The man from before was back and holding my hand. Well I guess I was more like gripping it, but he didn't seem to mind. He was handsome, from the sparkle in his green eyes to the gentle expression on his face as he spoke to me. I wasn’t even sure what he was saying.
I noticed his hand grabbing a necklace and I started to wonder if he was the praying type. I needed all the prayers I could get. I haven’t had much luck with necklaces and the way he was holding this one must’ve meant it was important. Another contraction took me away from my thoughts.
“They’re coming a bit faster than usual,” I said through gritted teeth. “Isn’t it too early to be this far?”
“There’s nothing normal about a werewolf pregnancy. Everything comes faster,” Miss Emma told me.
Great! The baby is coming and I’m nowhere near being strong enough. “But I’m-I’m not strong enough. Can’t we hold him back or give me a little more time?”
“Now, now, sweetie. Looks like this little one is ready to come out now. This is just wonderful,” Trixie beamed.
I glared at the little happy fairy, bouncing around the room as if she was on a trampoline. I couldn’t for the life of me figure out why she was so damn happy when I’m over here fighting for my life. I wanted to bite off her stupid beautiful face.
“Ignore her. Just try to relax,” Miss Emma said.
Relax? RELAX? How could I relax if this could possibly be the end of me? I’m not ready. I just came back. Another contraction came harder this time as I held on to the bed and this man’s hand for dear life. I could never imagine how painful this would be. Hell I wanted to die if it would stop this pain. I could feel the tears rolling down my face as the man sitting next to me wiped them away.
“I can’t,” I said, falling back onto the bed. I was already feeling depleted and I haven’t even started pushing yet. “It hurts. It hurts so badly.”
I wish my parents were here-even Zed. I wish Isabella was here to make me laugh or even her murderous brother. I thought about them and it brought me a bit of peace. I wish…I just wish things had turned out differently.
“We will get through this, Zira,” the man holding my hand said. I was starting to have deja vu. I’ve been here before. “But first let’s get rid of this.”
He snapped off his necklace and it hit me like a speeding train. The smell of cinnamon spice filled the room like air itself. I panicked only for a moment, thinking Isaiah was going to bust into the room, but it wasn’t him. I turned my head towards the man sitting next to me. You’ve got to be kidding me.
Mate? MATE! I told you, Zira. I knew it was him, Nina gushed. We’re not alone.
His green eyes scanned my face as if he was trying to read me. I’m pretty sure it was going to be impossible since I was feeling a bit light-headed. I touched my hand to my forehead, trying to keep myself from reeling.
“Talk to me,” the man said, bringing my attention back to him. “It might take your mind off the pain.”
I didn’t know what to say to him at that moment. I had so many emotions flooding in and I couldn’t really separate them. “How…who are you?”
“James. I’m James and this was just a precaution,” he said, holding up the necklace in his hand. “I’m sorry for hiding my scent from you. You just had other things to worry about, but if our bond can help then…”
He kept talking for a minute and all I could think about was how sweet his voice sounded. James. Our mate. Why? Why now? What if I die? I didn't want to go when I just met him.
Would the Goddess be so cruel? Of course she would be. Unless she sent him to save me? He could possibly be my savior, right? I tried remembering what Doctor Callie said when another contraction pulled me away.
I squeezed James’ hand, which did ease the pain just a bit. Just one touch from him made me feel better. I heard him whispering ‘You got this’ the whole way through and it made me feel a bit stronger. Does that mean I have a chance now? Would I be able to do this?
“Tell me what you’re thinking,” James said while wiping the sweat from my forehead.
“I’m scared,” I blurted out. “I miss my family and I don’t think I can do this. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to disappoint anyone. I-”
“Hey, hey, hey. It’s going to be fine, Zira. Miss Emma has delivered so many babies from all kinds of species. You are in great hands and…you’re not going anywhere. I’ll be right here to make sure.” James kissed the back of my hand and if I wasn’t already laying down I would’ve fallen to my knees.
Mate is amazing. We should mark him right here, Nina suggested.
Is that all you can think about right now, I snapped at her.
It beats thinking about this pain. Did you feel the way his lips lingered on our hand? I think I can die in peace now.
Too soon, Nina.
“Your contractions are closer together so let’s take a look.” Miss Emma sat on a stool in front of the bed and lifted the sheet. “Woah, this baby is not playing around. Trixie, I need towels. Alright Mama, I can see the head now. So, on your next contraction I want you to push, okay?”
I nodded and braced myself as another painful wave fought against my mate’s touch. I pushed as hard as I could before Miss Emma told me to settle down. I laid back to rest and I could feel myself shake my head.
“I can’t, I can’t, please. Please, just make it stop,” I said to no one in particular, feeling my strength leaving me. I felt his grip tighten around my hand.
“I am here to help you through this, Zira. You are stronger than you think. Do you hear me?”
I nodded as I sat up with his help. This was definitely deja vu. He said that to me before. Another contraction came only a few seconds later. I screamed in pain while Miss Emma and James were yelling for me to push. So I pushed as hard again as I could.
“There we go, there we go. We have a head,” Miss Emma exclaimed as everyone except me celebrated.
“And might I say a beautiful full head of hair,” Trixie smiled.
I forgot she was even here. Everyone was starting to look out of focus. I started to feel a little dizzy until I felt James lean his forehead against mine. It was soothing and I felt the sparks through the bond.
Imagine this but a million times stronger if he marked us, Nina purred.
Please, Nina. Let’s just focus on this. If we live through this, then he can mark away.
That seemed to be enough to keep her quiet before another contraction rocked through my body. Three more hard pushes and we heard the loud cry of my son. Miss Emma held him up enough for Zira to see him.
“Your son has some strong pipes there, Zira,” Miss Emma joked while handing him to Trixie to get cleaned up.
“A son? You did it, Zira,” James said. There were tears in his eyes and that just warmed my heart. James was still a stranger but he already felt connected to me, to us. I guess my little boy had a way of making people love him.
You did it, Zira.
No, we did it.
Trixie wrapped him after cleaning him up and brought him over to me. James helped me sit up so I could hold him and there he was. Tears fell down my cheeks as I looked down at my hollering baby. He was perfect. Fair skin a little lighter than my own, a full head of curly black hair, and his eyes-Isaiah’s eyes-beautiful gray.
Everything that has happened up until now was forgotten at this moment. All I could see was him. My child…my son…my…
“My Zacharias,” I said, smiling. A debt had been paid, a life had just started and I was still here. There was nothing else I could ask for.
“He is perfect, Zira.” James stood next to me, staring down at my son. I couldn’t agree more.
“Would you…would you like to hold him,” I asked him.
He looked surprised at first before a huge smile spread across his face. He nodded but hesitated. “I don’t know how…”
Trixie came over to help show James how to properly hold Zacharias. I watched how gentle he was being and it made me smile. James looked at me and I could see the happiness in his face. It was the kind of happiness I’ve been missing-the kind I wanted to treasure forever. I closed my eyes to rest a bit when I realized I couldn’t open them again.