Sold To The Billionaire Alpha
Epilogue

Orion

“I feel like an elephant,” laughed Rose.

“If you’re an elephant, then I’m a whale!” Exclaimed my Orchid.

My Luna was glowing. I helped her into a seat. She leant back and sighed.

“How far along are you again?” Asked Rose.

“Eleven months,” muttered Orchid.

“She’s seven months,” I chuckled.

“Feels like eleven,” grumbled Orchid.

“Eight months for me,” said Rose.

“Almost time,” said Orchid excitedly.

“I can’t wait to drink wine again,” mumbled Rose.

“That’s what you’re excited about?” Said Orchid incredulously.

“Of course I want to meet my baby too!” Giggled Rose. “But can’t I be happy for wine too?”

“No, I meant you’re really missing wine more than coffee?” Wondered Orchid.

They both laughed.

“I just want these rug rats to be healthy,” mumbled Orchid affectionately.

“They will be!” Cooed Rose. “Stop worrying!”

“I have to worry! Do you know all the complications that can arise from being pregnant with multiples?” Asked Orchid.

“No, and I’m glad I don’t know, cause knowing is freaking you out!” Said Rose bluntly, shoving Orchid’s arm playfully.

They were both seated next to each other on the drawing room couch. Perseus was at the piano with me. We had not played piano together since we were little. We used to play pieces together all the time until Mother got rid of the piano teacher after she made Father laugh once. Perseus had sided with Mother back then, saying the pianist knew better than to talk to Father. She had known she was not allowed to do such a thing but I had always found those rules rather alarming. There had been absolutely nothing happening between the teacher and Father. Our piano teacher had been a concert pianist too in her past so she had many genuinely interesting tales. Not to mention the fact that she had been almost sixty at the time. She had looked great for her age but Mother had been far too young back then to be so threatened by someone more than twice her age especially since Father was her devoted fated mate.

“Orion?” Said Orchid gently.

She snapped me out of my recollection.

“Hey, Baby, what’s wrong?” I asked.

Orchid’s eyes were wide. She was breathing heavily and holding her large belly. I jumped to my feet and rushed to her.

“It’s happening,” she said breathlessly.

Rose gasped. “But’s it’s far too early!” She cried. “I haven’t even given birth yet and I’m a month farther along!” Said Rose, her eyes filled with concern.

“I know but multiples…tend to…come early. It’s…okay. The pack doctors…planned ahead…for a preterm labour and…for premature infants,” replied Orchid, speaking as if every word had to be forced out of her and was a pain to say.

“Just breathe, okay, Baby,” I murmured, rubbing her lower back and trying to remain calm.

“Perseus, please bring Orchid’s Baby bag down to the infirmary while I get Orchid down there,” I instructed.

“Sure thing,” said Perseus, scurrying off.

I picked Orchid up as carefully as I could. My heart was racing but outwardly I made sure to keep my voice and expression calm. I rushed Orchid down to the infirmary in the mansion as quickly as I could though not quite at werewolf speed as that had been making her feel nauseated these days. I placed her on one of the beds and summoned the pack doctors and nurses. The medical team immediately began their work.

A young doctor was hooking Orchid up to the CTG machine so she could check all the babies’ hearts.

“Are the babies in distress?” Asked Orchid anxiously.

“The fatal heart rates are all elevated,” said the doctor gently.

“By a lot?” I wondered, feeling a twinge of fear.

I took one of Orchid’s hands in both of mine and kissed it.

“Normal for a foetus is about 110 to 160 but these babies are all around 180 which is a cause for concern but I need you both to be as calm as you can for them. We anticipated this,” said the doctor apologetically, looking at Orchid pointedly.

Orchid sighed.

“I might have to have an early C-section,” Orchid concluded.

“Even of you were all the way at term, I still wouldn’t feel comfortable delivering this number of babies vaginally especially not with the foetal tachycardia. You’ve done really well, Orchid, trust me! You’ve reached 28 weeks which is typical for multiples like this!” Said the doctor.

Orchid nodded. I kissed her forehead. Perseus came running in with Orchid’s Baby Bag. A few minutes later, Rose waddled in.

“What’s happening?” Asked Rose.

“She’ll be having a C-section,” said Perseus.

“Did anyone call my Dad?” Asked Orchid suddenly.

“I did!” Said Rose.

“Which Dad?” I asked.

“Talus,” said Orchid and Rose in unison.

Orchid took a deep breath.

“I hope he gets here before I go into surgery,” she said softly.

“Shh,” I cooed, caressing her cheek.

