Page 28 of A Luna's Revenge

Jenson

Goddess!This has been one hell of a day.After leavingheadquarters, I searched the grounds for Charlie. I finally found out that they had sent her to the hospital. Most everyone is preoccupied with the injured being carried in, so I go unnoticed as I search the emergency room for signs of her.

Asher rises from the inner synapses of my brain; like a fog, he lifts up, firm."Pup!"He demands.

I come to a screeching halt. "Wait? What?"

"Must find pup now! Mate and pup in distress."Asher commands.

"Charlie!" I shout. "Charlie! Where's Charlie?" I frantically approach the double doors that lead to the med bays.

I hear, "Sir! You can't go back there!" But I ignore the woman, ripping curtains back and throwing doors open. No one is going to keep us from finding her.

My rampage doesn't stop at the emergency room; I circle back to the front desk. "Where is Charlie?" I shout.

A male in a suit approaches me hesitantly. "Are you Charlie's mate?"

I whip around and recognize one of the men who had been in the conference room with Charlie earlier. I grab the male by his collar and shove him against the door frame. My mouth inches from his face,"Where's Charlie?" I seethe.

"Release me." He gasps for air as he pulls my hands from around his throat. "They took her to labor and delivery."

I drop the man like a stone, and he collapses to the floor. Whipping around to the receptionist, "Where is labor and delivery?" I demand like a madman, nearly frothing at the mouth.

"Sixth floor." She squeaks and points to the elevator bank.

I race over to the elevators and punch the call button. Once inside, I select the button for the 6th floor.

The elevator has barely enough time to stop when I dart out. While I search for which way to go to delivery, that itchy sensation pulls me to the double doors on the left.

As if led by instinct, I charge through the doors, run down the corridor, and find myself outside a room markedDelivery Room 604. I charge in and find chaos on the other side as a blood-curdling scream cuts through the air: "Aaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

Doctor Emily Sutton

"Heart rate has flatlined," Nurse Reynold yells. “We have lost the pup!"

I drop my hands dejectedly. I know that once we lose that heartbeat, the fetus has died, and there is no hope for its survival. I wipe my eyes with my sleeve and sigh."We can still save mom."

Suddenly, the delivery room doors slam open, and an Alpha stands in the doorway. "Charlie!" He cries. "My pup!" He mourns. It causes the rest of us toshow our necks and howl in sympathy.

He approaches the mother and gently cradles her abdomen between his large hands. Dipping his head, he kisses her motionless stomach as his tears trickle down. Racked with sobs, this giant Alpha, on his knees, whispers sacred words of love to the stilled, unborn pup.

Everyone stands silently grieving with the family, arms all drooping dejectedly. A blip flashes on the monitor, then another. The nurse gasps as a regular rhythm resumes across the fetal heart monitor. "Dr. Sutton! The pup is alive. Look at the monitor."

Relief washes through the delivery room as we all cheer for the return of the pup's heartbeat, and I resume the c-section.

"Someone get him in a sterile gown. Alpha, move your hand slightly up and change places with me. Your pup needs your touch. Don't remove your hand for any reason. Gloves! Nurse Reynold, sterilize the abdomen."

"Proceed with anesthesia," I order because the mother was screaming earlier. I want to ensure she stays sedated and doesn't experience pain.

As someone slips gloves on the Alpha, one hand always on the pup, I open the abdomen just above the pubic line. Once accomplished, I begin separating the muscles from the tissue to reach the uterus. One slice and I have access to the pup.

"Alpha, place your hand on the pup as I deliver." He does, and I safely remove the squirming pup and clamp off the umbilical cord.

"Congratulations, Alpha, it's a boy." Tears stream down his face as he beams at the tiny gray pup.

"My boy," he weeps. "Is Charlie okay?" He looks at the unconscious female.

"She’ll be fine. We’ll take care of her. She was never in much danger," I say. The neonatal team is ready to take over. "I recommend the Alpha keeps his hands on the pup until he’s stable," I instruct. Cutting the umbilical cord, we hand over the father/son package to the neonatal team.

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