Page 56 of Rust the Rejected
“Let’s have another look, Sasha.”
I check her again. Not much change. I tell her we’ll have to wait a bit longer, and she growls. Dylan widens his eyes. It’s comical to see the fierce MMA fighter scared of his she-wolf fated mate. Poor thing.
My mobile vibrates in my pocket. I glance at Sasha. She leans against the pillows propped behind her back with her eyes closed. Good. I shift my gaze to the mobile screen and smile as I open the text message app.
Hi, babe. How’s Sasha? Better yet, how’s D.?
My grin widens. He knows his best friend so well. My fingers fly across the screen as I type my response.
She’s good. Not much longer to go. D…. He’s another story. I hope he doesn’t faint! I’ll keep you posted. xoxo Your Heart
“I’ll go tell the others it’ll be a while,” Sage says and leaves the room.
I check Sasha’s and the pup’s vitals. All sounds and appears as expected. She’s young and won’t have an arduous labor. And since it’s her first delivery, it will take longer. But less time than human females. She-wolves deliver faster.
While we wait, I make certain the station for checking the baby after birth along with the bassinet, diapers, blankets, and bedding are prepared. As my fingertips brush the soft cotton, my mind drifts back to the thoughts of me giving birth to Rust’s pup. Would we have a female or male? Does he prefer one over the other?
Since he told me he won’t force me to have pups right away, he hasn’t mentioned a family of our own. He focuses on the two of us. The trips he plans to take me on—like the one to tour the major European cities, including Paris, Milan, Rome, Amsterdam and up to the UK for London and Glasgow. We’ll go once I get more time at the hospital. On our days off, we’ll go to the Bahamas or back to the Florida Keys. That’s exciting. But what if—
“NATALIE! Get this pup out of me!”
I hurry to Sasha’s side and place a hand on her round belly. The pup shifted. I check her cervix, and she’s ready. I tell her we’re good to start with pushing, and she nods, biting her lip. Dylan stares at me in shock. I smile at him encouragingly. He needs more help than Sasha. I nod at the midwife, and we settle in to deliver their pup.
Thirty minutes later, Inessa Vang makes her glorious debut. Sasha says her name is Russian for pure and symbolic for her and Dylan’s love. Tears fill my eyes as they do his at her pronouncement. The midwife and I leave the new family to bond. We go to the waiting room to tell the others who wait anxiously for news. Everyone cheers. Jagger congratulates me on a successful delivery. I smile and thank my Alpha and my friend.
After a while, Dylan enters the waiting room to tell us he and Sasha want to introduce the pack’s latest member. We rise and follow the proud papa. I send a text message to Rust, then put him on FaceTime so he can take part in the introduction. Dylan holds his tiny pup to his massive chest and announces her name, Inessa Vang. Her eyes blink open to reveal amber eyes like her sire. We cheer. They thank me for delivering their pup and the midwife for her support before we leave the room.
Sage invites me to dinner with her and Jagger. I tell them I’ll meet them at their home after I write my notes in my office. Once alone, I let my mind wander to a family with my fated mate.
Maybe the time is closer than I thought.
EPILOGUE
Three Months Later
Rust
“Your mansion is spectacular!”
“Congratulations on a fantastic property!”
“Damn, bro, you went all out, huh?! Well done!”
Natalie and I stand on the rear lawn of our newly finished bayfront residence on Moon Island. We invited our pack to the housewarming. And I have to agree. The architect and designer captured the modern Miami style Natalie and I want for our home. She loves the style of our former penthouse and wanted it on a larger scale.
The two-story glass and concrete mansion has five en suite bedrooms, two bathrooms, an open floor plan living, dining, and kitchen, media room, family room, gym, infinity edge pool and spa, pool house on the terrace with an outdoor kitchen, and so much more. Manicured lawns in the front and the rear with flowering bushes and palm trees make for a lush landscape. South Beach and the Atlantic Ocean beyond create a spectacular backdrop.
We just moved in yesterday, and already it feels like home. The only things missing are little pups running around getting into everything. Since Sasha gave birth to Inessa, I can’t stop thinking about my fated mate and I having pups of our own. Dylan strides around with a puffed chest and shows pictures of his little pup every chance he gets. Then there’s Jagger with his twin pups, Harald and Tove. He’s no better than Dylan. I don’t blame them. I’d do the exact same thing.
I shrug to myself and smile down at my fated mate. She’s happy, and that’s all that matters to me. My world is complete with her in it. Pups would add more joy. But I won’t push the topic. Instead, I’ll have patience. When the time is right, we’ll have a family of our own.
“Rust? Did you hear me?”
I blink and shake my head.
“Sorry babe. I was in another world. What did you say?”
Her onyx eyes scan my face, then she smiles.
