Page 366 of Claimed By the Rival Alpha
130
BRYN
After the battle, we made sure the Garou and Camas Packs didn’t need further assistance, then we returned to Kings’ territory. We were all beyond exhausted, but it didn’t really hit me until I smelled the familiar sweetness of Kings’ land. Night and I all but collapsed into each other on our bed, and we slept for as long as we could allow ourselves to sleep.
About thirty-six hours after we got home, I woke up in bed alone. Night had left a note explaining that he hadn’t wanted to wake me. His side of the bed was cold, so he must have been gone for hours. As I sat up and stretched, I felt a tightening around my stomach.
I hadn’t come out unscathed. Yes, I had minimal injuries, but all the running and fighting and yelling had led to me feeling a bit off. According to the pregnancy books Mom had gotten me, I was experiencing Braxton-Hicks contractions. Every day, from the moment I woke up until about lunchtime, the tightening came and lasted for about a minute at a time. It was a little annoying, but I was grateful for it.
Feeling it meant I was alive and my little one was alive. We had survived the impossible, and now we just needed to deal with the remaining problems—namely, the ferals. Sometime soon, I would have to speak to the pack about what we were going to do about those kids.
I took a long shower, letting the hot water soothe my aching muscles. Just as I dried off and wrapped myself in a towel, Night stepped into the bathroom.
“Hey,” he said with a grin. “I was wondering if you were awake.”
“I haven’t been up long.” I wrapped my arms around his neck and stood on tiptoe to kiss his cheek. “What have you been doing?”
“I checked in with the pack to see if they needed some extra support.”
“Did they?”
“Not really. Things ran smoothly without us.”
“That’s good to hear.”
“They also want us to update them on the ferals and what specifically happened with Troy. I said we’d address that tomorrow.”
I nodded. “I was just thinking about that. I want the parents to know everything that happened. And if they want to go to the site of the battle, we’ll let them.”
“I agree.” He ran his hand through my wet hair, and I giggled when the ends fell, splashing us with cold droplets of water. “Our moms have something for us. They caught me earlier today. They’re probably on their way.”
“Huh. It probably has something to do with the baby.”
“Most likely.”
Just then, the front door opened, and our mothers’ voices drifted up the stairs. “That’s definitely them,” I said.
I finished getting dressed, then Night and I went downstairs. When the women saw me, they squealed and rushed to hug me. Night moved out of their way while they demanded to know how I was feeling.
I laughed at their enthusiasm. “I’m okay, I promise,” I assured them. “I’m a little tired and sore, but I’m okay.”
“Come, sit, sit,” they insisted as they led me to the couch.
“I’ll make some tea,” Night said. He left to do that, leaving me sandwiched between the grandmas.
“We were worried sick about you, Bryn,” Mom said. “You cannot do that to us again.”
“I’m sorry I worried you two so much. But now that Troy is officially out of our lives, I think I can promise that I won’t have to go on such dangerous missions again. At least, not for a while.”
They sighed in unison. “I guess that’s all we can ask for,” Violet said. “You’re a den mother now, and we can’t keep you from carrying out your responsibilities.”
“Exactly.” I rested my head on my mom’s shoulder. “Still, I’m glad it’s over.”
“So are we, and so is the entire pack. We’ve all been waiting for the news,” Violet said.
“We’re planning on speaking to the pack soon.”
“How are you feeling?” Mom asked, putting the back of her hand on my forehead.
