A New Beginning

by Rebecca James

  “Go on, boy.” David patted Smoke’s flank and watched the stallion trot into the pen to eat grass. He turned and latched the gate before walking toward the water pump. Not only did David enjoy working with the horses, but he found it a welcome distraction. The move to Cascade City had been life-changing. With all its humans, the city had long been considered a threat, and when David had met Jax, that threat had increased in David’s mind; because the city was the place that competed with David for Jax’s presence. Falling in love with a human hadn’t been something David had ever thought he’d do, but it had happened, and he could do nothing about it. He’d had to learn the hard way his lover wasn’t ever entirely going to embrace the world of the werewolf, and because of that the city would always be a part of their lives. The alpha had just never realized what a large part it would become.

  David thanked the wolf gods that River had returned to werewolf territory for more gold so they could purchase the farm. Being away from the beeping horns and other blaring sounds that surrounded Jax’s apartment made life so much better. Still, it was wise not to forget how close to humanity they were. They couldn’t let their guard down.

  Even after having given his heart and body over to a human, David couldn’t let himself trust them all. He shook his head as he put away the horse tack, thinking how completely he’d given his body to Jax. No alpha would allow another werewolf, let alone a human, to dominate him, but David did and relished it, craved it even. What did that say about him?

  Sighing, he walked out of the stables. Mating with Brooks had helped in a lot of respects. Brooks’ submission kept David from feeling like a total failure as an alpha. When mounting Brooks, David could pretend he didn’t long to present to Jax like an omega in heat.

  Sometimes David wished he had someone to talk to about it, but there was no one. Confiding in River was out of the question; David wouldn’t be able to bear it if the pack alpha lost all respect for him. The subject had caused endless arguments between David and Jax, and although David had admitted to Brooks a while back that Jax sometimes wanted to top—and he’d done so only because Brooks had caught Jax in a dominant position over David—David had never brought it up again, and he’d made it clear to Jax he’d never submit in front of the beta. He hoped Brooks had forgotten.

  Entering the house, David sniffed the air, detecting the hearty scent of Sid’s venison stew, a favorite of the pack’s. David knew why River hadn’t taken Sid as a mate, and David had been thinking perhaps as second-in-command, he should offer to do it. As the only unmated werewolf in the small pack, Sid had to be feeling vulnerable. To sleep alone, missing his mate, while everyone else had a warm body in bed with them had to be a miserable way to exist, and unless they contacted another pack to take him, Sid was stuck like that. The beta hid it well, but every member of the pack felt his despondency. David knew Josiah felt guilty for keeping River from taking the beta as a mate, and he knew River wrestled between his omega mate’s wishes and his instinctive duty. David mating Sid would help everyone in the pack. Perhaps he should talk to River about it.

  With that goal in mind, David headed for the room River had made into an office where he knew the pack alpha would be working. The room sported a large window that looked out over the side yard with the mountains looming in the distance, and was lined with bookcases. Sam and Leo had already picked up a few books at a store in the city, and with the way Josiah, Brooks, and Sawyer liked to read, David was sure it wouldn’t be long until all the empty shelves were full.

  River sat at the desk, head bent over papers. When he got closer, David could see the pages were full of figures.

  “What are you working on?”

  “Pack finances,” River answered, glancing up at his friend before sighing, rubbing his eyes, and pushing his chair back.

  “We in trouble?” David asked.

  River turned and stared out the window. In his spare time, Brooks was sewing drapes for all the windows on a second-hand machine they’d bought at a discount store.

  “I don’t know if I’d say we’re in trouble, but we’ve used most of the gold we had to buy this place. We can hunt for food as we did on the compound, but there’s a monthly bill for the cell phones and electricity. There’s also feed for the horses and clothing for the whole pack.”

  David took a seat on the other side of the desk and thought for a moment. “Briar’s good at gardening, and Sam knows a little bit about bee keeping. Sid used to work at the cannery back at the compound, and I heard there’s one a few miles from here where you can take your own jars and can your food. Eventually, I’ll be breeding the horses and selling them. We’ll get by, River.”

