Ward sprinted to the clinic, leaping through the still broken window. An astonished Brant and royal guard were in the waiting area. Their jaws dropped and their eyes widened in unison. Several males brandished brooms and mops. One of the males dropped the bag of trash he was carrying.
Ward heard Stephany growl and the anxiety in him eased. She made a hard, low noise that ended on a deep groan. He flung the door open, slamming it behind him. His female held onto the edges of the bed. Her knuckles were white, her head was flung back. Her legs were open. Her hands linked around the back of her thighs so that she could pull them up and keep them in place. Becky knelt at the foot of the bed, peering between Stephany’s legs.
“Your perineum is bulging.” Becky looked excited.
“Is that good or bad?” He blurted, unable to help himself. At this point Stephany had slumped back onto the inclined section of the bed panting heavily. When she turned her head, he noticed that her eyes were bloodshot. Her face was flushed and dripping with perspiration. Her lips looked dry. “Ward,” her voice cracked. He kissed her forehead and took her hand in his.
“So glad you could join us,” the human said. He glanced in her direction and she threw him a quick smile. “A bulging perineum is good. The baby should start crowning soon.”
She must have seen his look of confusion because she added. “The top of the baby’s head will start to show soon.”
“I hope you are right healer.” Brant strode into the room. “This is normally where things go wrong. The child will become stuck. You will need to cut the baby from the womb. Do not wait too long or Stephany will die.” The male pulled a silver blade from a sheath at his ankle, placing it on the desk.
“My female will birth this child.” Ward stated simply, praying to all the gods that it was true.
“No,” Stephany croaked. “You’ll kill him if you use that knife.” She began to pant, her face contorting with pain. “Don’t…do it”—she looked from Ward to Becky and back again, panic causing her face to pale. Her panting increased, turning into a strained moan—“please.”
“No one is killing anyone or dying. Not on my watch. You get out.” Becky gestured to Brant before moving between Stephany’s legs once more. His female pulled her legs up. “That’s it. Now push.”
Crunching her body as much as her swollen belly would allow, Stephany pushed. She drew in a deep breath and pushed again. She growled, snarled, panted and gripped his hand so tight that he was sure bones would break.
When the contraction was finally over, she sagged against him, panting hard. “Did they hurt you?” Stephany asked.
“I’m fine. Don’t worry about me, sweetheart.” He brushed the wet strands of hair from her face, humbled by how this truly amazing female could be so concerned for him at this moment.
“She’s asking because you look like shit,” Becky said. “It won’t be long now, honey.”
He ran a hand over his face and through his hair, looking down at himself for the first time. His hair was stuck to his scalp. His shirt was torn and caked with blood and gore. His pants were not much better. “I’m fine. Most of it isn’t mine.”
“What about Rushe and Tyler?” Stephany asked, her eyes hooded from sheer exhaustion.
His hackles rose. They had been thrown into the cell next to his. The same elderly female that attended to him had seen to them. Although both males would live, they were still in untold pain when Ward was dragged away. Tyler’s left arm had almost been completely severed. Rushe had taken a blow across the throat. The male had struggled to breathe, choking and gagging on his own blood for hours. Mercifully, he had been much improved by the time Ward last saw him.
“They will live,” he said.
Her look of relief made his heart clench. “Oh, good. I was really worried…” She grimaced clutching her stomach.
“Okay honey. Let’s get this baby out.” The human leaned in between Stephany’s legs.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” Stephany said between gritted teeth. The whole pushing process started up again. She strained and strained, till her face turned red and sweat dripped from her forehead.
When it finally subsided, instead of falling back onto the bed, Stephany panted. “Help me up.” She tried to get into a squatting position on the bed. “Help me off.” His female gestured for the floor.
He shot a questioning look at Becky who nodded. “Let’s help her.”
Ward lifted his female and carefully helped her into position on the floor. Stephany was unsteady, so he got in behind her bracketing her body with his arms to keep her in position. “Yes,” she sighed, almost sounding content. When the next birthing pain hit, she growled loudly as she pushed.
