Chapter 30

Danny’s POV
“What do you mean; they are Braxton Hicks again?” Claudia screams at Doctor Elliot. “It’s normal to get fake contractions a few weeks before the due date. Your body is getting ready for the birth” he calmly answers her. “Doc; it’s the third time this week. Is there a way to stop them?” I ask him; giving Claudia a kiss on her forehead, trying to calm her. “I’m sorry. The only thing I can suggest is drink more water. Sometimes Braxton Hicks can be caused by illness or dehydration. You aren’t ill; the pregnancy could be causing you to be slightly dehydrated” he tells her.
“Fucking hell! Get her out of me” she screams at us. “You still have 2 weeks before she is due” I try to explain; “Thank you for mansplaining the situation. I don’t give a fuck, there is 1 week and 3 days to go” she screams back at me. “Claudia, calm down. She will come when she is ready” I calmly say back to her. I am glad Dad spoke to me about the hormonal side of pregnancy and the irritability and pain Claudia will have with the pending birth. He told me; I just need to remain calm. Once Sophia is born, she will go back to normal.
“How about you head back to the packhouse. It won’t be too long and she will be here” Doctor Elliot says to Claudia. “How about you just get her the fuck, out of me” she snaps back at him. “Claudia, I need to get to the training compound. How about you come with me” I smile at her.
She gives me a snarl as I help her off the examination table and follow behind her out the door. “Why are we going to the training compound?” she growls. “Rick and Tim want to show us, what they have achieved” I explain. “Braxton Hicks again, Claudia?” Tim calls out. “You’re lucky I can’t shift, asshole” she screams back at him.
“The memories; I almost forgot what it was like two weeks before Jacob was born. Thanks for reminding me; why I don’t want to have any more kids” he chuckles back. “Don’t fucking lie. You were asking me yesterday; why don’t we have another one” Chelsea giggles.
“Who’s going first?” I ask Tim and Rick as Dad comes over to us. “I’ll go” Tim answers him, walking to the middle of the compound. “Dad?” I smile. Tim and Rick haven’t sparred against Dad yet. He thought it would be a good opportunity to see where they are at.
Dad takes his shirt off and heads to the centre of the compound. “What the fuck? You didn’t tell me we were facing Alpha Henry” Tim calls out. “Scared?” I yell back; laughing.
“Umm; Danny?” Claudia whispers. “Yes” I answer, keeping my focus on Dad and Tim. “Dan… AHHHHHH” she screams. “Danny; Claudia’s waters just broke” Cynthia yells. “What? Shit! You need to go back to the hospital” I yell, looking at the puddle of water by her feet as Cyndy blows a whistle. “FUUCCCK MEEEE” she screams; doubling over. “Alpha Henry, Claudia’s waters just broke” Cynthia calls out as I start running out the door.
“Missing something Danny?” Jason yells behind me. I stop dead; “Shit; Claudia” I scream running back into the compound and putting my arm around her waist. “FUCCKKKINGGG HELLLLL.”
“Sophia must have heard you” Doctor Elliot chuckles as we come into the hospital. “SHUT THE FUCK UUUUPPP” she screams as another contraction occurs. “Sorry Doc” I sigh, giving him a half-smile and walking Claudia to the maternity suite. “DON’T APOLOGISE FOR ME.” “It’s ok Danny; you get used to it. The midwife will be in shortly and when she is born; I will pop in to see you” Doctor Elliot tells us, walking out the door.
“Let’s see what’s happening here” Midwife Xanthe says coming into the room. “I’M IN FUCKING LABOUR” Claudia screams at her as I hold onto her hand and wait for Xanthe to do the examination at the foot of the bed; “you are 4cm dilated. Danny; how about you go see Jenny and get Claudia some water” Xanthe says to me. I look at Claudia; her eyes narrow “YOU LEAVE THIS ROOM AND I WILL RIP OFF YOUR COCK” she yells at me.
“Claudia; Let Danny go and get us some water” Xanthe calmly says to her. I try and pull my hand away from Claudia’s, her grip is like a vice. “AHHHHHHH” she screams with another contraction; gripping tighter. **“Holy Fuck! She’s going to break our fingers”** Jesse chuckles at me.
Claudia finally let’s go of my hand and I quickly scurry outside the door. “What’s happening?” Mum says, coming over to me. “Xanthe said she was 4 cm dilated and asked me to get some water” I answer her. “That will change quickly. I’m going in there” she yells walking past me; “DANNY GET YOUR ASS BACK IN HERE” Claudia screams through the door as mum opens it to enter.
I look towards the waiting room; Dad, Jason, Tim, Rick, Simon and Cynthia are all waiting there. “You better go back in. Shifter births can be relatively quicker than human births” Dad smiles at me. “Lizzy’s only took an hour and a half” Rick includes.
I grab the water pitcher from Nurse Jennifer and head back to the birthing room. “WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG?” Claudia screams. “I was waiting for Jenny to get me the water. Everyone is waiting in the waiting room for you” I calmly reply. “THAT IS AHHHHHH” she yells with another contraction.
