I was counting the days now... 10 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes... Saying I was excited was an understatement. As I left the dentist’s office, I glanced up to see my mate hurrying towards me beaming. “Hey Love,” I kissed her quickly. “How was your appointment with Doc?” “Good! He wants you though, to get some more blood.” She grabbed my hand and we started to walk down the path. “It's amazing though, I still can’t wrap my head around it! For you to be immune to wolfsbane and not know it?” “Well, it's like my parents said, we were never exposed to it. The flower doesn’t grow around here and getting it to use for torture was too much work when we were able to get silver. And when I got you those wolfsbane tools I was extra careful not to touch them so... mean we probably could have lived our whole lives and not realized it.” “What really is amazing is that all of us were exposed to the anti-person thing.” Samantha mused. “I mean... we didn’t have to go through any treatments or anything...” “Remember, Doc said the fact that we um... mated... is the likely reason. That’s when your blood started to change... afterall.” “Hmm... maybe.” Samantha’s eyes widened. “Hey! Jess!” She started to wave at her but stopped. “Oh no. Oh crap she’s in a bad mood...” I sighed. “Well, she seen us now, may as well keep her company on her walk.” With the baby due in nearly a month she has started walking every day to keep her strength up. Usually, Greg or Penny walks with her but today she is alone, and her expression could rival Medusa's. She was getting bigger it seemed by the day and her walk would be better classified as a waddle but there was no way in hell I was going to point that out. Don’t mess with pregnancy hormones. “Good morning, Jess. How...” My mouth snaps shut as she glares at me. “How am I doing??? Is that what you were going to ask??? How does it look like I’m doing?! I can’t see my feet, I can’t walk straight, and I’m as big as the packhouse!!! That’s how I am doing!!!” She huffed. “And I can’t sleep either!!! This pup is moving day and night! It doesn’t make sense!!! Last night! Oh, last night I FINALLY got to sleep, the pup was calm, and what does my stupid ass mate do?! He TOUCHES me!!!” “What that’s all?” I start. Samantha warned me. “THAT’S ALL?! HIM TOUCHING ME IS WHAT GOT ME HERE!!!” She explodes. “But no, he touches me and of course, that wakes the pup up... and I don’t sleep! But!!! Greg is sleeping like a damn baby!” She growled. “And now I got these false labor pains first thing in the damn morning... but what does Greg say?! ‘Rest Honey... it's not so bad...’ WELL IF ITS NOT SO BAD THEN YOU CARRY THE DAMN PUP!!!” Samantha groaned in my mind. We walk with her all the way to the main gate, she is growling and venting the entire way. “Are you sure it's okay to walk all the way out here...” “It's fine! It's like that MAN of mine said, walking is good for you! You should walk you’ll feel better! Well, KISS MY ASS GREG!!!” She gasped and growled. “Damn false labor.... AAHHH!” She doubled over and Samantha grabbed her. “Jess, what’s wrong?” “I don’t know...” She gasped out, the anger replaced by fear. “Aaaahhh!!! SHIT!!!” “Okay. Okay. You’re going to be okay.” Samantha started to say calmly. “We’re taking you to the hospital, okay?” “No.... no... no....” Jess started to breathe frantically. “What’s wrong with my baby?” Tears started to creep in her eyes. “Nothing’s wrong I’m sure but Ben is going to carry you to the hospital... okay?” She glanced at me, and I nodded, grabbing her up in my arms and starting to trot. “I’m going to get Greg and we are going to meet you there, okay?” She gave me a scared look when Jess was looking away and I nodded silently. Something is terribly wrong. Jess whimpered again as Samantha shifted and bolted down the path, after a second, I kicked it up a notch as well, sending out a mind link to Doctor Banner as I ran. He finally replied. A nurse was standing at the door, holding it open for me as I bounded inside. Banner was standing there with a gurney. “Quick! Lay her here!!! Gamma Jessica? Gamma?” Jess just whimpered a response before she screamed again. “Get her to the back!!!” Banner urged as he helped push her bed out of my sight. “Call the lab, get some blood up here ASAP!!!” Blood? What... I just then glanced down, my whole shirt was covered in blood. Her blood. Just then a nurse pulled me aside and handed me a set of scrubs to wear. Yeah. I better change before Greg gets here. I urged as I changed in the bathroom. Not knowing what else to do I just started to pace. An eternity later Greg comes blasting through the door, pale faced and looking around. A nurse grabs him and hurries him to the back as well. As soon as the door opened, I could hear another scream of pain. “Oh Goddess... Ben!” Samantha hurried inside now. She looked at me and her eyes scanned my clothes. “You had to change?” She whispered sadly. I grabbed her and held her close. “Yeah... I figured it was best...” I started, knowing she could likely read my thoughts. Greg didn’t need to see his mate’s blood on me. Samantha started to tremble now, and I could feel the tears seep into my shirt. “Ben... Ben... I can’t...” Her fear and sorrow flooded our bond, and I was getting flashes from her memory of this same scene, but instead of me holding her she was in the corner curled into a ball as Banner explained they couldn’t save Frannie, and she was gone. Fate couldn’t be so cruel, could she? “Hey, it's okay... I’ll