Marked by the Alphas

Chapter 57: Chapter 57

Kane POV

I drop Alice’s hand like it is burning me.

“Did she just say what I think she said?” I ask Axel.

“Sure, fucking did,” he growls.

“Kane,” Alice croaks. “Please get your father.”

An awkward silence fills the room, and the midwife Alice glances uncomfortably between me, Axel and Mother.

“Alice,” Mother’s voice is stern but even. “He isn’t here.”

I am beside myself with anger, and I grab Mother’s arm and drag her into a corner.

“Why the fuck is she asking for him?” I demand in an angry whisper. Axel and I had our suspicions about, and this practically confirms our worst fears. This baby is not ours; it is Father’s.

“I honestly don’t know.” Mother looks at me. I am so used to her lying to me, but this time she seems to be telling the truth. Does she also have the same suspicions as we do?

“Alice was with Father the night she was out,” I hiss, crossing my arms.

Mother’s lips pull into a thin, white line as she glares at me. She breathes heavily, her wolf flashing in her eyes. I rarely see her this angry, and right now, she is scaring me.

“Don’t you dare go there,” she points a finger at me, her voice icy with rage.

“Do you know what they were doing that night?” Axel asks, joining us in the corner.

A low warning growl tumbles from her lips.

“Your mate is dying,” she snarls. “There’s no time for these stupid questions.”

“Luna,” the midwife calls in a shaky voice. “Her condition is unstable. We must get the pup out now.”

“Dammit,” Mother shoves past us and take her station beside the midwife. “She’s losing too much blood. Axel, get the doctor, and hurry.”

Axel dashes out of the room, and I shove my anger away and stand closer.

“She needs to push,” the midwife says urgently. “Soon, she’ll be too weak and then we’ll lose her and the babies.”

Babies? I snort and look at the midwife. No wonder Alice is suffering.

Alice’s eyelids start fluttering closed, and a long, continuous moan of pain falls from her slightly parted lips. Usually, her lips are bright pink and full of life. But now, they look like the lips of a corpse, and a jolt of fear pierces straight through my heart. We are losing her.

“Alice,” I rush back to her side. “It’s me.”

She looks at me, but it is as if she does not recognise me. Axel and the pack doctor enter the room in a whirlwind, and the doctor settles by her legs.

“Alice,” the doctor says urgently. “I need one big push, honey. Come on.”

The doctor turns to Mother.

“If she doesn’t push, I’ll have no choice but to do an emergency C-section,” he whispers.

“Alice,” I drop my voice lower and try to add a gravelly edge to it. “It’s me, Orion.”

She gasps, sobs weakly, but does not open her eyes.

“What the hell are you doing?” Axel demands.

“She needs to hold on,” I tell Axel, keeping my eyes on Alice. I do not dare look at Mother. Goddess knows what she thinks of this. “If she wants Father, I’ll give him to her.”

“Alice, you need to push,” I say, doing the best impression of Father I can.

Alice squeezes her eyes tight, and a screaming roar of pain sounds from deep inside her chest. Followed by a much weaker, higher-pitched cry.

“The head’s out,” the doctor says, relieved.

“One more, Alice,” I whisper, my voice low and rumbling in her ear.

Alice releases another blood-curdling scream, and then Mother is holding up our pup.

“Isn’t she beautiful?” Mother coos, wrapping her tightly in a blanket.

She brings her over to Axel, and when I look into her tiny face, I feel something stirring, like a long-buried memory slowly bubbling to the surface.

“Okay, Alice,” the doctor says. “You did good, we’re almost done.”

“I can’t,” Alice sobs, and the midwife wipes the sweat off her forehead.

“Doctor,” I frown, confused. “What’s next? How can I help?”

“She needs to push,” the doctor replies nonchalantly. “The other one is still in there.”

“Wait, what?” Axel grunts, handing our baby girl back to Mother.

“She didn’t tell you?” The doctor frowns. “You’re having twins, Alpha.”

Twins? What the hell?

Alice barely survived this birth, I do not see how she can possibly make it through another.

“I can’t,” Alice’s voice is a barely audible whisper.

“Your little girl is perfect,” I whisper, stroking her hair. “Just one more, Alice. Just one more push.”

Alice screams as she braces her weak, shaking body for one final push. Another baby’s cry echoes through the room, but Alice has gone limp and silent.

“What’s happening?” I demand panicky. “Is she okay?”

“She’s haemorrhaging,” the doctor grunts. “I must get inside and find the bleed.

“Orion,” Alice squeaks, and I lean closer.

“Yes?” I ask, bile rising in my throat. fгeewebnovёl.com

“Tell Mason I did my best,” she murmurs before she goes still and silent.

“Alice,” I squeeze her hand, willing her to open her eyes, to say something else. “Alice, please, who is Mason?”

But she is already dead.