“You need to breathe through the contractions” Mum says to her; holding onto Claudia’s hand. “YOU BREATHE THROUGH THE CONTRACTIONS” she yells back at her. “Snow Blossom; what do you want me to do?” I ask, looking around me confused. “GET YOUR COCK OVER HERE SO I CAN RIP IT OFFFFFFF” she screams. “I’ll pass” I laugh at her as she gives me a death stare.
“A few more contractions and you will be ready to push” Xanthe smiles at us. “GIVE ME THE DRUGS” Claudia yells. “Claudia, you said you wanted a drug free birth” I smile at her. “I LIIIIIEDDDD” she yells with another contraction. “Ok, Claudia; It’s time to push. Danny, come around to the other side of the bed and hold onto Claudia’s other hand” Xanthe says to us.
I look at Claudia, hesitantly. “YOU FUCKING SOFT COCK; GET OVER HERE” she screams at me. I quickly move and grab hold of her other hand. “Ready? You are going to push with the next contraction” Xanthe tells her. I grab a cloth and wipe the sweat off Claudia’s brow as the next contraction starts.
“FUCCCKKKK MEEEEE” she screams, as she squeezes mum’s and my hands. The concentration on her face as she uses her grip on our hands to push down. “Shit; now I know why your father refused to hold my hand for a few weeks after you were born” Mum giggles.
“I can see the head; one more push and her head will be out” Xanthe tells her. “AHHHHHHH” Claudia screams; her nails ripping into the skin on my hand as she pushes down again. “Sophia” Claudia cries hearing Sophia cry; “The head is out; we need another push to get the rest of her out” Xanthe says.
Another contraction; Claudia’s face contorts as she concentrates with pushing one last time. She grips mum’s and my hand, pushing as hard as she can. “AHHHHHH” she screams again as baby Sophia comes out of her. “She’s here” I smile as Xanthe clamps something around the umbilical cord. “Do you want to cut it” she smiles at me. I take the surgical scissors from her and cut the rubbery cord where she shows me and she hands Sophia to Jennifer.
“I didn’t even see you come in” I smile at Jenny. “You and Claudia were preoccupied” she smiles back to me. She moves Sophia over to a table to weigh and measure her.
“You need to do a small push to get the placenta out” Xanthe says to Claudia as Jennifer comes over with Sophia, wrapped in a blanket and hands her to me. “There’s my precious angel” I coo at her, placing her on Claudia’s chest. Sophia moves her head and latches straight onto Claudia’s breast.
“She takes after her father; always looking for the boob” Claudia laughs at me; as I blush. “And food” mum giggles. “She’s 7 pound 11” Jennifer smiles at Claudia.
“I need a cuddle when she is finished” Mum smiles at us. “I’ll go tell everyone” Jennifer says. “I forgot, Dad, Simon, Jason, Cyndy, Rick and Tim were in the waiting room” I tell Claudia. “And half the pack. They all heard Claudia was in labour and came down to hear of the arrival” Doctor Elliot says coming into the room. “I’ll come and help you” I say to Jennifer and we both head out the door to the waiting room.
**“Holy Moly”** I say to Jesse, walking into the waiting room. **“It’s standing room only”** he chuckles back. Everyone stops what they are doing and looks at me. “She’s here” I hesitantly tell everyone as people come over to congratulate me; shaking my hand or giving me a hug. “Danny; I have a little teddy bear for Sophia” Joslyn says handing me a little pink teddy bear and giving me a hug.
“Thank you” I answer her as Tracey comes forward. “Sorry; I was in the dining hall when Jason told me what happened. I yelled she was in labour and waddled my way out the door to come down here. Everyone followed” she giggles. “Claudia is loved by all; she’ll like to see you” I smile at her. “We’ll wait for everyone to go first” she answers me; looking around her.
As the last of the pack members hands me little gifts and says their congratulations, I look at Dad, Jason, Tracey, Simon, Rick, Tim, Lorraine, Cynthia, Brett, Denise and Chelsea; “Let’s go and see Sophia” I say to them. They all follow me into the maternity suite.
“Where did you go?” Claudia asks me; as I come into the room, my hands full of gifts. She looks exhausted; “umm; you aren’t going to believe how many people were out there” I tell her placing the gifts in the corner. “Are they all for Sophia?” she asks; looking towards the corner. “Yes; I got bombarded” I chuckle.
“You’re lucky. When you were born; Henry had to tell them not to come in here” Mum laughs. “I still had to tell them, before Danny came out. They were adamant they wanted to see her. I told them to let you rest and they can see her when you are released” Dad snickers, coming into the room and giving Claudia a kiss on her forehead.
“Can I have a cuddle” Cynthia exclaims going over to Mum to take Sophia from her. “We all want a cuddle” Lorraine smiles as Jason and Tracey gives Claudia a hug. “This will be you in a few weeks” Claudia giggles to Tracey. “I can’t wait to get him out of me” she huffs back. I can’t help but smile, that was Claudia a few hours ago.
“I love you, Snow Blossom” I say to Claudia, giving her a kiss. “I love you too” she smiles at me.