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,

leaves my lungs as my gaze goes from

Sofia.

starts to cry and it's the most beautiful sound I have ever

I'm not the only one

the umbilical cord?" the midwife

do!" I say before Stefan and

showing 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

harm my precious Sofia,

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

to bring our daughter safely out, but I've never seen her more beautiful than

I look at her, the love of my

knees and

my entire world. I love you

**Angel**

apple pie fills the kitchen as I check the pie I just

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

don't mind

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

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, 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 has

gorgeous wife today?"

bit more before I say,

"Me too."

some

you," Reyes

is cue for: I want to ravish

didn't put so much effort into my

Stefan-holding a sleeping Sofia in his arms-enter the kitchen. I

the others wear the Halloween costumes I custom-made

some reason, Alekos is not happy. "Really, Angel? This is the best you came

my pie. "What's wrong with Daddy Shark?" I

his arms in the air. "I'm

I shrug. "You are still a

Shark' on his custom, while Stefan is 'The super

ever,' while I'm

cringy as fuck? Yes. Do I care