“I can see the baby’s head.” Becky spoke calmly, but Ward could hear the excitement in her voice. “I need you to stop pushing now.”
“But I have to,” Stephany argued.
“I don’t want you to tear,” Becky said. “We need to take it slow.”
Stephany shook her head, continuing to push with all her might. “I will heal.” She grit out between pushes. “No waiting.”
“That’s it.” Ward said, watching how Becky’s eyes lit with excitement.
Stephany held onto his forearms, she made a growl of frustration as the contraction subsided.
“Your baby is right there. One more good push and he will be born.”
Stephany was leaning back against him, she nodded. “Be honest with me, is he stuck?”
Becky shook her head, her blond hair flew about her face with the force of her denial. “He’s moving down. During that last push he almost made it out. It is normal for an infant to move down and pull back up. It’s fine, just as long as they keep moving down in the long run.”
“You promise?” The fear etched in her voice made him want to hurt the vampire king for instilling such doubt in the first place.
“I promise.” The human looked his female in the eye.
“You will try and save him if it gets to that…”
“Don’t.” Ward heard his voice crack with the intensity of his emotion.
Her breathing hitched and her body began to tense in preparation of the next contraction.
“Are you ready to hold your baby?” Becky smiled.
Stephany nodded, a low growl beginning to build in her throat.
“Good.” Becky looked down. “Push, honey, push.”
Ward held onto his female, wishing so hard that he could do something more to help her through this.
His female’s loud growl turned into a triumphant shout.
Becky looked really busy. “Your baby’s head is out. I’m just cleaning the nasal passage and checking to ensure that the mouth is clear. There is no umbilical cord around the neck. God, he’s tiny. So freaking sweet.”
Ward didn’t know what an umbilical cord was. It didn’t matter. All he knew was that his pup was about to be born. His female was going to be fine. Ward nuzzled into the back of her hair, inhaling her scent. “I’m so proud of you.”
Stephany trembled in his arms. “Is he okay?” she whispered.
“He is absolutely fine. On the next contraction we’ll free his shoulders,” Becky said.
“Here we go.” Stephany stiffened. All it took was one big push and his pup was in Becky’s arms.
“Oh my goodness,” the human said. “You were right.” She glanced up at Ward. “It’s a boy.” The little one squirmed. He let out a wail. Becky held one of her healer instruments against his pup’s chest for a few seconds before wrapping him in a blanket. “He’s really very small but other than that he seems completely healthy.”
“He’s perfect.” Stephany sniffed, Ward could hear that she was crying softly.
Ward kissed her cheek, hugging her to him. “You did it.”
Becky bundled up the baby and handed him to Stephany. His female continued to sob as she cradled the baby in her shaking arms. Ward kept his arms around her, helping her to hold the little one.
�
�I still need to cut the cord and then there’s the business of the placenta.” Becky interjected. “I would recommend that you move back to the bed.
Ward nodded. “I will help my female.” He picked both Stephany and the baby up, placing them on the bed.
“You did that so easily.” Becky sighed, her eyes drifted to his arms. “Would you be able to pick me up like that?”
Ward frowned at the female. Maybe she had been awake for too long and wasn’t thinking clearly anymore. “Why do you need me to pick you up?”
“No, you misunderstand. I don’t need you to pick me up. I just want to know if you could pick me up if I needed you to.”
Ward shook his head slowly, seriously confused by the line of questioning. “I still don’t really understand, but yes, easily. I could hoist you above my head using just one arm. You are tiny.”
The female ran her hands over her curves. “Really, you think I’m tiny?” She grinned.
Ward nodded, turning his attention back to his female and child.
“Maybe I should consider sex with a shifter instead of a vampire after all. Oh God, can you imagine the fun we could have if he could lift me up and spin me round? We could do all sorts of wicked things.” Then she cleared her throat. “Sorry. Not sure how I got so off track. Must be because I haven’t had sex in over a freaking year.” She giggled.
