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.

cleans the baby's mouth and nose before saying, "You are now

goes from Stefan to Reyes. A baby girl. Just

Sofia.

to cry and it's the

blurry with tears. I'm not the only one crying. So are

the

do!" I say before Stefan and

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 who I

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

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 correctly to her breast

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

The way I look at her, the love of my

fall to my knees and put my head on

love you so much," I

**Angel**

fills the kitchen as I check the pie I just

mind since I've been craving pie like crazy for the last few days. Between Sofia, my husbands-who never can keep their hands off me and

don't mind

my fears and accepting that my husbands

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

wife today?"

a bit more before I

"Me too."

some

hungry for you," Reyes

cue for: I want

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

Sofia in his arms-enter the kitchen. I

me, the others wear the Halloween costumes

Angel? This is the best you

"What's wrong

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

"You are still a

his custom,

Baby Shark ever,' while I'm 'The

fuck? Yes. Do I care