Page 48 of Salvation
My son, it’s time for you to come into the world. I am here to guide you.
The baby stirred beneath his hands.That’s it. Time to make your way out and give your mother some relief.
Luna leaned forward, and with a scream, she pushed.
“That’s it! I see the baby’s head. One more, Luna, and I think you might get the head free.”
She took a gulp of air and pushed again; her face going so red Wolfe feared for her. He stayed connected to his son and offered encouragement.
“I have a head of dark hair!”
Luna fell back, clearly exhausted. The monitor showed her dropping blood pressure.
“I have too much blood. Jesus, she’s hemorrhaging.”
Wolfe wasn’t able to think about the doctor’s words. He was too busy trying to keep his son calm. The baby was in a state of panic because Wolfe assumed he sensed his mother’s distress.
Stay with me! The sooner you free yourself, the sooner we can help her.
“I need to push again.” Luna tried to lean forward, but she was too weak. Aurora helped. The room was silent as a morgue except for Luna’s heavy breathing and the chirp of the monitors. Time was running out.
Another push from Luna, and Wolfe assuring his son things were fine. They got word from the doctor.
“I have shoulders! The rest is easy. One more and we’ll have him.”
Luna never relented. She gave everything she had, and it was all that was needed. Their son was born.
“We have a beautiful baby boy!” Linda said. “Emma, quickly take him while I cut the cord. Then I need to stop this bleeding.”
They made quick work of cord cutting and wrapping the baby in a blanket. Emma placed him on Luna’s stomach and exclaimed, “He is beautiful!”
“Oh.” Tears streamed down Luna’s cheeks. “My boy.” She pulled him closer and pressed a kiss to his head. “I love you, forever and always.” She looked at Aurora. “Promise you will be the best mother ever and tell him about me.”
Aurora shook her head. “What are you talking about? You are his mother.”
“I’m dying. Promise me!”
“No, Luna, you need to stay with us and take care of our son.” Wolfe spoke as if he could command her to stay alive. The monitors were now screaming, and he could hear Linda and Emma speaking in panicked tones, but his focus was on Luna.
“Can we name him after my father?” Her voice was so low it could hardly be heard.
He leaned closer. “What was his name?”
“Azrael. He was named after the angel.”
“Then our son shall be known as Azrael. Now, you concentrate on getting better.”
“She is not meant to survive this birth.”
Everyone turned toward the angelic voice. Standing in the doorway was the most breathtaking female Wolfe had ever seen. There was a sheen making her cocoa-colored skin glow with a soft light. Her black curls fell to the shoulder of her white dress. She took a step forward and her grace stole his breath.
“I am Evangeline, but I am called Eva by my friends.” She tucked her snowy white wings to her side. “I am a guardian and here to escort Luna to her new home.”
Wolfe blinked. “She can’t die.” He looked back at Luna, who had closed her eyes and was so pale.
“I can’t stop the bleeding!” Linda was still busy trying to save Luna’s life.
The angel stepped to Linda’s side. “Her fate has already been decided. It is out of your hands now.”
