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.

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

lungs as my gaze goes from Stefan to

Sofia.

and it's the most beautiful sound I have

I'm not the

cut the umbilical

Stefan and Reyes have a

shows me how to hold my daughter 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 she already knows

all-consuming. If anyone ever dares to harm my precious Sofia, I will make him watch while I take

Stefan and Reyes have the chance to hold Sofia, we give her to Angel so she can nurse her. The midwife shows Angel how the baby should latch

her body went through to bring our daughter safely out, but I've never seen her more beautiful than now. She

the love of my life. I love Sofia with all my heart, but Angel

and put

you

**Angel**

of pumpkin and apple pie fills the kitchen as I check the pie I just took out of the

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

I don't

fears and accepting that my

strong and 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. He stops behind me, his arms wrapping around my waist,

is my gorgeous wife today?" he asks

eat a bit more before I

"Me too."

some pie, but he

for you," Reyes

is cue for: I want to ravish

done with the Halloween photos." I didn't put so much effort into my costume, only for

Sofia in his arms-enter the kitchen. I

the Halloween costumes

happy. "Really, Angel? This is the

"What's wrong with

in the air. "I'm

"You are still

custom,

is 'The cutest Baby Shark ever,' while I'm

Yes. Do I care one bit?