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.

nose before saying,

leaves my lungs as my gaze goes from Stefan to Reyes. A baby

Sofia.

to cry and it's the most beautiful sound

gaze becomes blurry with tears. I'm not

cut the

Stefan and

After she puts a diaper and a beanie on Sofia, the midwife shows me how to hold my daughter before giving her to me while

love blossoms inside my heart. It's possessive and all-consuming. If anyone ever dares to harm my precious Sofia, I will make him watch while I take from him

we give her to Angel so she can nurse her. The midwife shows Angel how the baby should latch correctly to her breast before giving us

her face wet with tears, pain flickering in her eyes from the traumatic event her body went through to bring our daughter safely out, but I've never seen her more

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

fall to my knees and put my head on

you so much," I

**Angel**

the kitchen as I check the pie I just took out of

waiting for it to cool down before cutting a slice and having a spoonful. It burns my tongue, but I don't mind since I've been craving pie like crazy for the last few days. Between Sofia, my husbands-who

don't mind

finally letting go of my fears and accepting that my husbands love me for who I am. I'm

with having a family of my own. If there's something I've learned this past year, is that I can 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

is my gorgeous wife today?" he asks

more before I

"Me too."

offer him some

hungry for you," Reyes murmurs against my

for: I want

done with the Halloween photos." I didn't put so much

his arms-enter the kitchen. I can't

the others wear the Halloween costumes

Angel? This is the best you came up with?"

"What's wrong

his arms in the

I shrug. "You are still a

'The hot Daddy Shark' on his custom,

Baby Shark ever,' while I'm

cringy as fuck? Yes. Do I care