes when Leo trails off. "The doctors weren't sure if... when you'd wake up."
I absorb this information slowly, the reality of how close I came to death sinking in. "And the other Omegas?" I ask. "The ones Reid was holding? Did you find them?"
Pain flashes across Leo's face. "Two were already gone when we arrived. We found three others alive in the lower levels of the facility. They're receiving treatment now."
The knowledge that some of them survived brings a measure of relief, but grief for those lost cuts deep. I think of Reid's describing how they "expired during induction trials." How many women died for his research? How many babies were sacrificed for his vision of military superiority?
Suddenly, the room compresses around me. The beeping of the monitors accelerates as my breathing becomes shallow and rapid. In my mind, I'm back in that examination room, strapped to the table as Reid increases the Pitocin, ignoring Marianna's warnings that it could kill me.
I can feel the needle piercing my abdomen as he extracts amniotic fluid. I can hear him discussing my "specimens" while I beg for my children's lives.
"Dahlia, breathe with me," Axl's voice cuts through the flashback. He takes my hand and places it against his chest. "Feel my breathing. Match it. In through your nose, out through your mouth."
I focus on the rise and fall of his chest, drawing air slowly into my lungs. Axl murmurs encouragement, his eyes never leave mine as he guides me through the panic attack.
"I've been practicing these breathing exercises," he admits with a small smile. "The nurses taught me while you were unconscious. They said it might help when you woke up."
The simple admission brings fresh tears to my eyes.
"I was so scared," I whisper, the words inadequate for the terror I experienced. "I thought I'd never see any of you again. I thought our babies would die in that place."
"We were coming for you," Leo says fiercely. "We never stopped looking."
"Thank you…" The word barely escapes before my eyes slide shut, too heavy to keep open any longer.
A few minutes later, the door swings open, and Evan appears with Onyx close behind him.
Evan freezes in the doorway, his eyes widening as they lock with mine. For a split second, he doesn't move, as if he can't believe what he's seeing. Then his face crumples, and the control he maintains shatters all at once.
"Dahlia," he breathes, crossing the room in three long strides. He reaches for my hand, his trembling as his fingers intertwine with mine. "You're awake. You're really awake."
Onyx approaches more cautiously, his massive frame somehow diminished by the naked emotion on his face. He stands at the foot of the bed, his eyes sweeping over me as if cataloging every detail and reassuring himself that I'm truly here.
"Hey," I say softly, extending my free hand toward him. "It's okay."
He takes my hand so gently it's as if he fears I might shatter at his touch. "We thought we lost you," he says... "When your..."
The pain in his eyes makes my chest ache. I squeeze his hand. "I'm stronger than that," I tell him. "It takes more than some mad scientist to keep me down."
A ghost of a smile touches his lips, but his eyes remain haunted. I look from one to another at my mates, seeing the toll the past days have taken on them. Their faces are haggard with exhaustion and worry. They've been keeping vigil, waiting for me to wake up, caring for our children, all while dealing with the aftermath of Reid's facility.