  The pack alpha continued staring out the window. “We have winter to get through before any of that will help us. It won’t be easy without the gold from the river to back us up.”

  “Is anything ever easy?”

  River let out an amused breath and turned away from the window. “Something on your mind? Or did you just miss me?”

  “I’ve been thinking about Sid. I’d like to ask him to mate.”

  River studied David from across the desk. “I’ve spoken with him, and he’s content for now. He doesn’t want to leave the pack.”

  “He’d be happier mated.”

  River nodded. After a moment, he rose from his seat and walked around the desk, leaning on it as he gazed down at David. “I appreciate the offer, but Sid’s doing okay, and I think you have enough on your hands.”

  The way River looked at him so intently, like the pack alpha knew exactly how stressed his second-in-command was, put David on guard. Maybe it was only because David had just been thinking about it. As well as the pack alpha knew him, River couldn’t possibly know what weighed on David’s mind the most. Could he? The thought made David go cold.

  “Two mates, one of them human,” River continued, the words slowly filtering into David’s brain. “I know Jax’s refusal to take the bite hurt you.”

  He doesn’t know. Thank Fenrir. But of course River would never suspect such a thing. Who’d ever heard of an alpha who liked to submit?

  David shrugged, trying to appear casual. “I—”

  “Don’t bother denying it,” River interrupted. “Besides, there’s always Kane, Liam, or Leo. If Sid needs a mate in the future, I’ll talk to them.”

  A knock brought both alpha’s heads around. Liam stood in the doorway, shaggy blond hair more disheveled than usual and ice blue eyes filled with worry.

  “What is it?” River asked.

  David stood up, alarmed at the look on the young alpha’s face.

  “Sawyer. I think…maybe he’s going into labor.”

  “Okay,” River said. “Do you need help?”

  Normally, werewolf births weren’t a big deal. Josiah, because he was half-human, had required the healer Farrah’s help, but it was a rarity a full werewolf needed more than the soothing touch of his mate and a couple hands to catch the pup.

  David watched Liam shift from foot to foot, uneasiness written all over his face.

  “Something’s wrong,” Liam said. “He isn’t due until next month. He was restless last night and didn’t want breakfast this morning.”

  Still nothing David found concerning, and he could tell from River’s continued easy demeanor the other alpha felt the same.

  “Sawyer’s been working pretty hard helping Josiah clean out the omega den. Maybe that’s brought on his labor,” River said.

  “Maybe. Only, just now…” Liam swallowed. “There’s blood. And the pain doesn’t seem like normal labor pain.”

  River put an arm around Liam’s shoulders. “And exactly how much do you know about that?” he teased, trying to diffuse the younger alpha’s obvious fear. “When Josiah gave birth, things were pretty bloody. It’s alarming, but natural.”

  A blood-curdling cry from down the hall sent all three alphas running in that direction. That hadn’t been the yell of a werewolf in labor; it had sounded more like a werewolf h
aving his guts torn out. David stopped inside the doorway, eyes widening at the sight of Sawyer sweaty and writhing on the bed, the sheets around him bright red with blood.

  “Oh, gods,” Liam’s voice broke, and he fell to his knees. “Sawyer?”

  “Hurts…” Sawyer whispered, face pale and eyes dark with pain.

  Liam pressed a kiss to the omega’s damp forehead and presented his wrist. “Here, drink some of my blood; it’ll make you feel better. We’re going to get you some help.” He looked at River, and David saw the pack alpha’s shoulders tense. What kind of help could the werewolves get in a human city?

  “Get Josiah for me,” River said, and David headed for the kitchen. He didn’t think Josiah was equipped to deal with this, but he knew omegas thrived on closeness, and Josiah would be a comfort to Sawyer. The kitchen was empty. Most everyone was outside working on one thing or another, but where would Josiah be? The girls usually napped this time of day. David peered out the window and spotted the first omega in the backyard, raking leaves. He unlatched the window and pushed it open.

