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.

saying, "You are now the parents

goes from Stefan to Reyes.

Sofia.

and it's the most beautiful sound I have

not the only

cut the

I say before Stefan and Reyes

before giving her to me while she turns her attention to Angel. I look at my daughter. She is so tiny. So damn beautiful and perfect. I gently press her to my naked chest. She stops crying. It's like

heart. It's possessive and all-consuming. If anyone ever dares to harm my precious

Angel so she can nurse her. The midwife shows Angel how the baby should

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 beautiful than now. She is breathtaking. I don't think I've loved her more than I do at this

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

and

love you so much," I say,

**Angel**

and apple pie fills the kitchen as I

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

I don't

letting go of my fears and accepting that my husbands love me for who

independent woman without complicating my life 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.

wife today?" he asks before

bit more before

"Me too."

some pie,

hungry for you," Reyes murmurs against my

for: I

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

kitchen. I can't

others wear the Halloween

not happy. "Really, Angel? This is the best you came up with?" he

pie. "What's wrong with Daddy

throws his arms in the

I shrug. "You are

hot Daddy Shark' on his custom, while Stefan is

Shark ever,' while I'm 'The Best

fuck? Yes. Do