Orion barely had time to catch his breath before the next contraction slammed into him with the force of a tidal wave. His entire body tensed, and a sharp, guttural cry tore from his throat, echoing through the room as the pain hit him harder than before.
His hands flew to his belly, the intensity of the contraction sending violent tremors through his body. He was shaking uncontrollably, the strain of holding back tears clear in the tightness of his face. His chest heaved with shallow, ragged breaths as he fought against the searing pain radiating through his lower abdomen.
"Dad!" Orion gasped, his voice raw with desperation. He squeezed Articus's hand so tightly it felt like his fingers would break, but it was the only thing keeping him grounded in that moment of overwhelming agony.
"I'm here," Articus said quickly, moving closer, his voice low and calm despite the panic rising in his chest as he watched his son struggle. His other hand found its way to Orion's back, rubbing slow, soothing circles to help ease the tension that gripped him. "Breathe, Orion. You've got this."
But the contraction was too much. Orion's body shook as waves of pain surged through him, and for a brief moment, he felt like he was drowning in it. Every muscle in his body seemed to tense at once, leaving him unable to do anything but cling to Articus, his knuckles white as he gripped his father's hand.
His breathing was uneven, ragged gasps escaping him as he tried to push through the pain. The room around him felt like it was closing in, and all he could focus on was the agonizing pressure building within him, the unbearable weight that threatened to break him.
"I—I can't," Orion whimpered, his voice cracking under the strain. His eyes squeezed shut, his face twisted in pain. "It's too much."
"You can," Articus said firmly, his voice unwavering as he continued to rub Orion's back, though his heart ached at seeing his son in so much pain. "You've come so far, Orion. Just breathe through it. You're stronger than this."
Orion's breath hitched as the contraction seemed to crest, his body trembling violently as he fought against the urge to scream. His grip on Articus's hand tightened even more, his nails digging into his father's palm as he rode out the wave of agony.
Time seemed to stretch on, each second feeling like an eternity, but finally, the contraction began to ease. Orion sagged back against the pillows, his chest rising and falling with labored breaths, his entire body drenched in sweat. He was shaking, his limbs weak and trembling as if all the strength had been drained from him.
"I'm so tired," he whispered, his voice barely audible, his eyes fluttering shut for a moment.
Articus leaned closer, his hand still resting gently on Orion's back. "I know, son. I know. But you're so close now. Just a little more. You can do this."
The healer stepped forward, her face calm but focused. "Orion, you're progressing quickly. We're almost at the final stage. You're doing incredible, but if you need a moment, take it now. The next few contractions are going to be intense."
Orion nodded weakly, though his body continued to tremble, the pain still fresh in his mind. He didn't know how much more he could take. Every part of him felt like it was on fire, and the exhaustion was pulling him down, but he knew he had to keep going.
Articus gave his hand a gentle squeeze, his voice soft but full of pride. "You've got this, Orion. I'm right here with you, every step of the way."
As the next contraction loomed on the horizon, Orion braced himself, knowing that the worst was yet to come, but finding comfort in the presence of his father by his side.
