46

~Arian Storm~

When I saw all the blood pouring out of her, I suddenly felt almost nauseous. That wasn't normal!

Still, I stayed strong and held Lou's head tight. Her eyes were anxiously fixed on mine. I wish I could have taken all the fear and pain away from her. But unfortunately I couldn't. In addition, I was probably the most scared myself when I saw my mate lying in front of me.

Bloody and in pain. I was so scared I wanted to shout it out to the world, but it doesn't help any of us now.

When that stupid quad bike that was specifically designed to transport badly injured wolves quickly through the forest arrived, I almost felt a wave of relief. But the fact that this quad was finally here didn't mean anything.

I still feared for the two loved ones I had.

Lou was attached to the quad and then rushed to the hospital. I walked alongside the quad the whole time in wolf form. With so much adrenaline, it was easy for me to keep up with her.

After what felt like an eternity, with Lou oscillating between the here and now and unconsciousness, we finally arrived at the hospital. Linus, the pack doctor and many nurses were already there ready to help their Luna.

She just had to save her!

"Arian it really doesn't look good. I fear that too much of the placenta has detached. We may both lose. Lou is already weak from the loss of blood. You should decide which of the two we want to focus on. It's her or the pup." Lukas addressed me as Lou was pushed toward the OR.

"Both," I said, overwhelmed. I didn't want to lose either of them. I just couldn't. It was my fault that she was trying so hard and stressing out in the first place.

"Please make sure they save our puppy. He has to survive!" I suddenly heard my mate's weak voice below me.

I was stunned by her words. How could she make such a decision so easily? She couldn't just give up her own life that easily.

"What no! Lou, I can't lose you." I jumped in immediately. She couldn't be serious? I can't lose her. If the puppy dies, it will hurt both of us badly, but we could father more.

But if she was gone, then this puppy can never have siblings. In addition, it is already bad for him anyway, since he has not been adequately cared for for a long time.

I started learning about pregnancy after I found out about Lous. The placenta supplies the child, if it is released early there is a high risk that the fetus will no longer get enough oxygen and will die.

yes i love both But I can't possibly lose Lou... Not her.

"Please..." I heard her murmur faintly before she passed out. The gurney was pushed further into the operating room and Linus and Dr. Malcolm followed.

I, however, stopped and looked after my mate.

Would I ever see her again? This might have been the last moment we shared with her. But should I really just let her die to save our puppy?

I couldn't possibly make such a decision.

Lukas also stayed next to me while Linus and the pack doctor were already in the operating theatre.

"So Alpha? What's the decision?" he asked urgently and under time pressure.

But for me, the world stopped for a moment, even as I heard the ticking hand of a clock in my ear, which made the urgency of my decision clear to me.

My forehead was drawn together. I had to make an impossible decision. How? The woman I love from the bottom of my heart or my own flesh and blood?

I choose...

~Lou Storm~

A steady beeping woke me up.

My heavy eyelids opened and I had to get used to the bright light. As I did and looked around, I took in the bare white wall in front of me, the cold tiled floor, and the annoying gadgets beside me.

I was in a hospital.

What happened?

Next I looked at my stomach.

No... my puppy. Where's my pup?!

All of a sudden I remembered everything.

Why am I still alive? I wanted my pup to make it, not me...

Sobs broke out of me and the tears flowed like broken dams. No... That had to be a nightmare. My baby can't be dead. No, why.

My heart was beating way too fast, so the stupid machine next to me was making a loud noise. But I didn't care just as my painstakingly patched heart broke again into a thousand pieces that this time couldn't be glued back together.

No, this time I had lost something that was more important to me than my life. It hadn't even been allowed to start its own life...

The door slammed open and several people rushed into the room. Among others also Arian.

Linus next to me held my arms, which I wrapped around myself, sobbing wildly. You should leave me alone. You should just walk away. I didn't need her help. Nobody can take my unborn child back.

"Calm down, Lou." Linus spoke loudly to me. Arian appeared on the other His and grabbed me in a tight grip in which I could no longer move.

"It's fine Lou," he whispered into my hair while his closeness really calmed me down. "Our pup is fine. I just saw her. She's perfectly healthy."

I sobbed. Did I hear you right? Our puppy was okay? There were more tears of joy.

"Hush, everything's fine." Arian rocked me in his arms. I was just so thankful for his closeness.

"You?" was the first thing that came out of me when I finally calmed down a bit.

"Yes. A perfectly healthy little daughter." Arian moved away from me again to be able to look at my face. Now I also saw the proud smile of the new daddy.

A daughter... Just like I always wanted.

"I want to see her." Hopeful and wide-eyed, I looked first at Arian and then at Linus. I want to see our daughter for myself, to make sure she's okay.

"That's not possible yet. She was born almost eleven weeks early and must therefore still be in the incubator. But when you feel a little better you can visit her later." Linus explained.

"You wouldn't believe how small she is. She's about the size of my forearm and her head is barely bigger than my fist, but she's a fighter, just like her mother." Arian stroked my cheek, wiping away the last tears that were still streaming.

“You really are a fighter, Lou. After we had brought the puppy safely into the world, you persevered and fought on despite the great loss of blood. So that my grandfather took care of your daughter and my father and I could save your life. You really wanted to get to know your daughter." Linus said and gave me an appreciative nod.

"Thank you." I almost cried again.

"It was so difficult to make that decision. Luckily you're both fine." Arian immediately covered my lips with his, giving me just a fraction of the feelings he must have felt over the past few hours with that kiss.

"Thanks for choosing her," I murmured against his lips, kissing back.

Finally, Arian broke away from me.

"She really is a little beauty," he said, all proud daddy. "She already looks a lot like you."

I smiled. Arian seemed completely infatuated with his daughter. I'm almost jealous if I didn't know that she's our daughter.

"I want to see her now," I begged. He really didn't make the wait any easier by raving about her.

We both gave Linus a questioning look, which was kind of weird considering we were of a higher rank than him.

"G-fine, but we should get you a wheelchair-" he stuttered, but Arian cut me off.

"Not necessary. I carry her."

That was the decision. Linus removed the sensors on my chest and the needle from my arm and Arian picked me up bridal style. So we made our way to an isolated room.

Even through the window I could see the large incubator. I couldn't stop my heart from jumping with excitement in my chest. Before we were allowed to enter the room, Arian and I were pulled over our clothes in a blue coat, which for me was just a hospital shirt anyway. We also had to put on a hood and a mask.

But I didn't give a shit. The main thing is that I can finally see my child.

Finally with me in the room, Arian set me down on a chair in front of the incubator. Now I had all the time in the world to admire my little one.

And oh, Arian was so right. She was still really tiny but still beautiful. The tube hanging from her nose made me sad, but it made sure our little one was getting enough oxygen.

"What's her name?" I asked, completely distraught. She was a small miracle. How much I would like to hold her in my arms, but she still looked so fragile.

"She doesn't have a name yet, but I was thinking of something meaning fighter. Because that's what she is, our little fighter.", Arian said dreamily as he looked down at our puppy himself.

"Then her name should be Mathilda." I determined.

"It goes with our pretty one.", Arian also agreed. "Our little Thilda, our little fighter."