A single tear rolled down her cheek and I wiped it away.

“You’re the toughest Luna I know,” I murmured in her ear. “You and our babies will be just fine,” I said, trying to reassure her though I was worried too.

Thankfully, Talus did arrive before Orchid’s surgery.

“Dad!” Squealed Orchid.

“Mom!” Exclaimed Talus.

Orchid rolled her eyes. Talus had been calling Orchid “Mom” since she had gotten pregnant, a nickname Orchid disliked. He was made to stop calling her “Big Ma” entirely as this was a nickname she absolutely despised. He had come up with that one when he had been told how many babies we were having.

“You’ve got this,” said Talus confidently.

Orchid focused on her deep, slow breathing.

“I love you,” I whispered, kissing her forehead and her hands.

“I love you too,” she whispered back, somewhat breathlessly.

“Are you in pain?” I asked.

“They gave me something but yeah it still hurts,” said Orchid.

“Did her water break, Doc?” Called Talus, addressing the medical team.

“No,” said one of them. “Her contractions began a few hours ago though her water should break within twenty four hours of the onset of contractions,” explained the doctor.

“But we’re not waiting for that, right?” Confirmed Orchid.

“No,” said the doctor firmly.

“What? Why the hell not? What’s the rush? Stop rushing my grand babies!” Snapped Talus.

“Dad! Relax,” grumbled Orchid. “They’re doing what’s best for the babies. Their heart rates are too fast.”

“We’re just trying to optimise your daughter for surgery, Mr Hawthorne,” said the doctor.

“Well, hurry up! My grand babies’ heart rates are too fast! They’re ready to go! Hawthornes don’t waste any time!” Complained Talus, completely switching sides. “These people are taking far too long and the kids are getting antsy,” grumbled Talus.

I was panicking on the inside now. I was terrified of Orchid to going into surgery. She was my everything. I needed her and the babies to all be okay.

When it was finally time, Talus and I were allowed to remain at the head of Orchid’s bed once we put on the correct proactive gear. The medical team set up a partition blocking the surgical field from view. I was glad for that. Although as an Alpha, I was not squeamish, I did not think I could handle seeing Orchid’s surgery up close like this. Orchid began to get loopy. She sand a song she had just made up by herself.

“Baby Daddy, how are you feeling?” Asked Talus.

He and I had been getting along well again like it had been in the beginning. I felt like I had redeemed myself in his eyes.

“Good,” I lied.

He gave me a look that told me he thought I was lying.

Terrified, but don’t tell Orchid please! I cautioned.

Orchid is in la la land. Don’t you worry, he said reassuringly.

Orchid was rapping now. I kissed her forehead again.

“I love you, all five of you, and Mommy,” I murmured, wondering if any of the six of them could hear me.

Mommy was loopy and I did not know what my unborn babies could hear in there right now.

Orchid

I was having quintuplets. Quints! I could scarcely believe it. Of all the people in the world, fate had chosen me. I had been hoping for one baby, simple and sweet though not without its challenges. Here I was having five babies. I did not have enough hands to hold them all. I supposed I could hold two, Orion could hold two and Talus would bounce one on his knee. We could also ask Perseus and Rose for a little babysitting help but they were almost ready to have their own as well. Despite my apprehensiveness, I knew I would love and protect every single one of my bunch fiercely.

I was allowed to stay awake for the C-section though I could not see it myself. There was a white plastic curtain sectioning off the surgical area, which was basally my abdomen, from my upper body and head. My husband and my father never left my side.

After I got the anaesthesia, my lower half became extremely numb.

“Can you feel that?” Asked the anaesthesiologist, probably poking my lower half with something sharp.

I shook my head.

“How about this?” He said.

I truly could not feel anything.

“No.” I said confidently.

“Ok, good!”

I could smell iodine and alcohol. I knew they were cleaning my abdomen but I did not feel that either. I relaxed a little.

“You’re doing an amazing job, Baby,” murmured my Orion.

“Yes, absolutely amazing!” Said Talus.

I was vaguely aware of Orion saying soothing things to me. His breath tickled my ear. Being around him still gave me tingles. Talus was talking to. He was talking rather a lot actually. All their words mixed together. It was hard to focus on anything but what was going on beyond the white plastic curtain, even though I could not feel it. Time passed slowly or perhaps quickly. There was a lull of silence and then I heard it. I gasped.

It was the sound of my first-born’s crying. Tears rolled down my cheeks too. Orion was crying quietly also. Talus was tearing up but trying to pass it off as allergies with a fake sneeze until the doctor suggested he leave since he had a cold. He quickly stopped sneezing and no longer had allergies.

