Page 54 of Cursed Wolf

“I’m not going anywhere.” I help Narah sit upright, holding her weight, and frantically toss the pillows off the bed. Meira wraps an arm around Narah’s back while I get onto the bed behind her, shuffling to straddle her, my legs curling around her hips.

“Okay, I have her.” When Narah tenses and groans in pain, I collect her in my arms so she can lean her back against my chest, letting her grasp my arm and squeeze the hell out of it. I’ll survive, considering what she’s going through.

It feels like she only breathes a minute or two before another one comes, and she digs her nails into my arm. I soothe her while Meira runs a cool towel over her brow.

“We are actually going to have a baby,” I whisper. It feels surreal because it’s happening so fast.

I don’t know how long we stay like that, but it feels like the entire day. Still, the rest of the crew hasn’t arrived. I’m cramping up, and my arm is numb from how hard she grips me. As her contractions come quicker, she puffs for air.

“I think I need to push,” she murmurs.

“It’s not time yet.” Lily checks Narah once more.

I go to move away from behind her, wanting to see all of this and welcome my baby into the world.

“Feels like a huge mountain is pressing down on my pelvis, worse than—” She stiffens against me, clasping her stomach and crying out, still grasping my arm. Today may be the day I finally lose an arm.

Meira has the towels and buckets of hot water nearby.

I lose track of how much has passed when Lily finally says, “Okay, Narah, start pushing.”

“Did you hear that?” I say. “It’s time, sweetheart. Let’s push.” My heart thunders as I wipe Narah’s perspiring brow and her neck. She’s been in pain for hours now, with still no sign of the rest of our pack from their hunt.

“I don’t think I can do this,” Narah screams. “It hurts too much and feels like I’m being ripped in two.” Her huge watery eyes plead with me.

I lean in closer, my chest constricting hard. “Sweetheart, you can do this. Deep breaths like we’ve been doing, okay? I’ll breathe with you… in and out.”

“I can’t.” She’s gripping my hand to death, and I might be screaming with her very soon.

“It’s only a bit more. You’ve got this.” She gasps, trying to breathe, and I feel her sag against me. “There, your contraction is slowing down, right?”

A second later, her whole face scrunches up, and she starts panting again.

“There’s no stopping it now,” Lily says from between Narah’s legs. “The baby’s already coming. I just need you to push for me.” She pulls back, holding onto Narah’s bent knee, joining us in the breathing techniques, as is Meira.

“Nothing is normal about this much pain!” Narah’s crying and her eyes are wild. Her anger is slightly terrifying.

Lily doesn’t seem fazed. “Okay, deep inhale, then let’s push.”

As I wipe Narah’s forehead, she gives me a death stare… I did this to her. Well, I definitely had a part, regardless of who the actual father is.

After a long moment of pushing, then crying more, she collapses back on the bed, exhausted and gasping for air.

I turn to Lily as Meira speaks softly to Narah.

“Is this supposed to happen? She’s so tired.”

“Every pregnancy is different,” she explains while focusing on Narah. She frowns, and there’s heaviness when her shoulders slump forward.

“Okay, we try again,” she instructs.

My sweet, gorgeous girl never gives up despite her pain.

After a long attempt, she collapses once more, tears drenching her cheeks. Grasping my arm, she draws me closer.

“Nikos, what if something’s wrong because of how I got pregnant? What if—”

“Narah, don’t think that way. We all felt the baby kick, and he or she is coming out.”

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