Alpha Max

Chapter 23

Max's POV

I am not even sure if my brain is processing what is going on at the moment. One moment we are storming a compound of rouges not even sure if they girls are there. Then we end up finding them so weak and scared. Collins yelling to get Avery home. And now, one of my children is dead, the other weak and barely alive, and Avery; she's so weak too. But, I need to be strong. Strong for her and the pack. 

I kissed Avery's temple when Collins mentioned that there was good and bad news. 

"What is the bad news?" Avery whined and held my hand tightly despite how weak she looked. 

I frowned and looked over at Collins. He frowned and sighed setting his hand on the bar at the end of the hospital bed. Avery whimpered watching him. 

"The first baby I took out, it was a boy, but he didn't make it. I'm so sorry." He said his voice cracking and tears pooling in his eyes. 

A strangled sob escaped Avery's mouth before she covered it with her mouth. I whined and wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her into me. Pressing a kiss to the top of her head trying to comfort her. 

"W...What about the second baby?" I asked my voice wavering. 

Collins cleared his throat and hummed. "She is a fighter. She is small, but she is a fighter. Strong like her mother and father. A nurse is just finishing up on her. We need to make sure she can breath on her own before bringing her to you. We also need to double check that she doesn't need to be in the incubator." He said. 

I couldn't help but smile. Knowing that my daughter was alive and fighting to stay alive. 

"She's still alive?" Avery asked looking up at me then Collins. 

Collins chuckled. "Yes. She has a good set of pipes on her. Been crying ever since we took her out of the room." He said and glanced towards the door. 

I looked towards the door hearing the crying of a baby. 

My heart was pounding in my chest. What if its not even our baby? It could be someone else's. A shadow moved in front of the glass, the door slowly opened and the crying filled the room. 

A young nurse walked in with a baby wrapped in a pink blanket. Avery whimpered and watched the nurse closely as she came over to the bed. 

"Hold your arms out." The nurse said softly to Avery. 

I held my breath watching as she passed our crying daughter into Avery's arms. She calmed down almost instantly once she was pressed into Avery's chest. I was too scared to even breath. I was scared that some how I would end up hurting her. 

"You can breath Max." Collins said amusement filling his voice. I glanced towards him before letting out a breath and turning my attention to my daughter. 

She was slowly falling asleep pressed into her mother's chest. 

"The only problem she may have is nursing. I want you to stay here in the hospital till we know she can nurse with no problems and until Avery regains enough strength." Collins said walking over to the other side of the bed and look at our daughter. 

Avery hummed. "Did you want me to call you when she needs to nurse?" She asked not even looking up from our daughter. 

I looked at Collins only to have him meet my gaze. He smiled at me and hummed. "Yes if you don't mind doing that. Either I or a midwife will come in and help you. Now I will leave you three be for now. Call me if anything out of the ordinary happens." He said and smiled before slowly and quietly leaving the room. 

I watched his every movement until he left. The protective side of me surfacing even more now that my daughter has arrived. 

"Max, honey, we need to name her." Avery whispered catching my attention. I hummed and looked at her then down at our sleeping daughter. 

"What about Leia?" I asked softly carefully lifting my hand and brushing her cheek with my finger. I flinched back when she moved at my touch. Avery chuckled some and looked up at me. 

"Leia sounds perfect." She whispered and leaned up and kissed me softly. I hummed and kissed her back smiling. "Would you like to hold her?" She whispered.

I swallowed hard and nodded. Avery smiled and carefully slid her over into my arms. "Support her head." She whispered. I did as instructed and held her close to my chest. She felt weightless almost. I looked down at her then over at Avery. 

Avery looked up at me tiredly. I frowned. "Sleep my love, I will watch over her." I whispered and sat in the chair next to her bed adjusting Leia some in my arms to keep her comfortable. 

Avery hummed and turned some before falling asleep quickly. I smiled and turned my attention back to my daughter. 

Don't get me wrong, I am heartbroken that my son is passed, but at least we didn't loose both babies. Hell if we were a day later we probably would have lost both of them. What matters is that she is alive and so is Avery. 

I glanced up growling softly as the door opened. I held my daughter protectively watching as someone slipped into the room.

"Max is it me." I heard my father call out. 

Taking a deep breath, I stood carefully and watched as he walked over. He glanced at Avery before looking at me and smiling seeing my daughter. 

"W..Where is the second baby?" He asked his face showing confusion. I frowned and looked down at Leia feeling a tear slip down my cheek. "He was dead when Collins removed him. She was alive though." I managed to say without choking up. 

My father walked over and placed a hand on my shoulder. "I know it is hard. Your mother and I lost a child too. Before you were born. Y...Your Uncle killed the baby when she was taken. He raped her. We were heart broken. For months we mourned the loss, but then your mother fell pregnant with you." He said softly moving the blanket some to look at his granddaughter. 

I glanced at him. I had never known that I wasn't their first child. I never knew about my uncle until now. "Does it ever go away? The pain?" I asked softly before carefully passing my daughter to his arms. 

He glanced at me before smiling big holding his granddaughter. "The pain will pass. It will pass faster with having her survive. She will help you and Avery pull through the tough times." He said and smiled up at me. 

"She will be cherished and protected by this pack." He added and looked down at her. "What did you name her?" He asked softly. 

I smiled watching my father with my daughter. 

"Her name is Leia." I said softly. 

My father hummed in approval of the name. "Perfect name for the first daughter to be first born in the line of Akaiyan." He said and carefully passed her back to me. 

I smiled at him. "Goodnight my son." He whispered and kissed my forehead before leaving the room. 

I smiled big and looked at my daughter before over at my mate. 

My Queen and my Princess. They are my world. My world I will protect until my last breath.