Stephany opened the blanket. “He’s so small. Look at his little hands.”
“He looks just like you.” Ward heard the catch in his voice and swallowed thickly. His pup had fine blond hair and the bluest eyes. His features looked like they had been carved from the finest porcelain, just like his mother.
“I am very happy for you.” Brant looked down at them.
Ward couldn’t help the growl that was torn from him as his eyes lifted to the vampire scum.
“No, I mean it. I’ve never been happier about being wrong. I mean that, Stephany.” The bastard actually looked like he meant it. Stephany kept her eyes on the baby in her arms.
“You are not taking me away from my family.” Ward growled, his arms tightening around Stephany.
“That female is my mate and so by default the child is mine also.” Ward tracked the source of the voice. Lance’s entire frame filled the door. Heat surged through his body as he caught site of the other male.
His female took a shuddery breath. “No,” she gasped.
Ward turned, putting Stephany and his pup to his back. The male drew a sword from a sheath on his back. “This time it’s solid silver, so no second chances, wolf.”
“I’m ready for you.” Ward closed the distance between them, trying to take the pending battle as far away from his female and child as he could.
Stephany screamed and the baby wailed. He used their distressed sounds to energize himself. Lance swiped, only just missing. He swiped again. Ward had to lean backwards to avoid being hit. The male lunged. This time he was ready with a sharp jab to Lance’s ribs, winding the male who swung wide.
Lance was fuming, he charged like a raging bull, managing to sucker punch Ward. The blow glanced off the side of his head as he moved away. The male was strong and skilled. Ward had to work to keep the fight away from his female. He eventually found a gap, managing to issue a hard blow to Lance’s knee, which popped and then crunched under his onslaught. It was easy to disarm him after that.
“She is mine, you fucking beast!” Lance bellowed. “Mine!”
Ward moved away from the male. Every instinct in him screamed to end his life. To eliminate the adversary.
“Do something, Brant. The female is mine.” Spittle flew from his lips. His face was twisted in rage and frustration as he kept trying to rise onto his maimed leg. “You had better fucking run”—he pointed at Ward—“Once my leg heals, I’m coming for you.” The knee buckled under his weight and this time he thankfully stayed down.
Stephany clutched the baby to her chest. Her eyes wide. “Stop this, Lance,” she pleaded.
The male turned his head to face her. “We are mated. The lores are clear.”
“I don’t love you, Lance. I don’t believe that you love me either. If you did, you would’ve come for me long ago.”
“My heart bleeds for you, Steph, it bleeds for my mate. I need you,” Lance said. His eyes shone, and for a moment Ward actually felt sorry for the male.
Stephany shook her head. “You went through a traumatic event. You nearly died. For whatever reason it made you decide that you love me, but you don’t I promise you that you don’t.”
“How the hell would you know what I feel inside?” The male spat, making Ward growl softly in warning. Lance may be hurting, but Ward would not allow him to disrespect Stephany.
“I love Ward. I always have and I always will.” She turned her eyes to him and his heart stopped beating for what felt like the longest time. “My heart stayed with him and there is nothing that would’ve kept us apart. Not for very long anyway.” She smiled and shook her head. “We would’ve found each other again, that much I know for certain. There is no way in hell that you can be my mate, Lance. I’m sorry, I don’t care what some lore says. I don’t give a damn, because that is my mate over there.” Her beautiful blue eyes were locked with his. He had to grin. He didn’t care if he looked like a blood encrusted fool because he couldn’t help it. “Ward is my true mate. He is the one that I want to grow old with. The only one I want to raise my children with. He is my everything.”
“I love you too, Stephany.” He strode over to his female, pulling both her and his child into his arms. He crushed her lips with his. Drank in her heavenly scent. He finally broke the kiss to hug her close and was unable to stop his wolf from nipping at the sensitive skin at the base of her neck.
