Jaded Hearts
Chapter 54

Taylor

I was in a deep, peaceful sleep when suddenly, I felt a terrible pain in my belly. Like the worst menstrual cramps in the world, times ten. My first instinct was to panic, but when I felt the warm rush of water flow between my legs and onto the mattress underneath me, I became strangely calm. I pushed myself up and pulled the blanket back, looking down at the soaked bed.

Yep, it’s go time.

“Matt? Wake up.”

He shifted his body a bit but didn’t open his eyes.

“Hmm. What’s wrong, baby? Do you need another pillow?”

“No, I need you to wake up. The baby’s coming.”

“Not yet. She won’t be here for a few more days.” He tried to pull me back to lay down beside him, still oblivious to what was going on.

“Matthew! Wake up, now!”

Maybe it was the fact that I called him Matthew for the first time ever or the slap to his bare chest, but his eyes snapped open, and he quickly sat up. “What’s the matter? Are you alright?”

“I’m fine, but my water broke, and I’m having contractions.”

His eyes went wide, but before he could freak out, I reined him back in.

“Wait! I’m fine, and she’s fine. Just stay calm and help me get into some dry clothes and down to the hospital, please.”

“Dry clothes? But we’ve got to go now!”

He leapt out of bed and ran into the closet to get dressed. When he came out, he had my hospital labor bag and was ready to go.

“How come you can change, but I can’t?”

“I know you love Thor and everything, but I didn’t think it would be a good idea to go to the hospital with him hanging out, hence the clothes. Put this on, and let’s go.”

He helped me to my feet and into a fluffy robe before picking me up and heading for the hospital. I saw him link someone before we started down the stairs, then heard a commotion on Kade’s side of the floor.

“This is probably going to take a few hours. You didn’t have to wake them.”

“Kade would’ve kicked my a*s if I let my first child be born without him being there. He takes his ‘uncle’ duties very seriously. Plus, you need Morgan.”

Another contraction tore through my uterus and up my back, and if I didn’t know any better, I would have sworn this baby had a hack saw in there and was making her own way out.

“Holy f*****g f**k! What’s wrong with this kid?!”

“Just breathe through it. We’ll be there in a couple of minutes.”

True to his word, we arrived at our designated labor and delivery room, and everything was already set up for us. Matt placed me on the bed, then pulled my speaker out of my bag and connected it to my labor playlist on my phone. Peaceful, serene music began to fill the room, calming me down and helping me focus.

That was until Morgan burst into the room, moving so fast that she ran straight into the door and bounced right off. Luckily, Kade was behind her and caught her before she hit the floor.

“s**t! That door is dangerous. How are you feeling, momma? Do I need to do anything?”

“I feel fine for now, so just sit down and relax. I just need everyone to relax, got it?”

She quietly rubbed her chest where it hit the door and went to sit in the corner.

“I hear we have a baby Gamma on the way. How are you feeling, Taylor?” Dr. Bennett asked as she walked in.

“I’m good. I’ve had two contractions so far that we’re pretty strong. Hopefully, this goes quickly.”

“Let’s take a look and see where you are.”

After pulling on her gloves, she pulled the sheet up to my knees and started her exam.

Matt angled himself between my spread legs and Kade in the corner, making me laugh to myself. No matter how perverted he was, I doubt Kade would replace a v****a that was about to be ripped apart by a child appealing.

A few minutes of being felt up by the doctor later, she took off her glove and pulled the ultrasound machine over.

“You’re about three centimeters, but I don’t feel her head. It should be pressing down on your cervix, so she’s probably just in a weird position. Let’s take a look.”

She rubbed the wand on my belly, and just as she suspected, Genesis was lying sideways instead of being head down.

“Let me see if I can reposition her.”

Dr. Bennett then began to push and mold my belly, trying to get the baby to move. She squirmed a bit for sure, but it was obvious that she was comfortable and had no intention of moving.

“I don’t want to stress her out, so I’ll leave her alone for a little while. I’ll be back in an hour to check on your progress. If she stays in this position, we’ll have to do a cesarean; there is no way to push her out on her side.”

“So she’s alright for now? Just in a bad position for delivery?” Matt asked.

“She’s perfectly fine, Gamma, and in no danger at all.”

When she left, a nurse came in and hooked me up to a few different monitors and started an IV while we waited.

