The Alpha's Mate

10

Laylee's POV

Finally, I collapsed back on the bed. Our son was born. Jace was cradling his broken hand, but he leaned down and kissed my forehead. I let out a breath of relief. The nurse came back with a squirming bundle and passed him to Jace, who completely forgot about his hand. A gentle smile pulled at his lips.

"Okay sweetie. You're gonna have to push once more to get the afterbirth out. Can you do that for me?"

I nodded weakly and pushed, but started gasping when pain tore through me again. The nurse frowned and told me to keep pushing. After a couple more pushes she said something I didn't think I'd hear again within half an hour.

"Okay, we're crowning."

"What?!"

"You're having twins." She frowned and mumbled something about needing a new ultrasound machine.

I turned wide eyes on Jace, but he was wrapped up in our son. His eyes were glassy from unshed tears. My final push sent another cry into the room and the nurse rushed my second baby off to the opposite corner of the room. I watched her and she looked nervous, but came back to me, handing me a bundle that I knew was too small.

"Congrats, you have a daughter too."

"Why is she so small?"

"I'm guessing she might've sustained some trauma from the stabbing and therefore she didn't grow and develop as well as her brother. Make sure you keep her near you at all time for the next couple of days, and she should be okay. Right now, she just needs her mom."

I nodded my head and stared down at my daughter's tiny face. Her mouth was open, and her face was nuzzling against my chest. The nurse had me push one last time for the afterbirth and this time it went smoothly, no surprise babies. Jace perched on the bed next to me and wrapped his arm around my waist, kissing my shoulder as he gazed down at his daughter.

"I'm so proud of you, baby. Now, you should get some sleep."

I slid down on the bed and let Jace pull the covers over me while I cradled our daughter to my chest. "Wait... I want them to have names before I fall asleep."

"Then you choose, because I have no idea what names to give them."

I grinned. "Good thing I used to plan names for kids when I was younger." He gave me a look and I shrugged. "What? I really wanted kids."

He laughed and shook his head. "You're so weird, but I guess that's why I love you. Anyways, what are your ideas?"

"I think... Rhys Easton and Cora Lorelei... Blakely."

He grinned and stroked my cheek with his thumb. I yawned and snuggled Cora closer to my chest. She was already asleep and her little mouth was hanging open. I kissed her nose, then closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep.

Jace's POV

"No, Sasha, you can't go in now. She's sleeping."

"Then bring the babies out here!"

"Don't you think I would? They're sleeping with their mom. Now shoo, I need my sleep too."

She opened her mouth to reply, but I dodge behind the door and shut it, knowing that she wouldn't start screaming because her best friend and the kids were sleeping. I turned and smiled and the sight of my little mate cradling our daughter with one arm and the other wrapped protectively around our son. Her face was so relaxed and that soothed my wolf after having to watch her cry, scream and shout for hours on end.