be the strong one right now...” I whispered as I held her tighter, echoing the promise I made to her months ago. “You need a break right now, go ahead... I’m strong enough for both of us.” The main door opened, and Violet came running in with Lily. “How is she?” Violet asked, wide eyed. “What, no...” She started to cry as she collapsed to a chair. “Please... no...” I shook my head. “They are still working on her, Vi.” Lily hugged her close, taking her glasses from her carefully. Moments later he came bursting in the room now and was at Violet’s side. “Where’s Penny and Nick?” “Still with the home schooler. They have class for another couple of hours.” Lily answered, holding Daren’s hand tightly. “Someone should go and get her...” “Not yet.” I answered. “We don’t want to panic her... but someone needs to pick her up after school. Is Liza on the territory?” “Yeah, she was helping lead the advanced class today.” Daren nodded. “I’ll get word to her what is going on.” “Tell her to take Nick too.” I glanced down as Samantha gripped my shirt. “She’s too early...” Samantha started to sob again. “Oh Goddess....” Trust me when I say everything will be alright. Huh, where did that come from? The words from her grandfather flashed through my mind. Is there a reason that phrase surfaced now? The Moon Goddess is in control... she always is. Now I remembered her dad once said that to us in our youth. I rubbed my mate’s back calmly, she was praying now. Pleading for Jess and her baby. For some reason, my senses seemed clearer than normal... more alert. Follow my Will. And trust me when I say everything will be alright. The Moon Goddess is in control... she always is... but even she needs a little help every once in a while. Okay who the hell was that?! The voice sounded so familiar, my own grandfather maybe? It was a man’s voice, kind but powerful... who??? I am pulled out of my thoughts as Banner comes in, my mind goes blank and we all just stand there waiting for him to answer, his face gives no clues to what he is about to say. “Well, it seems the pup was excited to be here. Gave us all quite a scare, but I am happy to say that even though he is a couple of weeks early, mother and son are just fine.” The reaction was instantaneous, as our solemn mood went to a joyous one. Our prayers turned into praises and my mate hugged me tighter. “Oh Goddess! She had a boy! Dang it!” Jake chuckled. “That’ll be $20 Alpha.” “I know you didn’t bet against Jake.” I chuckled. “Now I get to hear about it until you pay up.” I know I’ve warned her about betting against Jake before, other than the bad luck he had finding Violet luck is almost always on his side. ~~~ We are still waiting in the waiting room when Liza comes back with Penny and Nick. Tim was right behind her, like usual. They both come running up to where Sam and I were sitting. “Alpha, is my mom okay?” “Yes Penny.” Samantha smiled and pulled her on her lap. “She is just fine. But you are now officially a big sister.” Penny’s face lit up. “Really???” “Yep, we are just waiting for the doctor to tell us we can go back and visit them. We are all very excited about meeting your little brother.” “I told you it was going to be a boy, Penny.” Nick said, smiling too. He was hoping for a boy so he wouldn’t be outnumbered with too many girls. I chuckled, he would regret that later in life. Samantha growled at me. I gulped. I messaged, trying to change the subject desperately. After a while longer, after Nick climbed into my lap the door opened and Greg was standing there smiling. “How are they Greg?” Samantha asked as Greg walked over and picked up Penny. “Perfect.” He was beaming. “Though I’m not allowed to touch Jess for a while now....” He chuckled. “Are you ready to meet him?” He asked us, smiling. “Of course, but let Penny go first.” Samantha smiled. “Family is always first.” “And that’s why I am asking you. You are all my family.” ~~~ “Penny, this is your brother. Judson Daniel Harris.” Penny smiled as she sat in the chair while Greg slowly placed the baby in her lap. “Put your arm up like this and support his head, Penny.” Greg instructed while watching carefully. Daren was snapping pictures and grinning wide. Samantha was standing next to Jess who looked happy, a stark contrast to this morning. “I would say you will be able to sleep again but... no, I don’t think so.” She giggled. “Doc said you will be here for at least a couple of days. Don’t worry about Penny we’ll keep an eye on her.” “Thank you Alpha.” She smiled. “Alpha?” Greg started while walking his son towards her. I smiled and stood beside her. It was time for the Alpha’s Blessing. A ceremony that blessed the newborn pups in the pack and helped the pup to recognize another important person in their lives. Carefully Samantha took the baby, smiling. “Oh, you’re a big boy. No wonder you gave your mama so much trouble.” She giggled. “Reason number 28 we’ll be getting a C Section.” She warned me and laughed before she started. “Judson Daniel Harris, son of Greg and Jessica Harris. I welcome you into this world. As I, Samantha Serene Silver is Alpha of this pack I swear to not only protect you and your family, but I will help you prosper and live a great life. This I swear to you and your parents.” She smiled again as the boy grabbed her finger. “Oh yeah, Greg. He is definitely your son... he has a grip on him.” She chuckled. I couldn’t help but grin, watching her hold the newborn, and I imagined the day it was our pup she was holding.

Chapter 136