Page 47 of Rescued by the Alpha

Elam clawed at Nic’s arm. “No,” he croaked out. “My navel—”

Elam screamed and Nic’s gut clenched. He lifted Elam’s shirt but the blood he’d expected to see from a scratch or cut wasn’t there. Instead, he was met with Elam’s belly button opened to the size of a quarter with what he assumed was his child’s head butted against it, ready to be born soon.

“Fuck,” he muttered under his breath. Think. There wasn’t the slightest chance Elam could walk, and he couldn’t carry Elam while shifted. And if he didn’t shift, he doubted he’d be able to get Elam back to town quickly enough before the baby came. Nic whirled his head around, searching for the rest of his pack who had fought. His gaze landed on his father, Boris and Leo who were attending to two of their injured pack members on the other side of the clearing.

“Papa! I need your help!”

His father jerked up his head then jogged over. He gasped when he spotted Elam who seemed to have passed out for the moment. “Oh gods, is he…?”

Nic shook his head, his throat closing off at the mere thought of such a thing. He sucked in a breath to speak. “N-no. But the baby’s coming and he can’t be moved. I need you to hurry into town, bring Asha and bring…” What? Bring what? He glanced down at Elam’s still form, scared that he’d been exposed in the cold for so long. “Blankets and towels and… Fuck, whatever Asha says.”

“Of course, son. We’ll be like the wind.”

Right as his father and the others shifted and took off running, two of their pack betas rushed toward him with what appeared to be random pieces of clothing in their arms. Nic didn’t recognize either of them, further underscoring the fact that he’d been neglecting his pack for too long.

“Here! We found these in a pick-up nearby. Must’ve been how they transported your mate here.”

Nic’s eyes rounded. They offered him two jackets, pants, sweaters, socks—the items carried the stink of the rival pack, but he didn’t care.

“Thank you both.” He regarded Vera. “Shift with these two betas then guard the perimeter while I get him warmed up.”

She nodded and they all did as he’d ordered. As Nic worked to get Elam covered, Elam would stir every minute or so, crying and grabbing his belly through what Nic assumed was another contraction. Will they bring pain medication? Is he allowed to have that? Nic chastised himself for not learning more about the whole birth process, assuming the knowledge was Elam’s realm.

It’s supposed to be us, together. I should’ve paid more attention.

Once he’d wrapped Elam in as many layers as he could—using one of the thick sweaters as a pillow for his head, with one down jacket beneath Elam as a barrier from the wetness and the other like a blanket over him—he shifted. Nic snuggled to Elam’s side, warming him the best he could, Nic’s wolf whimpering every time another contraction tore through his mate.

After what seemed like an eternity, the scent of his father and the others returning filled his nostrils and he shifted back. Twilight had arrived, and Elam seemed more coherent, but not in any less pain. As the others approached, Elam jolted upright, screaming, flinging aside the jacket Nic had placed over him and yanking up the sweater he now wore.

“Hurry!” Nic shouted, as he slid behind Elam to help support him as Elam let out a throaty groan, the baby’s head appearing through the opening in his stomach that was now the size of an orange. Nic winced at the sight. Damn. He’d have to apologize for knocking Elam up later.

Asha dropped down beside them, the picture of calm, and Nic wanted to slap her. She chuckled as she peered over at him. “Might want to save that for after I help your baby into this world.”

Nic cleared his throat. “Yes, Healer. Forgive me.” He’d never had the urge to strike a woman before, but the whole situation had made him irrational.

Nic placed his hands on either side of Elam’s hips, hoping he was offering at least a small measure of help. Feeling useless wasn’t a state he was accustomed to being in. Elam threw his head back against Nic’s shoulders, and let out one, long yell and to Nic’s amazement, his baby slid free from Elam’s body with Asha’s capable hands helping to guide the way. Elam collapsed against Nic, panting. Nic’s heart clutched at the sound of the first mewls and cries of his baby that Asha had already wrapped in a blanket.

Tears filled Nic’s eyes and he let them fall, not caring who saw. “The baby… the baby’s okay?”

Asha gave him a wide grin. “Your daughter is just fine. But she needs her fathers while I tend to your mate in other ways.”

The Healer placed their baby in Elam’s arms and Nic wrapped his around Elam’s to offer more support. The infant struggled in the blanket, her movements as if they were in slow motion, her eyes still closed. Elam petted her head and Nic copied the movement, snuggling into Elam’s neck.

“So soft.” Nic whispered against Elam’s ear. “She’s beautiful and you’re the bravest man I’ve ever met. I love you.”

“I-I…” Elam’s voice cracked, his throat undoubtedly raw from screaming. “I tried to warn you Nic. I’m sorry, but the contractions had already started.”

Nic kissed Elam’s temple. “Shh, don’t. You did the right thing, got our baby to safety.” He sniffed, the sensation that he was about to lose it much too close to the surface. “I never should’ve left you at the cabin. I should’ve known it was a trap.”

“How? Everything’s been fine for months.”

Nic pondered Elam’s words as Asha delivered the afterbirth and stitched up one side of Elam’s navel that had torn. He marveled that Elam didn’t so much as flinch when the needle pierced his skin.

Asha glanced up as she tied off the end of the stitches.

“Whole area is numb from the full weight of the baby pressing against the opening.” Asha twisted then plucked a pill bottle from her bag. “He’ll be feeling it and then some in a bit. These are safe to take, won’t pass into the milk.”

Nic and Elam echoed each other. “Milk?”