PROTECT HIM WITH YOUR LIFE
Bella's POV
Panic.
It was all I could do. I could barely focus on everyday tasks as the looming threat hovered over our heads. With the threat of the Volturi out there, the pack was subjected to do more patrols. So Paul had first light and twilight. It made me sick to my stomach knowing they were out there.
As my delivery date grew near I finally started to show more. I'm one of the lucky ones that didn't show really till the third trimester. It was like I grew overnight.
I stood at the kitchen island looking at the door to the refrigerator. It was covered in sonograms of our son. I've only ever seen Paul cry a few times. The first time was seeing our tiny little bean growing within. The second was when I told him that I loved him. And the last time was when we found out we're having a baby boy.
We had framed the first sonogram and hung it above the crib in the nursery. Then we hung the 4D sonogram. Hanging between the two photos is a picture of Paul and I on the beach. Both of us holding my newly large tummy but looking at each other with so much love, smiling. We had tons more on the fridge and on the corkboard above the desk in the living room. It finally looked like a home with pictures of the pack, and pictures of Paul and I.
"Babe," Paul whispered wrapping his arms around my waist from behind. "Everything's going to..." he began before I cut him off.
"Don't say 'fine'," I breathed, taking a sip of my tea.
"But it will be. I won't let anything happen to you," he said turning me to face him. "I interfered with your life because I'm selfish. I made sure that Embry was going to imprint just because I saw him as competition. I prayed to the spirits that your leech would leave too," he said cupping my face. "I only just got you. I'm not going to lose you so soon," he whispered, kissing my forehead.
I blinked away my tears. "Paul I can't lose you either. Promise me," I cried.
"I promise you Isabella. I'm not leaving you," he replied.
I grew more irritable as the weeks dragged out. Rose kept me updated on the Volturi situation, and for once she gave me good news.
"Alice is rounding up some friends to help," Rose said through the phone.
"Alice?" I asked, unable to believe what I had just heard.
"She feels really terrible about what happened. This is her apology," she replied.
"She's supposed to be my sister Rose, and she jumped to conclusions without talking to me first," I said exasperated.
"I know. It's no excuse but she's trying," she pleaded.
"I'll forgive her when we all live through this," I sighed.
"I'm sure she'll be pleased to hear," I could tell she was smiling.
"I'm sure she will," I replied, smiling in return.
"So how is your little bean," she wondered.
"Running out of room. He's getting so big, I feel like a baloon," I whined.
"How much longer," she chuckled.
"A couple of weeks," I sighed.
"You're almost done Bella. You can do this," she encouraged.
"I know. I just can't wait to meet the little guy," I sighed heavily.
"You promise you'll visit as soon as you can after he's born," she begged.
"Of course Rose," I promised.
"Take care Bella. I'll check back in soon okay," she said wrapping up the conversation.
"I will. Talk to you later Rose," I said hanging up.
I took a deep breath clearing my mind. And set about making some lunch for when Paul got off patrol. I was just finishing making the last of the sandwiches when he walked through the back door, completely naked. I blushed and chuckled shaking my head.
"What's so funny gorgeous," he asked hugging me and kissing my cheek.
"You," I replied with a smile.
"What about me," he wondered.
"You're naked," I whispered.
"I know," he smirked, winking at me. I rolled my eyes. "Are those for me," he motioned to the sandwiches.
"After you wash your hands they are," I smirked.
"On it," he replied walking to the kitchen sink.
We sat and ate together. I sat in his lap while he wrapped a protective hand around my waist, covering my entire belly with his enormous hand. He fed me bits from his plate as I ate my own food.
I was gathering the plates to wash up when I was hit with a sharp pain across my stomach. I dropped the plates and they shattered on the floor.
"Bella!" Paul shouted scooping me up off the ground. "What's wrong," he asked setting me down to my feet. I was about to answer when a gush of liquid ran down my legs.
"My water just broke," I whispered.
Paul jumped into action, sitting me on the couch and rushing to get dressed. He carried our suitcases out to my car and then came back to get me. He placed me in the passenger seat and gave me a peck on the lips. He slid in behind the wheel and grabbed my hand.
"Are you ready," he asked.
"Let's go meet our son," I replied breathing through a contraction.
Paul got us to the birthing clinic in record time. I had sent Sue a text on our way. I was so thankful that she was already there and everything was prepared. Paul didn't let me walk at all.
We were set up and prepared to wait till it was time to push when a piercing howl ripped through the sky.
