Origins: Silver Mountain

Chapter Eight

Renée

The days were going by, but I was impatient. Just a couple more weeks. The twins were strong and healthy. That was all I could really ask for. Emmeline was due any day now. Everyone was holding their breath. We didn’t know what to expect.

She had been doing much better since she was given a little more freedom. She was hopeful she would be going back to her family, as King Lukas suggested. Apparently, he only wanted the baby. That made me somewhat happy for her.

Since I was getting so big, I had spent more time at home. Augustus rubbed my feet every night before bed and that was the best part of my day. I was seated on the sofa, watching a movie and awaiting my mate’s return when a sharp pain hit me. I couldn’t even cry out. I was shocked by the intensity of it.

I sat up straight and sucked in my breath, holding it for the next wave. Nothing else happened, so I stood. Another pain suddenly knocked me off balance.

“Selene!” I didn’t know what to do. I groaned, unable to move as I clutched my abdomen.

“Allow your wolf to take over.”

I heard her clearly and gave control to Adelaide.

“Are you ok, Renée?!” Augustus’s panicked voice bought me back for a split second.

“I’m in labor. Having contractions. Hurry! Bring the doctor!”

Another pain nearly blacked me out.

“I got this, girl. Just relax. This is natural. We’re going to push these babies out! It’ll be over soon. The pain is worth it.”

I trusted Adelaide and allowed myself to relax. The contractions slowed and she hurried upstairs and around our room, dressing in something more comfortable and grabbing a few towels. I watched from the back of my mind. She just knew what to do, what to grab, and how to set up. I was impressed and very grateful. Just as another contraction hit, she sat us down on the bed.

“They might not wait for the doctor. We’re going to have to push now. The twins are on their way out.”

I gasped. I wanted Augustus here, at least. I whined a bit. My mate. He would hate missing this moment.

“Renée!” I heard his loud voice from downstairs, followed by his heavy footsteps pounding the stairs and rushing toward our room.

He appeared in the doorway and scooped me up. Adelaide spoke to him softly. He nodded and placed me back down.

The doctor walked in, checking my vitals and to see how dilated I was.

“There’s a head. Get to pushing, mama!”

Augustus grabbed my hand, helping to coach us through the delivery. He was doing such a good job. Both Adelaide and I were in awe over his calm demeanor and how sweet he was throughout. He had been so nervous about this moment from the beginning, but he was holding it together so damned well.

“That’s one!” The doctor set the plump, red-haired boy on my chest. He was the chunkiest baby I had ever seen. His lips smacked in search of milk. Augustus chuckled as he watched our baby boy.

Adelaide pushed as Augustus grabbed the boy.

“That’s two! Here’s your girl.”

The red-haired girl was fussy and kicking, like she wasn’t ready for the world yet. The doctor set her on my chest. Adelaide allowed me to take control again.

I cuddled my baby girl close. She stopped fussing briefly and opened one of her brilliant green eyes.

Green. Like an apple. I kissed her forehead. She cooed, calming down the closer I held her.

“Apple.”

“What was that, honey?”

“Apple. That’s our baby girl’s name.”

Augustus stared down at her and smiled.

“I like that. Our little Apple.”

“The Apple of our eyes.”

We both chuckled. The doctor smiled warmly.

“What about our boy?”

“Hm …”

“Amitayus.”

I glanced at my mate. He had heard it too.

“Amitayus.” The name felt fun to say out loud. It also sounded strong and warrior-like.

“Amitayus …” Augustus repeated the name, watching our boy’s face. He opened his eyes and grunted in response.

“Amitayus it is!”

We marveled over our two little blessings for the rest of the night.

