Page 90 of Rescued By Four Alphas
"Reid," I say, the name bitter on my tongue. "What happened to him? Is he...?"
"He's alive," Evan says, his voice hardening. "He's being held in a secure facility."
"We captured him during the extraction," Leo adds. "He won't hurt anyone else ever again."
Something in their expressions tells me there's more to the story, but I'm not sure I want to hear it yet. The thought of Reid brings back too many terrible memories. Memories I don't want to remember
"Good," I say simply. "I don't want to know anything else about him right now."
"You don't have to," Onyx assures me. "He can't reach us here. You and the babies are safe."
I look around at the four bassinets arranged around my bed, at my four exhausted, devoted mates gathered close, and for the first time since waking, I allow myself to believe this nightmare might truly be over.
"We want to move them closer," Axl says, gesturing to the babies. "So, you can see them all at once."
They rearrange the bassinets in a semicircle around my bed, positioning each one so I can easily see inside. It's overwhelming to see all four of my children at once, these tiny, fragile miracles who somehow survived what should have killed them.
Evan pulls a chair close to my bed and sits, still holding my hand as if he's afraid I might disappear. The others find places around the bed, creating a protective circle around me and the babies.
"I was so scared," I admit in a small voice. "When I realized I was in labor in that storage room, with armed men searching for usand no medical equipment... I thought we were all going to die there."
"But you didn't," Leo says firmly. "You fought through it. You kept yourself and our babies alive until we could reach you."
"We should have been there sooner," Onyx says. "We should have found you faster."
"No," I shake my head. "You came for me. That's what matters. You found me when it seemed impossible."
A soft knock at the door interrupts us. Dr. Marianna enters, her familiar face bringing a surge of conflicting emotions. She betrayed me to Reid, facilitated my kidnapping... and then risked everything to help me escape and deliver my babies safely.
"Dahlia," she says. "It's good to see you awake."
I study her face, searching for the right response. Part of me wants to rage at her for her role in my suffering, but another part remembers her hands guiding my first child into the world, and her determination to keep us alive in that storage room.
"Thank you," I say finally. "For delivering my babies and for saving my life."
She releases the breath she has been holding and says, "I can never fully atone for what I did," she says. "But I'm grateful for the chance to try."
She approaches the bed as she checks the monitors and examines my abdomen.
"Your healing is progressing well," she reports. "The bleeding has stopped completely, and there's no sign of infection. Your vitals are stable, though your blood pressure is still lower than ideal."
"When can I hold them properly?" I ask, glancing at the babies. "Without help, I mean."
"Your body has been through extraordinary trauma," Marianna says gently. "Not just the surgery, but the accelerated pregnancy and birth. Your muscles need time to recover. But if we're careful about positioning, you should be able to hold each baby for short periods starting tomorrow."
The prospect of truly holding my children brings fresh tears to my eyes. "And feeding them? Will I be able to..."
"Breast milk production may be challenging given the circumstances," Marianna explains. "But we can try pumping once you're stronger, and supplement with formula in the meantime."
She makes notes on her tablet, then meets my gaze directly. "You need rest, Dahlia. Your body is still healing from massive trauma. The more you rest now, the faster you'll recover."
As if on cue, I suddenly can barely keep my eyes open. What if I close my eyes and slip back into that coma? What if I never wake up again?
"I don't want to sleep," I whisper, fighting against the heaviness of my eyelids. "I'm afraid..."
"I'll be right here," Evan promises, squeezing my hand. "We'll all be here. We're not leaving you alone for a second."
"And if you start to have nightmares, we'll wake you," Axl says. "We've gotten pretty good at recognizing the signs."
