Lilith Ra P.O.V
It had been more than two and a half months, and my pregnancy had progressed to the point where my stomach felt enormous, a constant reminder of the impending arrival. Gabriel and I, once so united, seemed to be drifting apart.
He set a plate of lamb chops in front of me, the smell tantalizing but my appetite was nowhere to be found. "Here," he said, his voice laced with an edge of frustration.
"I'm not hungry," I replied, pushing the plate away.
"Just eat something for the baby's sake. We have that appointment today, remember? To check the sonogram." Gabriel's reminder was accompanied by a sigh. We were supposed to have had the sonogram weeks ago, but Gabriel's schedule, packed with meetings and training with Lucifer, had delayed it. Now, as the due date approached, the urgency felt almost too little too late.
I reluctantly picked at the food, trying to calm the gnawing anxiety in my stomach. Just then, Gabriella walked in, hand in hand with Octavius, their playful banter a stark contrast to my inner turmoil.
"What time is your appointment?" Gabriella asked me.
"In fifteen minutes," Gabriel answered, his attention on me rather than her.
Gabriella's gaze turned thoughtful. "You know, I'm the only one here not expecting a baby."
Octavius's eyes widened, a look of horror crossing his face. "I think that can wait," Lucifer entered the kitchen. He was free to come and go between the packs, training with Gabriel and handling his own responsibilities.
"Says the one with twins on the way," Gabriella retorted, clearly irked.
Lucifer, with his characteristic calm, merely shrugged. "You're still too young for a baby, Gabriella."
I bit my lip, feeling the tension simmer. Gabriella is actually older than me by a year.
"I'm older than Lilith!" Gabriella shot back, pointing out the glaring inconsistency.
Octavius hesitated before agreeing, "I think they're right."
Gabriella's jaw dropped. "Now you guys are all on the same team?"
"I'm relieved I don't have little ones coming soon. I'm not ready for that," Octavius stated plainly.
Gabriella's frustration boiled over. "So, if I were pregnant, you'd be unhappy?"
Octavius's response was blunt. "I wouldn't be surprised if I asked you to abort it."
A heavy silence fell over the room. Gabriel and Lucifer exchanged glances, their expressions hardening.
"I don't support abortion," Lucifer said firmly, his gaze locked on Octavius. Gabriel nodded in agreement, giving a brief, apologetic look toward me.
Octavius was left scrambling for words. "I—"
Valentine's entrance broke the tension. "Stop harassing him," she said, her presence a welcome diversion.
Lucifer turned to Valentine, his gaze still intense. "Do you support abortion?"
"I don't, but it's his opinion," Valentine shrugged, trying to remain neutral.
Gabriella's face flushed with anger. "Well, I for one would never abort a child of mine," she declared before storming out of the kitchen.
Octavius sighed deeply and followed after her, a look of regret crossing his face.
"Let's go," Gabriel said, extending his hand toward me. I struggled to rise from my chair, feeling the weight of my impending labor.
As I stood, a sudden warmth trickled down my thighs. I froze, staring in disbelief as my water broke, the fluid cascading down my legs. The contractions began almost immediately, sharp and unrelenting.
"Lilith's water broke!" Valentine's voice cut through the chaos.
Gabriel's face went pale with urgency. "Shit," he muttered, sweeping me up into his arms. The strength he showed was impressive, even with my heavy belly. He carried me swiftly to the packhouse emergency ward, laying me gently on the bed.
The doctors rushed in, their faces tense with focus. I clutched Gabriel's hand, my grip tight as the pain intensified.
They began examining my stomach with unfamiliar devices. "The baby's head is caught in the cord; we need to perform a caesarian section," one doctor said, the gravity of their words sinking in.
Fear gripped me. I looked at Gabriel, my eyes wide and pleading. "No, I don't want to go," I cried out, tears streaming down my face.
"We don't have time. The baby is losing oxygen," the doctor urged, but their words barely registered over my panicked breaths.
Gabriel leaned close, his voice soothing yet urgent. "Lilith, it will be alright. Trust me. You won't feel a thing; you'll be asleep."
"Promise?" I whispered, my voice trembling.
He kissed my forehead softly. "I promise," he assured me, his eyes steady with determination.
"Make sure she's safe and back with me," Gabriel instructed the doctors, his tone leaving no room for doubt. They nodded, their seriousness reflecting the gravity of the situation.
Gabriel Zades P.O.V
I waited outside the operating room, pacing back and forth. My foot tapped rhythmically against the tiled floor, a relentless beat of anxiety and impatience. I couldn't sit still, not when Lilith and my child were in there. My thoughts were racing, jumping from one worry to the next. What if something goes wrong? What if—
"Is everything okay? What's happening?" My mom's voice cut through my spiraling thoughts. She hurried over, my dad right behind her, both their faces etched with concern.
"They're doing a caesarian on her," I explained, my voice tight, betraying the fear I was trying to hide.
"Don't worry, she'll be alright," my dad said, his hand on my shoulder, trying to steady me. But I could see the worry in his eyes, the same fear that churned in my gut.
I forced a nod, trying to believe him, but the reality of it all weighed heavy on me. I was just a kid myself, thrust into a world of responsibilities I wasn't sure I was ready for.
We had all dropped out of school—me, Lucifer, Valentine, Octavius, Gabriella. It felt like such a waste. All those years studying, all those dreams we had of graduation. We should have walked across that stage last year. Instead, here we were, navigating a life we hadn't planned for.
There was still the debate about merging our packs. If we did, Lucifer would be the Alpha of both, but he insisted that I was the rightful Alpha of my pack.
It felt like an eternity before the door finally opened and the doctor stepped out. My heart leaped into my throat at the sight of his face—a frown that sent a cold wave of fear crashing over me.
My parents exchanged a worried glance as they stood beside me, waiting, just like I was, for the doctor to speak.
"I'm sorry," he began, his voice heavy with regret.