Five Months later

The waiting room felt suffocatingly small, the walls seeming to press in from all sides with each agonizing minute that ticked by.

Anastasia’s footsteps traced a well-worn path in the drab carpet as she paced restlessly, her movements growing more erratic and jittery the longer they waited for news.

Cobra watched her from his place on the sagging couch, projecting a calm he didn’t fully feel himself as his mate’s anxiety rolled off her in waves.

His fingers tapped out an unsteady staccato rhythm against the faded upholstery, the only outward sign of his innermost turmoil.

Of course, he was just as scared for Liam, but one of them needed to keep it together.

"Ana," he called out gently, pulling her from her spiraling thoughts. "Come here, my love."

She startled slightly, her wide eyes finding him like a lodestone, and drifted over to sink down next to him.

Immediately, Cobra wrapped her up in the reassuring circle of his arms, tucking her firmly against his side.

"He’s going to be okay," Cobra murmured, placing a soothing kiss atop her wild chestnut curls.

"Liam is the strongest person I know. He’s got this."

A shuddering sigh pressed from Anastasia’s lips as she allowed herself to fully relax into his solid, comforting warmth.

Her slender fingers twisted in the fabric of his shirt, clinging to him like a lifeline.

"I know, I know," she whispered, not quite convincing even herself. "But there’s still so much that could go wrong..."

"Shh," Cobra hushed her frantic thoughts, his palm rubbing soothing circles over the taut muscles between her shoulders.

"Don’t think about the what-ifs and worst-case scenarios. Just focus on me and Liam - on how much we love you..."

His rich, deep voice washed over her, the words gentle but insistent as his arms tightened in emphasis.

She let out a shaky exhale, trying to force her body to unwind as his warmth seeped into her very bones.

With each measured breath, Cobra felt the slightest loosening of the rigid tension coiled within her slight frame.

"It’s going to be okay," he soothed, not knowing who he was trying to convince more - Anastasia or himself.

Releasing her grip on his shirt, Anastasia shifted to wrap her arms around his trim waist instead, borrowing his steady strength.

She tucked her face into his neck, breathing in the familiar, earthy scent that was home, comfort, and love.

Cobra pressed a reverent kiss to her temple, rocking them both in an instinctive, grounding motion.

"It’s been too long," Anastasia suddenly whispered against his skin, a slightly hysterical note entering her strained voice.

"What if something went wrong in there? What if...?"

Cobra cut off her spiraling panic before it could fully take root.

"Hey, no what-ifs, remember? Just breathe, Anastasia. They’ll come get us as soon as they can."

His own gut was knotted with dread and the urge to demand information, but he clung stubbornly to the same advice he was giving Anastasia.

Catastrophizing would only send them both down a rabbit hole of worst-case scenarios from which they might never emerge.

As if triggered by their worries, a shrill, piercing cry suddenly rents the air, unmistakable in its meaning.

________

Liam drifted slowly back to consciousness, his eyelids fluttering open to take in the softly lit hospital room.

His body felt heavy and drained yet suffused with a profound sense of relief and wonder.

A quiet groan slipped past his lips as he attempted to shift into a more comfortable position against the crisp sheets.

"Liam?" Anastasia was instantly at his side, her lovely face alight with a radiant smile as joyful tears shimmered in her eyes.

Cradled securely in the protective curve of her arms was a tiny, blanket-swaddled bundle.

A brilliant grin stretched Liam’s lips at the sight, his exhaustion falling away like a discarded cloak.

"Is that...?" He trailed off, scarcely daring to hope.

Nodding, Anastasia carefully transferred the precious bundle into his trembling arms.

"Our daughter," she confirmed in a hushed, reverent tone.

Liam’s breath caught in his throat as he gazed down at his newborn child for the first time.

Her tiny, scrunched-up face was the most beautiful thing he’d ever laid eyes upon, and a lump of pure, overwhelming love swelled in his chest.

Tears of wonderment pricked the corners of his eyes as one tiny fist escaped the confines of the swaddle to wave aimlessly in the air.

"Is she...a true blood?" Liam managed to rasp out, his voice thick with barely restrained emotion.

Anastasia’s smile widened as she settled herself on the edge of the mattress, one arm draping comfortingly across his shoulders. "She is," she confirmed with a nod.

"But how?" Liam shook his head in disbelief. "Birthing a true blood is like a one-in-a-million chance. A female true blood is practically - like a one-in-a-billion miracle."

It’s crazy to have two female true bloods in one room.

"I know," Anastasia murmured, leaning down to nuzzle her nose against their daughter’s soft cheek.

"To be honest, I had no idea what her rank would be. I suppose she’s just that extraordinary."

Liam felt like his heart might burst from the swell of pride and awe swirling within him at that moment.

He gazed at Anastasia with naked adoration shining in his eyes before glancing around, his brow furrowing slightly. "Where’s Cobra? I wanted him here for this."

"I’m right here." Both their heads whipped around at the deep, beloved voice.

Cobra stood framed in the doorway, a tender smile curving his lips as he took in the scene before him.

But he wasn’t alone - nestled in the protective cradle of his arms was a second blanket-wrapped bundle.

"Wha...?" Liam’s jaw dropped open in stunned astonishment. "Cobra? Whose...?"

Chuckling softly, Cobra crossed the room in two long strides to join his mates on the bed.

"While you were otherwise occupied, I was waiting for our son to get checked over before bringing him in to meet you both."

"Son?" Liam echoed faintly, light-headed with shock and joy.

Nodding, Anastasia reached out to grasp his free hand reassuringly. "You were pregnant with twins, Liam," she explained gently. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

All the air seemed to rush from Liam’s lungs in one explosive exhale.

