Kahn was finally able to coax her up to her bedroom to rest. When she hadn’t come down, he went to her room and found her asleep. After covering her with a blanket, he left, shutting her bedroom door quietly behind him, grateful she’d found some peace.
“I’m waiting for more, what is it?” Kahn asked, again. He’d been headed for his bedroom and was running out of patience.
“I found Rudy’s allies and they’ve been arrested.”
That was good news, too, but Kahn just didn’t have it in him to acknowledge it, so he just nodded before heading upstairs where, if he was lucky, sleep might find him.
Reeve watched his mate leave the kitchen, deciding not to ask him about Josiah’s remains. That would have to wait till tomorrow, along with letting Kahn know they were mates—much to his buffalo’s discontent at the delay. It was clear his mate was mentally and physically exhausted and had reached his limit.
Finishing his coffee, Reeve’s mind drifted to Dylon and the power he’d felt in him. It was almost as strong as Jackson’s and that piqued his interest. The man was also clever—Dylon played the game extremely well with his brief answers. He gave nothing away and was perfectly content to continue until Reeve had given up. That ability must have come from his politician father, Franklin Royd.
Yawning, he rose, stretching out his muscles. What he needed was to let his agitated buffalo loose, but not until Kahn knew they were mates. Until then, it was just too risky. After checking in with each of his men, Reeve headed upstairs, hoping his buffalo would give him a break. He yearned for a good night’s sleep in a comfortable bed, but instead, he sat down in front of Kahn’s bedroom door. It was the only place his animal would let him sleep, even though their mate was no longer in danger.
~/~/~/~/~
Dakota wasn’t sure what woke him up, but it took only a moment for him to realize what was happening. Clutching his belly as another shot of pain ripped through him, he could feel his pup trying to get out. “Slate,” he moaned, barely above a whisper.Then as another contraction seized him, he screamed, unable to keep silent anymore. The pup was coming—but it was too soon.
His mate’s cry awakened Slate instantly. Jumping up from the cot next to Dakota’s bed, he knew what was happening. “Babe, hang on…I’ll get Mac.” Hurrying out of the room, Slate ran down the hall, yelling Mac’s name.
Waking up with a start, Mac sat up on the cot in his office, trying to clear his foggy brain. It was the second night he’d been sleeping in his office to be close to Dakota should the need arise. Hearing the panic in Slate’s voice as it drew closer to him, Mac realized what was happening. Quickly donning his scrubs, he sent a text to Colton and Jackson before leaving to tend to Dakota.
Seeing Mac, Slate yelled, “The baby’s coming!”
When Mac reached the panicky father-to-be, he grabbed Slate’s shoulders and held him until they were eye-to-eye. “Calm down…you won’t help Dakota if he senses your fear. Trust me…everything will be okay.” Mac waited until Slate nodded his head before asking, “How far apart are the labor pains?”
Slate stared blankly at Mac, his mind trying to remember what he’d read in the New Father’s Guide, but to no avail. All he could focus on were his mate’s screams of pain.
Shaking his head, Mac turned and headed for Dakota’s room, with Slate on his heels. Hurrying to the source of the screams that were now coming just a few minutes apart, he knew the baby would soon force his way out, putting Dakota at grave risk. Turning the corner in the hallway, he saw Colton rush into Dakota’s room with Ian and Jackson following.Thank the fucking gods!Pausing, Mac held out his hand, stopping Jackson from entering Dakota’s room. Then, pointing over his shoulderto Slate, he said, “Jackson, I need you to keep his wolf under control. It’s only gonna get worse before it gets better.”
Nodding, Jackson stepped around Mac and, facing Slate, used his Alpha Power to freeze him in place, murmuring, “You can’t go in there right now.”
While he knew about Jackson’s power, Slate had never been the recipient of it until that moment and his wolf wasn’t having any part of it. Their mate was in pain and needed them. Slate’s fingers shifted into claws, fur sprouted on his arms, and his face turned into his wolf’s. Before Jackson could increase his Alpha Power, Slate completed his shift. Crouched on his four paws, his wolf growled at the Alpha, refusing to obey any command that would keep him from protecting his mate.
Without wasting a second, Jackson increased his power, forcing Slate’s wolf to back off. He was loathe to do it—aware of Slate’s need to be with Dakota—but had no choice. Slate’s wolf posed too much of a threat to Mac, Colton, and Ian—especially when the incision was made in Dakota’s belly. The smell of his mate’s blood would drive Slate’s wolf crazy.
“Steady now, Slate,” Maximus commanded, arriving at the scene. Adding his Alpha Power to Jackson’s, he forced Slate to shift back to a human. Looking down at his son, curled up in a fetal position on the floor, he reached down and helped him up, murmuring, “Come now, Dakota will be all right.” Then glancing at Jackson, he said, “I’ve got him now…go see to Dakota.” Helping his son into an empty room, Maximus kicked the door shut behind him, before sitting down with Slate.
“Where’s my brother?” Steel asked worriedly as he joined Jackson.
“In there…with your father,” Jackson said, pointing to a door. “Would you get him something to wear? Mac must have some extra scrubs down here somewhere. I have to check on Dakota.”
“Got it, babe,” Steel said, giving his mate a brief hug before heading to the supply closet.
Pausing outside Dakota’s room, Jackson offered up a quick prayer to the gods, asking them to keep his brother safe. Then, opening the door, he entered, stopping at the foot of Dakota’s bed.
“We had to put him under in order to save him and the baby,” Colton said, softly, holding a mask over Dakota’s face.
“Isn’t it too soon?” asked Jackson.
“Babies come when they come,” Ian replied, handing a scalpel to Mac. “Where’s Slate?”
“With Maximus and Steel,” Jackson muttered, watching the scalpel cut into his brother’s flesh. He was so focused on the surgery, he jumped when an alarm went off, filling the room with a sound that brought dread to him.
“The baby’s heart rate is dropping,” Colton warned.
“Get him out now!” Ian ordered.
Without hesitating, Mac reached down through the incision and grabbed the baby’s body, pulling him out.
