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.

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

goes from Stefan to Reyes. A baby

Sofia.

the most beautiful sound I have

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

wants to cut the umbilical cord?" the midwife

I say before Stefan and Reyes have

me where to cut. 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 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

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

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

hair is all disheveled, her face wet with tears, pain flickering in her eyes from the traumatic event her body went through to bring our daughter

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

to my knees and put my head on Angel's

I love you so much,"

**Angel**

kitchen as

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 never can keep their hands off me and

don't

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

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, his palms resting against my stomach. It's been about three months since I got pregnant again, and the twins are doing great. Me, not that much. Until now, the morning sickness

is my gorgeous wife today?" he asks before kissing my

bit more before I say,

"Me too."

him some pie, but

Reyes murmurs against my

is cue for: I want to

Halloween photos." I didn't put so much effort into

his arms-enter the kitchen. I can't

Reyes and me, the others wear the Halloween

is not happy. "Really, Angel? This is the best you

my pie. "What's wrong

in the air. "I'm 'The other

shrug. "You are still a

has written 'The hot Daddy Shark' on his custom, while

cutest Baby Shark ever,' while I'm

cringy as fuck? Yes. Do I care