The Luna and her Quadruplet Pups by Jane Above Story

Jane

Four Months Later

Ethan ushers the pups into my hospital room with a finger pressed to his lips. “Quietly now, Mommy’s very tired.”

I’d gone into labor in the early hours of the morning, and the experience couldn’t have been more different than it had been with the quadruplets. Instead of suffering through the first contractions alone and afraid, I’d had my mate by my side, rubbing my back and crooning sympathetically as I gritted my teeth against the pain. After a few hours of pacing and fruitlessly trying to find a comfortable position, my water broke and we left for the hospital, leaving the pups with a sitter.

I made it through fifteen hours of labor before caving and asking for an epidural, taking Ethan’s encouragement to save my strength for pushing when the time came. He never left my side the entire time, only stepping out of the room a couple of times to check in on the pups at my request. I couldn’t have asked for a better birthing partner -he lavished me with praise and marveled at my strength, not batting an eye when I turned the blame on him for doing this to me. Instead he nodded and agreed that he was a scoundrel for finding me so irresistible and breeding me this way. When I was past the point of words there were only kisses and purrs, and when I wanted to give up, certain I couldn’t continue any longer, he believed in me for the both of us and got me through the worst of it.

After 27 hours of labor I finally brought our precious pup into the world. Ethan cut the cord and cried tears of joy as he handed me our son. I wept my hellos to my newest angel, laying him on my chest and feeling the pure love, exhaustion and reverence for the miracle of life wash over me. For a while Ethan and I simply cooed over our crying newborn, counting his fingers and toes and telling him how happy we were that he was finally with us. We decided to call him Paxton, and I sniffled when the nurses took him to get cleaned up, already missing him.

After moving into our VIP suite, Paxton quickly latched to my breast and began feeding, and I passed out from pure exhaustion, trusting Ethan to watch over our son while I slept. I woke a little while later to find Paxton dozing in his little “rolling cot and Ethan lying next to me in bed, watching me even though he’d been awake for as long as had.

“What are you doing?” I yawned, trying not to feel the pain radiating through my wrecked body.

He grinned and brushed the hair back from my face. “Just admiring my mate.” He answered tenderly. “You were so incredible Janey.. I didn’t know what it was like.” He confessed, sounding as though he feels guilty for missing the birth of first pups even though he hadn’t known they existed. “I mean, you hear about birth and see it in the movies and stuff, but it’s so much more traumatic than I realized. I’m just in awe of you.”

“I couldn’t have done it without you, Ethan.” I expressed, feeling the truth of this in my bones. I had a c-section with the quads because of Paisley’s heart, so this birth was a first for me too.

“Of course you could.” Ethan corrected me. “

Because you did. I didn’t do anything and I’ve never felt more helpless in my life.” He admitted, pausing to kiss me, to nuzzle his nose against my own as he stared deeply into my eyes. “But you – you’re a warrior.”

much.” I professed, returning his kisses with a few of my own. “And trust me when I tell you what a difference

his head towards the crib. “Our son is

arms so badly, but I knew better than to wake him when he was sleeping so peacefully. I’d made that

while ago.” He confirmed, beaming as he continued. “They cheered so loud I thought they were going

He purred and caressed my hair as I fell back asleep, and when I woke again to the sound of Paxton’s hungry cries, he shared that the pups had arrived and were waiting to see me. While I retrieved the baby to nurse Ethan went to gather our quads, and I welled with happy tears, unsure about whether I was more excited about

another baby on the way. It also hadn’t been easy to repair our own

it any other way. If it weren’t for all our struggles, we would never have ended up where we are now – and this is the only place I ever want to be. My heart is full to bursting, and as much as I wish I could go back in time and tell my younger self to hang in there and have faith in my mate, I know

course when Ethan and the pups walk in to find no sobbing

is it?” Ethan asks, rushing to my

just make out four tiny blobs gathering around my bed, and Riley’s beloved voice sighing,

the bed with me. The others all

side as he studies the bundle at my breast. Paxton doesn’t seem to have any idea that he’s now surrounded by curious pups, his eyes are closed and his tiny hand kneads my breast as he suckles for milk, completely occupied with the task

and I can’t really control them.” I explain, wiping my eyes

way.” Paisley informs me with a

head in his palm affectionately. “And

stop talking and meet the

asks, clearly exasperated that

a laugh and sit up a little so they can

ooh and ahh as they scoot closer, eager to study the strange creature in my arms. “He lóoks funny.” Riley assesses, “I thought babies

all wrinkly, like a baby raisin,” Parker

them. “And I think he’s beautiful, just like I thought you