Chapter 23: Chapter Twenty Two

Chapter Twenty Two

Alpha Quinn Danvers

There was a skip in my step as I walked, there was a smile of my face as I spoke and there was a song in my heart. And all because of the petite redhead named Ruth Eden Glass. My love, my chosen mate, my fiancée.

"I like that one" she commented, pointing to a ring on the third row back in the glass cabinet. Ruth may have beat me to it, when it came to proposing, but I was still adamant about buying her an engagement ring.

It had taken us a while to get out and actually shop for them – as Ruth had been busying with her cheerleading squad finals, while I had been busy with Pack Council work. So, it had taken us almost a month and a half before we got around to ring shopping.

And, in reality, I had only pushed for it because Ruth needed to get out the house. She was only a few weeks off her due date and she was getting very uncomfortable. The doctor was pretty sure the twins would come early, which I was hoping for as Ruth barely slept because she was so uncomfortable. So, ring shopping was a great distraction for her. And it lifted her mood – which had taken a plummet as her sleep had dropped.

The shop assistant took the ring from the cabinet and held it out to Ruth. It was large, as Ruth's fingers were swollen at the moment, so she was able to slip it on easily. I screwed my face up at her, "what?" she pouted.

"It looks cheap" I replied as she took the ring off. I turned to the assistant and smiled softly, "we're not sparing any expenses. Can we see the best selection of diamond rings you have?"

Her eyes twinkled in excitement, no doubt thinking of her commission, before scurrying off. Ruth turned to me; her green eyes sparkled as they reproached me. "I don't need some outlandish ring, Quinn, we spoke about this!"

"I'm only going to do this once, so we're going to do it right". I kissed her cheek softly, as she adjusted her t-shirt over her stomach. "You alright?"

"They're moving a lot" she grumbled. I put my hand on her stomach, feeling the kicks and punches of our little girls, as we waited for the shop assistant to come back. Ruth grew more and more fidgety as we waited.

"Let's get you a chair" I said, taking her arm and leading her over to a seat in the reception area. A gentleman gave up his chair for her, I thanked him before squatting down next to her. She was sweating and it wasn't a hot day. "I wish there was something I could do to take this feeling away".

"Light a fire and we'll smoke them out" she teased, cringing as she cupped her stomach. She looked like she was about to cry again.

"I hate this. I feel so useless" I admitted. The twins were going crazy, I could see her whole stomach moving and twisting under her stomach – like something from Alien.

"Soon. It'll be over soon" she nodded, leaning her head back. The shop assistant came back and looked over Ruth in worry. "I'm fine, just need a few minutes" she waved dismissively, obviously seeing the concern in her eyes.

"You stay here. At least this way I get to pick the ring I want like I had planned all along". I stood up, giving her a quick peck on the top of her head before heading back to the counter. I glanced through the rings for a moment, occasionally glancing back at Ruth, before settling on one I like. "This one" I nodded.

"Let me see it" Ruth yelled over. I chuckled softly before taking the ring over to her. I put it on her finger as she gaped at me with an open mouth. The ring was perfect – a large clear diamond, with emeralds surrounding it, on a delicate white gold band. "It's beautiful, Quinn, how much is it?"

"Price doesn't matter. This is the ring" I nodded. I kissed her quickly as she admired the ring. "The emeralds are perfect, they match your eyes".

"I love it" she grinned.

"Good". I kissed her once more before heading back to the shop assistant. I handed her back the ring, and one of Ruth's other rings for size reference, before paying. The shop assistant was chatty and sweet, dragging it out a bit more than I wanted. I could see Ruth squirming out the corner of my eye. "You good?" I called to her.

"Fine...just...you know". She sounded so tired and exhausted that it physically hurt me.

"Almost done, darlin". I signed some forms, so I could collect the ring after it had been properly sized, before finally heading back to Ruth. "Come on, Ridley Scott, let's get you home".

"What?"

I nodded to her stomach, "it's like Alien in there. All that damn moving around".

She grunted, as I helped her to her feet, "feels like it too. They're having a damn party in there". We headed out the shop and to the car, I held the door open for her to get it, before heading around to the driver's side. I sat down before noticing I had a work email on my phone.

I quickly scrolled through the email. I was awaiting important Pack Council documents to sign and Alpha Zev still hadn't sent them through. I sat in the car, frowning at my phone, when Ruth groaned. "You good?" I asked again, not looking up from my phone.

"Um...Quinn?" she said softly. I made a noise indicating I was listening, while I typed an email to Alpha Zev asking him to, once again, please hurry up with the documents. I was hoping to have all this rubbish sorted out by now, but no, he still wasn't on board. "Quinn?"

