SWNOVELS Chapter 43 - Mia
When the limo comes to a stop, Niko gets out first along with the five warriors following us, then he walks over and opens the door for me. Two warriors walk ahead and stand at the door, then he walks me inside the restaurant with three of them at our backs.
I have never felt like a mafia queen as much as I do now.
Another sliver of pain shoots up my belly and I breathe through it, making sure not to worry Niko or he'll take me home. It's normal...just normal
"Alpha Nikolaos, Luna Mia, welcome,” the beautiful blonde hostess greets us with a bow of her head. “I'll lead you to your table, follow me.”
The restaurant is fancy and in Mediterranean decor, not too fancy but not too cliche. Black, golds, and various shades of blue adorn the decor and it gives me a warm feeling instead of an out-of- place one.
The hostess leads us to a private table in the back and Niko pulls out my chair for me before sitting down.
“I'll send Marta over shortly, she'll be your server this evening,” she says and is about to walk out when I stop her. She looks a tad fearful, but I give her my warmest smile.
“What is your name?” I ask and she looks like a fish out of water, her cheeks going red.
“Uhm, I'm Alice, Luna,” she says with her hands clasping tightly in front of her.
I sigh, feeling awkward that she seems scared of me. “Thank you for leading us to our table, Alice,” I say and her head whips up in surprise.
Her mouth hangs open slightly and she flounders when she says. “I-it was a pleasure, Luna!”
Niko is chuckling silently as I watch her leaving our table, the surprise wafting in her scent palpable. Why was she so shocked that I thanked her?
Niko picks me up and carries me out of the restaurant with everyone looking at us. But the last thing on my mind is worrying about the people around me. There's a dull ache in my lower back and when Niko puts me down in the backseat, a cold stab of pain rips through my body.
I can't help the scream that comes out of me; my eyes are clamped shut and I feel Niko's hand on my back.
“It's okay, Mia, we're almost there,” he says and for the first time, I hear the uncertainty in his voice. Dr. Lilah warned me of the pain, but I didn’t expect it to hit me all at once like this! Are my contractions not supposed to come in spurts?! Why does it feel like Ares is bearing down more and more?!
We reach the pack house at lightning speed and Niko carries me inside again while another contraction splits me in two. Dr. Lilah rushes out to meet us and looks at me and Niko, nodding. “Bring her inside,” she instructs.
I don't know how I got naked, I don't know how they put me on that bed - all I can feel is the pain of Ares wanting out right this instant. My legs are put up in stirrups and I can feel Dr. Lilah checking how far dilated I am.
I happen to look down at that moment to see the look on her face and know something is wrong. "What is it? Why do you look like that?” I shriek and try to sit up, but she shakes her head. “Nothing is wrong for now, Luna, your contractions have only just started, correct? We're still in the early stages. You're dilated fully, but I don't feel Ares moving,” she says and I freeze.
What?
“What do you mean you don't feel him moving?! I've been feeling him moving the entire time!” I yell, then scream as another contraction pierces me, a dull ache in my lower back. “Do something!” NoNoNoNo! This can't be, I can feel him moving right now! Every time I feel pain it's as if he's rolling around so what the heck is she talking about?!
Niko is holding my hand and kisses my fingers. “It's okay, Mia, Lilah is here to help, okay?” He tries to soothe me with gentle words but I can only scream out my pain and frustration. “Lilah, fix this!" Those three words are said through gritted teeth and when I look up at him, I can see the worry and fear in his green eyes. Ares moves again and I suck in a breath instead of screaming. Ariadne told me to breathe through the pain when the time comes because screaming and crying out will only exhaust me.
An hour passes and through contractions, crying, pain, and Lilah’s calming touch, she finally smiles and nods. “Okay, Luna, when you feel another contraction, I am going to need you to push,” she says.
My eyes widen and I look at her as if she's crazy. “Push through the pain? Are you-" I finally cry out when a contraction hits me with no room or energy to push. “I can't, it's impossible!”
Niko kisses the side of my head. “You can do it, vasilissa mou; you're stronger than I could ever be,” he says, whispering encouragement and I look at him through bleary eyes. He thinks I can do this, that I can bring our child into the world when I doubt myself. “Ares is waiting for us, let's welcome him home.”
I nod and allow myself to cry through the pain. Contraction after contraction, Lilah’s encouraging voice, Niko's tender words, and pushing when I feel like I can't anymore.
“Niko...” I sniff. “I can't do this; I can't do it!"
He holds my hand and kisses my tears. “You made me fall in love with you when I didn't think I could love, you made me start facing my demons when I gave up. This should be easy for you, Mia... you can do this, I know you can.”
I shake my head and when I feel Ares moving and splitting me down the damn middle, I hear a piercing cry that causes my heart to still.
“That's it, Mia!” Dr. Lilah cries out. “Keep pushing!”
With a tired, exhausted body, I hold onto the strength in Niko's mark and the love I feel for him. With one final push and a scream so loud that it hurts my ears, I feel Ares leave my body and fall back onto the bed.
"Oh, Alpha Prince,” Lilah gushes before she places the crying, squirming baby on my chest. “Congratulations Luna, Alpha; meet your baby boy.”