Freya's POV
By the time I reached nine months of pregnancy, my weight had increased to 180 pounds.
This weight gain came at the expense of Kingsley, who had lost a significant amount of weight.
During this period, it was evident that his cheeks had sunken in, his waist was noticeably thinner, and at my insistence, he stepped on the scale, discovering that he had shed a whopping 15 pounds.
"Kingsley, why have you lost so much weight?" A pang of guilt coursed through me.
"It's okay; when our baby is born, I'll join you for regular meals, and it won't take long to put on weight."
Kingsley's thinness seemed unavoidable. With the stress and anxiety, late nights, and constant worry about me, his appetite had dwindled, leading to substantial weight loss.
"It's okay, Freya. As long as you have our baby safely, it won't matter if you make me lose another twenty pounds." Kingsley kissed my forehead, wiping away my tears.
As our baby reached thirty-eight weeks, Kingsley contemplated whether I should go to the hospital for labor.
"No, I don't want to go to the hospital so early. It's two weeks before my due date," I declined Kingsley's offer.
"Freya, the due date might not be accurate. Let's just go to the hospital and stay there, okay?" Kingsley patiently persuaded me.
"Kingsley, I don't like the smell of hospital sterilized water. My body is fine now, and I'm sure I can make it to the day of my due date." Despite my insistence, Kingsley reluctantly abandoned the idea of having me stay in the hospital first.
However, by the time our baby was thirty-nine weeks old, Kingsley was on high alert.
The slightest hint of distress from me could make his heart skip a beat.
Even a simple drink of water would cause him to worry if I had a cold. Nighttime leg cramps prompted him to stay up, massaging my legs throughout the night.
His entire focus was now on me and our child.
Even when Jeremy approached with a thick file for him to handle, Kingsley simply barred him at the door.
"Until Luna Freya gives birth, you'll manage the affairs of both the company and the pack. These responsibilities should not pose a challenge for you!" he said.
On a new day, the first thing Kingsley asks me about was my health.
"Kingsley, I'm really doing fine."
I depended on Kingsley's support to get out of bed. "I feel like having lamb soup today."
"Alright, don't move. I'll help you slowly."
Worry lines creased Kingsley's brow as he assisted my heavily pregnant self to the living room.
"May, Freya wants lamb soup for lunch."
May, the maid specially hired to take care of my diet, responds, "Okay, I'll prepare it right away."
May proved to be an experienced maid in taking care of pregnant women, and the lamb chops she made were mouth-watering.
The lamb, infused with spices, possessed flavorful skin and tender meat.
I savored the aroma with my nose at the door, causing my wolf to purr in relief and impatience. Even my baby kicked its legs in my belly.
"May, when can we eat? My mouth is watering."
"Go sit in the dining room first, Luna Freya. It will be ready soon, and I'll bring it to you later for you to savor."
Lamb needed time to stew, allowing the spices to meld evenly into the meat. This could not be rushed.
Kingsley shielded me like a protector and carefully guided me to the table. I took Kingsley's hand and sat down in my exclusive seat, keeping my eyes on the kitchen.
But ten minutes passed, and May still hadn't emerged.
"Kingsley, should I go over there?"
"No, you sit and wait," Kingsley refused sternly.
"Alright." I beamed.
After another ten minutes, I called out again.
"Kingsley..." I tugged on the skirt of my dress.
"Freya, it's almost ready. Just wait."
"No..."
My legs started to shake, and I felt something oozing out between them.
"No. I'm in labor."
"Kingsley, Kingsley, my belly hurts. I think I'm in labor." I tugged on Kingsley's arm tightly.
Kingsley's breathing stopped for a second, then he yelled, "May, turn off the fire! Freya's in labor. Get things ready; I'm going to contact the hospital."
When the moment to go into labor arrived, Kingsley calmly arranged everything as he carried me downstairs.
Something occurred to me. "Kingsley, don't forget the lamb soup, my love."
The hospital had already arranged for manpower, and upon our arrival, I was immediately sent to the VIP ward for observation.
May followed into the ward carrying a large bag of things. Her eyes flashed with a hint of anxiety.
I was already suffering from contractions until my face was deformed, but unexpectedly I was strong enough not to cry out.
It turned out that giving birth was so painful—so painful that it seemed like the lower half of my body was being torn apart. And that's just the contractions. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to wait until I passed out from the pain.
Kingsley's eyes were red and glistening with tears, and I could hear his wolf whimpering worriedly as well, as if he was enduring a great deal of stress and pain.
I took Kingsley's hand. "Do you prefer boys or girls? Have you thought about the name of our child?"
Kingsley kissed my hand. "I like both boys and girls, as long as it's a baby with you. We'll pick the name together when you come out."
I tried to nod my head yes, but another contraction hit me, making me so sore I couldn't speak.
The doctor finally arrived, and I was about to go into labor prep to wait for the birth. Kingsley whispered in my ear over and over, "Freya, I'm here for you when you come out, okay?"
"Then think about what we're going to name our baby."
"Okay, Freya. I love you, and I'll wait for you." Kingsley leaned down and kissed me on the lips.
I was calm in the delivery room. I couldn't feel my lower body due to the painless injection, but I heard the midwife's words loud and clear: "Push as hard as you need to and breathe as much as you need to."
"That's good, just keep it that way," the doctor's words saved me a lot of energy.
I gritted my teeth, breathed, and pushed as they instructed.
"Okay, we can see the baby's head. Come on, the baby will be out soon," the doctor encouraged.
Encouraged by the doctor's words, my hair was wet with sweat, and my eyes were glued shut as a midwife wiped the sweat off my face.
Again encouraged by the midwife's words, it was as if I had used all my strength.
Finally, a cry rang out in the delivery room. At the same time, I heard a loud and powerful wolf howl.
I could no longer hold back my tears, and they fell in great streams.
I lay exhausted on the bed, but my eyes went to my baby.
The doctor was cleaning up the baby's body. My baby was crying so loud; he looked so strong. As I cried and my eyes blurred, the doctor rejoiced and brought the baby to me.
"It's a very strong boy," the doctor said.
I looked at the baby crying so loud.
I was really so happy, happy that there was another person in this world connected to my blood.
The red, crying, wailing boy in front of me was mine and Kingsley's child.
My child would not have as hard a life as I had as a child. He would be the happiest child in the world later on.
"I hope every day of your life will be sweet from now on, and you must be healthy and happy to enjoy this sweet world," this is my most sincere blessing to my child.
My voice grew fainter and fainter as I suddenly blacked out, and my hand fell off my child.
"Doctor, I'm so tired; I want to sleep," I said.
I was really tired.
As I drifted off, I heard the alarm from my blood pressure monitor.
At the same time, the nurse yelled, "Oh no, she is hemorrhaging. Prepare for surgery."