  “Josiah!” he called, and the omega looked up, shielding his eyes from the sun. “Sawyer needs you!”

  Whether it was the words or the tone in which they were delivered, David didn’t know, but he was relieved when Josiah dropped the rake and ran for the house.

  “What’s going on?” he asked as David escorted him to the back bedroom.

  “I don’t know. He’s in more pain than labor, I think, and there’s a lot of blood.”

  At the sight of Sawyer whimpering in the bed, blood everywhere, Josiah crawled up beside his friend. “Everything’s going to be okay,” he said to Sawyer, even as he turned worried eyes to River.

  “Do you think Mark could get ahold of Angela?” River asked Josiah.

  David had to think a moment before he recalled who that was.

  “That’s a great idea,” Josiah said. “She’ll help; I know she will.”

  David remembered the human doctor who’d visited the compound and helped Josiah when his appendix had to come out. Angela Newman had been friendly and competent, and she had saved Josiah’s life.

  River took one of the mobile phones out of his pocket and walked toward the hall. David stepped out after him, shutting the door behind him.

  “Mark?” River spoke into the phone. “This is River. We have an omega here having difficulties with labor which is really unusual. Can you get Angela Newman to come here? It’s an emergency, and I don’t know who else to call.”

  River’s face showed nothing as he listened. A moan came from inside the bedroom, and David glanced back at the door.

  “Thanks, yes.” River ended the call and turned to David. “He’s going to call her. He said he can’t guarantee she’s going to be able to come. We’ll have to do our best.”

  “What do you think is wrong?” David asked.

  “I have no idea. All we can do is remain calm and keep him comfortable.”

  When they reopened the bedroom door, they found Liam changing the sheets and Josiah helping Sawyer toward the small adjacent bathroom. Blood streaked the omega’s pale legs.

  Josiah glanced at River.

  “Mark’s on it,” River said.

  Sawyer’s swollen belly made his steps more like a waddle, and he appeared weak from blood loss. It took some time to simply cross the room even with Josiah’s assistance. When the two omegas were inside the bathroom. David heard the water come on.

  “Is the doctor coming?” Liam asked, tossing the dirty sheets into a corner before wiping the plastic covering on the mattress. David helped him spread out the clean bottom sheet and finish making the bed.

  “He’s calling her. Let’s hope she can,” River said as they worked. “In the meantime, we’ll do everything we can to see your pups safely delivered.” He smiled reassuringly at Liam. “Looking at him, I’m guessing there’s more than one.”

  Liam’s mouth twitched. He already looked a little calmer. “Sawyer thinks so.”

  River pressed a button on the mobile phone, and David heard the ring. “Leo? Come inside, please, and bring Sam with you.” He disconnected and turned to David. “Sam will help keep Sawyer calm, and Leo can help us. Get some clean towels.”

  David nodded and walked down the hall and up the stairs to the linen closet.

  “What’s going on?” Kane asked.

  David knew Josiah had had reservations about Kane mating Briar, and had resented David for not having tried to talk his brother out of it. Of course, at the time, the first omega had thought David had murdered Josiah’s best friend Alex out of hatred toward humans and had probably suspected David had wanted the human-hating former rogue for a brother-in-law. It had taken a while for Josiah’s opinion of David to change, just as it had taken even longer for Kane to come around where humans were concerned. The former rogue alpha was still a little touchy on the subject and was no more than cordial to Jax.

  Kane stood in the hallway waiting for David’s answer, face lined from the bed sheets and icy blue eyes fogged from recent sleep. David remembered the other alpha had been up late the evening before working to renovate the rotting henhouse.

  David pulled several clean towels off the closet shelf. “We think Sawyer’s in labor, and he’s not going to have an easy time of it. Can you get my brother?”

