Page 37 of A Luna's Revenge (Stone Mountain Shifters)
Dr. Emily Sutton
With Daddy's hands on the pup nesting beneath the skin, I open up just above the pubic line with my scalpel. Once accomplished, I begin separating the muscles from the tissue to reach the uterus. One slice and I have access to the pup.
"Daddy, place your hand on the pup as I deliver." He does, and I safely remove the squirming infant, wrapping him in a towel, andwe clamp off the umbilical cord.
"Congratulations, Daddy, it's a boy." Tears stream down his face as he beams at the tiny, squalling pup. "Do you want to cut the umbilical cord?"
"Yes! Yes, my boy!" He weeps as I hand him the scissors. "Is Charlie okay?" He asks, handing them back as he looks at the unconscious female.
"She’ll be fine. We’ll take good care of her. She was never in much danger," I say.
The neonatal team is ready to take over. "I recommend Daddy keeps his hands on the pup at all times until he’s stable," I instruct. We hand over the father/son package to the neonatal team.
"Will do, doc." One of the neonatal team doctors wraps the pup in a blanket and leads Dad and thepup to the warmer for immediate post-delivery assessment and treatment.
Nurse Reynold turns to me with concern. "The baby doesn't look like it's responding as quickly as we'd like." With Dad attached, the neonatal team whisks the pup out of the room. Dad looks back longingly at the patient as if he is reluctantly leaving her, but the pup is responding to his touch andneeds him more now.
Even though I am still worried about the pup, I must stay focused on the mother. "Mother's status?"
Nurse Reynold nods, her voice steady. "Her vital signs are good, and she is stable."
"Good. Let's close her up." I skillfully piece the patient back together. A birth such as this can be traumatic, but I always thrill at knowing I help save lives.
Jenson
I watch as they wheel Charlie out of the delivery room. I assume they are taking her to her room. Reggie isn't with her, nor is the pup. As I follow slowly behind like a stalker, I am once again filled with remorse at how I handled things with Charlie. I've lost my pup and my beautiful mate, and my life is a total mess.
The fated mate bond is sacred. It should never be tampered with. I understand everyone has free will and can make their own choices, but when you choose to enter into a mate bond, all parties and all outsiders should respect that choice. I should have never cheated.
Fated mate pairings are responsible for 95% of our population. Only 5% of chosen mates can reproduce. That is why the fated mate bond is sacred and protected by laws. Our population is decreasing rapidly.
Recently, the Alpha Commander made attendance at training regarding Cheating Mate Syndrome (CMS) mandatory. It’s when one of a mated pair cheats on the other, and it causes significant health issues to the cheated-on mate. When wolf shifters find their mates, their bodies sync biologically.
Some shifters are carnal, so cheating occurs. But it damages mates, it damages relationships, and it damages families irreparably. If adults want to do that and the mate is okay with it, medical intervention can make it a safer practice without the pain. Or, you can just renounce your mate bonds and cohabitate however you wish or go your separate ways.
Just 10 years ago, CMS was unnamed and unknown, while the victims usually died. The same is true with RMS or Rejected Mate Syndrome. Today, those are preventable and even curable.
I want my mate back, but it was too late the moment I first cheated with Tracy Vincent.
I watch as they push Charlie into the observation room for recovery. I approach the large plate glass window and peer through. They work with Charlie, settling her in the bed and draping a blanket over her still form. As they leave the room, the nurse I spoke with earlier eyes me warily. I stand my ground. I've lost her, but it feels like this is where I am supposed to be right now. I enter the room and approach her bed cautiously. I caress her face and comb her lovely hair back. I lean over her to kiss her one last time, but I am pulled back violently.
"Sir!" A big, burly male in a security uniform has me restrained. "You need to leave." He hisses as he drags me out of the room.
"You don't understand." I bellow. "She is my mate."
A group of nurses flood the room as I amdragged out. Satisfied that Charlie is okay, they close the door while another member of security guards it.
Meanwhile, I am struggling. This is the first time I’ve seen Charlie in months. This isn't fair. She is my mate! I break free and dart for the door. I have to get to Charlie. I didn't get closure. I deserve closure. No! I want my mate back. My childhood friend, my confidante, my everything.
