Shackled (The Lord Series) by Amy T

429. Bonus content - Shackled

**Alekos' POV**

A thin layer of sweat covers Angel's forehead.

Her face is a mask of agony.

I've never seen her in so much pain before.

A new contraction hits her, her back arching as a weak scream leaves her.

She's been in labor for hours, trying to bring our child into the world. She looks so tired.

Her eyes look at me pleadingly. My heart throbs with pain.

I fucking did this to her. I caused her this pain by wanting a child.

"Push!" the midwife says.

Angel thrashes her head against the pillows, tears falling down her cheeks.

Stefan kisses her ankle. "You are doing great, Schatzi. Just one more push."

Her hand squeezes Reyes' fingers hard. "I can't," her voice begs us to understand. Reyes brushes the hair away from her face with his free hand.

My blood-brothers and I haven't left Angel's side since she mentioned she wasn't feeling well two days ago. We should have taken her to the hospital and gotten the doctor to perform a C-section, but she wanted to give birth at home. I shouldn't have given in. Then, she wouldn't have been suffering the way she is.

I press my lips to her other ankle. "Just one more push, Agapi Mou, and you can rest."

She looks so fucking tired. I can feel it in the way her leg trembles in my hands. "Promise?" she asks.

"I promise," I reply.

Angel takes a deep breath, and when a new contraction hits her, she pushes harder than before. Her back lifts from the bed, and Reyes supports her as she gives all of herself into this last push and screams with the effort. A scream of life and victory as our child finally comes out. Angel falls back on the bed, breathing hard.

Reyes kisses Angel's cheek. "You did so well, Nena."

The midwife places the baby on Angel's stomach. The first contact between baby and mother, skin-on-skin, is the most important. Angel places her hands on our baby, tears of joy streaming from her eyes.

and nose before saying, "You are now the parents of a healthy baby

from Stefan to Reyes. A baby girl. Just as

Sofia.

cry and it's the most beautiful sound I

I'm not the only one crying. So

cut the umbilical

I say before Stefan and Reyes have a

giving her to me while she turns her attention to Angel. I look at my daughter. She is so tiny.

dares to harm

chance to hold Sofia, we give her to Angel so she can nurse her. The midwife

her eyes from the traumatic event her body went through to bring our daughter safely out, but I've never seen her more beautiful than

at our daughter with such pure love. The way I look at her, the love of my

and put

are my entire world. I love you so much," I say, kissing her

**Angel**

kitchen as I

a spoonful. It burns my tongue, but I don't mind since I've been craving pie like crazy for the

don't

fears and accepting that my husbands love me for who I am. I'm learning how to be

strong and independent while being a SAHM. Reyes enters the kitchen while I take another bite from the pie. He stops behind me, his arms wrapping around my waist, his palms resting against my stomach. It's been about three months since I got

wife today?"

a bit more before I

"Me too."

some pie, but

for you," Reyes murmurs against my

is cue for: I want to

so much effort into my

sleeping Sofia in his arms-enter the kitchen. I can't get enough of them, of

the Halloween costumes I custom-made

some reason, Alekos is not happy. "Really, Angel? This is

my pie. "What's wrong

his arms in the air. "I'm 'The other Daddy

I shrug. "You are still

on his custom, while Stefan is 'The

cutest Baby Shark ever,' while I'm

cringy as fuck? Yes. Do I care one bit?