Chapter 37 Bonus Chapter One

Anna May

"Alexander!!!"

In 5 4 3 2 1...Loud heavy footfalls were heard through the North Wing's spacious hallway running towards the direction of her voice. She should have used the mind link --not today-- she was too annoyed to think straight.

Furious amber gaze surveyed the nursery once more. Ten? Really?

She had personally designed the beautiful and serene room. What he added ruined it.

"Babygirl?" Her mate halted before her, chest heaving and his heartbeat thudding. When she didn't answer, he began to inspect every inch of her body, from her swollen ankles to her enormous baby bulge up to her...

Anna swatted his hands away when he reached her colostrum-filled sensitive breasts. "Stop!"

"Are you hurt, mia anima? Do you want me to call the doctors?" Xander's dark gray eyes were dilated with worry.

"I am mad at you." She hissed and propped her hands on her wide hips to glare at him. Placing more emphasis on her feelings.

She wanted to laugh at his comical, dumbfounded look. And the Lycan King actually paled. She won't give in though --not yet-- she was too angry and hormonal for that right now.

"What did I do, babygirl?" Goddess! Her mate was utterly clueless, dense, insensitive, oblivious, and handsome and sexy...her eyes began to water. Damn, pregnancy hormones. Twice the effect because of the twins. Alarmed, he pulled her to his warm brick-wall-like chest, her stomach prevented the full embrace. She sobbed harder.

"I told you..." hiccup, "I told you...one...one baby monitor. You put ten! Ten cameras! And...and I'm big as...a whale!"

He sighed in relief, realizing it was her hormones acting up. He effortlessly hefted her in his arms and carried her to the nearest old rose chaise longue.

"I'm heavy," she mumbled. Her face hiding on his shoulder.

Alexander sat her on his lap with an exaggerated grunt. She slapped his chest. He chuckled deeply and he peppered kisses on her mark. She moaned. Damn! It never failed to keep her going.

She crossed her arms around her belly. "You've ruined it." Not ready to drop the subject.

"It's for our pups' protection, mia anima," He reasoned out, his face on her neck.

"One monitor, Xander. One." She would not be moved. His protectiveness was way over the top.

He nodded to reassure her. "Ok. I will remove them today."

The babies somersaulted inside her and she gasped. Forgetting the matter entirely. She was out of breath. Jesus! What were the pups doing?

Her stomach rumbled after a few seconds, answering her question.

Both of them knew what the pups wanted.

Food.

To say she was hungry all the time was an understatement. Her diet consisted of medium-rare steaks, burgers with different combos, dairy products, fruits and vegetables, and all kinds of cakes and pastries.

It was ridiculous the amount of food she consumed every day. Between her and Alexie, the pantry has to be restocked twice a week.

Thank Goddess Alexandria had given birth to a healthy baby boy a few days ago. The future Royal Beta.

Anna bit her lips with indecision. "Do you think, maybe I should minimize my meals every day?"

Her mate scowled. "Why?"

"Because I'm big as a minivan."

"Babygirl, you eat for three. The Lycan pups grow too fast inside you, that's why your body demands nourishment all the time." He reasoned out. Displeased with her idea. She pouted.

He kissed her lips before continuing. "You don't know how beautiful you are to me, more so now that you are pregnant with our twins. I love you so much, mia anima." He always knew what to say to calm her.

The waterworks began once more. Damn!

"Do you think Rie can make me a gourmet burger?" She whispered through her tears. The adorable smile he gave her made her feel better.

"Let's go find out, mio amore." She gasped when he carried her from their suite to the kitchen.

-I love you so much, soulmate.

Thank Goddess, she has the best mate ever.

***

The pain of a thousand needles pricking at her lower back came at midnight.

She swallowed her groan of discomfort and willed herself not to panic. Her mate's arm flexed on her tummy in reaction but he didn't wake up.

Her heavy body turned towards him --damn! Not an easy feat-- it was too difficult to accomplish with the twitching of her abdominal muscles.

Goddess. It was happening too fast. She glanced at the antique clock on the wall, 30-minute intervals.

The urge to bear down consumed her. Suppressing it and panting like a dog -- no pun intended-- and release it slowly.

On her third try, she heard a plopped. Her water broke. This is it!

"Xander...baby...Xander," she whisper-yelled. He hummed and nuzzled her nape.

-Alexander! Wake up!

He woke up with a jolt. "Babygirl?"

"The bed is wet," she tried to get up and clean herself. He shook his head to stop her. She was in his arms in an instant and he carried her bridal style to the bathroom.

