Blood Awakening: The Strongest Hybrid and His Vampire Bride

Chapter 749: A Father’s Worst Fear

The time passed painfully slowly as Nikolai watched his wife suffering. Rika’s muscles visibly clenched and tightened as if she were enduring a full-body spasm. He tried to soothe her to the best of his abilities, but all that seemed to amount to was becoming a glorified scratching post for his cat wife.

‘Damn, my entire arm is shredded…’

“Ngh…”

While Rika’s hoarse groans continued, Nikolai tried to focus his black blood on self-healing. Deep, bloody clawmarks stretched from his palm to his shoulder; each time she became unable to endure, he leaned forward… letting her tear his flesh.

Though he kind of liked it when she bit into his neck, while screaming a little.

‘Maybe I’ve become a complete degenerate after all…’

Thanks to the chaotic birth of his daughter Hikari only a few hours earlier, Nikolai found himself to be much better mentally. However, he was a physical wreck after the rapid events over two days.

“Lady Rika, you’re doing well! The first child has descended properly.”

‘First?!’

Nikolai didn’t use the previous trick to help the children inside Rika as he did with Selene and Nikita because his aunt developed a special tonic using his blood for the mothers to drink while pregnant.

Miranda’s calm voice came from between Rika’s trembling legs, while another two nurses prepared beside her.

“F-First…?” Rika gasped, her cat ears flattening against her wet hair. “Don’t fucking tell me there are more than one!”

Though she swore like a sailor, Nikolai could see the brilliant gleam inside her emerald eyes. He knew his beloved wife too well to know how happy she was at this news. ‘Honestly, Rika would be over the moon if she gave birth to ten kids…’

So seeing her being so strange, he almost laughed.

Stopped only by the fierce glare she gave him, filled with killing intent.

“Whose fault is this?!”

“…Mine.”

“Damn right!”

“But you’re the one that always asks me to finish…”

“Ah…. Ah, be quiet!!!”

Her claws sank deeper into his flesh as both cheeks bloomed bright red, Rika’s emotions clearly displayed in her moment of weakness. Nikolai gritted his teeth as fresh blood rolled down his forearm.

“Agh!”

Miranda glanced up for a moment, her lips twitching, but wisely chose not to comment. Nikolai couldn’t tell if it was because of what happened to Kumiko, but this doctor became extremely calm and focused the moment they entered.

‘She is a good woman, but an even greater doctor.’

He found his respect for her and the entire vocation of doctors rising with each child and member of the Volkov clan these people saved.

“Another contraction is coming. Lady Rika, when I tell you, I need you to push.”

“Haa… Haaa…”

Rika’s chest rose and fell rapidly.

Nikolai could hear both of their children’s hearts through the machines surrounding them, two rapid rhythms mixed with Rika’s heavier pulse.

Different from the birth of Hikari, their hearts pumped with powerful, rapid thumps despite being tiny little things.

‘Is it supposed to be this fast…?’

He felt a moment of fear, but looking at Miranda, who didn’t seem to be worried, Nikolai took a deep breath and continued his support.

Though not his first birth of the day.

There was a slight weight and tingle in the back of his neck.

Excitement…

Anxiety?

Nikolai used that to keep himself calm as he watched Rika suddenly stiffen and gasp for air.

“Nnngh—!”

“Now, push!”

“AAAAH!”

Her fingers crushed Nikolai’s hand while her entire body folded slightly forward. Thick black cat tails emerged from beneath the blanket without warning, both puffed up like brushes as they slapped wildly against the bed.

Thump!

Thump!

“Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!”

“Calm down, it’ll be okay… don’t get too stressed.”

“You fucking do it then!” She snapped back at him.

All he could do was blink before coughing. “…I physically can’t, darling…”

“Shut up!”

Rika bit his shoulder, really sinking her fangs into his flesh as the jolts of pain rapidly transformed into a dull, throbbing ache. Nikolai didn’t flinch, forcibly controlling his instinct to retaliate… he grabbed the back of her head and stroked gently.

“Agh!”

The nurses lowered their faces, but there wasn’t a dark atmosphere; instead, after several births with Nikolai, it seemed they understood him better. So many of them, Miranda included, struggled to hide their smiles.

After several seconds, Rika collapsed against the pillows.

“Haaaa… I hate you.”

“Mhm.”

“I hate your cock.”

“Oh really?” He tilted his head.

“NO, OF COURSE NOT! I’VE BEEN CRAVING IT FOR MONTHS, YOU DICK!”

“That’s new.”

“I hate your stupid face too…”

“I love you too, honey.”

Rika’s eyes became watery; her lips trembled as she pressed them softly against his bloody shoulder. “S-Sorry…” She apologised, turning away while her mood flipped like a yo-yo. “…Bastard.”

