Filed to story: Sorry Alpha I Am Wolfless Novel
All of it truly scared me. I didn’t want to think about what it meant or what would happen. I just knew that I needed to listen to what Griffin told me to do.
“So, I just need to stay in bed and not get overly excited for the next couple of months, right?” I was double checking my duties until the babies were born.
“That’s right.” Joaquin’s voice was smooth and easy like he had completely calmed down.
“I can do that no problem. It will be easy.” I smiled at him showing him it was not an issue.
“Why couldn’t you have been this easy going about it when I was trying to keep you inside for your safety.” He laughed now as he remembered our past when things were not quite so happy between us.
“Hmm, probably because you never explained anything to me. You just acted all caveman and pointed at my room with a grunt. I don’t speak pighead so it was really difficult for me. I am so glad you became bilingual. It’s made things so much easier, Dino.”
“So now I am a caveman as well as a caveman’s dinosaur dog. Anything else to add?” He raised a brow at me as he contemplated what was coming next.”
“Yeah, just one more thing.” I saw the dread in his eyes as he waited. “I love you.” He hadn’t been expecting that.
“I love you too.” He grinned and happily responded to me before leaning down and kissing me on the lips gently.
“Hey, get a room, you two.”
There was an interruption from the door. I recognized my mom’s voice right away as she pretended to be stern.
“Oh, wait, you’re in a room.” She laughed, trying to break the tension that she must have been feeling. I could only imagine how upset she must have been last night when Noah called her. Joaquin told me that he had asked for the information to be passed along to both my mom and his.
“Hi Mom.” I smiled at her as she came into the room. Dad was behind her looking as worried as he possibly could. Behind him were Grandfather, Noah, Nikki, Elias, Carter, and Emmalee. It was my entire family. The only person that was missing was Lila. Then everyone that was part of my family would be here.
“Hey sweetie, how are you feeling?” Mom looked so nervous as she walked next to my bed and sat in one of the small chairs. Dad followed her but stood behind her.
“Are you doing alright?” I noticed that Dad’s voice cracked a little as he asked me that question. I know he was probably up all night with worry.
“Yeah, I’m fine. The babies are alright as well. I just need to be careful from now on.” There was visible relief on Dad’s face when he saw me.
“I’m so glad.” He almost seemed to sink down even though he was still standing.
“I was so worried.” Nikki came closer, Elias in her arms. “When Noah told me what happened after the party last night I could barely sleep. I just stayed up between Elias’s feedings.”
“I’m sorry to worry you all.” I hung my head in shame, I had caused them all so many problems.
“Stop that.” Emmalee scolded me. “Why are you apologizing? Did you do this on purpose? Did you ask for this? No, you didn’t. No one did. This happened and that’s that. We understand. Yes, we were worried but I am sure no one was as scared as you and Joaquin.” Emmalee, who was due just about any time now was looking at me with her hands on her hips. I could see her baby belly swaying from the force of her anger.
“She’s right.” Carter agreed with her. “We love you Rivi, but you’re the one who was probably the most scared. You and Joaquin. You don’t need to apologize to us. When we found out what was going on you were already out of the woods and we knew you were going to be just fine. Yeah, we were worried because this happened to you, but that was all.”
“We’re here for you, Riviana, we always will be.” Dad was smiling now.
“Anything that you need.” Mom added.
“I love you guys.” I could feel myself tearing up at how much they cared for me.
“There is nothing for you to worry about, Riviana. We’re all fine, it’s you that needs to rest and be taken care of.” Grandfather spoke for the first time as he stepped closer to me and put a hand on my foot that was covered by a blanket.
There was a time that I thought I would never have this. The love and affection from my grandfather. Someone to call mom or dad. Brothers and sisters that love me. I had loved them and knew they loved me but there was a time that I truly felt like I just didn’t belong with them. I now know how silly that had been of me. My family loves me, they always have.
They all stayed and talked for a while. Mom and Grandfather offered to help out around our house. We had the community that was almost done building. The daycare that I had wanted to run at the beginning of the year that I had to put on hold when things got busy. Now everything to do for the baby. There was just so much that I didn’t want to regret or leave unfinished. I would need all their help to make sure that I stayed on top of it all.
After they left it was time for Lila to visit. I think she wanted to visit alone. She had been so worried yesterday when I collapsed. Joaquin had told me that she had come running in a panic when he yelled out for me to wake up. I just know that she had been pacing at the house until Vincent had called her.
“Oh, Riviana, sweetheart.” She ran toward me and threw her arms around my neck in a rush. “I was so worried about you. When you wouldn’t wake up or move. I thought something horrible was going to happen. I couldn’t calm down at all. I thought I was going to have a heart attack until Vincent called me. When he said you were finally stable and sleeping I felt like a million pounds had been lifted off of my soul.” She was crushing me in a tight hug as she said exactly what I had thought she had been feeling.
“I’m sorry for worrying you. I know I scared you, but I’m fine now. The babies are fine. We’re all good. And we will be home tomorrow.” I was rubbing her back as I soothed her and returned the hug.
“It’s too soon and not soon enough. I want you there with me but I don’t want you rushing home. Take all the time you need to heal. Don’t push yourself at all. It’s not good for your health.” She was such a worrier but that made me happy since her worry was for me.
“I will be fine, I promise. I just need to stay in bed. Doctor’s orders.”
“Yeah, Mom, Griffin has her on bed rest until the babies come. She is not allowed to be up and walking around at all.” Joaquin laughed a little as he said that like he thought my being confined was funny somehow. Well, he would see how funny it was later when I called him to do everything for me.
“Really? No walking around at all? You will need someone there to help you. I will be there day and night. Whatever you need, honey.”
“I know, thank you.” I knew she would offer. She was so sweet that way. I wouldn’t make it through these next few days without her.
After Lila left, Joaquin and I had lunch. Thankfully Griffin had permitted us to get something delivered so we didn’t have to eat the hospital food. I don’t think Joaquin could have survived that at all.
We spent the rest of the day and the night that followed talking. We talked about what to do about me being confined and unable to perform pack duties. I would be missing the monthly meetings and I wouldn’t be there for anyone who came to visit me.
Joaquin told me not to worry about it at all. I was the Queen and I should be less accessible to the general public anyway. This was a good chance for us to start discussing how we were going to organize the political and royal ranks within our people.