Page 21 of Destined Bear

Griff continued, “When I saw how sick you were, it reminded me a lot of how things were with Mom. You don’t remember, being the youngest, but she was very sick with each pregnancy—very, very sick—and it made her pregnancies high risk.”

I’d known it wasn’t easy for her, but the kind of not easy I had envisioned was being too tired to make a sandwich, not needing IVs and a freaking vigil. My poor mom.

“Rissa would like you to be on bed rest for a little while, at least until the first trimester passes,” Patrick said.

“Okay,” I said, trying not to work myself up. It wasn’t as if I could get out of bed if I wanted to. I wasn’t even sure I could lift a glass to my lips for a drink of water yet. “But for now, everything’s fine—the baby’s okay?”

“Yes. The baby is doing great.” Patrick kissed the top of my head. “I’m so sorry, mate.”

I felt more than heard the sorrow in his voice. They weren’t just platitudes.

“There’s nothing to be sorry for, Patrick. It’s not your fault.” How could he even think that it was. If this was genetic, which it sounded like it was, there was nothing he could’ve done different except maybe get Rissa earlier. Although, to be fair, that would’ve pissed me off at the time.

“I should have done something—”

“Enough,” Griff interrupted. “You’ve been beating yourself up for too long. He’s awake now. We’ll have Rissa come over and do an exam on you now that you’re awake, Finn.”

“Okay.” I sighed. “I’m just going to close my eyes.”

“Go ahead, love. Sleep,” Patrick said, and I did.

Chapter 14

Patrick

After waking up that first time, my mate fell back asleep for another full day, waking only to eat a little something before immediately sleeping again. As much as I hated it, it was so much better than the first time. I’d never been so scared in my entire life.

Thank gods that Griff was by my side the entire time. He was such a good brother. And his ability to give Rissa some medical history went a long way. Rissa was a great healer, and havingthem know what they were dealing with made getting my mate the treatment he needed faster.

I stayed by Finn’s side, as I had done for the prior three days. His brother had to leave and go back to his own den. I hated that and knew that Finn did too. If only there was a way for him to move here full-time. Not that I would push that. Every bear needed to figure out which den they belonged in on their own.

Rissa came in and out to check on Finn often. They didn’t hover, something I was sure Finn would’ve appreciated had he been awake. Rissa would check in with me, while taking my mate’s vitals and switching out his IV bags. They also kept a close eye on the baby, whose heartbeat remained strong.

I didn’t dare let myself get too excited about having a child. Even though I was happy, so incredibly happy, I was also terrified for both my mate and our baby. The two emotions warred with each other, and I never knew which one was going to win out. In the end, I just felt numb.

Rissa assured me that he was given treatment in plenty of time and that our little one had been so protected when he got sick that all was well. And knowing that Finn was here and healthy as a result of a similar pregnancy helped also. But that didn’t keep my anxiety completely at bay.

When Griff had described the agony his mother went through with each of her pregnancies, I feared the worst. Seeing my mate in pain, unable to wake, and when he did wake, unable to lift his limbs—it was agonizing. The only light at the end of that tunnel was the fact that my mate was here, now. That didn’t mean I wasokay with him struggling so, though. I’d have done anything to take that pain from him.

“Patrick?” Aydan’s voice startled me from where I was dozing in the chair next to Finn. “Corey’s going to sit with Finn for a while. Let’s go.”

He wasn’t asking, but I wasn’t ready to go anywhere, so I pretended like he was. It was better than openly defying him. The last thing my mate needed was their alpha being bled by the den Alpha because they didn’t want to obey.

“I’m fine.” I grasped my mate’s hand. At least it was warm now that he was feeling a bit better. When it had been cold and unmoving while I held him that first day, I had feared the absolute worst.

“That wasn’t a request, Patrick. You need to stand up, stretch your legs, get some real food in you.” Aydan was right. I didn’t like it, but he was.

“I ate.” I wasn’t sure if that had been yesterday or today. The days all ran together. But it wasn’t a lie, and I went with it.

“Now.” Aydan put more authority into his voice, and since he was the Alpha of the den, I had to listen. It wasn’t in my nature to disobey a direct order, and even if it was, the stakes were too high with my mate in this condition.

Corey sat down in the chair I’d vacated. If it couldn’t be Griff, I was glad it was Corey. He wouldn’t allow anything to happen to Finn.

“I’ll be back.” I kissed Finn’s forehead. His eyes fluttered, but he didn’t wake. He was still so exhausted.

Once we were out in the main area of the house, Aydan put a hand on my shoulder. It was a comforting move, one meant to comfort. Aydan was so unlike most Alphas, which made him perfect to work for as a Beta and for this den.

“You’re being too hard on yourself.” Aydan watched my face with understanding. “I can see it on your face.”

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