Becky shrieked. There was a loud crash. When Ward turned, Lance lay unconscious on the floor at his feet. Brant stood over him, fists clenched.
Ward locked eyes with the vampire. “Thank you.”
“Should’ve stayed out of this as ordered.” Brant muttered. His eyes seemed to darken. “I take it that you wish to go with the beast?” Brant looked at Stephany. “That you want to stay with the alpha as his mate?”
“Yes,” Stephany replied. Her voice clear and sure.
Brant sighed. “I must be mad.” He shook his head, looking back at Ward. “This is not over wolf. We have much to discuss. I too am about to become a father. I hope to raise many heirs.” He glanced away, pausing for a time. “We don’t want a war. The species’ numbers are too low as it is. I’m sure we can find some sort of middle ground.”
Ward nodded. “I’m sure that we can.”
The male grimaced, shook his head and then gave a wry smile. “I wish you both well.”
His female moaned and clutched at her belly with one hand while still trying to hold onto the baby with the other.
“What is it?” Ward took his son, glancing at Becky.
“Don’t worry.” The female smiled. “These contractions will be much milder and are required to expel the placenta.”
“Placenta?” He wished that the female would just speak in English for once.
“The feeding sac,” Stephany said through gritted teeth.
Ward nodded in understanding.
“Except, these aren’t mild,” his female panted. “I have the urge to push again.”
“That’s fine,” said Becky, positioning herself on the bed. “Listen to the signals that your body is giving you. It normally doesn’t take more than a couple of pushes.”
“Please excuse me.” They had forgotten all about Brant, who back tracked out of the room.
Stephany pushed hard, resting between contractions and pushing when the urge hit.
“Oh my good God!!” Becky shrieked. “I see another head.” She lifted her head, her eyes darting from Ward to Stephany and back “You were pregnant with twins. Twins!”
“Two.” Ward was grinning broadly.
His female’s pained groan turned into a laugh. “Two.” She panted. “Are y
ou sure? Twin pregnancies are rare.”
“Very sure..” Becky laughed loudly, her eyes still focussed between Stephany’s legs. “Now push, Steph, push.”
Chapter 24
One week later
“What smells so interesting?” Ward said as he walked into their cabin. Shirtless and irresistible. He threw her a lopsided grin, hooking his thumbs into his jeans pockets.
“I made us dinner.” She bit down on her bottom lip.
His beautiful smile turned to a frown. “You shouldn’t be working. That’s the whole reason I agreed to allowing the human to come here in the first place.”
An incredulous noise escaped her. “No, Becky came to stay for the week to monitor the babies and I, not to cook and clean. How many times do I need to keep telling you that I gave birth, I’m not sick?” She stuck her tongue out at him.
His eyes hooded. “Careful, that’s considered foreplay in wolf language.” His voice turned husky.
She rolled her eyes. “Everything is considered foreplay in wolf language. Not that it matters though, since you refuse to touch me.”
“You’re still healing.” His voice took on a concerned edge and his eyes darkened.
“I healed within an hour of having the babies.” She removed the lid from the stew and stirred. It smelled weird. Maybe she had done it all wrong. “Remind me.” She turned back to Ward. “I followed your steps exactly. The correct way to make stew is to take the various ingredients and throw them in a pot together and cook them for a couple of hours and viola…stew. Right?”
His nostrils flared and his eyes kept darting to the steaming pot. “Yes.” He sounded unsure. “But not everything tastes good if mixed together. Did I forget to mention that part?”
She gasped. “You didn’t tell me that.”
“I didn’t think of it at the time. What do you have in that pot?” he walked over to her, kissing her until her toes curled and her breathing changed.
When he finally released her, she said, “Onion.” He nodded. “Vegetables.” He nodded again, folding his arms across his chest. “Some of that deer the males killed last week.” He nodded a third time. “I also know how much you liked that strawberry jam so when I added the salt and spices I threw some of that in as well.”
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