“Should I call your parents? If you give me your phone, I can let them know,” Morgan offered.

As much as I wanted to say no, I knew that I couldn’t. Our parents were counting down the seconds until Genesis arrived, and I’d never want to deny them this experience.

“Yes, please. My phone is in my bag in the corner.”

Matt came and sat next to me and held my hand as another contraction hit.

“Hold my hand and squeeze as hard as you need to. You’ve got this.”

I shut my eyes and nodded my head as I squeezed his hand, wanting him to share in my pain.

“Giana didn’t even let me get a word in. As soon as she answered, she told me she was on her way. I’m happy I wasn’t calling for recipe advice,” Morgan chuckled.

“It’s after four in the morning. Why else would we be calling this late?” I asked.

“Good point.”

“I’m about to become a father. I can’t even begin to explain how thankful I am to you for giving me this gift,” Matt whispered in my ear.

“Just give me a year or two before you put another one in me. That’s thanks enough, handsome.”

“I can’t make any promises. I loved seeing you pregnant, especially the way your body responded. It was a thing of beauty.”

“Bigger boobs? Really? That’s what you loved about this pregnancy?”

“Not just boobs. A*s, h**s, everything. Your entire body changed, and it was the sexiest thing I’d ever seen.”

“Here I am, making an entire person, and you were checking out my a*s. What kind of world are we living in?”

He laughed and kissed my forehead.

“Alright. All four parents are on the way. Kade, let the patrols know so they’ll let them through, please,” Morgan said.

“Already done. They know to be on the lookout within the hour.”

Alaia, Xander, and Alexi came in a few minutes later, and the large room began to feel small and tight.

“Kade, Xander, and Alexi—waiting room, please, and thank you. This room is way too crowded. When the parents get here, James and Robert can join you and rotate in behind Giana and Nancy,” Alaia stated.

I loved how easily she could transition into Luna mode. None of the men argued; they just did what they were told and left the room.

“That’s so much better. There’s nothing worse than a room full of people when your vag is out on full display.”

“I have to agree. Thank you.” I rolled over on my side and closed my eyes, enjoying the last bit of quiet I’d get for a while.

* * *

Three hours later …

“Good news, momma. The little one has finally decided to get into position, and you’re ten centimeters dilated. It’s time to start pushing,” Dr. Bennett said with a smile.

“Finally! These contractions are a b***h,” I screamed.

My mom gave me a dirty look but didn’t say anything. She had to understand what I was going through. Matt and Morgan came up on either side of the bed and helped me sit up.

“Let’s do this, Tay. Just focus on pushing, and you’ll do great.”

“This f*****g sucks! Just get her out, now!”

“Calm down, Taylor, and breathe. When you feel the next contraction, bear down and push,” Dr. Bennett advised.

About a minute later, a wave of pain rushed over me, and I wanted to scream and punch everyone in sight. But I did what I was told and pushed as hard as I could. At times it felt like I was going to pass out from lack of oxygen, and the stars dancing around before my eyes just furthered my suspicions.

“Keep breathing. You’re doing great!”

“We’re almost there, tesoro. You’ve survived so much, so I know you can do this. Just focus, baby.”

If anyone could pull me back, it was him. So, I pushed, breathed, and pushed some more. Almost forty-five minutes later, and with the very last bit of energy I had left, I gave one last push and finally felt a glorious release of pressure, then heard her shrill cry.

I fell back on the bed, exhausted. Damn what the Moon Goddess said, I was never doing this again.

“She’s here, tesoro. You did so well.”

I slowly shut my eyes and smiled at him. “Go make sure she’s alright,” I whispered before I let my head lull to the side. I needed a nap. Just twelve hours, that was all I wanted.

Yeah, I’d take that nap. Then I’d meet my daughter.

* * *

Matt

Up until this moment, Taylor had been the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. Now she shared that title with our child. My daughter. She was so perfect, and I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. Nine pounds, six ounces of chubby, angelic perfection.

Her head was covered in a thick mass of brown hair that I could tell was going to be extremely curly. Add in the round cheeks and adorable pouty lips, and she had me wrapped around her finger.

I’d do anything and everything for this little girl. She only had to ask. And her eyes. When she opened her eyes and looked at me, I was amazed.

“They’re teal. Just like the Moon Goddess.”

She’s a blessed wolf.