Chapter 259
Rebecca’s POV
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As he spoke, he was already gathering the items we had prepared for this moment: comfortable clothes for me, towels, the special herbs the doctor had provided to help with the pain. Unlike with Lucas, who had been born in the hospital during a time of crisis, we had decided that our daughter would be born here, in our home, surrounded by pack and family.
“Can you stand?” Dominic asked, setting down his phone and returning his full attention to me.
I nodded, taking his offered hand. As I rose, another contraction hit, stronger than the first. I gripped Dominic’s arm, feeling his strength flow into me through our bond.
“I’ve got you,” he murmured, his arm solid around my waist. “I’ll be with you every step of the way.”
I looked up into his face, seeing the absolute devotion there, and felt a surge of confidence despite the pain. “I know.”
Our bedroom had been transformed into a birthing room over the past week, with a special bed designed for delivery, soft lighting, and all the medical equipment necessary. Dr. Winters, a trusted wolf-clan physician who had attended many pack births, had assured us it was just as safe as a hospital, with the added benefit of privacy and the comfort of our own territory.
By the time we reached the room, Diana had already lit the special herbs, filling the air with a calming scent that immediately eased some of my tension. The ob-gyn arrived within twenty minutes, accompanied by two midwives-one human, one werewolf-who immediately began preparing for the delivery.
The next few hours passed in a blur of increasing pain and focused breathing. Dominic remained by my side throughout, holding my hand, wiping my brow, and murmuring encouragement. Through our bond, I could feel him sending me strength, trying to absorb some of my pain.
“I can feel her,” I gasped during a particularly strong contraction. “Through the bond. She’s… ready.”
The doctor checked me again and nodded. “It’s time to push, Luna. Your daughter is eager to meet you.”
The pain intensified beyond anything I had experienced before, even with Lucas’s birth. I gripped Dominic’s hand so tightly I was sure I would break bones, but he didn’t flinch.
“Focus on me,” he said, pressing his forehead against mine. “Breathe with me. You can do this, Luna. You’re the strongest woman I know.”
I locked onto his deep blue eyes, drawing strength from his unwavering confidence. Through our bond, I felt something new-a sharing of the pain, as if Dominic was taking some of it into himself. His face showed strain, but his eyes never left mine.
“Push now,” The doctor instructed. “Your daughter is almost here.”
With a deep breath, I pushed with all my strength, feeling as if I was being torn apart. Dominic’s forehead remained pressed against mine, our bond blazing with shared pain and determination.
“I can see her head,” the doctor announced. “One more push.”
Gathering the last of my strength, I pushed again, a primal sound escaping from deep within me. There was a moment of searing pain, and then… relief. The sound of a baby’s cry filled the room, high and indignant.
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Chapter 259
“She’s here,” the doctor said, her voice warm with happiness. “A beautiful, healthy girl
1 collapsed back against the pillows, exhausted beyond words. Dominic’s lips pressed against my forehead, his voice thick with emotion “You did it, my Luna. You were magnificent.”
Through half-closed eyes, I watched as the doctor cleaned our daughter, wrapped her in a soft blanket, and placed her on my chest. The moment she touched my skin, a powerful wave of love washed over me, so strong it brought tears to my eyes.
“Hello, little one,” I whispered, my voice hoarse from exertion.
Dominic leaned close, one finger gently stroking our daughter’s cheek. “She’s perfect,” he murmured, awe evident in his voice.
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And she was. As I studied her tiny face, I was struck by how much she resembled me-the same chestnut-colored hair, the same shape to her face. But when she opened her eyes for the first time, I gasped. They were Dominic’s eyes-deep blue, almost electric in their intensity.
“She’s like a tiny copy of you,” Dominic said, wonder in his voice. “But with my eyes.”
I nodded, unable to speak past the emotion clogging my throat. Our daughter’s tiny hand had found its way out of the blanket and was now wrapped around Dominic’s finger, her grip surprisingly strong.
“A strong little wolf cub,” he said, pride evident in every word.
Through our bond, I could feel the love radiating from him, matching my own overwhelming emotions. This tiny miracle in my arms-our daughter, our second child-was the physical manifestation of our bond, our love, our future.
The morning after our daughter’s birth, I woke to find Dominic sitting in a chair beside the bed, our newborn cradled carefully in his arms. He was studying her face with such intense concentration that he didn’t notice I was awake until I shifted.
“Good morning,” he said softly, his eyes finding mine. “How are you feeling?”
“Like I ran a marathon and then got hit by a truck,” I admitted with a small smile. “But in a good way. How is she?”
“Perfect,” he replied, looking back down at our daughter. “She slept for three hours, had a little milk from the bottle the doctor prepared, and has been studying me ever since.”
I struggled to sit up, and Dominic immediately moved to help me, somehow managing to do so without disturbing our sleeping daughter. Once I was comfortable, he carefully transferred her to my arms.
“We should decide on a name,” I said, tracing one finger along her soft cheek. “We can’t keep calling her ‘she’ and ‘her’ forever.”
Dominic nodded, settling on the edge of the bed beside us. “I’ve been thinking about that. What about using your mother’s name for her middle name? To honor her memory?”
I looked up at him, surprised and touched by the suggestion. “That’s… thoughtful of you,” I said carefully. “But my mother and I weren’t close. I’m not sure I want to pass that name on.”
Dominic nodded, understanding in his eyes. “Then something new. A name that represents a fresh start.”
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Chapter 259
I looked down at our daughter, thinking of the names we had discussed during my pregnancy. None had seemed quite right, but now, looking at her face-so like mine but with Dominic’s striking eyes-one name came to mind.
“What about Ella? I suggested. “It means ‘light’ or ‘torch of light.””
“Ella, Dominic repeated, testing the name. A slow smile spread across his face. “Ella Sterling. It has a nice ring to it.”
“Ella Grace Sterling,” I elaborated. “Grace for the grace she’ll need navigating between the human and wolf worlds.”
Dominic leaned forward to press a kiss to my forehead, then one to our daughter’s. “Ella Grace Sterling,” he murmured. “Princess of the Silver Moon Shadow Pack.”
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14:33 Thu, Oct 2 M
Mated by Contract to the Alpha
