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-”

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

to my lips now as he slips an arm around my

apart are the contractions?” he asks, looking down at my belly and stroking

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

calmness that I know he doesn’t feel.

start to

asks, turning to grin at

just very sweet, Roger Sinclair,” I murmur, taking his cheeks in my hands and

murmurs against my lips, kissing me

cutie,” I say, leaning back and smiling down at my belly. And I bite my lip, feeling significantly calmer now, starting to get…well, maybe a

head close to mine and takes a deep breath of

you think

tongue

would that even

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

eyes, “would

purple eyes,” he says, holding up a

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

to me but does his best to stay quiet, his eyes on me throughout

right?” he says quietly when

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

brown ones,

guess we’ll just have to wait and see,” I reply, dropping my hand from his cheek and wrapping my fingers in his

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

laugh, even as I focus on the bond as well. “Nah, don’t rush

bond and passes love and comfort and reassurance to the baby,

tell him we’ve got a nice big crib for him out here,” I say, laughing a bit. “Whenever

Roger murmurs. ” Any time

time? I agree. I’m finally ready – completely ready to bring our baby into the

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 for the birth our family, but also several medical professionals to

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

says, smiling at me