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.

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

goes from Stefan to Reyes. A baby

Sofia.

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

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

to cut the umbilical cord?" the

say before Stefan and Reyes have a

a beanie on Sofia, the midwife shows me how to hold my daughter before giving her to me while she turns her

inside my heart. It's possessive and all-consuming. If anyone ever dares to harm my precious Sofia, I will make him watch

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

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 safely out, but I've never seen

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

to my knees and put my

I love you so

**Angel**

smell of pumpkin and apple pie fills the kitchen as I

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

I don't

fears and accepting that my

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, his palms resting against my stomach. It's been about three months since I got

today?"

a bit more

"Me too."

offer him some pie, but he

Reyes murmurs against

for: I

didn't put so much effort

Sofia in his arms-enter the kitchen. I can't get enough of them, of

me, the others wear the Halloween costumes

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

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

throws his arms in the air. "I'm

shrug. "You are

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

Shark ever,' while I'm 'The Best

Yes. Do I care