Mates at War: A Battle of Hearts

A Bittersweet Escape

Jade Nightshade

I would never in a million years have thought that I'd be the one helping deliver Rowon and Kassandra’s baby.

Dear Moon Goddess...

I had no choice, though. Unfortunately for me, I was the acting Alpha, and I had to push my feelings aside and act like one. Their lives depended on me, even though I wanted nothing more than to pretend they didn’t exist.

Darius and I were walking away when my conscience started eating at me. The pack was busy at the celebration, and there wouldn’t be a pack doctor available to help Kassandra since everyone was at the party. She might die giving birth, and though the thought of her dying had an almost cruel appeal... the innocent baby hadn’t done anything to me.

I’d trained to be a Luna, and part of that training included learning how to assist a pregnant woman in labor during an emergency. I knew what had to be done, even if the idea of walking back into that house made my stomach churn.

“I can’t believe this,” I muttered under my breath as I turned around, leaving Darius’ side.

He called after me, but I was already halfway up the stairs of Rowon’s house. The house that was supposed to be mine... ours. Now, I was going to help them bring their child into the world—the child that should’ve been mine. The irony of it was enough to make me sick.

I shoved open the door to the bedroom, my eyes immediately falling on Kassandra, drenched in sweat, writhing on the bed. The panic in the room was thick. Rowon stood at the foot of the bed, wide-eyed when he saw me walk in.

“Jade?” His voice was full of disbelief, but I refused to look at him.

“Let me guess, you’re trying to mindlink the pack, doctor?” I snapped, crossing my arms. “Don’t bother. They’re at the party, and by the time you even reach them, she’ll lose the baby.”

He raked his hands through his hair in frustration, pacing back and forth like a caged animal.

Darius followed me into the room, his presence grounding me despite the storm raging inside. “We’re here to help,” he said. “I know a thing or two.”

I wasted no time and marched straight to Kassandra’s side, noting how her eyes fluttered open briefly. She looked at me with a mixture of confusion and fear. Good. She should be scared.

“Alright,” I barked, rolling up my sleeves. “Rowon, grab some towels. Now.”

He hesitated, his gaze flickering between me and Kassandra. "I don’t know if—"

“Did I stutter?” I snapped, narrowing my eyes. “Towels. Unless you want this baby to be born on dirty sheets.”

Rowon jumped into action, and it made me smirk bitterly. There was something satisfying about bossing him around like this, even if I hated every second of being here.

Kassandra moaned in pain, her grip tightening on the sheets. “It hurts,” she whimpered.

“Oh, does it?” I drawled sarcastically. “You think it’s supposed to feel good? Toughen up. If you want this baby to live, you’re going to have to push.”

She whimpered again, her face pale and slick with sweat. “I—I can’t—”

“Don’t give me that,” I growled, leaning over her. “You got yourself into this mess; now get the baby out. Push!”

Kassandra’s eyes widened in fear, and I could see the tears welling up. Part of me felt a sick sense of satisfaction seeing her like this, but another part—the part I hated to admit existed—felt pity. No one deserved this level of pain. Not even her.

Rowon came rushing back with the towels, his hands trembling as he handed them to me. I could feel his eyes on me the entire time, but I ignored him. He didn’t matter. Only getting this baby out did.

“Alright,” I said, moving the towels into place. “When I say push, you push. And you better mean it. Got it?”

Kassandra nodded weakly, her face contorted in pain. I could feel Darius’ steady presence behind me, a silent reminder that I wasn’t doing this alone. But still, the bitterness lingered.

“Push, Kassandra!” I ordered.

She screamed, her entire body straining, and for a moment, I felt a small pang of respect for her endurance. But I quickly squashed it. I couldn’t afford to feel anything right now.

Rowon hovered by the bedside, his hands gripping his hair in sheer desperation. “Is she... is the baby...?”

“The baby’s coming,” I muttered through gritted teeth. “But not fast enough. She needs to push harder.”

“Come on, Kassandra,” Rowon urged, his voice cracking with worry. “You can do this.”

Of course he’d be supportive now, I thought bitterly. My hands worked quickly, guiding the baby as Kassandra struggled. The minutes stretched on, and her strength began to falter.

“Push, damn it!” I shouted again. “Do you want this baby or not?”

Kassandra let out one last scream, her body convulsing, and then... the room filled with the sound of a baby’s cry.

I held the newborn in my hands, staring down at his tiny, fragile body, a mix of awe and envy twisting inside me. The baby was beautiful. Red hair—just like his mother.

It was almost too perfect, like a cruel joke the universe was playing on me. A lump formed in my throat as I let myself wish—just for a moment—that this child was mine. Mine and Rowon's.

The baby let out a soft cry, his little face scrunching up, and despite the bitterness swirling in my chest, I couldn’t help but admire how beautiful he was.

I handed the baby over to Kassandra, my hands trembling slightly. As she cradled her child, her exhausted smile filled the room with warmth I didn’t want to feel.

“It’s... it’s a boy,” I murmured, stepping back. I swallowed down the wave of emotions threatening to break. “Congratulations.”

Rowon's eyes were fixed on me, but I refused to meet his gaze. I turned toward him, the man who had once been everything to me, and handed him the dirty towel. Slowly, deliberately, I placed it into his hands, letting my fingers linger just long enough for the message to be clear. His hands brushed mine, and for that brief moment, I made sure he understood—he was nothing more than the filth in that towel to me now.

He flinched, his expression a mixture of gratitude and something close to guilt. But it didn’t matter.

Rowon opened his mouth to speak, his voice thick with emotion. “Jade, I—”

“Don’t,” I snapped, cutting him off before he could even begin. “I didn’t do this for you, Rowon. I did it for the baby. So save your gratitude.”

His face fell, and for a brief moment, I thought I saw pain flicker in his eyes. But I forced myself not to care.

I turned away from him, my chest tightening as my legs felt like they could give out any second. The house—the memories—the baby that wasn’t mine—it was too much.

Darius gently touched my arm, pulling me away from the dangerous thoughts. “You did it,” he said softly, pride in his voice.

But I didn’t feel proud. All I felt was hollow. I had helped them bring their child into the world, and all I could think was how much I hated that it wasn’t mine.

“Darius,” I whispered, my voice hoarse. “Get me out of here. Please.”

Darius didn’t hesitate and without a word, he scooped me up in his strong arms, holding me close to his chest. The moment his scent hit me—warm, woodsy, familiar—something in me began to unravel. I breathed him in deeply, letting the tension slowly melt away. His scent calmed the storm raging inside me, grounding me in a way I hadn’t expected.

For the first time in what felt like forever, I felt grateful. Grateful to have found him, my mate. The one person who could help me through all of this, who could make the unbearable seem bearable, even if just for a moment, distracting me from thoughts of Rowan, Kassandra, and the baby.

As Darius carried me out of the house, I let my head rest against his chest, closing my eyes as the sounds of the house faded behind us.