Claws.

23

CHAPTER 23

Rain battered against the windows violently and thunder broke through thick air like drumbeats.

I groaned loudly and rubbed my back, pacing around the room.

"hurry up!" I screamed. Quickly, Julien and Aiden returned into the room. Aiden looked more worried than I'd ever seen him but I was in too much pain to even care.

Every so often I felt my abdomen tighten and a sharp pain stabbed in my stomach. "Why did she have to come now!" I cried.

Outside, the rain intensified. A scream rang out.

"She's an awkward one, I'll give her that!" Julien rushed around prepping himself and getting clean cloths and water. "Arriving in the middle of a battle."

Another sharp pain hit my back and abdomen. It was like bad cramps- but a million times worse and with a billion times more meaning in them.

"Alpha!" Julien growled frustrated with Aiden, who kept getting in the way. "Go and fight with your pack! I will deal with this- you're getting in my way."

Aiden glanced at me. "Go! Aiden, they need you more."

Nodding he ordered. "If anything happens- I want to know about it!" and he rushed out of the room.

Grace rushed in with blankets. "What can I do to help?" she asked.

"Hold her hand- she needs to start pushing soon." Julien ordered her.

AIDEN'S POV

Mud spattered up my legs as I fell on the soggy ground again. My leg hurt as blood spilled down it from the tear in my skin. Another vampire rushed towards me snarling like a rabid beast. Grabbing its neck I squeezed as hard I could, bursting and breaking its neck. Whipping round, I searched for anyone to fight, but all the while Jamie was in my mind- and our daughter.

From amongst the crowd I saw my packmates fighting- William and chase working side by side, keeping the enemy away from the house that Jamie laid in. Nickoli and Raffieti, my best friends, both lashing out in their wolf forms; even from a distance I could see the furious determination in their glinting eyes.

Suddenly, a corpse of a vampire flew past my face. April stood in its wake, panting, mud and blood and sweat smeared across her face.

The rain grew more persistent and a strike of lightning crackled across the night sky like a brilliant sword. The half moon swung low, staring at us intently as the battle raged on. Bodies littered the muddy ground- a mixture of vampire and werewolf.

Another break of thunder rolled across the sky. It was so loud it made my ears hurt.

"Aiden!" Scott called from across fighting creatures. "Look out!"

I spun round to see Emma prowl towards me. "You will pay!" I ran at her, but she dodged my attack causing me to skid through the mud to the ground.

She laughed maniacally. "No! I will Win!" She cried. Raising an eyebrow, she looked down at me. "Congratulations by the way- new father."

She vanished.

My mouth fell open at her words. Did that mean...? My heart jumped to my throat as I spun round and began running through the mud. As I did, a vampire came towards, brandishing a small knife. She hissed at me and slashed her knife down across my side. Growling in pain, I took her knife and buried it in her chest. I didn't have time for this!

Suddenly a lion balled past me, it's mane flying out like rays of sun in the dark rain. William pounced on a vampire who screamed. I recognised the voice immediately- Faulkner.

William furiously raked his claws down his chest, shredding his skin as if it were paper. Faulkner flailed helplessly beneath Will, before falling still.

Faulkner is dead.

Letting out a victorious roar, William threw his head in the air.

Skidding again, I continued running towards the house for my mate. For my baby girl. Absolutely caked in mud, I clattered through the door. Immediately I heard the baby crying. She was ok. Tripping over myself, I flew up the stairs, my side stinging. Flinging open the door, I grinned.

My mate lay in the bed, sweat plastering her hair to her face- put she never looked so beautiful. In her arms in a bundle of cream blanket, was tiny little baby.

"Alpha!" Grace exclaimed. "You're wounded!"

"Jamie..." I murmured, wiping some mud off of my face. The moment I stopped moving, was the moment the pain in my side finally intensified and was recognised by my brain. It was numbing, overbearing and...

My eyes drooped shut and I fell to the floor with a thud.

"Aiden!"