The Alpha's Mate

9

"I'm sorry, babe. That wasn't funny. I didn't mean to laugh." He mumbled his apology then looked up at me with wide regretful eyes. I tried to stay upset, but I just couldn't, not with that face.

"You're forgiven." I kissed him and heard two other relief filled sighs from behind me. "Just because I forgave him doesn't mean you guys get off so easily." I turned my head back around to glare at my brother.

"I'm sorry, sis. Here, I'll delete the video, see? Poof, gone! No more waddling pregnant video."

I frowned but accepted it. For now. "Okay, you're safe, momentarily. Be glad I can't think of anything to get you back yet!"

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I promise no more videos!"

"Good. And Caine, don't even try it. Get back here." I lifted my head to see him sneaking out the room leaving an amused Misabelle sitting on the couch. But her amusement was towards the fact that I knew what he was doing even though I couldn't see him. He hung his head and sat back down next to his mate.

"Yes, Luna?"

I was shocked, hearing the formal term, but quickly shook it off. I was the Luna now, so I had to get used to it. "What do you have to say?"

"I'm sorry, Luna. I shouldn't have disrespected you by laughing. I'll bake some cookies to make it up to you."

I nodded my head and he scurried off towards the kitchen, I leaned back against Jace and smirked. Oh, I had these boys wrapped around my fingers. Even my brother knew not to mess with me now. It's probably because I had played one too many pranks on them since I'd gotten here. What can I say? A girl gets bored when her overprotective mate coops her up in the house out of fear of harm to her and his unborn child. Although, another reason they're so jumpy could be because of my famous hormonal mood swings thanks to my pregnancy and when I was mad, they all were cowering and sucking up to me.

Misabelle gave me a knowing smirk and settled back against the couch. When we'd first gotten back, I'd been worried about her having been raped but she told me that even though she was human, she knew how to protect herself. When I asked how, she just replied, "I sing." At first I didn't get it, but then I remembered Miss Congeniality and that sing stood for Stomach, Instep, Nose, Groin. Now, whenever I had nightmares about James, I just imagined Misabelle beating up those "almighty" werewolves without breaking a nail, and it left me chuckling as I would drift back to sleep.

"I'm never getting on your bad side, baby girl. Who knows what you'd do to me?"

I laughed while Jace nuzzled his face into the crook of my neck. The twins rolled their eyes and turned off the Wii console, then spun to face me. Esbeth rested her palm on my stomach, smiling when she felt the baby kick at her hand. Sasha eyed my stomach and then gave me a mischievous smirk.

"What?"

"Honey, you're too big to be having just one baby, I think you might be having twins."

"The doctor said there was only one, though."

"Doctors have been wrong before." I raised my brows at her and she held up her hands in surrender. "I'm just saying, don't be suprised if you pop out two babies instead of one."

"Yeah, I'll keep my mind open for that possibility."

Esbeth sniffed the air and her face scrunched up in confusion. "Sorry to interrupt the moment, but what's that smell?"

"Huh?"

Both my brother and Jace sniffed the air. My brother shrugged, letting us know he didn't smell anything, but Jace quickly shot to his feet with me cradled up against his chest. I squirmed, trying to get out of his hold and started smacking his chest. My attention drifted to his chest and I started admiring it, my hand gently tracing circles on his shirt. Someone cleared their throat and I looked up to find myself in the pack doctor's room, being placed down on the medical bed.

"Whoa, what's going on?"

"Did you not hear a word I said on the way up?" Jace's face was tense and he gripped my hand.

"No, I was busy."

"Doing what?"

"Admiring you." I grinned at his incredulous face. "That was a compliment babe. If you're not going to recognize them, I might as well not say them."

His booming laugh resounded in the room and he kissed my forehead. "You're something else Laylee Card. But as I was saying before, your water broke. Honey, you're going into labor."

Wait... what?

Jace's POV

The pack's doctor rushed around, getting things set up for the delivery of the next Alpha. I knew that we were having a boy because the oldest child is always male to maintain the line and that child get's the Alpha gene. As excited I was for my son, I was more worried about Laylee's lack of response since I'd told her she was in labor.

She was clutching my hand and staring off into space, her eyes wide and aimed at my chest. I brushed her hair away from her face. Sasha pulled an elastic out and pulled her hair back into a sloppy bun. Misabelle was helping the nurse while Esbeth was trying to get Laylee to refocus. She sent me an apologetic look before slapping my mate's cheek. A fierce growl ripped out of my chest and Esbeth backed down, dropping her eyes to the floor.

"Oh my god, it's actually happening? Like right no-" Her words were cut off as her eyes got impossibly wider and she flinched, breathing heavily.

"Darling, what's wrong?"

"Alpha Blakely, I'm going to need you to back up for a second while I attatch some wires to her."

I backed up, letting the nurse do her work, but quickly stepped back up to my mate's side as soon as she was done. Laylee had sweat coating her face and she turned her head to look at the nurse.

"Yo, doc, how long have I been having contractions?"

"About half an hour now."

I was shocked. No way that much time had passed. "How long will her labor last?"

"Well, typical werewolf births last about five hours, but since she's a human, it could be anywhere from five to eight hours."

Laylee groaned and I had to agree. Five or more hours that she's in pain? That didn't bode well with me, but her face kept me from getting angry. She looked happy and... relieved? What the hell?

"Babe, why are you looking so relieved?"

"The human's average labor duration is 18 hours. I think even eight hours is way better than that."

I blanched. 18 hours? Thankfully werewolf births went quicker. I'd have surely ripped someone's head off if she had to go through 18 hours of labor. And that doesn't even include the actual birth! I ran a hand through my hair and smiled down at my little mate. She smiled back at me before she started letting out a string of swears that would've made a sailor's ears shrivel into themselves.

"Sweetie you're dilated six centimeters."

My little mate sighed and fell back on the bed. She looked like she was in so much pain, but for once, there was nothing I could do. I felt so helpless. I couldn't ease her burden at all and I felt like I was failing her as a mate. Her hand clenched around mine as another contraction wracked her body.

This was going to be a long couple of hours.