"Yeah, darlin". The law I was trying to pass wouldn't make a damn bit of difference for him, but with him it was all about a power play. Despite being demoted from head of the Council years ago – for the whole Yellowstone mess – he'd managed to claw his way back to being not only Alpha of one pack, but of two, and once more found himself in a position of high power. I, however, had kept onto the Head of the Council position.

"Quinn?"

"Yeah, baby, I said I'm listening". But, I still needed a majority to pass a new law – and as some of the other Alpha's had already said no, I needed him to be my deciding vote. And, even though I knew he would eventually vote in my favour, he still liked to make me chase him and pander to him, as a show of dominance. He didn't like not being head of the council, so he had to show his dominance in other ways.

"Quinn!" Ruth shrieked. I jumped in shock, dropping my phone down the side of the seat as I turned to her. Her green eyes were wide in shock. "My waters broke". She glanced down to the growing wetness on the crotch of her sweatpants, fear etched into her expression.

"Oh, wow, shit, okay" I blurted out. "Right, it's alright, we're ready. We have the hospital bag already at the hospital, the private room is all made up and the doc has been on standby for two weeks. We got this".

"I'm scared" she whispered.

"That's okay, I'm scared too. But this is what we've been waiting for". I gave her a bright grin, as I quickly started the car. Despite my words of reassurance to Ruth, my heart was racing and my hands were shaking. I gripped the steering wheel so hard my knuckles turned white.

I spoke words of encouragement to Ruth the entire drive, although I was still terrified, and even went through some of the breathing techniques with her. When we finally got to the Pack Hospital, I didn't even bother trying to park properly – just pulled to a screeching stop and jumped out.

The hospital was at the edge of the pack village, so people looked over as I jumped out. I saw Daniel, one of pack trackers, as I helped Ruth out the car. I tossed him the keys, "drive this home for me, will ya?"

"Sure thing Alpha" he nodded, as Ruth moaned in pain. "Good luck, Luna" he bowed his head at Ruth, before jumping into the car as I led Ruth into the hospital.

"I'm not the Luna" she grumbled under her breath.

"Hey, you asked me to marry you. Marrying an Alpha, makes you a Luna. Don't be changing your mind now" I teased her, resting my hand on her back as I led her on.

"Shut up and get me the doctor".

It took a while for Ruth to settle, and the doctor to resolve her fears, but after a while everything calmed down. Ruth was in the largest private room in our hospital which I had put all her birth stuff in weeks ago – but despite all her stuff, Ruth was still uncomfortable and anxious. And, I understood completely, it was not just due to the fear of the birth but also the painful memories of the last time she went through this.

But, this time was different. I held her hand the entire time, spoke words of love and encouragement and never left her alone – not in the whole nine hours that the birth took.

But, finally, after all her best efforts and energy, the twins were finally born.

The sound of a high pitched wail sounded through the room, as Doctor Wal delivered the first twin. Ruth slumped back in exhaustion, her face red and sweating, as I held her hand. "Congratulations, baby number one is here".

The nurse quickly wrapped the small baby up in a pink muslin cloth and handed her to Ruth. She sobbed as she held her small body, and I just stared in awe. Because she was perfect, so utterly, beautifully perfect. Small strands of dark brown hair lay on her rounded head, bright green eyes were wide and aware, small puckered pink lips opened in a cry.

Ruth pressed a gentle kiss to the top of her head. "I will love you forever" she whispered. I reached out tentatively, as if scared I would do something wrong. I had wanted this, and prayed for this, for the better part of my life. And, finally, here it was. And it was so unreal I was also scared I was going to wake up and it all be a dream.

Her skin was soft and smooth, just touching her had me realising that there was no love greater than this on this earth. She was my little girl and I would never allow anything to hurt her. "She's so beautiful" I choked, trying to hold back tears but my vision was blurring.

"Does she have a name yet?" Doctor Wal asked.

"Yes" Ruth nodded. "Harmony Katherine Danvers".

"It suits her" the doctor nodded. "You should let the nurse clean her up, the other twin is coming any minute now".

Ruth nodded softly, kissing the top of Harmony's head before handing her over to the nurse. I watched them take her to the other side of the room – finding it hard to take my eyes off her. She was so perfect.

I thought nothing could ever be that perfect again...until I saw her sister.

Seven minutes after Harmony was born, her sister Serenity Julia Danvers was born.

Serenity had the same dark hair, green eyes and pale skin as her sister. But, she had a small brown beauty mark underneath her left eye. "That's just a natural mark right? Nothing to worry about?" Ruth stressed, gently running her thumb over our daughter's mark.

"Just a beauty mark, Eden, nothing to be concerned about" Doctor Wal nodded.

The nurse then took Serenity to clean her up for us, as Ruth passed the afterbirth and was cleaned up by the other nurses. I turned to her, the woman I loved who had given me everything I could ask for and more. "I love you. You did great".

"They're perfect" she smiled, tears streaming her face.

"They really are".