As I sat on the edge of the gurney in the ambulance, my hand still trembling from residual adrenaline, the paramedics finished their final checks. Since it was Friday, the hospital would be busy, and there was no point in going there for monitoring, as there was no obvious problem with my babies.
Damon had insisted that I take next week off, and he was going to contact Adam to upgrade my security system. Meanwhile, a very angry Wulfe was on his way home. He was going to cast a spell at the doorway, preventing anyone with ill will towards me from entering. He was so enraged that it had taken Damon an hour to calm him down and prevent him from going to the police station and turning the thugs into frogs, which he desperately wanted to do.
My side was bruised and sore, but the babies were okay, and my blood pressure was within a normal range. There was no evidence of any serious injury, except for the bruises and perhaps some cracked ribs, considering my weight and the less-than-graceful landing. The girls had given their statements, and one of them had spent almost the entire time on the phone with someone from Salvatore's or Adam or Wulfe, trying to calm them down.
Damon had given me a long list of instructions on what to do, when to do it, and what to look for, and he promised to call me many times. However, this had upset Mariella, whose condition had worsened, requiring their immediate attention. I didn't mind.
I was still reeling from what had happened, the events replaying in my mind like a movie reel. I couldn't help but let all the "what if" scenarios run through my head, even though I knew it might overwhelm me. But I had next week off, and hopefully, my five babies would still be safe inside me.
As I finally arrived home, I was tired and a little overwhelmed. I had to admit to myself that I had, to some extent, hidden my edge. I was, after all, a fighter, a killer, and a leader of assassins, and yet, I was still reeling in the aftermath. I could have blamed it on my babies, but I needed to be honest with myself. I had thought I could bury that part of me deep down, allowing myself to relax. But life, as it always did, showed me that peace, quiet, and complete happiness weren't entirely in the cards for me.
May was driving, as my belly was now far too big for me to drive myself. Let's face it, I'm tiny – barely five feet two or three inches tall, and very lightweight. My build is lean and mean, not curvy and lush like Mariella's.
Each baby had approximately 700 to 800 ml of amniotic fluid, which is over four liters in total. One liter weighs a little over two pounds, so that's around eight pounds of fluid. Each baby weighed just under two pounds – the smallest last time was one and a half pounds, my twins – so there were several pounds from the babies, plus the placenta, my increased blood volume, and potential swelling. I was literally carrying thirty or more pounds of excess weight, and in a very awkward place.
My belly was huge, grotesquely so, yet active, and it kept growing as I took pictures. My babies were thriving in there, but the doctor hoped we could get them over two pounds before taking them out, which wasn't guaranteed. The sheer excess weight made me tired, and moving felt laborious.
My breasts had grown a cup size, and I'd soon have to wear a bra. They were so damn sore, even though they were as perky as ever. My skin felt ultra-sensitive, and I wasn't sure I had a bra soft enough. I'd have to take a look, and hope Adam wouldn't misinterpret them as an invitation, seduction, as I was literally way past the point of wanting to have sex.
As we finally arrived home, I was surprised to find Wulfe already waiting outside. However, there were also Lepard, Demon, and Adam.
"Oh, great, three more," I thought.
Before I could even open the door, Adam gestured for May to drive parallel to it, so I wouldn't have to walk far. She drove as close as she could. Demon retrieved my go bag, as one never knows which car to use if I need to leave quickly, and it wasn't kept in the car unless I was with it. Once the car was properly positioned, Adam opened the door, and both he and Lepard used energy to help me out.
They literally wrapped me in an energy cradle and carried me inside. It was a little over the top, perhaps, but I could sense their worry, just as they could sense my soreness and exhaustion. Arguing was pointless; it was time to let them care for me.
I was carried to a bedroom that was practically a medical room. I was hooked up to a fetal monitoring system, which meant I was stripped naked. After they helped me shower, a wide, flexible band with small sensors was wrapped around my huge belly. It displayed my vitals, my uterine tonicity, and the babies' vitals.
I hadn't known about this, but Adam explained, "Colin insisted, and I'm so incredibly thankful for it. It's made specifically for you and doesn't work on Mariella, as it doesn't understand magic, which would interfere with the readings. The results are also shown to us and Damon, so he's aware too."
