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

smack his shoulder, frowning at him. “He’s the child’s uncle! And his godfather! He should be here! I can’t believe you didn’t

as I lean back on into the pillows, taking deep

it for Rafe!” I snap, determined. “And if I have to give birth in a war zone with no epidural, then Roger can damn well get out of bed

softly, giving in without any further questions. I hear him tapping on his phone and then he shifts. I watch him stand, leaning over me. Frowning, he leans over and grabs one of the pillows from the other side of the bed,

in the movies. I’m

down and wiping the sweat from my brow with the little square of pillowcase folded in his hand. “How are you, love?

relax back as much as I can against the pillows, the next contraction not starting yet. “I feel… determined,” I say, gazing up

my girl,” Sinclair says softly, taking my chin between the fingers of his big hand and gazing at me. “So strong.”

–

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

–

eyes shut again, my hands moving low on my stomach. “Here comes another one.‘ >>

in that special way Cora made me practice, he breathes along with me. He’s there with me, every step.

minutes of respite. Unfortunately, those minutes are coming closer and closer together. I’m moving through this birth process

it seems like Rafe and my body have

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 in to lay across my hot forehead. Throughout it all, my mate is all attention and support.

guilt that he’s done something horrible in not getting me to the hospital. I hold his gaze steadily whenever I can, letting him know, silently, that we’re all going to be

passed when 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

focus to be

hand to balance himself so that he doesn’t go sprawling on the floor. Cora

enture

eyes sweeping over me. “Tell me what’s going