Lirien's POV
The sterile, bright lights of the delivery room hummed, a sound that grated against my frayed nerves. Every breath I took felt like a battle. The air was thick with the scent of antiseptic, but through the haze of agony, I could smell the familiar, grounding musk of Vael and Davis. They were my world, my anchors, and the only reason I hadn't simply drifted away into the void of pain.
"Lirien, honey, look at me," Vael's voice cut through the buzzing in my ears. He was leaning over me, his golden eyes filled with such raw, unadulterated devotion that my breath hitched. He wasn't just a mate; he was my sanctuary. His scent, like rain-soaked cedar and mountain air, was becoming stronger, a pheromonal shield he was casting over me to keep my panic at bay.
