I cradled her face gently, careful not to disturb her neck.
She could have broken anything.
Or everything.
Then her eyes opened, slowly, and she began to cry.
“Sam.... the baby, the baby’s coming. I’m bleeding.”
I looked down and there was blood over her jeans.
A lot of it
That’s what I’d smelt.
That’s how I’d found her.
How horrific.
I cupped her face. “Just hold on, Celeste. Hold on. Help’s coming.”
She tried to sit up, but I pushed her shoulders gently. “No. Please, don’t get up, beautiful.”
“Tayte… he’s going to send me away. The baby…”
I let loos
e a growl I’d never made. “He will never send you away. Do you understand me? I’ll kill that bastard first. You will live with us, and give us more babies forever, do you understand me?”
I was crying now, and I couldn’t stop.
“Celeste! Celeste!”
She closed her eyes and she wasn’t waking up this time.
Oh my God, what do I do?
There was noise above and around me.
I wanted to drag my mate close and hold her.
But I was too scared to damage her, and knew that I couldn’t do anything.
I just stood next to her lifeless body, doing nothing. Feeling useless.
“Help me! Please!”
Claire was suddenly there next to me, with a bag and blankets.
“Move out of the way, Sam. An ambulance is on the way.
Claire checked her pulse and the baby’s heartbeat with a stethoscope.
“They’re both alive.”
“But… the blood.” I gestured to the blood staining Celeste’s thighs. “Surely the baby can’t survive this.”
“Cover her up. Quick. Keep her warm.”