Later, we cuddled on the couch and watched Christmas movies while the snow fell like feathers out the living room windows. He rubbed my belly in slow, soft circles. The best alpha ever.
I fell asleep against his chest and he woke me only because it was time for bed.
I laughed, then slowly made it up the stairs to our grand bedroom. I was still very tired and knew I would have no trouble sleeping tonight.
Keir’s house was large. It made sense for me to give up my apartment. The two of us would have been squished into that one-bedroom place. I loved the house and thought of it as home right away. It was a big gingerbread type A-frame. Since it snowed most of the year, snow on the roof made it look like permanent icing.
This year, I finally got a tree. Orwedid. Keir also got me a tree for my office back at Control. He never forgot anything when it came to spoiling me rotten.
When I woke up the next morning, I was too tired to go into work.
“I just don't think I can make it today,” I said.
“Of course, honey. You need rest. How do you feel otherwise?”
“Well, I haven't had any contractions if that's what you're asking.”
“I'll work here from my office.”
“It's alright. You can go in. I'll be fine. And I'll call you if anything happens.”
“No can do. I'm not leaving you alone. Today will be a remote day. Go back to sleep, honey. I'll be just down the hall.”
I had no problem following that order. It came from both my alpha mate and my boss. That meant business and I never argued with that.
I immediately fell back to sleep, but strange nightmares pestered me. I kept seeing that strange storm from last year. In my dreams, Santa was lost in the white, endless fields of another time and we spent days and months trying to find him. When I woke I still felt exhausted.
I got up and took a hot shower but still didn't feel right, so I went straight back to bed.
At noon, Keir brought me lunch. I could only eat a few bites.
“No contractions yet?” he asked.
“Nope. But no appetite today either.”
“I can feel the baby wanting to be born.” He stroked my forehead and made sure I stayed hydrated, constantly tipping the water bottle up to my mouth.
I pushed his hand away. “You're treating me like a baby.”
“I'm treating you like my mate. It's my job to make everything as easy as possible for you.”
“That's your job description for Santa.”
“Yes. I've got two names on my list now. But guess which one is first?”
“Santa, of course.”
He laughed and affectionately patted my shoulder. “Wrong.”
How did I get so lucky? One minute I was working in the dollmaking section of the workshop and the next I had my dream job and the best mate in the world.
Later that afternoon, my lower back began to burn. That was a sign that the baby was getting ready to meet the world.
I called Keir into the room. He made me roll onto my side and then began to rub my lower back. It really helped.
The first contraction hit around five o’clock. It felt like a tight belt around my abdomen that wouldn't let up. Then the cramps began. I breathed through it and it eased almost immediately.
Keir began to time the contractions.
