Nathan's POV
"Laura, come on, love, stay with me," I said through my pants as the medics pulled the stretcher into the emergency room. Laura was pale, and dry blood covered her thighs. Her eyes were struggling to stay open, but also she was losing so much blood, and she was in pain. I felt it.
"N-Nate," she murmured under her breath.
I leaned forward, "Laura, don't waste your breath. Just stay awake." I said, giving her a light squeeze on her hand.
Suddenly, doctors and nurses rushed towards us, taking the stretcher from the medics. Suddenly, the physicians pulled me back, telling me I could not go further. But I would not let it happen, so I put up a fight. "No, I need to be her!" I yelled as more tried to hold me down. "Your Highness, please calm down!" Dr Karen said, standing in front of me. I ignored her and continued fighting, monitoring Laura being taken towards double doors. "Alpha Nathan!"
I felt a sharp pain in my neck, realising that Dr Karen had injected something in me. My body suddenly got drowsy, and my eyes became heavier. My body dropped, and everything darkened once she passed through those doors.
*~*~*
I gasped awake, pushing myself up, and glanced around in confusion.
Where am I?
What happened?
That's when memories hit me like a ton of bricks. Laura!
Where is she?
How are she and our son!?
"Nate! Nate!" I glanced to my side to see Sean. "Calm down," he said.
"Laura!?" I asked, noticing bandages wrapped around my chest and left shoulder. "What happened?"
"Dr Karen had to inject you to keep you from the surgery room and to bandage you too," he said. I tried to push myself out of bed, and Sean placed his hand on my chest, "what are you doing?" He asked, gently pushing me down.
"I need to see her," I said, struggling out of bed.
"Nate, you need to rest."
I shook my head and pushed him out of my way as I walked out of the room.
"Nate!" I heard Kelly call out, walking towards me. "Why are you out of bed?" She asked.
"Where's Laura? What happened?" I asked, shaking the sleep away.
I felt Kelly's hand grab my forearm, "Nate, calm down and take a seat." She dragged me to a seat. "It has been an hour and a half so far, and we still don't know how Laura is."
I groaned, throwing my head back, "Where's Dr Karen?" I asked.
"She's in there," Kelly said.
Sean left my room, "Nate, just sit and take a deep breath." He said. "I'm sure they're both okay. I know Laura is a strong woman," he patted my back gently. A few minutes later, Dr Karen walked in, and we all came close and tensive. I was worried, and for the first time, I was afraid. Was this how Sean felt when he lost his mate?
"Dr Karen, how is she and the boy? Are they both okay?" I asked nervously.
I took a large gulp as she said, "Laura had a strong silver mixed with rare wolfsbane, which was killing her slowly... Her shifting strengthened her for a while, giving her enough energy to slow down the silver and wolfsbane."
"So she's fine?" Kelly asked. "And so is the baby?"
Dr Karen sighed sadly, "She's not fine... Because she lost a lot of blood and was weakened by the silver and wolfsbane, we had to perform an emergency C-section to ensure the safety of the baby." There was a moment of silence, and she smiled a bit, "Luckily, the prince is a fighter; he survived and is well." I released my breath of relief, happy that my son was well.
"... We are still testing him to ensure no silver or wolfsbane is in his system. When we're done, you'll be able to see him."
"Laura?" My voice came out husky. All I could think about was that my mate would never meet her son.
"In her weakened state, her body shuts down to the only concert on healing itself. So, we connected her to some machines to support her body while it heals. We fear that she will stay in her coma for a long time." I closed my eyes tight, hoping that this was just a dream and that I would wake up any moment now, then find myself in bed with my beloved mate, Laura, beside me. Healthy and awake.
"What can we do?" Sean asked.
"Just hope and pray," she sighed...
*~*~*
Have you ever thought about how you would die?
If you would feel pain or peace?
I first thought I would die. My body was weakened by silver and wolfsbane, and I couldn't shift to heal myself because of my pregnant state. But the fear of losing my baby and the death of my people got me angry. I knew I had to take a risk to save many lives, and that meant risking his life. Please forgive me.
Nate.
My beloved mate, Nathan. I felt his pain as he fought without giving up, just for his people's safety. I hope he forgives me for risking our son's life. Please.
Deep...
Deep...
Deep...
Suddenly, I heard steady deeps in the darkness but could not see anything.
Deep...
Deep...
Deep...
It's too dark.
Deep...
Deep...
Deep...
There's nothing here. Where were those deeps coming from!?
I slowly felt my eyelids wanting to open, but they were open. Aren't they? That's why it's dark here, or it's just me... Then, I should let my eyes open. As my eyelids slowly opened, I started seeing bright light blurs. "Laura..." I heard a voice, "Laura, please wake up."
My eyes flickered open, trying to see through the blurs. I tilted my head, my eyes cleared up, and my eyes met forest green eyes. "N-Nate," my voice cracked, and my throat was dry and hurting. He smiled warmly, gently squeezed my hand, raised my hand and gave me a long, warm kiss on my wrist, which brought a smile to my face.
I never thought I would Nate again, "h-how—" He cuts me off.
"Here. Drink up," he said, handing me a glass of water. I took a sip, feeling the cold, refreshing water. "You have been in a coma for a week."
My eyes widened, and I placed my free hand on my stomach. My eyes suddenly watered, "t-the baby? Did I —"
"No, no, no," he smiled, widened, and eyes watered like mine. "He's okay."
I released a sob in joy, "where is he?" I glanced around, realising we were the only ones in the room. "I want to see him," I said, glancing back to Nate.
He leaned forward to kiss my forehead, "I'll get him and the doctor. I'm glad you're awake," he said before heading out.
I kept my gaze on the door, waiting for my mate carrying our son in his arms. Once the door opened, I tried to push myself up and saw Nate walking in with one arm, having our son wrapped in a soft baby blue blanket. I couldn't help but smile and extend my arms, wanting to hold my baby. My smile widened as Nate slowly and gently placed him in my arms.
A sob escaped my lips as I saw this strong, healthy, cute baby. He was my baby. I caressed his soft cheeks as I gazed down at him. His cute button nose, chubby cheeks, and small dark hair and as I gazed at him, he slowly flickered his open, and I released he had a mixture of forest green and shade of grey eyes. "He's beautiful," I mumbled.
"Indeed, he is," I heard Nate mutter. There was a moment of silence, "he needs a name." He said, breaking the silence.
I glanced up, "you didn't name?"
He nodded, "I needed your opinion and see what you like to name him."
I gazed back down at our son, and a name came to mind, "Hades." I muttered, caressing him again.
"Hades?"
I nodded, "because he was strong enough to live through war and chaos."
"I love it... Hades, Axel Crescent."
"Axel?" I glanced up with a grin.
He leaned forward, kissed my forehead and caressed Hades' forehead. "It was my grandfather's name, and he was like a role model to me."
"Prince Hades Axel Crescent, welcome to the world."