They wiped off my little guy and put him on my chest.

“Hi, hi,” I cooed.

He scrunched up his little face.

“He looks like Orion,” I said.

Orion chuckled and kissed my forehead again. He was holding our baby’s tiny hand in his huge hand.

“Daddy loves so so much,” he said very softly to our tiny baby.

“His Apgar scores are surprisingly high for a premature baby but then again he is from alpha lineages on both sides so I shouldn’t be that surprised after all,” said one of the doctors. “He’ll still need to spend some time with us ok.”

I nodded to show I understood.

“Do you have a name for this little champ?” Cooed the nurse.

They needed to label his wrist band.

“We can label it infant one if you’re still deciding. I don’t want to rush you,” she said.

“I have one picked out. I have several,” I mumbled sleepily.

Orion was stroking my hair and the baby’s hair gently. He had a little mop of delicate hairs stuck to his head. He was so serious and stoic like his Dad.

“Oliver,” I said.

Orion grinned. The name meant “ancestor’s descendent” and he was his father’s child through and through. We had become baby name enthusiasts during the pregnancy.

“I could not agree more, Baby,” murmured Orion. “He’ll be family-oriented this one. He’ll look after the others, his little brothers,” said Orion affectionately.

I could tell Orion was beaming with pride. We waved at our little Oliver as he was put in an incubator.

The second baby was placed on my chest so we could meet him. He was in a great mood like he was basking in the triumph of being born. He looked ready to take on the world.

“Oscar,” I said softly, remembering this name meant “champion warrior.”

Orion and I had picked five names we wanted them to have but I needed to take a good look at each one to decide who was who. Orion had absolutely insisted that he wanted me to decide this though we both chose the selection of names.

“Definitely, Baby,” said Orion. “He’s a tough one. He’ll be giving Oliver a run for his money for who’s in charge of the lot of them!” Chuckled Orion, bending down to k**s me sweetly and softly.

The third baby did not cry at all. He was the calmest person in the room. When they placed him on my chest, he cooed beautifully like he was entertaining us.

“Orlando,” I said, as the name meant “famous land or renowned in the land.”

“Perfect, he’s a little superstar. I have a feeling this one will be popular with the girls,” said Orion.

The fourth baby boy kicked up such a fuss, he almost wriggled away from the doctor and the nurse. He was exceptionally strong and lively.

“Owen,” I said immediately before he even reached my chest.

Orion burst into laughter as he greeted Owen. Owen wiggled about on my chest as if wanting to roll off onto the floor to go exploring.

“Owen is right for him,” said Orion, touching Owen’s nose gently. “He’s tough like his elder brother, Oscar.”

Owen meant “young warrior.”

The fifth baby was a huge fan of cuddles. He snuggled up to my chest and to his Dad.

“Hi little Oberon,” I said to him.

“This will be Mommy’s spoilt little baby boy. Her youngest,” teased Orion, ruffling Oberon’s hair gently.

Oberon meant “royal bear” and was the perfect name for youngest cuddly prince.

The doctor gasped. I stiffened.

“What’s wrong?” Orion asked sharply.

They had just taken Oberon from us.

“Is he okay?” I asked, panicking. “Let me see all of them again!”

“Luna, I…I don’t know what to tell you…my apologies…I don’t know how we missed this…I’ve never missed something like this before,” stammered the doctor.

“Not something, someone,” said the sassy nurse.

I gasped. Did they mean…

“There is a sixth baby,” said the doctor.

“Is he all right?” Demanded Orion. “Let me see my son at once.”

“He was all squished in there and you didn’t know about him! That’s why their heart rates were elevated! It was too cramped in there!” Quarrelled Talus who had been in quiet awe during the presentation of his five grandsons.

“Bring me my son!” I said, getting annoyed and worried.

They were not saying anything. They were just exchanging glances.

“She,” said the doctor finally.

Talus, Orion and I gasped.

“I have a baby girl,” whispered Orion, more tears falling onto his cheeks.

“She will be the spoilt one,” I teased, crying too.

She was fine. Nothing was wrong with her. She was premature like her brothers and we had not known she was there but she was fine. They put her on my chest.

“My granddaughter,” sniffled Talus.

“My little angel, my baby girl,” cooed Orion.

“Baby girl, you popped up out of nowhere but you are a most welcome surprise,” I said as the name came to me instantly. “Welcome to your loving family, Oasis.”