Awakening (2 book series)
Awakening – Following Fate Chapter 149

"Breathe through it, pant like Marda showed you." Colton's hands are on me, but I try and blot out the world by closing my eyes and focusing on the agony that's ripping me up inside. I didn't know what I expected childbirth to feel like, but this wasn't it. There's nothing to describe how much it hurts.

"Should I tell my mom to make their way to the valley? Do you want them here? What about your dad? I have the contact number to have him travel here tonight." Colton can only talk at me while stroking my hair, empathizing what he can see me experiencing. The pain of childbirth is one of the only pains that a mate doesn't share. Wolves in labor need protection, so their mates are spared the bonded agony so they can watch over and help them through it. Nature at its finest, I guess.

"Hmmmmm, I don't know" I roll and squirm in a bid to relieve the building pain and pressure. Disinterested in thinking, feeling anything around me and not really caring about who is here and not when all I can focus on is getting through each second of this. "Your dad will never forgive me if he isn't here for the birth. He has far to come." Colton changes from stroking to kneading my shoulders and back and yanks the duvet away when he feels my body heating up.

"Do whatever you need to do, I just ...." I trail off unable to say anything else as the intensity ups and I hit the peak of the contraction. Murmuring and moaning as the worst pain I have ever felt in my life rips through me and I spasm involuntarily. All I can do is cling onto the edge of the mattress and grit my teeth, body rigid as I try to cope with it.

"I can ease it with magic...do you want me to try?" Colton's tone is tight and forced, he sounds desperate at seeing me suffer.

"No, I don't know if that will slow it down and hinder progress."

"This is hell to watch and it's only the beginning. Tell me what to do. How can I ease this? A bath... walking around? What about some kind of pain med from the midwife?" Colton's stress levels grow and yet I honestly cannot do anything about it. I am so hyper focused on being trapped inside my own body with this horrible cramping and twisting. All I can do is breathe in short pants and try and remember everything they told me when preparing for birth. I have to remind myself that this is normal and I'm okay. I can do this.

"In through the nose, nice and slow, and out through the mouth. It can help reduce the pain."

"No...just go notify my dad." I blurt out in a snappish tone, irritation rising and it's all I can do to keep myself together. I am instantly wracked with guilt at being that way towards him, but this is excruciating.

"I already linked Meds and told her to do it. Try and stay calm. I know your sore baby, and I'm probably annoying you but I'm a bit out of my depth here."

"I just want it over...get them out. It hurts." Tears fall rapidly as the throws of what seems like the longest contraction ever grows into minutes. I don't know how it's supposed to go in early labor, but this feels huge, like there isn't much time. It seems fast. "I know, baby. They're coming. I won't leave you alone I swear."

"I'm here! I'm here!" Meadow bursts into the room without knocking, in a frenzy of chaos as someone falls in behind her and a yelp of more bodies outside our bedroom door alerts us to the fact we have a group audience.

"Move, your ass is bigger than ever. Doorways can barely contain it anymore." Carmen shoves Meadow in further and falls over her for a second time, missing face planking the floor by an inch as her beloved mate catches the back of her clothes and stops her midair. Jasper pulls her into his arms and rights her on her feet.

"Can you do things at normal speed, and I wouldn't forever be stopping you from injuring yourself." Jasper croons at her, hooks his arm around her waist as he guides her past the glaring Meadow.