The hospital was a whirlwind of chaos. Nurses and doctors rushed through the hallways, their voices urgent, their steps quick. Aurora was on a stretcher, her face pale and contorted with pain. Her hands gripped Damian’s tightly, her nails digging into his skin. He didn’t flinch, his eyes locked on her as panic coursed through his veins.
“Breathe, Aurora,” Luna said from the other side, holding Aurora’s other hand. Her voice was steady, though her eyes shimmered with worry. “You’re strong. You can do this.”
Aurora let out a pained groan, her breaths coming in short, shallow gasps. “It… it hurts,” she managed to say, her voice trembling.
“I know,” Luna said softly, brushing a strand of hair from Aurora’s sweat-soaked forehead. “Just keep breathing. We’re here with you.”
Damian walked alongside the stretcher, his grip on Aurora’s hand unrelenting. “You’ll be okay,” he said, his voice low but filled with determination. “You’re not alone in this.”
The doors to the labor room swung open, and the nurses pushed the stretcher inside. “We need to prepare her,” one of the doctors said, his tone brisk. “Mr. Wolfe, you’ll have to wait outside.”
“No,” Damian said sharply, refusing to let go of Aurora’s hand. “I’m staying with her.”
The doctor hesitated, then nodded. “Fine. But stay out of the way.”
As the medical team worked around them, Luna stayed by Aurora’s side, whispering words of encouragement. Damian stood close, his heart pounding as he watched Aurora’s face twist in pain. He felt powerless, a feeling he despised more than anything.
Suddenly, one of the nurses turned to the doctor. “Her blood pressure is dropping!”
“Get the transfusion ready,” the doctor ordered.
“What’s happening?” Damian demanded, his voice rising.
“She’s losing too much blood,” the doctor said without looking at him. “We need to stabilize her immediately.”
Damian’s stomach dropped. He turned to Aurora, who was barely conscious now, her breaths weak and uneven.
“Use my blood,” Damian said quickly.
The doctor shook his head. “We’ve already checked your blood type earlier, Mr. Wolfe. It’s not a match.”
Damian froze, his mind racing. “Then find someone who is!” he barked.
The room fell silent for a moment before Luna spoke up, her voice trembling. “Damian… what about her mother or father?”
Damian’s jaw tightened, his fists clenching at his sides. The idea of calling Taylor made his blood boil, but he didn’t have a choice. Aurora’s life was on the line.
“I’ll call him,” Damian said through gritted teeth, pulling his phone from his pocket. He stepped into the hallway, his fingers shaking as he dialed the number.
The phone rang once, twice, before Taylor’s voice came through. “Damian Wolfe,” he said, his tone cold. “Why are you calling me?”
“Aurora’s in labor,” Damian said quickly, his voice tight with emotion. “She’s losing blood, and we need a transfusion. Your blood might be a match.”
Taylor was silent for a moment, then let out a low chuckle. “So, you need me now, do you?”
“Don’t play games,” Damian snapped. “If you care about her at all, you’ll come now.”
Taylor’s tone turned serious. “I’ll come,” he said. “But on one condition.”
Damian’s grip on the phone tightened. “What condition?”
“When Aurora delivers the child, you hand her over to me,” Taylor said.
Damian’s breath caught, his chest tightening with anger. “You’re out of your mind,” he hissed.
“Think about it,” Taylor said calmly. “If you don’t agree, Aurora might not make it. Do you want to take that risk?”
Damian leaned against the wall, his free hand running through his hair. He wanted to yell, to punch something, but the image of Aurora lying pale and weak on that bed stopped him.
“Fine,” he said finally, his voice low and strained. “Just get here. Now.”
Taylor didn’t respond, only ending the call. Damian stood there for a moment, his heart pounding in his chest. Then he turned and re-entered the labor room.
A little while later, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the hallway. Damian looked up to see Taylor approaching, his expression calm but his eyes sharp.
“You’re late,” Damian said coldly.
Taylor ignored the jab, his gaze moving to the labor room. “Where’s Aurora?”
“She’s inside,” Damian said, his tone clipped. “The doctors will take your blood now.”
Taylor followed the doctor into a separate room, and Damian stayed behind, his fists clenched at his sides.
Minutes felt like hours as Damian waited. Luna sat beside him, her hands clasped tightly together. “Do you think he’ll help her?” she asked quietly.
“He’d better,” Damian said, his voice dark. “Or he’ll regret it.”
Finally, the doctor returned, nodding to Damian. “We’ve taken his blood. The transfusion is starting now.”
Damian let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. He turned to Luna, his voice softening. “Stay with her,” he said. “I need to keep an eye on him.”
Luna nodded, standing to return to Aurora’s side. Damian’s gaze followed her, his heart heavy with worry.
“I won’t let anything happen to you, Aurora,” he murmured to himself. “I swear it.”