Filed To Story: Secret with Betas Daughter: Skylar Story Series
“Not okay man.”
He half grumbles, half laughs, then crawls towards me to resume his position in my lap.
I lean back into Cam’s shoulder. “I’m not really sure yet. Elena and Gentry have walked me through what a standard birth with multiples would look like. And we have been going to the healers to take small doses of blood so we have plenty on hand since we know that blood loss is a big factor. They have also been talking to the elder healers in the Alpha King’s pack about the birthing process for us. They actually have a lot of records and information, so I’m pretty confident in that. The biggest unknown is how the magic part works. Will it help the situation or intensify the bad stuff? We just don’t know. I think the biggest thing for you guys is to work on your wolves and keep them in check. This is going to be hard and none of you can interfere if something goes wrong. And the healers need to do their job to save the girls no matter what.”
I run my fingers through Oliver’s hair
“And you Bitty, they are going to have to save you. We can’t do this without you, please don’t talk like that.”
He pulls my hand out of his hair to lace our fingers together.
Dakota climbs beside me and takes my other hand. “Yeah, Sweetness, you need to be around so we can see how long we can keep you barefoot and pregnant.”
He smiles at me while he traces the lines in my palms.
I smile at him. “You do know how miserable that sounds to me right?”
“And yet, you didn’t say ‘no’ to the idea.”
He growls and leans in to kiss me. “Did we tell you how beautiful you look today?” he whispers against my lips
“I think so. Maybe once or twice.”
I smile and lean in again.
Cam kisses my shoulder. “So f*cking beautiful.
“I think it’s time this dress came off though. You are way too overdressed for what we have in mind.”
Oliver rolls over and slides the delicate silk off of one shoulder and then the other, making room for Cameron at my neck and exposing my breasts. “I thought these might be getting bigger.”
He looks up at me through his lashes with a devilish grin. “You are perfect, but I’m not going to complain about more of you to share.”
He attacks one n*pple making me jump back into Cam’s arms with a squeal.
“Uhh, Oliver!” Someone else massages the other. I love when they all come at me like this. I can’t tell who’s doing what and it is pure bliss.
“Can we take you to the water, Love?”
“Uhh, yes. Please.”
I am hypersensitive everywhere and I love it. I may not be as opposed to this whole pregnancy thing after all. But, I will never say that to them out loud. They think it will keep me here in the pack and not out working and handling pack business or working with Xander and Reggie in the Royal pack. They have a rude awakening coming, but I’ll wait to explain that when they are done with all of this delicious torture.
“DAKOTA!!!”
“WHAT?! Is it time? Should I get the guys? Let’s go!” He runs into our shared office and scoops me from my chair.
“Put me down, idiot.”
I laugh at him, but he doesn’t put me on my feet, he sets me gently back in my chair. “Trust me you will know when it’s time, but I do need you. I have to pee and I can’t get out of this squishy chair by myself.”
We both laugh as he picks me up a little more gently this time. “I can walk. I’m actually supposed to walk as much as possible.”
“Yeah, but you’re actually letting us help you, I’m going to milk this for all it’s worth.”
He kisses my temple.
They have been super sweet and attentive through this whole thing. I blame the three, very active girls growing in my stomach right now, but my emotions have been all over the place, which is normal according to everyone. But I hate every second of the outbursts. I have cried overa log being wrong in the fire pit, gotten angry because a shirt was the wrong shade of blue. We discovered early that my magic is attached to the emotions I am having and I torched Oliver’s shorts after I couldn’t get a jar lid open. I dropped the jar on the counter and clenched my fists, knowing I was being irrational, but not in control and flames shot out and set his clothes on fire. Thank the goddess he’s fast and they all thought it was hilarious until water started spraying out of every faucet on our floor with my crying when I thought I hurt him. It was ridiculous.
My wolf has been in mama mode too. She gives me updates on the girls from her perspective, which is interesting. She can already sense their wolves and says they will be strong. I really want to shift and again. think that is what I’m missing most right now. I stopped shifting when we hit the four month mark and I am so big that most of my workouts are basically impossible. I mean, walking is okay, once I am in an upright position, but even that simple action is tough. I just feel sluggish and slow and it makes me sad and angry all at the same time.
We are in a wait and watch situation too because of the multiples. Ava said she went into labor at five months with the boys. Everyone started watching me like a ticking time bomb when we hit the five month mark after she made that announcement. Everytime Open my mouth to speak, the reaction is basically the same as Dakota’s right now. I feel like the boy who cried wolf, no one is going to believe me when I do finally go into labor, their nerves will all be fried by then.
“Anything else, my lovely little balloon?”
“You know, I am saving up all the cute little insults for when this is over so I can just kick your ass right? And yes, I have to actually get off the toilet too. I bet you guys never thought of this part when you were all excited about me being pregnant did you?”
“Sweetness, I have seen you rip wolves to shreds, blow things up, show up covered in half the forest and five different guys’ blood. Not to mention being intimately aware of your entire body.”
Is he purring right now? Gross. “This is normal, like actually, for real, normal. I love all of this.”