Tears welled up unchecked to spill in shining rivulets down his cheeks as a tangle of emotions - sorrow, disbelief, hope, boundless rapturous joy - swirled dizzyingly within him.

Their son.

The son he’d lost...only to be granted this second chance, this incredible miracle.

Cobra must have recognized the tumultuous storm raging across Liam’s features, for he immediately shifted closer to curl around his side.

Deftly, he transferred their squirming son into Liam’s arms to join his sister, freeing up Cobra’s hands to securely embrace them both.

For an untold stretch of heartbeats, the world shrank down to this single, perfect moment - Liam encircled by the two halves of his soul, their two newborn children nestled snugly in their parents’ arms.

A tear-blurred smile of transcendent happiness dawned across Liam’s face as he basked in the profound love and contentment radiating between their unbreakable bonds.

Cobra’s forehead rested against his temple, and Liam turned his head to brush their lips together in a lingering, tender kiss.

"Thank you," he whispered fervently against Cobra’s mouth, the endless depths of his gratitude and devotion conveyed in those two simple syllables.

The tender sanctuary was shattered by the jarring intrusion of the hospital room door banging open once more.

"Hey, Anastasia..."

Regina one of Anastasia’s rut partners, stood framed in the doorway, her expression flickering rapidly between bewilderment and displeasure as she took in the scene before her.

Liam sighed, his jaw clenching with ill-concealed frustration at the disruption, and instinctively tightened his protective hold over his newborn twins.

He didn’t need to look at Cobra to feel the waves of scorching rage and possessive fury simmering just below the surface of his mate’s deceptively calm facade.

"What are you doing here?" Anastasia demanded cooly, shifting her body subtly to shield Liam and their family from Regina’s prying gaze.

"I heard you’d become a mom," Regina replied, shrugging one shoulder in a fabricated display of indifference.

"As you can see," Anastasia stated flatly, making no effort to conceal her annoyance at Regina’s unwelcome presence.

Regina’s gaze sharpened, her eyes narrowing as she took in the twin bundles Liam cradled against his chest.

"Twins?" she scoffed disbelievingly. "I knew you were strong, Ana, but I didn’t realize you were that powerful. Although..."

A sardonic smirk twisted her lips as her eyes raked over Liam’s form in a blatant leer. "I have felt for myself just how...skilled you can be."

A muscle ticked in Cobra’s clenched jaw as a low, rumbling snarl vibrated deep in his chest - the only warning before he would undoubtedly tear Regina’s throat out with his bare hands.

Sensing the escalating tension, Liam instinctively reached out to grasp Cobra’s wrist, both grounding him and silently pleading with him to remain calm for their children’s sake.

"Well, it was Liam’s body that decided, not mine," Anastasia replied evenly, unfazed by Regina’s provocations. "But I can understand if basic biology is a difficult concept for you to grasp."

She waved one hand in a peremptory gesture of dismissal. "You’re clearly confused about what’s transpired here. I think it’s time for you to leave."

Regina bristled visibly, her lips peeling back in an instinctive alpha snarl of offended pride as she took an aggressive step forward.

"Don’t dismiss me like some ill-bred omega pup, Anastasia! I’m trying to understand what you see in..." Her gaze raked contemptuously over Liam’s form once more. "...men like that freak and that psycho when you could have a real woman that properly satisfies all your needs."

"They are my mates," Anastasia stated, her tone hardening to arctic frost even as her stormy eyes sparked with banked fury. "Their gender is immaterial. I don’t care if you find that concept difficult to grasp - that’s your own shortcoming, not mine. I owe you no explanations."

Regina opened her mouth, doubtless to unleash another spiteful retort, but Anastasia cut her off with a sharp slash of her hand through the air.

"You are dismissed, Regina," she ordered in a voice of finalized, unyielding alpha command that brooked no argument. "Leave. Now."

For an endless, breathless heartbeat, it seemed Regina would defy the order, her body rigid and trembling with impotent rage.

But then, incrementally, the tension seeped out of her frame until she spun on her heel and stormed from the room, the door slamming in her wake.

The resounding silence that followed felt oppressive.

Liam exhaled a shaky breath, unaware he’d been holding it during the confrontation.

Beside him, Cobra remained coiled in a tight vortex of barely-leashed violence, his eyes still fixed unblinkingly on the door Regina had exited through.

"Cobra?" Anastasia reached over to gently cup his rigid jaw, forcing his gaze to meet hers. "Baby, it’s alright. Stand down, my love."

For a beat, Cobra didn’t react.

Then, finally, he seemed to unwind from his battle-ready tension, shuddering out a long breath as he nodded jerkily.

When he turned back, his eyes had returned to their usual warm whiskey hue as he offered a contrite smile and pressed a lingering kiss to Anastasia’s palm.

"Sorry, my love. I won’t do anything."

Returning his smile, Anastasia rose up to brush her lips across his brow in a tender kiss before turning her attention back to Liam and their newborn twins.

"How are you feeling now?" she murmured, reaching out to gently stroke one fingertip over their son’s downy cheek.

Liam had to chuckle at the obvious awe and reverence tingeing her words.

Even after all this time, his incredible abilities never failed to render his mates awestruck.

Thanks to his supernatural healing, he could already feel his body knitting itself back together as if he’d never been pregnant in the first place.

"I’m perfect," he rumbled contentedly, leaning over to nuzzle his nose against Cobra’s temple. "We all are."

Nestled in the protective circle of his lovers’ embrace, surrounded by the tiny, beloved lives they had created together, Liam had never felt more whole, more indescribably happy in his life.

This was everything he could have ever dreamed of and more