“How’re we doing in he—Okay, let me just grab your doctor,” The nurse quickly said before trying to slip back out.
Charm stopped her. “She’s in a lot of pain. Can we get that epidural now?”
She shook her head and said with a laugh. “Honey, I can see the top of that baby’s head; we’re past the point of medication. And unless you want me to deliver, then I better grab Dr. James.”
I made the mistake of glancing toward the mirror and could definitely see a head of dark hair peeking out at me. Charm’s eyes followed mine and then he went into full-blown panic mode.
“Jesus—I can pay you. Name the amount—just help her…please.” He pleaded.
She began explaining why they couldn’t administer anything and I zoned out, envisioning myself unzipping my skin and running from the room. I was not having any more children. Charm would just have to deal.
“Baby, look at me.”
I looked up into his amber eyes as he stroked the side of my face with his thumb. “I want you to think about the ledge—just imagine sitting and watching the sun come up. Nobody else is awake; it’s just the two of us. Do you see it?”
I nodded before bearing down into a push again.
The doctor and several more nurses rushed in and began prepping the room, but he kept talking, keeping me calm.
“The sky begins to lighten to purple and then pink.”
I held onto the sound of his voice and pushed through the pain, imagining myself curled up outside in his arms.
“Neve, we need you to push on the next contraction. Give us everything you’ve got,” Dr. James sat down on a small stool near the foot of the bed.
Charm had one hand wrapped around my shoulder and his other tightly clenched in mine.
“Kane—I’m scared.”
He kissed my temple. “Not my girl—you got this. Where are we right now?”
The contraction was like a band wrapping around the top of my stomach and forcing its way down into my pelvis. I ground my teeth together and pushed, but it felt as if the poor baby’s shoulders were hung.
What if they couldn’t get him or her out?
“Baby, focus. Where are we?”
I took a deep breath. “On the ledge. Just us.”
Dr. James looked up at me. “This is it, Neve. One big push.”
I held my breath and gave it my all, feeling a sense of emptiness the minute my body gave the baby up. It was quiet—the only sound in the room came from the suction the nurse was using.
Just as I began to panic, the baby started wailing. “It’s a boy!” Dr. James exclaimed as he clipped the cord and handed him off to a nurse.
With a relieved sigh, I fell back against the pillow. Tears fell onto my face, but I couldn’t distinguish which ones were mine and which ones belonged to my husband.
“What about Clarence?” Twitch offered.
I shook my head. “Clarence? What does he look like—an eighty-year-old man?”
Rooster peered down to the bundle in my arms. “Well…he’s got dark hair, but he seems kind of wrinkly. He could pass for seventy easily, but I think eighty is pushing it.”
I stuck my tongue out. “For your information, he has a name—Axel Kane Ryan.”
Gunner nodded approvingly. “Amber will love that. She said to tell you that she’ll be up here later—Shiloh needed a nap.”
It seemed only fitting that a man whose name had meant ‘father of peace’ would have a daughter whose name meant ‘tranquil.’ I didn’t know when it happened exactly—maybe when he asked her to move in with us; but somewhere along the way, Amber and Gunner had gotten together.
Grumpy had found love.
He was by her side when she gave birth to Shiloh and hadn’t wasted any time adopting her either.
I caught PD’s eye and winked before mouthing, ‘you’re next.’
The color drained from his face as he mumbled, “She told you already?”
I shook my head with a grin. I hadn’t known a thing, but it appeared our biker family was going to be getting even bigger in the coming year.
The hospital door opened and Charm slipped in, carrying bags. “Amber packed your bag and the diaper bag—said this was everything you should need. I also snuck out and got you some dinner too.”
Axel opened his eyes and blinked several times, obviously awakened by the sound of his daddy’s voice. I patted a spot next to me and he set everything down before joining me.
The men were sprawled lazily across the furniture in the room and my heart felt as if it could burst. I was surrounded by my family—after losing my parents, I didn’t think I’d be able to say that ever again.
I thought I was running for my life when I was in those woods; and in a way, I was—just not the life I expected. I was running for my future. Every step led me closer to them—men who would sacrifice their own lives for mine, without hesitation. Men who would prove that family isn’t always blood—it’s the people who keep showing up.
When you least deserve it.
When you’re at your absolute worst.
I nestled into Charm’s body and smiled. I knew that we would be able to overcome any obstacle that life threw at us. And there wasn’t a single doubt in my mind that we would live happily ever after.
The End
Author Notes
In case you may have missed it, this was a modern day take on the tale of Little Snow White by the Grimm Brothers. I added some of the Disney elements in as the seven men weren’t named in the original version.
I liked the idea of a princess who wasn’t perfect. Too often, these women are portrayed as being ethereal and it’s hard to relate. I needed a heroine who’d made some poor decisions, but still had enough fight in her to turn it around.
As always, my research led me to some unexpected twists and turns in the plot. Fentanyl is indeed a very real drug that, when mixed with other drugs, can quickly prove fatal. It’s so potent (fifty times that of heroin) that you can overdose even if it just comes in contact with your skin.
With it being a fairy tale, I added in the fantasy element in terms of what Neve witnesses once she’s in a coma. This wasn’t too far off though from what addicts have claimed to have experienced after an overdose.
I hadn’t planned on incorporating Norse mythology into this book, despite my love of all things Thor, but the mistletoe storyline just worked its way in. Interestingly enough, after I’d added in that aspect, I discovered that the most accurate account of Baldr comes from Jacob Grimm—one half of the Grimm brothers.
The Fairest series will continue with modern day interpretations of old favorites and each book will be a complete standalone.
Other Works
From This Day Forward Duet
(David & Elizabeth)
From This Day Forward
Forsaking All Others
You Save Me
(Katya & Travis)
Operation Series
Operation Fit-ish
(Dakota & Zane)
Operation Annulment
(Kate and Nate)
Renegade Duet
(Mike & Lauren)
Renegade (Book One)
Traitor (Book Two)
About The Author
Shannon is a born and raised Texan. She grew up inventing clever stories, usually to get herself out of trouble. Her mother was not amused. In junior high, she began writing fractured fairy tales from the villain's point of view and that was the moment she knew that she was going to use her powers for evil instead of good.
In 2003, she moved to Denver and met the love of her life. After some relentless stalking and a few well-timed sarcastic remarks, the man eventually gave in to her charms and wifed her so hard. They welcomed a son in 2007 that they named after their favorite Marvel superhero, Spiderman.
Sick of seeing beautiful mountains through their window every day, the three escaped back to the desolate landscape of the west Texas desert in 2009. She welcomed her second son not l
ong after and soon realized that being surrounded by three men was nothing at all like she’d imagined in her fantasies.
After an unplanned surgery in 2014 and a long pity party, she decided to pen a novel about the worst thing that could happen to a person in order to cheer herself up. She’s twisted like that. Thus, From This Day Forward was born and the rest, as they say, is history.
Not only does Shannon enjoy stalking people, she also has a fondness for being stalked.
Find her on online at: http://shannonshaemyers.com
Or on Facebook in The Forsaken: https://www.facebook.com/groups/630229377127363/
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