CHAPTER 4

Chapter 4: New Heartbeats

"I need a gurney at the emergency entrance! Multiple premature delivery!" 

Through the haze of pain and exhaustion, I registered unfamiliar voices as EMTs rushed me into Saint Mary's Hospital. Three hours of white-knuckled ambulance ride had left me drained, but my babies were fighters. They'd held on.

"BP's dropping," someone called out. "Get Dr. Mitchell!"

"No," I managed to gasp. "Dr. Carter. I need Dr. Carter."

The EMT squeezed my hand. "Dr. Carter's the best NICU specialist in the city, but he's not on call tonight—"

"I'm here." A deep voice cut through the chaos. "Move aside, please."

Even through my pain-clouded vision, the man who stepped up to my gurney took my breath away. Tall, with kind eyes and surgical scrubs that did nothing to hide his athletic build. But it was his scent that made my wolf stir – pine needles and rain and something wildly familiar.

His hands stilled on my chart. I knew he'd caught my scent too.

*Mate.*

"I'm Dr. Ethan Carter," he said softly, professionally, though I saw the slight tremor in his hands. "Let's get those babies safely delivered, shall we?"

Everything after that was a blur of pain and urgent voices. But through it all, his steady presence anchored me. His hands were sure, his voice calm, even as complications arose.

"Baby A's heart rate is dropping," a nurse called out.

"Mom's bleeding too much," another added.

"Stay with me," Ethan's voice cut through my fading consciousness. "Jessica, look at me. Your babies need you to fight."

I forced my eyes open, meeting his worried gaze. "How did you—"

"Know your name?" A ghost of a smile touched his lips as he worked. "Your mother called ahead. Elena Rivera doesn't take no for an answer, even from human hospitals."

The contraction that hit then was different – urgent, final. I screamed, feeling my wolf rise dangerously close to the surface.

"Everyone out!" Ethan barked suddenly. "I'll handle this alone."

"Doctor, protocol states—"

"Out!" His voice held an authority that made even my wolf take notice. Once the room cleared, he leaned close. "Let your wolf help. I've got you."

My eyes widened. "You're—"

"A wolf doctor serving the human population? Scandalous, isn't it?" He supported my back as another contraction hit. "My pack wasn't thrilled when I chose human medicine over traditional healing."

"Your pack?" I gasped between pains.

"The Carter Pack. Small, independent, no interest in power games." His hands were gentle but sure. "Now push."

The first cry that filled the room was strong, defiant. "A girl," Ethan announced, his voice thick with emotion. 

Before I could process that, the second wave hit. Minutes later, another cry joined the first.

"A boy," Ethan said softly. "They're small, but their vitals are strong."

As he laid my babies on my chest, the world seemed to stop. They were perfect – tiny, fierce, and completely mine. No pack politics. No power plays. Just this miracle.

"Thank you," I whispered, looking up at Ethan. The connection between us hummed, undeniable yet complicated. He was my second chance mate, but I was a mess of broken trust and fresh wounds, with newborn twins and two powerful packs probably already searching for me.

"Jessica..." He started to speak, but the door burst open.

A nurse rushed in, face pale. "Dr. Carter, there's a situation. Two men in the lobby, asking for Ms. Rivera. They say they're from child protective services, but their badges... something's not right."

My heart stopped. Bryan. Had to be his play – using human authorities to take my babies.

But Ethan was already moving. "Nurse Jenkins, initiate Code Pink. Full lockdown." He turned to me, all professional calm gone, replaced by fierce protectiveness. "Do you trust me?"

Did I? Could I trust anyone after everything?

His next words stopped my spinning thoughts: "I lost my mate and unborn child to pack politics five years ago. I won't let that happen to you or your babies."

Before I could respond, an alarm blared. "Security breach in the east stairwell," a voice announced over the intercom.

Ethan's face hardened. "Remember how I said my pack was small and uninteresting?" He pulled out his phone, typing rapidly. "I may have understated things. We're actually the leading force in the Underground Railroad for wolves escaping pack control."

The door burst open again. A man in scrubs – another wolf, by his scent – rushed in. "Cars are ready, Doc. But you're not going to like this. The Rivera Pack just set up checkpoints on every major road out of the city."

I looked down at my babies, then up at Ethan. A doctor turned rebel. A safe house network for wolves like me. A second chance at trust, at love, at family.

"Okay," I whispered, holding my twins closer. "Show me what freedom looks like."

His smile was fierce and beautiful. "Hold that thought." He turned to the door, where shadows were already moving. "Because first, we

need to get through the next five minutes."

And that's when the lights went out.