The Gift The Moon Gave

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

The pain was incomprehensible, feeling as though I was being ripped apart and healed all in one breath. It was nothing like they had said it was, neither beautiful nor joyous. No, it was everything but that. It was torturous and regrettable, having resent my very core being. Only if I had known what agonizing pain it would have been, how close I was brought to loosing myself.

"When the next contraction hits then you push Miranda and there it comes. Now push." I just wanted a breath that's all, a moment of reprieve.

"Mira focus." Snapping his fingers before my eyes, James looked on worriedly.

"I can see the head crowning, that's good you're doing well mother. Now just a bit more." Shaking my head furiously at the thought a sharp no slipped from my lips. But based on their lack of acknowledgment I suppose it was just a whisper.

I couldn't do it; I don't think I honestly could go any further. Rest was all I could think about not this child not my mate nor anyone else. Unfurling my body I collapse back against the bed, defeated and wanting to just give up. Turning my head just enough I looked back at James as he stared back at me. Mouthing to him the words I couldn't get out; he drew closer to my side.

Brushing my wet hair out of my face, he looked at me with what I've only ever seen so many times times over the past few months. Kissing my cheek, he smiled.

"You can do this Miranda, just a little more and we will be welcoming our bundle." I wanted to, really wanted to but the pain was just too much. Any energy I had before was no more, it was all gone. Each breath drawn was like a knife cut, sharp with a sting.

"She will kill them both if she doesn't push." I could her fussing, but was too exhausted to even react. Then came a contraction sharper than any before.

"You need to push Miranda! Now!" James's voice sounded urgent, almost commanding I could feel it through the air, his once calming touch now tight.

"I can't!"

"You must!" His words were followed by a menacing growl , anger pinched at me as it was expelled from him. It didn't matter however, for I was too consumed by the pain that wracked my body forcing me to push against my will. But I remained adamant in my plight to not extort the force rippling through me, but to stop it.

And then I felt a strong force, an external pressure right above my abdomen. Barely catching sight of what was happening as he stood over me. I could recognize his hand pressing into my chest. Whatever pain I felt before was nothing compared to this and soon, I ceased to hear or see anything, my surrounding becoming oblivion itself.

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The softness of the sun's ray had wiped any if not all traces of winter away. It was the end of March and nature was coming into full bloom once again. The days was much warmer, as at last the sun would make its appearance known for longer.

A rhythm had been found within our lives, we had normalcy once more and it felt good. Celeste, especially as been a good friend. From our shopping sprees, lunch dates and game nights. I have been offered a bit of reprieve from the intensity of these feelings. That had changed however two weeks ago. Has with springs arrival came all things grand including the reappearance of Thiuderieks. Seeing him again was like drinking a glass of water after running a marathon. I felt strangely refreshed as if being cooped-up for far too long.

My body ached slightly and my mind a jumbled mess. I wanted to go him and at the same time stay far. From a glance I had thought that maybe he was doing fine throughout the self-imposed sentence he had placed upon us both. That maybe I was the only suffering from the effects of an barely sustained bond. But I was wrong, so wrong and the way he watched my movements had me wary of that fact. The idea that when I would move, he would too almost as if he were trailing my steps, staling his prey.