Accidental Surrogate for Alpha

#Chapter 477- Labor

Cora

I narrow my eyes at Roger when he comes upstairs about forty-five minutes later. “Are you going to behave better now?” I ask, my voice tense.

“Yup,” he says, leaning in the doorway with a lazy smile.

I start to laugh as I look over his too – loose stature. “Is it because you’re all drunk?” My eyes shift to Sinclair as he appears in the doorway behind his brother. “Seriously, did you get him all drunk?”

Sinclair, Rafe sitting up in his arms, just gives a little shrug, his mouth pulled up at the corner in a secret smile.

“I am only,” Roger says, smiling as he steps into the room and holding up a hand with his thumb and pointer finger pressed very close together, “a very tiny bit drunk. Just something to steady the nerves.”

Ella laughs next to me before she scoots off the bed.

“All right, then,” she says, gesturing to me as she moves around the bed and reaches to take Rafe from Sinclair. ” Take your spot, Roger. And stop freaking her out, okay?”

“I promise,” Roger mumbles, giving Ella a sloppy little salute before climbing onto the bed and taking her place.

“We’ll be downstairs,” Ella says when I turn my eyes to her. “You just call, and we’ll be right up. Okay?”

I nod to her, smiling a little, grateful that she’s here. Beyond having the power to heal me instantly should anything go wrong, it’s just…really nice to have my sister close by.

Roger sighs as he pulls himself into the spot close on my right and tucks his legs in under the blankets. Then he turns to me, his face serious. “I’m sorry, Cora,” he says quietly.

“Thank you,” I say, my anger fading as I see that he means it. I lift a hand to his cheek, wanting to touch him, wanting him close.

“I just love you so much

“I get it,” I say, nodding.

He nods too, capturing my hand and pressing a kiss to it. “But I didn’t listen to you. And Sinclair made me sit down and listen – which he shouldn’t have to do, so I’m sorry about that. But he explained that you need to be the one freaking out today. So, I have to just… be steady. Is that right?”

“It’s closer,” I say quietly, studying him. “I mean, Roger, it’s not that you can’t feel afraid too – I get that it’s a big day-”

taking all the air out of the room. I’m sorry, Cora – you’re right, we had a plan,

my lips now as he slips an arm around my back, tugging

the contractions?” he asks, looking down at my belly and stroking it softly with

quiet. “Or, maybe a little faster now? Four

he says, pretending a calmness that I know he

start to

turning

Sinclair,” I murmur, taking his cheeks in my hands and leaning forward

kissing me back.

And I bite my lip, feeling significantly calmer now, starting to get…well, maybe

thoughtlessly as he tucks his head close to mine and takes a deep breath of my scent, “like an old man.” I laugh again, harder this

what color do you think his eyes will

click my tongue and

that even be

at me. “These are goddess grandchildren,” he says, grinning at me. “Anything is possible. The baby

rolling my eyes, “would have shown up

eyes,” he says, holding up

sigh, but I’m smiling as I snuggle close to him. Or at least I smile for a second, before the next contraction starts again. “Oh boy,” I say, sitting up, a hand moving

quiet, his eyes on me throughout the whole contraction. He keeps his arms around me

quietly

to his now. And then I smile a little, returning my hand to his cheek. “I hope the baby’s eyes are

he says, smirking at me. “Big brown ones, like his mom. That would

wait and see,” I reply, dropping my hand from his

Roger murmurs, turning is attention to

I focus on the bond as well. “Nah, don’t rush him,” I sigh. ” He’ll come on

as he inspects the bond and passes love and comfort and reassurance to the baby, as well as to me.

big crib for him out here,” I say, laughing a bit. “Whenever he’s ready to make his

kid,” Roger murmurs. ” Any time you want, we’re

first time? I agree. I’m finally ready – completely ready to bring our baby into the world with a nice, calm, maybe

my contractions really start to heat up. By then, the house is busy with all the people we’ve asked to come to the house for the birth our family, but also several medical professionals to really ensure that

time I’m almost ready to push. But I smile when I see him standing, quite suddenly, at my bedroom

says, smiling at me