Page 48 of Their Crowned Mate
I was thankful for Alexander's steady presence and Marcus's calming words as he held one of my hands in his. Cole kept encouraging me, telling me how strong I was and how close we were getting to meeting our child, and Aurelius didn't let up on the shoulder, neck, and back massages that made it easier to breathe through the contractions when the drugs didn't quite take the edge off.
I felt the baby's head crowning, a burning sensation that made me scream in pain despite the tinctures and elixirs I'd been given, but with one last push, everything changed. The room filled with a beautiful sound—the cry of a healthy baby—and a wave of relief washed over me.
The nurses quickly cleaned up the baby while the doctor checked on me, ensuring that both of us were healthy. After what felt like hours but was really only minutes later, they handed my daughter to me. All my doubts and fears melted away as I looked into those bright blue eyes for the first time.
"There she is," Alexander murmured, his voice hoarse with more emotion than I had ever heard in it before. "Our little girl."
"She's beautiful," Cole said, tears stinging his eyes already as he looked down at her. I could definitely see the resemblance in their eyes and nose already, so I had a feeling that was the answer to that one mystery, but it didn't really matter whose she was biologically. They had already made that clear, and I had already decided we were far from done with growing our family.
But I was definitely going to want a damn break after the last nine months. A long one. And maybe next time, it could be twins so I would have two of them at the same time. I was sure the fae had a way to ensure that.
The medical staff gave us some space once they were finished tending to me and the baby, and the guys gathered around me as I held our daughter in my arms. Her cries died down as her wide eyes took in everyone around her, as if the tiny newborn could somehow understand just how much love and adoration surrounded her.
There were tears in my eyes, too, as I passed her around, letting each of them hold her for the first time. Watching these four strong alpha men melt completely as they looked at our daughter melted my heart in turn.
I'd never imagined I could feel even more love for them than I already did, but somehow, in that moment, I felt so full of joy I was going to burst.
"Welcome to the world, little Rose," I said softly, tears overflowing my eyes and spilling down my cheeks. In that moment, I knew my mother was there, too, watching over me. I couldn't see her, but I could feel her as surely as I could feel the sunlight on my skin streaming in through the window as the first tinges of pastel dawn hit the sky.
After we'd had a little time to greet our daughter, Joram came in along with Sam, and the congratulations and excitement resumed all over again.
"You did it," Joram said, leaning down to kiss my forehead as he held his granddaughter in his arms. "She's perfect. Just like her mama."
I smiled up at him as much as I could with how exhausted I was. "I'm so glad you could be here."
"Me, too," he said with a warm glimmer in his eyes.
As we all shared this peaceful moment together, looking down at our little miracle with awe and admiration, I knew that no matter what life threw at us in the future, we would always be there for each other as a family.
And to know that I had been the one to bring them together was sheer perfection.
CHAPTER23
LAVINIA
The autumn sky was a brilliant shade of lavender that contrasted beautifully with the pastel hues of the rolling hills and vibrant green of the surrounding forests. The leaves of the trees were beginning to change color, some already turning a sunny gold in anticipation for winter's chill. The sun shone brightly above, bathing the kingdom below in its warm light and making everything glitter like it was covered in diamonds. I heard the melodic chirping of birds from all around me as a soft breeze tenderly caressed my face. I took it all in with a deep, blissful sigh.
This realm was breathtakingly beautiful, and it filled me with a sense of peace that I hadn't known back on earth—unless I was with my guys, of course.
I had come here to my favorite terrace to get away from it all—the chaos of running an empire, the endless decisions that needed to be made every day—to just take some time for myself to reflect on what had happened over this past year, from giving birth to our daughter to rebuilding our kingdom together as a family.
I smiled at the thought of her sweet little face, so full of life and curiosity already despite only being a few months old. She was growing so quickly and I couldn't help but feel excited about everything she was going to achieve one day.
As my eyes followed the line of mountains off into the horizon, I felt grateful for this place; this peaceful haven where we could find solace amidst all the chaos surrounding us outside these walls. The canopy of sanctuary the woods offered, soothing the wild animal in my soul.
Somehow, motherhood seemed to have strengthened my connection to my wolf, and Rose squealed with delight whenever she saw me in my shifted form. I wasn't sure exactly what hers would end up being like considering she was a genetic blend of me and Cole, but I looked forward to meeting her one day and providing the guidance for her that had been so hard won for me while coming to terms with my shifter nature.
She had inherited my hair for sure, though. It was bluer every day.
"There you are," Cole said, walking up to join me on the hillside. "You know, it's impressive you manage to slip your royal guard and four overprotective mates."
I turned over my shoulder to grin at him. "Well, I have to have me time somehow. Besides, it keeps you on your toes."
"It does," he chuckled. "So, are you opposed to company?"
"That depends," I said. "I was planning on going for a run, so are you going to be the stuffy royal advisor who advises against such uncivilized pursuits, or are you going to be the fun alpha shifter who pushes me out of my comfort zone?"
He paused as if he was considering it before pulling his shirt off over his head. And if he was trying to use that as a distraction tactic to win an argument, it was definitely an effective one. Not fair, but effective for sure.
