The Lycan Kingpin's Captive: A Baby For The Beast novel Chapter 45

The second I set my eyes on the blood-soaked baby on Mia’s chest, I found myself kneeling at her bedside. This is my heart split into two people, my entire life in front of me and I knew at that moment that I would kill anyone who tried to hurt them.

A burst of pride shot through my chest, chasing away all the bad, all the shame and doubts that I would be a good parent. In its place stood steely determination and a fierce, overprotective love I have never felt before.

Did my father not feel this when I was born or was it only reserved for my brother? Did my mother feel the same love and pride shining in Mia’s eyes? How could they not feel this way about their own children? How cold do you have to be to not love the little person you helped make?

“Would you do the honor, Alpha?” Lilah asks me as she holds up the umbilical cord. I don’t even have to think twice, forgoing the scissors and using my teeth as Knox feels immense pride for using him to bite through the cord.

I wipe the blood from my mouth, turn to my Luna, and pepper kisses against her hair. “So beautiful; I am so proud of you,” I say, drinking in her relief and swallowing her happy tears. “You did well, vasílissa mou.”

She tries to swallow down a sob and I draw my forehead to hers while laying my hand on Ares. The instant, fierce love I feel for this little one nearly knocks me out cold and I swallow down the emotion threatening to spill over my cheeks.

“Can you help me up, please?” Mia asks me when Lilah takes Ares away. “I can feel the tears have healed, I just need to clean up before I give Ares his first feed.”

My heart drops. “Tears?”

This seems to make her blush and she nods. “I tore quite a bit trying to push him out, but they’ve all healed now,” she says, stunning me even more. I knew what went into giving birth, but hearing how it hurt her just breaks my heart.

My lips are a thin line, but I pick her up and carry her to our bedroom. I place her in the shower and help her wash the blood and mucus away. I don’t use any perfumed body wash since Ares needs to get used to her scent, and when we’re done, I dry her off and wrap a fluffy nightgown around her waist while throwing on a pair of sweatpants myself.

All through this, she wears a blissful smile and I can feel the contentment radiating through her mark.

“What a night,” she chuckles before falling against my chest. “I am so happy, Niko.”

I hold her against me and kiss the top of her head with nothing but love in my heart for her. “As am I, kardia mou. You have made me the happiest man alive,” I say and walk her into our bedroom.

We see Lilah standing at the foot of our bed and I hear a low growl coming from Mia when she sees another woman holding Ares. I can’t help but chuckle at her overprotectiveness, her wolf already feeling possessive of our son.

Lilah hears the growl and pales, her smile dropping slightly and I lead Mia over to the bed before taking Ares from her. “Thank you, Lilah,” I say, dismissing the doctor before she loses her head.

I look down at the tiny bundle in my arms and my heart fills to the brim with adoration. How any parent can harm their child is unknown to me; I’ll harm anyone who dares to touch him with the intent of doing harm.

Kissing his forehead, I place him in Mia’s arms and watch as her face lights up. She kisses Ares’ little head and whispers how much she loves him while getting ready to give him his first feed.

I am certain the look of bliss on her face mirrors mine and my heart swells watching the two of them. To think I was going to buy him and then send her on her way; how could I ever have thought that it would be that simple?

And what a fucking asshole I was for ever thinking I could do that to her. This woman is my life and now she’s given me something I could never replace. She’s changed me for the better and makes me want to be a better Alpha and partner.

If anyone has the power in this pack, it’s my little rabbit.

After Ares’ feed, she burps him and he immediately falls asleep again. She kisses his little hands and I get up and push the bassinet next to her side of the bed, watching as she lays him down.

“He’s perfect, Niko,” she gushes when I go to lie down next to her. “He’s absolutely perfect.”

“He is,” is all I can muster out as emotion chokes my throat again, but this time I allow it to show. That proud feeling starts in my chest and spreads through my entire body and a sob tears through my chest at that moment.

Mia wraps her arms around my waist and I hold her close. “Thank you for giving my heart a reason to keep beating, Mia,” I murmur, peppering kisses all over her head. “Gods, I love you so fucking much.”

She holds onto me and I can feel her tears as they hit my chest. Our combined love and adoration for Ares and each other makes me feel like my heart is about to burst, but I keep holding her until her breathing evens out.

I gently push her back against the pillow and wipe away her tears before kissing her lips. She looks beautiful even as she sleeps, and as much as I don’t want to leave right now, Maxim has been calling me over the mind link and it sounds urgent.

Not bothering with a t-shirt, I walk out of the bedroom and see Panzer and Armata at the door. “Do not let anyone in here, do you understand?” I say and they nod, understanding the importance.