Accidental Surrogate for Alpha

#Chapter 291 – Contractions

Ella

Slowly, I breathe through my contractions, taking deep breaths in through my nose and huffing them out of my mouth. The pain is…well, I suppose I can’t say like anything I’ve felt before, can I? Not after all I’ve been through in the past five months. But it’s incredible, the way it radiates through my body, making me grit my teeth against it.

I can feel my body moving, changing along with the contractions. The pain in my pelvis, particularly, is insane, as the bones shift to make room for the baby to pass through. My eyes flash open during one particularly difficult contraction and I hear myself cry out against the pain. God, I would have thought that being a wolf made this easier – wolves seem to have a whole litter of pups without much trouble, by themselves out in the woods.

Passingly, I consider shifting into my wolf form to ease this

–

But then, suddenly, Sinclair bursts into my room, dashing for me.

“What,” he gasps, almost skidding to the side, looking me all over for what is wrong. “What is it, Ella – I heard you scream –”

“No,” I say, gasping a little as the contraction starts to come to its end. “No, it’s just the contraction – god, Dominic, these suck – ”

He shakes his head, still panicked, trying to put it all together as he kneels by the side of the bed and takes my hand. “Cora is coming, she’s close,” he murmurs. “She’ll be allowed in.”

“And Hank?” I ask, looking at my mate. “And Roger?”

“Roger?” Sinclair asks, confused.

“Yes, Dominic! Roger! I want him here as well!”

are wide with wonder

I smack his shoulder, frowning at him. “He’s the child’s uncle! And his godfather! He should be here!

the cell phone in his back pocket as I lean back on into the pillows, taking deep breaths. “I can’t believe you’re thinking about propriety while you’re

it for Rafe!” I snap, determined. “And if I have to give birth in a

stand, leaning over me. Frowning, he leans over and grabs one of the pillows from the other side

the linens thing and boil water that’s just in the movies. I’m

the sweat from my brow with the little square of pillowcase folded in his hand. “How are you, love? How do you feel?”

I can against the pillows, the next contraction not starting yet. “I feel… determined,” I say, gazing

Sinclair says softly, taking my chin between the fingers of his big hand and gazing

–

though I’m scared and in pain. I am strong. For him, and for Rafe, and yes – for myself – I can

–

eyes shut again, my hands moving low

on his knees by my side again, steady and tense. Then, as I start to breathe in that special way Cora made

long stretches of pain followed up by a few minutes of respite. Unfortunately, those minutes are coming closer and closer together. I’m moving through this birth process fast, and I don’t have any

no, it seems like Rafe and my body have other

me get ready in the moments between contractions. He helps me change into a cotton nightgown instead of the travel clothes I was wearing on the way here. He brings me two cool cups of water, one for drinking, the other for dipping more strips of pillowcase

that, I can see on his face the worry and guilt that he’s done something horrible in not getting me to the hospital. I

the door bursts open. Cora flies into the room, panting, a medical bag slung over her shoulder. I almost spill the glass of tap water Sinclair just handed me all over myself as I

her singular focus to

to balance himself so that he doesn’t go sprawling on the

enture

over me. “Tell me what’s going on