  Kane disappeared into the dark bedroom, and a couple moments later Briar appeared, jeans hastily pulled on. He ran a hand through his dark hair, concerned blue eyes searching David’s. David had taken care of his omega brother after their parents were killed by human hunters, and that was a large part of the reason the second alpha never desired to take on an omega as a mate; they were a lot of fucking work. Now Briar was Kane’s responsibility, and lately David found himself hoping he and his brother could reform their relationship on a more equal status.

  “Isn’t it too early for Sawyer to be delivering?”

  “Not dangerously early, but yeah. Thing is, he’s been bleeding a lot. River’s trying to get the human doctor who visited the compound to come out here. I thought you might want to see him.”

  Briar nodded, and David led the way downstairs.

  In the bedroom, Briar joined the two omegas on the bed. Liam stood near the foot, eyes never leaving his mate, who was breathing raggedly, obviously in distress. David shared a look with River, whose mouth had firmed with determination, and concern passed between them. What could the problem be?

  Sawyer cried out with pain, pushing on the mattress with his hands and feet so his back arched and his large belly rose in the air. “I want to push!”

  Josiah and Briar helped their friend struggle to his knees on the bed. Sawyer’s face dripped with sweat, and his chest heaved with every breath. He strained, wincing. David cringed just watching.

  “It hurts!” Sawyer moaned and fell back on the bed. “I can’t do it.” His eyes sought his mate’s. “This isn’t how it’s supposed to be. Something’s wrong!”

  Briar moved so Liam could sit in his place. The alpha embraced Sawyer, whispering into his ear and kissing his temple. He offered Sawyer his wrist, and Sawyer bit into it, drinking some of his mate’s blood. It seemed to calm the omega.

  David wished he could do something to help. Things didn’t look good if the kid couldn’t push, and David saw blood on the towel Josiah had placed underneath Sawyer. The cell phone rang, and David hoped it was Angela. River fished it out of his pocket.

  “This is River…okay. Yes, great. I’ll have someone meet her at the bottom of the driveway.” He signaled David to the door, and David hurried out.

  Outside, Brooks stood by the fencepost feeding one of the horses an apple. When he got a look at David’s face, he fell into step with the alpha.

  “What’s wrong?” Brooks asked, taking David’s hand and squeezing it.

  David explained as they walked swiftly down the drive to where it opened onto the secondary road. By the time Angela arrived, Brooks had gotten every detail out of David and was
sober with worry. David and Brooks climbed into Angela’s car and the three drove up to the house where several members of the pack stood on the front porch watching for them. Inside, Angela didn’t need direction as to where to find Sawyer; his cries of pain led her straight to him. David followed, and the others gathered in a knot at the end of the hallway. Jax was the only one missing, as he was at work.

  When they entered the bedroom, Liam turned to the doctor, desperation clear in his eyes. “Can you help him?”

  “I need to examine him first,” Angela said, voice reassuring.

  A petite woman, with a friendly, capable look and dark hair she’d braided at the back of her head, Angela smiled as she approached the bed. Liam moved to give her room. She set her bag on the table and sat in the chair River brought to her.

  “Hello, Sawyer, do you remember me?” Angela patted the omega’s hand and murmured to Josiah to position him more comfortably. Briar and Liam joined David against the far wall, and they all watched as Angela quietly and efficiently examined Sawyer, frowning a little at the sight of the fresh blood on the sheets. Josiah showed her the pile of soiled linens in the corner, and she looked to Liam.

  “How long’s he been like this?”

  “He didn’t sleep well and wouldn’t eat this morning. The pain’s increased in the last hour.”

  Angela continued the exam, and David found himself clenching his fists in nervous anticipation. It was difficult to watch the omega suffering; as an alpha, he ached to do something about it. He couldn’t imagine what Liam must be going through.

  Finally, the doctor patted Sawyer’s arm, instructed Josiah to give him a drink of water, and motioned for Liam to accompany her into the hall. David and River followed.

  “Something is definitely wrong. I don’t know much about lycanthropic births, but I have a colleague who does. We need to get Sawyer to the hospital.”