Mr. Big and Burly seizes me by the neck from behind and dangles me off the ground. I twist and fight, but I am like a ragdoll in his grip. He gives me a shake before he drops me like a rock. Then he tackles me on the ground, and I am held secure. A doctor approaches with a syringe filled with amber liquid and injects it into my neck.
"No! No! Please let me see Charlie! I beg you—just let me see my mate!" I frantically yell. A wave of hopelessness engulfs me as I feel myself slipping away and being absorbed into the recesses of my mind. My voice is snuffed out, my thoughts are stifled, and my sense of self shatters. I am being erased.
Charlie
I blink my eyes open to look around the dark room. It’s evening, and I can see the full moon shining through the window. It's light casting shadows around the hospital room. A nurse walks in. "Oh, good. You are awake. Are you ready to eat?"
"Where is my pup?" I rasp out hoarsely.
"He had a bit of trouble, but when Dad came in, he rebounded. Dad is in the nursery with him. Would you like to try to breastfeed your pup?"
"What happened?"
"Why don't I order you a tray? We can get pup and Dad in here and let him explain everything. The doctor has gone home for the day, but she'll be in to see you in the morning."
I nod, but I am so glad Reggie made it for the birth. With my physical condition and in the chaos of the attack on the headquarters building, It’s a wonder he found me.
A few minutes later, the nurse returns, pushing a bassinet. Reggie is behind her, holding a bundle in his arms. He is smiling brightly, but I can see the tiredness in his eyes.
"I'll leave you three to it." The nurse smiles. "I've sent for a tray for you both. Do you need instructions on how to breastfeed, Momma?"
"No. We had a class on it last week." I say, 'If we have trouble, I'll ring for you." She nods and leaves us alone.
Reggie lays the precious bundle on my chest. I pull the blanket back, checking his diaper—just as I expected. "It's a boy!"
"Oh, yeah," Reggie remarks. "You were unconscious when he came into the world."
Our little one’s mouth pouts, and he lets out a pitiful cry. "I guess you need some dinner, my precious." I glance at Reggie as I struggle weakly. Reggie gently assists as he moves our pup to my breast. After several seconds of rooting around, he latches on and settles contently as I pull the sheet over us.
"He's been poked, prodded, assessed, and placed in an incubator for a couple of hours," Reggie reports. "He is a little premature, and the trauma he endured before his delivery distressed him, they said. But the doctors say his lungs are mature, and he’ll be fine." Reggie reassures me. He pulls up a chair, sits, and begins stroking my hair. He leans over to kiss my forehead gently and then our pup. "I am the happiest male alive."
"I am the happiest female alive." I quip tiredly. He crawls up in the bed and nestles us close to him. His arm across me, with his hand resting protectively on our pup.
There's a knock on the door. The nurse enters carrying a couple of trays. She places them on the overbed table. "Here's some food for you guys." She looks at Reggie. "Make sure she eats as much as possible to build up her milk supply. I'll come back and check on you all later. If you need anything, just let me know." She turns and leaves, closing the door softly.
Reggie pulls the overbed table close so he can reach it, and it doesn't interfere with my feeding the pup. He removes the cover. "Looks like all soft foods and liquid for you."
He scoops up a spoon of mashed potatoes and holds it to my lips. I open my mouth and grudgingly accept it. "My stomach is not on board, but I will try." I swallow and open my mouth again like a baby bird.
Reggie continues to feed me bites of food between sweet kisses and whispers of love. He then opens the milk and places a straw in the tiny can of soda. Alternating between bites of food, the milk, and the soda, I am beginning to get nauseous. I don't know if I can continue. I refused the next bite and took a sip ofcold soda. It eases the knot in my stomach. "I think that's all I can eat right now."
"Okay." He pushes the table away and gathers me back up in his arms. So, which name did you choose?" He indicates his head toward our pup.
"Xyran Reginald Marks."
He nods. "Good, strong name. I like it."
With those words, silence descends. The only noise is the beating of my achingly full heart that is overflowing with love and the soft sucking noises coming from our pup. I am so bone tiredthatmy eyes slip closed, and I embrace the sweet restfulness of sleep.