Special ch.3 - Edited Once

Stella (Edited Once)

Men can be super annoying when shopping for your baby that has yet to be born.

It had been a few months after our perfect wedding, and I was due at any time. Julian had this fantastic idea of shopping some more for our baby. When I told him that we already had a room filled with clothes, diapers, and toys for the baby, he just shrugged and said he wanted to give him or her to the world. We did not know what we were having because we wanted the baby to surprise us.

“What do you think?” He asked me as he grabbed a golden shirt. We got most of the outfits in a golden or grey color. It would suit boys and girls. I looked at it and smiled tiredly.

My feet were aching, so I sat on a chair near Julian. The kicks died down, and I felt myself getting sweaty. I felt lost momentarily and scared, and I did not know why. Julian was lost in choosing stuff when an older woman came closer to me with a concerned look.

“Are you okay, young lady?” she asked as she touched my shoulder. I took a deep breath and nodded.

“Yes, I am just a bit dizzy. I’m resting my feet,” I assured her, and she handed me a sealed water bottle. “Thank you,” I gladly took it from her and drank. I saw Julian approach me with a worried expression.

He cupped my cheeks and looked me in the eyes. “Baby, are you okay?” He asked, then he sat next to me and rubbed my back. My wolf relaxed at the touch, but my stomach did not. Suddenly, I felt pain in my abdominal area and grunted while wrapping my arms around myself.

The old lady knelt beside me and checked me. “Stella! Is it time?” Julian asked in a panicked tone, and I felt Peter going crazy; the bond between us made me feel what he felt and vice versa. As I was about to answer, I felt another wave of pain hit me hard, and I screamed, grabbing everyone’s attention.

The woman nodded. “It is time. I know since I’m a mother to seven kids. I get it. She needs to be transported to the hospital ASAP!” she ordered firmly and called for help. My beloved husband, my strong mate, was pacing around like he was in some deep shit.

He is! He did this to me!

As much as I loved him, he felt my pain, and I felt good about it. “Julian!” I grabbed his hand and squeezed it tight, using Dianna’s strength. He groaned in pain but then smiled at me. At that moment, I thought that he was loco.

“Baby, we will finally meet our baby. I’m so excited!” He beamed at me, and I felt happy regardless of the pain consuming my whole body. “Can you stand?” He asked, and I shrugged.

“Let’s try,” I responded, and he helped me. I tried to walk, but I felt something warm run down my legs as I wore a skirt. “My water broke!” I stated in a kind of calm tone, but I was nowhere near calm from the inside. I was being hysterical, and Dianna was not helping at all. She yelled in my head that it started hurting me, so I blocked her out.

“Call Skye and tell her to meet us at the hospital with the baby’s clothes and my bag,” I told him as the paramedics arrived. They helped me get on the stretcher, and the lady shouted good luck, and we were off to finally meet our baby.

After hours of agony, it was time to push. Luckily, the pack doctor worked at the same hospital we went to because Julian would not let anyone else touch me. His wolf instincts kicked in, and he was too possessive for his own good; he did not want anyone to harm his pup.

When Julian saw the pack doctor, he relaxed and let him do his job. “Luna, take a deep breath and push on the count of three,” he demanded professionally, and I managed to nod. The whole family and some of the pack members were waiting outside. Skye brought the clothes and prayed that it would be a girl because she loved girls.

Julian firmly grabbed my hand and whispered soothing words in my ear as I breathed heavily. “One, two... Three. Push!” The doctor ordered, and I pushed for the first time. Nothing happened, so I tried again and again until I heard the voice I had been dying to hear for months.

My baby’s cry was music to my ears, and I felt tears stream down my face. I looked at Julian and saw him crying as well. His big, bad, Alpha face was thrown out the window when he saw his little puddle of joy.

There was no greater gift to mankind than a soul in a tiny body. His own child.

“Congratulations, it’s a boy,” the doctor stated as he handed him to the nurse to clean him and cut the cord. As I was about to hold my little boy, I felt another agonizing pain in my abdominal area.

I panicked because I had no idea what was happening. I whimpered in pain, and the doctor noticed. He ducked his head under the covers and checked. He gazed at Julian and smiled. “Alpha, you are having twins.” He exclaimed like it was one plus one question, and I gasped.

How was that possible? No one told us that we’d have twins!

I was not mad or angry. I was delighted I would have two babies to spoil, but I needed him or her out of my body; it hurt too much. “Yes!” Julian yelled, and I smiled at his enthusiasm. I returned to pushing when the doctor commanded, finally letting out a long breath once it was over.

“It’s a girl.” The doctor announced, and my smile grew bigger. The joy was too much to handle that I cried my heart out. It was time that we held our babies and rested on the bed together and looked at them with love and adoration.

“What should we call them?” he asked as everyone left to give us our family moment. I looked him in the eyes and smiled.

“What did you feel when you knew you’d have a girl to pamper?” I asked, hoping he would say what I was about to say.

“Joy,” We said at the same time and laughed. Her name would be Joy. Period. “Can Skye give her her middle name?” I asked with hopes that he would say yes.

He kissed me on the lips and nodded. “Of course. What should we name the little Alpha over here?” he pointed to my arms that held my baby boy while he was holding Joy.

I thought for a moment, and a name popped into my mind. “How about Logan?” I suggested. He thought about it and then smiled.

“Logan Woods... I like the sound of that. Yes,” He said, and I kissed him, Logan’s forehead, and Joy’s cheek. “Can Cody give him his middle name?” He asked after a moment of silence, and I nodded. I was so happy.

“Call them. They must be dying to see the babies. Wait, but don’t tell them they are twins; let’s keep it as a surprise.” I cleared, and he agreed. He handed me Joy and left the room only to return with his parents, Skye and Cody. Once they saw the two babies in my hands, they froze in their spots and stared at us for a couple of minutes. “Hey guys,” I said with a sheepish smile.

Skye rubbed her eyes and nodded. “Yep, I see two.” She confirmed. “Did you know you were having twins?” she asked as they approached the bed. I handed her Joy, and she beamed at me.

“Nope, it was a surprise even to the doctor. I guess she was hiding behind her brother. Her name is Joy, and I want you, Skye, to give her a middle name that would suit her,” I explained. She gawked at me, and we all laughed.

“Are you kidding?” she asked, and I shook my head. “Okay, I’ve had this name for quite a while now. What do you think about Layla?” she asked, and I nodded, then looked at Julian to see him approving the name. “Joy Layla Woods.” I tested the name, and it was lovely. I loved it.

Julian got Logan from me and handed him to Cody. “And I want you to give Logan his middle name!” he pointed it out, and Cody literally cried. I did not see that coming, so I laughed softly.

Cody nodded and took a deep breath. “How about Zachary? Logan Zachary Woods?” He asked, and I waited for Julian’s approval because I liked it. He nodded and hugged his buddy, then took Logan and let his parents hold him. Skye handed Joy to Nancy, and we all admired the sight.

Thank you, God, for blessing me with an amazing gift called family.