Chapter 136: Episode 135: Rue gives birth.
"You are very strong; you can do it, okay?" Caius encouraged.
His glowing golden eyes locked onto hers. He refused to let her look away or sink into the panic. His freezing hands wrapped tightly around her sweaty palm, pulling her out of the dark, spiraling fear. She felt the sharp, cool shock of his pale scales grounding her frantic heartbeat. The pregnancy fever burned through her veins, making her skin feel like it was on fire, but Caius acted like a calm shield of ice.
She shook her head. Hot tears tracked through the sweat on her face, soaking deep into the messy gray pillows.
"It hurts," Rue whimpered, her voice cracking. "I have nothing left. My body is just too tired."
"You do," Drax rumbled from directly behind her. He shifted his broad chest, letting her lean her weight against his solid frame. "You survived the swamps. You survived the cold mountains. You are the bravest person in this room. You can do this."
Knox knelt on the floor beside the bed. The Southern panther squeezed her other hand. His rough, scarred fingers trembled. He looked a mess. His dark hair stuck up in every direction, and his face was pale with helpless worry.
"Please, little one," Knox begged, his voice dropping to a rough whisper. "Just a little more. I know it’s asking a lot, but you just have to try."
Tanith checked her progress at the foot of the bed. The Swamp Queen’s face was tight with real concern. They didn’t have any magical healing spells. This wasn’t a fairy tale with glowing wands. They shifted like normal beasts, relying strictly on blood, sweat, and raw biology. Tyara brought another wet cloth from the wooden bucket. The tiger princess gently wiped Rue’s forehead, her hands shaking slightly.
"She’s right there, Rue," Tanith promised, offering a tight, encouraging smile. "I see the head. You just need to push."
Rue sucked in a ragged breath. Her chest heaved. She looked at the faces of the men surrounding her. They were terrifying warlords to the rest of the world. They commanded armies and tore enemies apart with their bare hands. But right now, they were just terrified fathers. They needed her to be strong.
She swallowed a loud sob. She closed her eyes. She let the raw, primal energy of the room flow into her aching bones. She thought about Theron and Mochi waiting out in the hallway. She thought about the baby waiting to meet his family.
The next contraction hit.
It ripped through her lower back like a jagged blade. The muscles in her stomach pulled tight, locking into a fierce, cramping hold. She arched her spine, crying out loud. The sound bounced off the cold stone walls.
"Rue, push with me, okay?" Caius coaxed softly, leaning his cold forehead against hers. "This is the last time. I promise you."
Rue pushed.
She squeezed Caius and Knox’s hands so hard her own joints popped. Drax held her shoulders steady, keeping her anchored to the bed. She pushed past the blinding pain. She pushed past the bone-deep exhaustion. She pushed past the fear of her fragile rabbit body breaking apart.
She gritted her teeth and pushed until black spots danced in the corners of her vision.
"Keep going!" Tyara cheered, bouncing on her toes near the water bucket. "You’re doing it!"
"Almost there," Tanith urged loudly. "One more big push, Rue! Don’t stop now!"
Rue took a short, shallow breath. Her lungs burned. She pushed with every single ounce of strength left in her soft frame. The pressure built and built until she thought she would pass out from the intense strain.
Then, a sudden, strange release of pressure followed.
The terrible, burning pain vanished in a split second. A rush of warmth flooded the sheets. Rue collapsed back against Drax’s chest, panting hard. Her chest heaved up and down. Her limbs felt like wet noodles. She didn’t have the energy to open her eyes yet. She just laid there, listening to the erratic thumping of Drax’s heart against her spine.
A tiny, high-pitched cry pierced the tense silence of the bedroom.
The room erupted into quiet, breathless chaos.
"It’s a girl!" Tanith announced. A bright, genuine laugh escaped the Swamp Queen’s lips.
Tanith moved quickly. She cleaned the newborn with a damp cloth and wrapped the tiny, squirming baby in a soft white towel. The baby wailed loudly, her small lungs working perfectly.
Rue forced her pink eyes open. She let out a loud, wet laugh. A girl. She was so glad it wasn’t twins. The thought of pushing out two babies at the same time made her want to faint. Her rabbit biology struggled enough with just one predator cub. The sheer joy on her face lit up the dim room. A profound wave of relief washed over her tired muscles. The dangerous part was over. She survived the night.
[Ding!]
A blue screen flashed in the air above the bed.
[Mission Completed: Successful Birth. Reward: Vitality Boost applied to Host and Newborn.]
A rush of warm, golden energy swept through Rue’s veins. The deep aches in her back faded slightly. Her blurry vision cleared. She swiped her hand, and the system message disappeared, leaving only the beautiful reality of the room behind.
Tanith walked over. The Swamp Queen laid the bundled white cloth gently on Rue’s chest.
Rue looked down. The baby was tiny, but she felt solid and healthy. She had a full head of thick, messy dark hair, just like her father. But her skin was pale white. The little girl took her mother’s exact skin color instead of Knox’s darker tone. Two soft, round panther ears poked out of the dark curls. The fuzzy ears twitched constantly, trying to take in all the new sounds of the cabin.
"Hi there," Rue whispered.
She touched the baby’s pale cheek. The newborn stopped crying. She blinked open bright, golden eyes. She looked just like a perfect mix of a fierce predator and a soft prey.
Knox was enthralled.
The giant Southern King stood up from the floor. He leaned over the bed, his golden eyes wide with pure wonder. He didn’t blink. He looked at the tiny girl resting on Rue’s chest like she held all the secrets of the universe. He reached out a scarred, trembling finger. He moved incredibly slow, terrified his rough hands might hurt her.
He gently stroked the baby’s pale cheek.
The tiny girl turned her head. She opened her mouth in a wide yawn, showing off pink gums. She reached up a tiny hand and grabbed Knox’s rough finger with a surprisingly strong grip.
Knox choked on a breath.
His broad shoulders shook. He stared at the tiny fingers wrapped around his own. He spent his life fighting bloody wars in the mud. He built his kingdom on violence and fear. Now, he was holding a tiny, perfect daughter who shared his ears and his mate’s skin.
Axel leaned against the doorframe, a wide grin spreading across his face. Caius let out a soft, amused hum, stepping back to give the parents some space. Drax rested his chin on Rue’s shoulder, watching the new family with a soft, content expression.
Rue didn’t say a word. She just smiled, tracing the soft, round panther ears with her thumb. The little girl let out a tiny, rumbling purr that vibrated against Rue’s collarbone. It was the best sound she ever heard.
She holds the baby, and Knox is almost moved to tears but he is no softie, he kisses her forehead and says sweetly, "You did well darling, thank you."