Chapter 168

• As Noel watched his mate in the throes of labor, it felt as if the solid ground beneath him was disintegrating, leaving him with nothing to do but clutch her hand with a firm grip. Even when her screams filled the room, when she clung to his shirt and slapped his shoulders in her pain, he understood that her actions were driven by the overwhelming sensations of childbirth. So, he held onto her, whispering words of reassurance into her ear.
• He promised her that he was there for her, just as he had always been and would continue to be. He wasn't going anywhere. They had made a vow to stand by each other through thick and thin, and this was undoubtedly one of those challenging times when that vow was being put to the test.
• Soon, the room was no longer filled with her screams, but with the beautiful cry of their newborn pup as she made her entrance into the world. After the baby had been cleaned and swaddled in a pristine white cloth, Noel asked the midwife if he could hold her. With her nod of approval, he steadied his trembling hands, a mix of excitement and anticipation, before he held his pup for the first time.