Emmeline

Thanks to my new friend, I no longer had to rot away in that cold, drab dungeon room. My living quarters were better, but I was still a prisoner. Until this baby was ready to come, I was stuck. There was no use in running away. Although he wasn’t trustworthy, I held onto the thought that as soon as I gave birth, I would be released by the king. I gagged at the thought of him on top of me; his hot and sour breath slapping me in the face. I would avenge myself one day, but first, I needed to get out of here. I played my part and waited it out. My thoughts were interrupted by a sharp pain in my abdomen. At first, I was alarmed. Then, it dawned on me that it must be time. I silently panicked as I glanced around my brightly lit room. I didn’t see my phone in the cradle where it usually sat. I eased myself off of the bed, careful in every step I took. As soon as I made it to the bathroom, another sharp pain hit me, accompanied by an obviously impatient kick that sent me backward into the bathroom door. I slid down to the floor, clutching my moving belly and staring down in horror. I had never seen anything like it in my life. My belly moved every which way, stretching like it might burst open at any minute. I stood, hoping to regain my balance. I spotted the phone on the dresser beside the closet and hurried over to dial the doctor. To my dismay, she had gone to assist another patient.

“When will she return?” I chewed my bottom lip.

“I can’t say at the moment, but I will let her know as soon as possible.”

I hung up and reluctantly dialed Lukas. He answered on the first ring.

“My dear, what causes you to interrupt me?”

I cringed at the sound of his voice and gulped back the puke that began to come up.

“I’m having contractions. I need the doctor here NOW.” I tried to keep calm, but even I could hear the concern in my voice.

“Stay calm, my dear. I will be there in a minute.” He ended the call. I stared at the phone, confused. But just after I placed the phone down, another contraction sent me falling to my knees.

I wailed in pain, not even paying attention to the arms wrapped around my body as I was carried to the bed and gently placed in the center. I steadied my breathing and opened my eyes to see my mother?!

***

“Easy now.”

The voice was barely above a whisper.

“Just take a deep breath.”

My eyes were shut tight. I was reluctant to open them again because I knew they were deceiving me. I just knew Lukas or Rita or Scoop would be standing over me.

“I’m here, but not for long.”

My eyes jolted open and they were definitely not deceptive. My mother was here. Her Amazonian-like frame was not easily missed. Her long grey hair was neatly placed into a top bun. Her soft hands were wiping the sweat from my forehead as she swept the strands of hair out of my face.

“Mommy?”

“You’re going to have to relax.”

“How?”

Another contraction made me sit up and double over. I wailed loudly.

“What is this thing?”

“It’s not like anything I’ve ever seen …”

“What do you mean?”

“This hybrid is … defective.”

“Huh?”

I was even more confused by this whole situation now.

“Lukas will not stop until he gets his heir. You can’t give him one.”

I was silent. I went through all of this just to learn that I couldn’t give this maniac an heir.

“Mommy, I don’t understand. How did you find me?”

“Magic.”

“But you can’t practice here. I’ve tried.”

“The spell he had me place doesn’t work against me.”

“You?”

“Yes. I am ashamed because he tricked me and it harmed my own daughter. But I found you. It’s tradition of our bloodline for the mother of the expectant to deliver the child of the next generation.”

“But—“

“You going into labor triggered the spell that bought me to you.”

Her voice was calm. I fell silent again so I could process what I just learned.

“Lukas is on his way up.”

“No, he isn’t. My time freezing spell will allow me to do my job. It would be dangerous for our family if I took you after I deliver this hybrid. You are intelligent, Emmy. You will make it out of this, but not without a fight. Once the opportunity presents itself, I will send you into hiding. Just make it home.”

Another contraction. After calming down, I looked at my mother again.

“This will be more painful than the contractions, but it must be done. This hybrid could ruin you. There is no other option.”

My eyes widened, unsure what was about to happen.

Her long claws lightly caressed my abdomen. With a swift move, she punctured my lower abdomen and made a clean cut across. I screamed in horror at the sight of the blood splattered across her face and clothing. She reached into the cut.

I held my breath, failing at breathing. I watched, waiting to see the small thingy she pulled from my womb. I felt light-headed and could feel myself on the verge of passing out. That all ceased when I saw it.

“What—“ I couldn’t even get my words out. I could not explain what I had given birth to.

My mother was calm as she cleaned it and carried it to the bathroom. She wrapped it in a towel, placing it in the golden bassinet in a far corner of the room.

“Mommy?!”

She calmly made her way back and began chanting just as I began losing consciousness. Her soothing voice was like a lullaby. I fell into a deep sleep.