Shit! She shook her head. Rubbing her face on his chest to try and stop him.

"It's ok, mia anima. Let me take care of you. I will wash you and get you on a fresh nighty. I'll sleep on..." He stopped at her unexpected moan as another contraction hit her.

"Water...broke...pups," she gulped a scream at the intensity of the pain.

-Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit!

He was at the door of their suite in a flash and kicked it open with force since his arms were full of her. Anna's eyes widened in disbelief.

-You broke our door!

He ignored her and he navigated them carefully down the stairs whilst he bombarded the pack link to wake up everybody with his commands.

-We only need my doctor, Xander.

Instead of walking calmly in the direction of the pack's hospital, he began to jog. She could see old Baxter, her sisters, and his parents following them behind. All in nightclothes.

Her mate was so silent and so pale. She felt bad because she was quite enjoying his flustered state.

"Baby, look at me." Her voice was soothing and gentle. She tightened her hold on his neck. He glanced down. The contour of his chiseled face was so tense. "Everything will be ok. No need to worry. I love you."

"Damn, right! Nothing will happen to you. I won't allow it." He hissed and his jog became a full run.

A gurney and a group of medical staff met them at the entrance and a BP apparatus and a pulse oximeter were immediately attached to her body. He didn't stop while several nurses fussed over her. They went straight to the delivery room.

"Your Majesty, please wait outside..." Xander growled rudely and her ob-gyn paled and was quick to scurry out of his way.

"Baby, you can wait outside..." She cried out from another fierce contraction gripping her. Shit! That fucking hurt like hell and she was aware it was just the beginning.

"You can't kick me out. I will stay with my queen." He gently put her down on the bed and dabbed the beads of sweat on her forehead with a cold wet towel.

Alexander gathered her hair in a messy bun and he helped her shrug out of her wet nightwear before he covered her with a light cotton blanket.

Anna's quivering thighs were parted wide and placed on stirrups.

Right this moment, she didn't give a damn if she was fully exposed. The unbearable pain had caused her too much discomfort. She just wanted this over soon.

She breathed through her mouth as the doctor checked her down there.

"Your cervix is dilated at 9cm, my Queen. Do you want me to administer Epidural anesthesia?" The competent doctor was prepared to do as she asked.

Anna shook her head. "No. I want to be awake and experience everything, doctor." Admiration flashed through the physician's eyes. She turned her attention to her assistants and gave them instructions.

"Are you sure, mia anima?" Fear and uncertainty laced his beautiful grays. Her king has been doing great so far, well except for being overbearing.

"Yes. Stay?" Her eyes pleaded. She whimpered when another strong spasm hit her. The intervals were getting closer and she has a sudden urge to bear down. She squeezed his hands tightly.

The doctor was back to check on her with scrubs on. She nodded. It was time. "Ok, my Queen. Relax your body and thighs and push as if you're having the biggest bowel movement of your life. Stay focused and tuck your chin to your chest. Trust your instinct. Give it all you've got. Now, push!"

-Oh, Moon Goddess. Help me.-

***

"The pup's head is crowning. We are almost there. Hold your breath. Good girl. Now give us one last push!" She bore down with all she has got and whimpered deep in her chest. Her tired body slumped on Alexander's chest. She closed her eyes in relief, feeling the first pup slipped out of her.

Everyone celebrated with huge smiles when the second baby came out easier. A boy. The heir.

Anna sagged on her mate's arms, exhausted. Her body felt like it had been split in two.

He carefully settled her on the soft cushion so he could wipe her sweat and helped her dress in a cotton shift while the doctor attended the lower half of her body.

She glanced at her mate. Alexander had tears in his eyes and he refused to meet her gaze.

Her weak hand cupped his face and he kissed her palm. "Baby?"

He was with her through it all. She was so proud of her Alexander. "I love you, mia anima. You made me the happiest man in the world."

Xander couldn't hold it any longer. Tears flowed from his eyes. He was so precious.

She smiled sleepily. -I love you, soulmate.

Tiredness crept in and she felt the doctor injected her with something. She welcomed it. The numbness. The high.

"Doctor?" She heard the panic in Alexander's voice.

"It's ok, your majesty. I had to inject Queen Luna with fentanyl to help with the pain and Uterotonics to reduce the amount of blood loss due to multiple births. She will wake up in a few hours to feed the pups."

She surrendered to sleep. Dreamily she heard herself reassuring her mate. Her pups were crying in the background while they were being cleaned and assessed.

Everything will be fine. The Moon Goddess had blessed them. She had blessed the Lycan Kingdom.

Sleep and her wolf will help her heal.

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