“Well, that’s great. Help me up, please.”
He laughs and pulls my hands then kneels to put my leggings back into place.
He looks up at me. “You know, we haven’t been out to the greenhouse for a few weeks. We could probably sneak out real quick…”
Epilogue 4
“No! Stop that thought right there. Once we start that, I get nothing done the rest of the day.”
I put my finger up in his face then move past him to wash my hands, which is another amazing feat since I have to stand sideways. He just laughs behind me. They used to try to hide when they were laughing at my newfound obstacles, but I can’t chase or catch them anymore so it’s just open season. “Asshole.”
I mutter. “What?! It’s cute.”
He walks up and plants a kiss on my forehead and then leans down to kiss my ever growing belly, which immediately shuts down any irritation I have.
We start walking down the hallway back to the offices when my whole body seizes. “Kota!” I choke out sinking to my knees. Everything is in slow motion. He runs to me. I hear Oliver yell my name from somewhere behind me. Someone scoops me up, but my vision is blurred. We are moving. Whoever has me is running, but this haze at the edge of my vision is making it hard to focus. People are talking and I think I am talking back, but it’s like being locked in my head. I don’t know if I am in control right now.
“On the table.”
A female voice says stern, but calm. “The closer you are to her the better she will feel, but I will not hesitate to remove you if you become a danger to anyone in this room, including yourselves. Is that understood, Alphas?” Damn, I like her. I need her around all the time.
Movements. I feel my body being moved and adjusted. First my arms, then my legs. I still can’t see through the fog or move on my own.
***”What’s happening? I can’t see. Is everything okay?”***
My wolf responds. ***Yes. I pulled you back to lessen the pain. You are aware enough to keep your mates from being annoying, but far enough in your mind that you can withstand the process.”
***”Are the girls okay? Why is it so painful?****
***”Your magic is trying not to divide. It may be intuitive for you, but it isn’t sentient. It doesn’t understand that you are producing your children and with that they get a piece of your magic. Your magic is resisting being siphoned off. It’s a defense. It’s fighting back ****
***”How do you know that? Why didn’t we know that before? Is this why all the women in my family have had trouble with birthing?”***
***”I didn’t know until now. I’m sorry child. I wish we could have known sooner. I’m not sure why it’s something that isn’t in the healer’s notes We should look at that when this is over. You are doing so wonderful though. Look.”***
I shift my focus from my wolf and blink my eyes a few times to get them to focus.
“There you are, Babe. I’m glad you’re back. Look what you did.”
Oliver tilts his arms and I can see he’s holding a little pile of blankets. “What?” My brain is still fuzzy. “What happened? Where am I?” My voice is scratchy as I look around still feeling slow and confused.
“***
“Love, you are so amazing.”
Cam also has a smile pile of blankets.
“Take a deep breath, Sweetness. What do you smell?”
I’m confused, but do what he says. I inhale and take in their spicy comforting scents The cinnamon, citrus and honey wash over me and I feel my mind settling. Then I get it. A new scent hits me. It’s floral and light, à clean vibrant scent, no, wait, scents. Three distinct scents.
Jasmine and rose and juniper, all coming from them.
“What is that? Who is that?” I ask, trying to sit up, but finding my body does not like the motion one bit. “Why do I feel like I got hit by a train?”
“I think you’ll find giving us three pups will wear you out a bit.”
Oliver says sitting next to me gently tilting his pile of blankets.
The tiniest most precious face I have ever seen peeks out. She’s barely the size of his forearm, but looks completely at home snuggled into him. I look at Oliver’s face as he studies the tiny girl in his arms. He’s already in love. I look at Cam and Kota and they have the same wistful look.
My girls. They’re here and I’m here. We’re all safe and…and…here. I feel the tears start to fall immediately. Why was this so hard? Why was there no one around for my mom?
“Hey, Love. Don’t cry. You were amazing. We on the other hand were a mess. Your dad, Kyle, Brett, Mateo, Sam and Xander had to remove us. Alpha Reggie had to eventually submit us in the other room.”
My hand flew to my mouth. “No! Why? What happened?”
“It was every sh*tty thing that we were told to expect, but couldn’t handle, Smalls.”
Kota sat on my other side with his bundle. “When you have recovered,” He put his hand up, “Fully recovered, we will tell you all about it. It’s too soon for me to talk about it. My wolf just about tore through the wall over there and he is not in a hurry to rehash that memory. It’s only been a few days.”
“Days? Why is it always days? I hate waking up in the hospital.”
I grumble and then look up sharply. “If I’ve been out for days, who’s been taking care of the girls? Feeding them?”
“We all have. We are not as inept at this whole thing as we thought. The healers have been pumping for you and the girls eat like their mother So that’s basically all they do when they aren’t sleeping.”
New Book: Returned To Make Them Pay
On her wedding anniversary, Alicia is drugged and stumbles into the wrong room—straight into the arms of the powerful Caden Ward, a man rumored never to touch women. Their night of passion shocks even him, especially when he discovers she’s still a virgin after two years of marriage to Joshua Yates.