I wasn't particularly surprised. Colin was my secret mate, and we shared perhaps the deepest mate bond I had with anyone. It's difficult to explain with all the men in my life, but our relationship was unique. He knew me, my possible medical problems, and could anticipate them better than anyone. This was so like Colin, and a wave of love flooded my soul as I thought of him. I already missed him, and I knew that yearning wouldn't fade. We would have our time in the future.
I was given a nightgown and told to rest in bed. Men would bring me food soon enough. Of course, every bruise, contusion, and sore spot was carefully photographed and sent to Damon. I suspected he might keep me in bed rest for days. Maybe that would be fine, allowing me to take things a little easier.
However, I had always been active during my pregnancies, except when sedated after my diet caused my blood pressure to spike. That had happened before, mainly because I craved salty licorice, salmiac, which raised my blood pressure and was strictly prohibited during pregnancy. It was one of the things I craved the most.
This room was light blue and off-white, a calming space. Despite the medical devices, it was meant to be a safe place, filled with Adam's security pheromones. I could smell sweet pear everywhere, a result of his pheromonal layering, a trick he'd learned from me. This made me worry that my preemie nursery wasn't fully ready. I hoped I had time to finish it myself, or I could ask the boys to help.
I wanted my books, especially the ones my doctor had given me about preemies and their care. They were wonderful to read, but also made me think, as I had to adapt the information for our species. I was the sole specimen, and my babies would be, perhaps, almost the same species. It wasn't easy.
I was trying to distract myself from dwelling on what had happened. I could feel Damon in my mind, his presence enveloping every nook and cranny. He was also reaching for my little ones, teaching them something, I didn't know what. I just felt him connecting with them, and they were receiving something from him, as I felt curiosity emanating from my fetuses.
Once they arrived, there was so much to do, and I desperately wanted the babies to be larger than mere two-pounders. However, my doctor didn't think it was possible; it was simply my reality. I hadn't told Damon, and Wulfe knew, or at least suspected, but I hadn't confirmed it. In his mind, babies could grow bigger and stronger, but I just knew I didn't have many weeks left.
My maternity benefits were a godsend. I had submitted my paperwork and informed them about five babies, which meant a significant amount of resources. From five babies, I would receive a total of fifteen benefits, either fifteen boxes of supplies, fifteen monetary benefits, or a combination of both. I discussed this with Wulfe, Adam, the boys, and a few Salvatores.
I had no idea what Damon thought, but we decided on eight packets of supplies and the rest in money. Each compensation was a little over $250, which was a nice sum, and I would deposit it into the babies' account, which had already been created. After all, I was a good pack leader and would give; if Mariella wanted, I'd give her three of my packets, one for each baby, because they contained so much. It was just my little way of showing off, I suppose.
I was sore, of course, and tired too. Adam soon walked in, smiling gently, carrying a huge tray full of various liquid feeds with Wulfe. Adam sat next to me and helped me sip the first mug, which was hot cocoa.
Wulfe spoke, his voice calm despite the tension around his eyes, his slightly faster breathing, and the blush on his pale skin. "My unicorn, that should never have happened, yet it did. The police said that the group had attacked before, driving several supernatural businesses away from Roseau, and no one dared to press charges. But Damon, Charles, and others are on it; those thugs are going away, and for a long time. Your shop will be secure, but I'm not certain if you can work there soon. You're getting to the point of needing maternity leave. Still, the next week will tell us more. I know you must feel frustrated, but you must stay in bed for the weekend at least. Adam will check your cervix at some point. We'll take a lot of blood tests; Damon asked them. Hence, we can ensure there is no hidden fetal distress or bleeding."
I nodded.
Adam kept a mug to my lips, forcing me to sip repeatedly.
He murmured, "You will be fed. Liquid feed, and I'll insert a cannula. Some of the food will go directly into your veins. No arguments. You desperately need every damn calorie, my love, so this is a must. Now, just adjust your attitude and prepare to be fed, pampered, and watched over for the time being."
I rolled my eyes, knowing there was little else I could do. I was propped up in a semi-sitting position, slightly on my right side to ease the soreness on my left. I was also wrapped warmly, which was a comfort. The days were still cold and snowy, not as frigid as in January, but still likely below freezing – perhaps between minus ten and minus five degrees Celsius. The snow remained thick and heavy on the ground. Spring would eventually arrive and melt it away, but there was still plenty of it.