Nikolai gently stroked her hair. The insults and her foul mouth didn’t bother him; he’d studied and asked several women and doctors after Nikita’s birth. There was little that could faze him during birth now.

If anything, her energetic shouts and hearing her voice gave him relief.

‘Keep shouting at me.’

So long as she was strong enough to curse him, he could endure anything she wanted to throw his way.

Miranda checked beneath the sheet again before raising her voice.

“I can see him.”

Rika’s face suddenly bloomed with a bright glow, her ears twitching as she glanced at Nikolai with the most lovely face. It was as if she was checking Nikolai’s desire, whether having a boy would make him happy.

“Him…?”

Nikolai’s heart slammed against his ribs.

“Your second son.”

Although not the first, Nikolai didn’t care about those things. He was going to be the father of another son… his blood surged like a raging tide as he excitedly hugged Rika’s shoulders and grabbed her palm tight.

‘A son.’

His gaze immediately dropped towards Rika’s stomach.

He was so happy that he chose not to inspect… to wait for this moment.

“Rika… our son is finally born.”

The slight fear in Rika’s eyes vanished almost instantly. She looked up at him, her small body leaning against his as she seemed to forget even the pain.

“Our boy…”

“Mhm.”

Nikolai kissed her forehead. He didn’t give a fuck about the sweat, her drool or anything that wasn’t perfect. The woman on the bed was his beautiful wife who’d endured for almost twelve hours to give birth to his child.

“Our boy.”

Another contraction arrived before they could enjoy the moment.

Rika screamed.

“Push again! There’s another…! This little one seems jealous of his big brother!”

Her claws tore another set of marks down Nikolai’s arm as she pushed with everything she had.

“Nnnnngh… AAAAAH! Honey… I’m sorry….. don’t hate me….!”

“Good! Don’t stop!”

“I CAN’T!”

“Yes, you can.”

Nikolai pressed his forehead against hers.

“Look at me.”

Rika’s eyes opened; tears drowned her cheeks, making her look like a messy alley cat, her eyes watery and swollen from the tears and pain. Her lips were chapped, her hair messy and slightly dry, but Nikolai didn’t care.

“Focus on me, darling… Look at me, you’re doing amazing.”

“Haa… Honey…”

Her face twisted as she pushed harder.

Miranda’s voice sharpened.

“Almost there!”

The next few seconds felt longer than the entire battle at the outpost. Then everything seemed to slow down, into slow motion.

“Waaah!”

A shrill cry suddenly filled the room, and Rika’s entire body became limp, as if someone pulled her power cord.

She stared blankly at the little ball of fluff in the midwife’s arms… her breathing unstable and yet her broken, cracked lips curled into a smirk.

Nikolai stood beside her in an almost identical daze, watching as Miranda lifted a tiny, blood-covered child into view.

Black feline ears lay flattened against a head covered in wet dark hair, while two tiny tails curled and twitched near his legs.

“A healthy boy.”

‘He’s…’

The child cried again.

“Waaah! Waaah!”

‘He’s so fucking small.’

One of the nurses quickly took him, clearing his mouth and wrapping him in a warm cloth while Miranda immediately focused back on Rika.

Rika’s eyes followed their son.

“Let me… see him…”

“You will,” Miranda replied. “But we still have his brother.”

The happiness on Rika’s face disappeared.

“…Fuck.”

Nikolai laughed before he could stop himself.

Rika slowly turned her head.

“Did you just laugh?”

“No.”

“You did.”

“I choked.”

“I’ll fucking kill you…”

“After the second one.”

Her tails slapped him.

Thwap!

“Agh!”

However, the humour vanished when Miranda suddenly frowned.

Nikolai noticed immediately.

“What?”

Miranda didn’t answer.

She placed one hand against Rika’s abdomen while looking towards the monitor; from the moment he saw her face, Nikolai’s heart dropped. He could see and hear it immediately: one of the heartbeats began to slow… weakening.

‘No…. no…. no….’

It was like the world opened up and a darkness swallowed him whole.

He struggled to speak, as if a piece of chalk became lodged in the back of his throat as he clenched his fist. “M-Miranda.”

“I know.”

“What is happening?”

“The second baby shifted after his brother was delivered.”

Rika’s face became pale as she glanced up at Nikolai, her joy almost vanishing instantly.

“What does that mean?”

Miranda’s hands moved across her stomach, then a subtle glow appeared in her dark eyes, a purple light which faded in a few seconds.

“He’s turned slightly. It might be restricting the cord.”

“Might?” Nikolai’s voice deepened, a threatening growl at best.

The nurses immediately stiffened in terror, almost dropping whatever they held, while Miranda looked him directly in the eyes.

She didn’t even blink; instead, her sharp gaze remained aflame.

“My lord, let me work. Please believe in me; I will do everything I can to save your son.”