The Biker Alpha Who Became My Second Chance Mate Chapter 204

Tristan

Athena's hand tightened in mine so hard I felt bones grind. "But they're not ready. They need more time..."

"Athena, if we wait, we risk the abruption getting worse. That could cut off blood supply to the babies. It could cause severe bleeding for you. At thirty-three weeks with twins, the risks of continuing the pregnancy now outweigh the risks of delivery."

"How big is the risk?" I asked, my voice coming out rougher than intended. "To Athena. To the babies."

"Babies born at thirty-three weeks have excellent survival rates," Dr. Morrison said firmly. "Over ninety-five percent. They'll need NICU care, probably for a few weeks while their lungs mature and they learn to eat on their own. But they should be fine. As for Athena—a controlled C-section now is much safer than an emergency one later if the abruption suddenly gets worse."

I looked at Athena. Her face was pale, tears already streaming down her cheeks.

"I'm not ready," she whispered. "I thought we'd have more time. I thought..."

"I know, baby." I climbed onto the bed beside her, pulling her against my chest. "But Dr. Morrison is right. We have to keep you all safe. And our babies are strong. They're fighters."

"You're doing a C-section?" Athena asked Dr. Morrison, her voice shaking.

"Yes. It's the safest option given the abruption. We'll have the NICU team standing by in the OR. The moment the babies are born, they'll be assessed and taken to the NICU for care."

"Can Tristan be there?" Athena asked immediately. "During the surgery?"

"Absolutely. He'll be right by your head the whole time. You'll be awake, we'll use a spinal block, not general anesthesia, so you'll be numb from the chest down but conscious. You'll be able to hear the babies when they're born."

Athena nodded, but I could feel her fear through our bond. Raw and overwhelming.

"When?" I asked.

"I'm scheduling the OR for ten o'clock. That gives us two hours to prep. The anesthesiologist will come talk to you, explain everything. We'll get Athena ready. And then we bring your babies into the world."

After Dr. Morrison left, Athena completely broke down. Deep, gasping sobs that shook her whole body. I held her, letting her cry, feeling my own tears fall into her hair.

"I'm so scared," she sobbed against my chest. "What if something goes wrong? What if they can't breathe on their own? What if..."

"Hey, look at me." I gently tilted her face up. "Our babies are strong. You've been taking such good care of them. They're going to be fine. And you're going to be fine. I'm going to be right there with you the entire time."

"Promise?"

"I promise. Nothing short of death could keep me away from you."

She managed a watery smile. "Don't joke about death right now."

"Sorry." I kissed her forehead, her cheeks, her lips. "I love you. So much. You're the bravest person I know, and you're about to become a mother. Our babies are so lucky to have you."

"I love you too," she whispered.

The next two hours were chaos. Nurses came in with forms to sign. The anesthesiologist explained the spinal block in detail. Someone brought surgical gowns and booties for me to wear.

Sarah and Orion came into the room, spent thirty minutes with us before we had to prep for surgery.

"You're going to be amazing," Sarah said, hugging Athena carefully. "Both of you. And we'll be right here waiting to meet our niece and nephew."

"Or nephews. Or nieces," Athena said, laughing through her tears. "We still don't know what they are."

"Healthy," Orion said firmly. "That's what they are. And they're going to stay that way."

Derek showed up too, bringing half the pack with him apparently, because the waiting room was suddenly full of Silver Ridge members.

"The whole pack wanted to come," Derek said, clasping my shoulder. "They're all pulling for you. For all of you."

"Thank you," I managed, my voice thick.

At nine-thirty, the nurses came to take Athena to pre-op. I walked beside her gurney, my hand never leaving hers, as we moved through the hospital corridors.

The pre-op area was cold and sterile. They transferred Athena to a surgical table, and the anesthesiologist began preparing for the spinal block.

"Tristan has to wait outside for this part," a nurse explained gently. "Just for about fifteen minutes while we get the spinal in and make sure it's working properly. Then we'll bring him into the OR."

"No," Athena said immediately, gripping my hand tighter. "I need him."

"I know, honey. But he can't be in here for this part. Hospital policy. But he'll be right outside that door, and the second we're ready, he'll be with you again."

I bent down, pressing my forehead to Athena's. "I'm not leaving. I'll be right outside. Counting every second until I can be back with you."

"I'm scared," she whispered.

"I know. Me too. But you've got this. You're the strongest woman I've ever met."

I kissed her one more time, then forced myself to step back, to let the nurses do their job. The door closed between us, and I stood there staring at it, feeling like my heart was on the other side.

A nurse in scrubs appeared beside me. "Come on, Dad. Let's get you suited up."

She led me to a small room where I changed into surgical scrubs, a cap, mask, and booties. My hands were shaking so badly I could barely tie the mask.

"First baby?" the nurse asked kindly.

"Babies. Twins." My voice cracked. "And yes. First."

"They're in excellent hands. Dr. Morrison is one of the best. And our NICU team is incredible."

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak.

Finally, after what felt like hours but was probably only fifteen minutes, someone came to get me.

"Ready, Dad?"

I wasn't. But I nodded anyway.

They led me into the operating room. It was bright and cold, full of people in surgical gear moving around with purpose. Machines beeped. Instruments clinked. And in the center of it all was Athena.

She was lying on a table with a blue drape positioned at her chest so she couldn't see below it. Her face was pale, tears streaming down her temples into her hair.

I was at her side in an instant, taking her hand, pressing my forehead to hers.

"I'm here," I said. "I'm right here, baby."

"I can't feel anything below my chest," she said, her voice high with anxiety. "It's so weird. I can feel you holding my hand but nothing else."

"That's the spinal working," Dr. Morrison said from the other side of the drape. "That's exactly what we want. You're going to feel some pressure and pulling during the surgery, but no pain. If you feel any pain at all, you tell us immediately."

"Okay," Athena whispered.

I sat on a stool they'd positioned for me right by her head. I kept one hand clasped in hers, my other hand stroking her hair back from her forehead.

"You're doing so good," I murmured. "So brave. I'm so proud of you."

"We're starting," Dr. Morrison announced.

I felt Athena tense, but she couldn't feel the actual incision. I could see her trying to crane her neck to see around the drape.

"Don't look," I said gently. "Just look at me. Focus on me."

Her gray eyes locked onto mine, wide and frightened but trusting.

"Tell me something," she said. "Distract me. Tell me anything."

"Okay." I searched my brain frantically. "Remember that day we went to look at paint samples for the nursery? And you couldn't decide between sage green and mint green, so you bought both and we spent two hours painting sample squares on the wall?"

"You said they looked exactly the same," she said, a tiny smile appearing.

"They did look exactly the same."

"They were completely different shades!"

"If you say so." I kissed her forehead. "But you were so cute, studying those paint squares like they were the most important decision in the world."

"They were important," she insisted. "That's our babies' room."

"I know. And it's perfect. Just like you."

"You're feeling pressure now," Dr. Morrison said from beyond the drape. "That's normal."

Athena gasped. "I feel it. Like someone pushing on me."

"That's exactly right," Dr. Morrison said. "We're almost to Baby A."

My heart started racing. Baby A. Our first baby was about to be born.

"Tristan," Athena said, gripping my hand tighter. "I'm scared."

"I know. But you're doing amazing. Just breathe with me. In and out."

We breathed together, our eyes locked, and I tried to pour all my love and support through our bond.

"Here comes Baby A," Dr. Morrison announced.

And then, a sound that made everything else in the world disappear.

A cry. Small and indignant and perfect.

"It's a boy!" someone announced.