Today was the 27th of March, and it was ironic that the 28th would mark the start of my 28th week of pregnancy. The most likely scenario was that the babies would be born sometime in April, next month, over ten weeks early. But I couldn't help it; they would be fine, I knew that much, though small, frail, and requiring a lot of care.
I should be at my peak, but as my team and my doctor had warned me, I was more likely to be a skinny, muscle-less "whippersnapper" again, trying to juggle five micro preemies. However, I could do it. It would be ironic that I would spend my spare time doing the same things as my little ones: eating, resting, and gaining weight and fitness. Names, hmm... I had a few ideas, but with Mariella's preeclampsia, I hadn't had time to discuss them with Damon.
iI began by considering names starting with the letter "D," just for fun. The options for boys included Dash, Darien, Dario, and Dax. Girls' names were a bit more challenging, but I still found some, like Daniella, Danielle, and Diana. I wasn't hesitant to reuse names I'd given my previous children; they were accustomed to them. However, I didn't want to limit myself to "D."
There were so many other beautiful names, and I was also curious about what Mariella was naming her girls. I wanted my choices to be distinct from hers. Names like Luca, Seraphina, and Arabella kept running through my mind. Since two of my girls were identical twins, I considered names that rhymed. The boys, though not identical, were still like twins in a way, so I thought about finding some symmetry in their names as well. I hoped I had a little time left to decide.
I tried to focus on one thing at a time, keeping my eyes off the monitors displaying my vitals, uterine activity, and my babies' heartbeats. I tried not to worry, knowing that each week I could keep them inside would give them a significant boost and a little more weight. I knew I could do it; I had to do it. Then I would be a mother of five, with my support, but I was most likely the sole biological parent.
I knew that despite the unease I felt oozing from Damon, Mariella and her perfect, plump babies would be his focus. Now, since she had to be in the hospital for weeks, it meant money was being spent, and it might mean that the Salvatores would have to work. Somehow, I knew Mariella would twist things so numbers five, nine, and ten would be working as soon as possible, not necessarily to get money for her, but for the whole pack.
However, I would still have the others. I just knew these things from the past, and it was simply how things would be. Surely, there would be ups and downs for her too, as pregnancy changed a female's body, and now she couldn't get rid of the babies.
And as long as I had anything to say, she wouldn't be on a sex holiday with Damon while others cared for her babies; no, she would be a mother, and I had just the right thing for that. Oh, my evil, nasty plan was about to come to fruition, and as I sent it to Wulfe, he smiled happily; he was so on it, as were the boys and Adam, too.
My plan was simple: they would bring me items from Mariella's nursery and her room, which I would saturate with my pheromones. She would remain unaware, as my pheromones were long-lasting and designed to trigger her. Once activated, the effects would be permanent, essentially allowing me to fulfill the role of an alpha female: ensuring the care of the young.
This was simply me doing my job, prioritizing the well-being of babies above all else, including her libido. It would feel natural to her, perhaps for the first time, and the experience might even benefit her, rather than punish her as I initially thought. Little did I know, her maternal instincts would awaken powerfully. Let's just say Damon wasn't initially grateful for my little trick.
Oh yeah, things started to feel more fun as I thought about my plan and crafted perfect pheromone combinations in my mind. Fine, I would create a few combos that would affect Damon, not to coerce him, but to open him up and let him be a dad, not just a father; there was no need for him to be so stiff and proper all the time.
However, the effect of my pheromones would spread to all the Salvatores, and time would reveal the results. This was, in a way, a hit-or-miss scenario, a trial by error, and hopefully, success, as this was my first attempt at a trick of this magnitude.
As I planned this, Adam, the boys, and Wulfe wanted me to bond with them, meaning there was no chance of Mariella getting to them. I would use my pheromones on them too, making us a family, even before any babies arrived. Each of them wanted me to bite them, to mark them as mine, and I was all for it.
But Wulfe made sure I only bit, not fed, as he was in charge of my blood drinking, which he provided in large and potent amounts. By the end of Friday, possibly Saturday, I was barely awake, buzzed out of my mind after another jug he'd brought and made me drink. Tiredness crept over me as the blood took effect; I was blood-drunk, passing out, with no idea what day or time it was. All I felt was warmth, tiredness, and safety. My body felt like warm jelly, and I finally closed my eyes, letting the darkness consume me.