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-”

with me. “But I was taking all the air out of the room. I’m sorry, Cora – you’re right, we had a plan, we should just trust it. Everything’s going to

a little smile coming to my lips now as he slips an arm around my

down at my belly and

five minutes,” I answer, my voice quiet. “Or, maybe a

says, pretending a calmness that I know he doesn’t feel. ” That is

I start

turning to

my hands and leaning forward to press a kiss to his mouth. “Trying

try, don’t I,” he murmurs against my lips, kissing me back. “I’m going to be a dad

feeling significantly calmer now, starting to get…well, maybe a little excited, alongside being terrified. “Do you think

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

think his

he replies, making me click my tongue and pull away to glare at

that

says, grinning at me. “Anything is possible. The

eyes, “would have shown up on an

holding up

close to him. Or at least I smile for a second, before the next contraction starts again. “Oh boy,” I say, sitting

to stay quiet, his eyes on me throughout the whole contraction. He keeps his arms around me too until the pain

says quietly when it all

say, turning my eyes to his now. And then I smile a little, returning my hand to his

me. “Big brown ones, like his mom. That would be

just have to wait and see,” I reply, dropping my

hurry up,” Roger murmurs, turning is attention to the bond that runs

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

he inspects the bond and passes love and comfort and reassurance to the baby, as well as to me. “He’s all

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

Roger murmurs. ” Any time

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

time. The whole day passes and dusk darkens our windows before 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

by the time I’m almost ready to push. But I smile when I see

smiling at me