Page 32 of Wrong Number, Right Valentine

“As it should be.” Banks leaned into my side. “As it should be.”

The pack run was different from the first he attended in many ways. The temperature was getting colder, and we were going to use the community building afterward for our feast as well as a warm place for people to get undressed before the run. Had any human stumbled upon us, seeing all the grown-ups shedding their clothes and walking out one by one, oh, what they wouldhave thought. But the only human here was my mate, and he’d gotten used to it.

I didn’t like leaving him and made him promise to call out if he needed me. My omega dad was there with him, assuring me they would stay with him and come get me if needed. It was a good plan, but not ideal. Being by his side every waking hour was, but my mate was far too independent for that.

Technically, we still had three weeks until the baby was due, but the midwife he normally saw had reminded us at every appointment that babies came when they decided, not on our schedule. That had been drilled into me so much that I was worried he would give birth any second. He wasn’t. There would be signs. Right?

I ran with Father, the Alpha, and the pack. We went hunting and took down a deer. There was something about sharing a kill with your pack that sated our wolves. I felled a rabbit, also, to bring back to my mate. The first time I’d done that, he was not impressed, but now he appreciated it for the gesture it was. Thanks to Dad’s skills with fur, he now had a nice collection of pelts he planned to turn into something soft and wonderful when he collected enough.

Of course, we cooked up the rabbit. At first, he wasn’t sure if he wanted it, but after he tasted my stew, he told me I could officially make anything taste good. Rabbit did taste good, but I took the compliment for what it was.

On my way back to the feast, I deposited the rabbit on the steps of the cabin we were staying in and went back to the party—which was what it was. There were baby gifts on the table and cake. I didn’t know how my parents and the pack knew we’dbe here, but something gave them the hint, because this wasn’t thrown together at the last second.

“Did you have a good time?” I stood behind by my mate, resting my hands on his belly, hoping our little one would decide to kick me. She didn’t, but that was okay. The midwife had said babies moved less often near the end because they ran out of room, and she was definitely running out of room. My mate was nearly out of his paternity clothes at this point, which was fine. If he had to walk around naked, there would be no complaints from me.

“It’s nicer now that you are here.” He leaned back into my touch.

“Want some cake?” It looked delicious.

He scrunched up his nose. “I don’t. That’s weird, right?” It was only weird because he’d had a sweet tooth lately. But like all his cravings had been, that was fleeting.

“We can save it for later,” I offered, not wanting the people who put this together to think he didn’t love it. I might be the one eating it, but I’d be fine with that.

“Yeah, let’s do that.”

It was pretty quiet after that. We opened gifts and talked to different pack members. I wanted to ask him if something was wrong, but there was never a private enough moment that wouldn’t draw attention to him. As soon as we were able, I excused us, saying he was tired.

We barely had the door shut to the cabin when he told me. “So, I probably should have mentioned this, but I’m pretty sure I’m in labor.”

That had caught me off guard. “Since when?”

“Since I came home this morning and said we should get to the pack lands.”

“And you didn’t think that was need-to-know information?” Because I sure did.

“I wanted to get here and not make a pitstop at the hospital.” Which was exactly what I’d have done.

“Fair enough.” I took both his hands in mine. “Now what do we do? What do I do? Shouldn’t you be doing the breathing?” It was one thing to know this was all coming. It wasn’t like the baby could stay in there forever. But now that it was go time, my brain went blank.

He rolled his eyes. “Did you pay attention in class at all?”

“Yes?” It came out more like a question than I meant. I had, but all of that fell away somewhere along the way.

“Now, my sexy alpha, we wait. Why don’t you go get the midwife and the healer? They both promised to be here, and we’ll figure it out from there.”

“I don’t want to leave you.” And my wolf liked it even less.

“Well, you have to.” He pointed toward the door.

I wanted to stay and argue, but the longer it took me to get them, the greater the odds that I’d be there too late. I bolted out the door, needing to get back as soon as possible.

It took me a while to find the healer, and when I came back, the midwife was already there with my mate. Before, he’d just looked quiet, but now I could tell he was in pain.

“Is it me, or is this progressing really quickly?”

The midwife looked back at me. “It’s not you. You have a stubborn mate who didn’t want to ruin a party.”

Banks half-shrugged, and I couldn’t even be mad. I’d probably have done the same thing.

---