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.”

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

towards the crib. “Our son

but I knew better than to wake him when he was sleeping so peacefully. I’d made that mistake more than once in my early days with the quads. “Have you told the pups they have

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

nodded my approval, cuddling closer to the big Alpha. 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

on the way. It also hadn’t been easy to repair

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

the pups walk in to

it?” Ethan asks,

vision completely blurred. Still, I can just make out four tiny blobs gathering around my bed, and Riley’s beloved voice sighing, “Uh-oh. I think Mommy’s lost

blob in question with my free arm, encouraging her to climb onto the bed with me. The others all follow as Ethan explains, “Mommy hasn’t lost it, she’s just been through a lot and she’s a little

to the 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

control them.” I explain,

you already were that way.” Paisley informs me with

very hard work.” Ethan shares, cupping her head in his palm affectionately. “And “giving birth is the hardest part, so the

talking and meet

clearly exasperated that we’re

hiccup a laugh and sit up a little so they can get a better look at

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

like a baby raisin,” Parker

always that way.”I tell them. “And I think he’s beautiful, just