"Paul, you have to go. I'll be okay, just go so you can come back to me sooner," I said soothingly. He looked enraged by the thought of leaving.
"I can't," he said between clenched teeth.
"You have to. You can't leave the pack without its strongest fighter," I tried encouraging. I was breathless as the contractions became longer.
"I don't want to leave you like this," he replied shaking.
"It's okay. I'm okay. It's just labor pains. Everything is going to be okay. You can go," I said.
"NO!" he shouted.
"Paul, dear. She's in good hands," Sue said trying to calm him.
"I can feel your pain Isabella. I'm not leaving," he said.
Sue looked at me and nodded before turning to leave.
"Paul honey, you can see if Collin or Brady can patrol outside the clinic in the treeline," I suggested.
"I'm not going anywhere till our son is safe and you're not in pain. I promised you wouldn't do this alone," he said with conviction.
I sat trying to breathe naturally as the contractions became longer and closer. They were about ten minutes apart so far. I just came out of a strong contraction when Jake walked into the room. He was dirty wearing only cutoffs.
"Paul, I have Brady and Collin patrolling with Seth nearby. We need your help," Jake said.
"I can't leave her yet," Paul growled.
"I don't want to have to order you Paul," Jake snapped, getting impatient.
"I said no," Paul snarled.
"Fine! Paul get outside into the treeline, undress and phase now! You are going to help with the situation at hand," Jake ordered, the Alpha command lacing his voice.
Paul threw himself on the floor trying to fight the order. He was snarling and growling when Sam and Jared came in and carried him out. He shouted and tried to fight them off. I could hear him calling out to me, tears falling down my cheeks. It hurt watching him fight like this.
"How are you doing Bella," Sue asked.
"It hurts," I gasped.
"Tell me what hurts," she asked.
"Everything," I cried.
"Okay Bella, I'm going to check to see how dialated you are," she said positioning my legs on the stirrups. "You still have a couple of centimeters left to go," she said, pulling off her gloves.
I nodded at her, taking a deep shakey breath. I was beginning to sweat. I laid back on the pillow and tried to breathe as calmly as possible. That didn't last much longer because my cellphone began ringing.
"Can you answer that Sue," I pleaded.
"Bella's phone. This Sue Swan," she answered politely. "You spoke to the Alpha already about this," she hissed into the phone. "Fine. But you will have a wolf on you at all times," she replied to the caller before hanging up. She turned to look at me with a worried expression. "Bella," she began.
She was interrupted by a loud commotion coming from the hallway. Then the door burst open. Rosalie and who I remember was Brady, came walking in the door.
"Bella," Rose breathed a sigh of relief.
"What's going on," I asked.
Rose furrowed her brow and glanced at Sue. "Let's worry about the baby first Bella," she replied.
"No, I need to know... Ahhh!" I was hit with a strong contraction then. It hurt the most and felt like it lasted forever.
"I'll tell you after you deliver the baby. Have you thought about any names," she asked.
"I...can't...think...straight," I gasped.
"I understand Bella and I'll be right here okay," she replied.
"Charles Jacob Lahote," I finally caught my breath.
"Okay Bella it looks like you're ready to push. When you get your next contraction I need you to push okay," Sue said ducking under the blue sheet. Rosalie stood by my side.
When the next contraction hit I took a deep breath and pushed. HOLY FUCK THIS HURTS! I pushed again and again and again.
"Ahhhhhh!" I screamed out.
"You can do it Bella," Sue encouraged.
"C'mon Bella you got this. Almost there," Rose cooed.
I gave another hard push. "Okay Bella I need you to give it all you got okay. His head is out, there's just his shoulders and it's smooth sailing. Push! PUSH, PUSH, PUSH!" Sue chanted.
I pushed as hard as I could. Finally I heard a little cry as Sue held up my son. He looked just like his father. I was drenched in sweat crying as Sue placed him on my chest.
"Hey there little guy," I cooed softly. He's so tiny. His little tiny hands and feet were perfect. He held my pinky with such a strong force. He was so precious.
My moment of bliss was cut short when I felt a sharp pain go through my entire body. I clenched my jaw. Paul! He's hurt!
"Bella?" Sue asked reaching for my son. I let her take him.
"Rose, what's going on," I gritted out.
"The Volturi are here," she whispered frowning.
"Protect him! Protect Him with your life," I whispered as the pain hit again. "Promise me Rosalie," I cried.
"I promise you Isabella," she replied, venom tears pulling in her eyes.
Finally I succumbed to the darkness and unconsciousness took over.
