***
I had nearly blacked out with pain on the way to the hospital, and the memories of how we even got there were vague at best. I think Jericho must have carried me or something, because I felt sweat drip down his forehead before he and Ken placed me on the stretcher.
“...your name Mason?”
“Huh?” I asked, blinking underneath the harsh fluorescent lighting.
“Is your name Mason?” the woman asked again. A nurse, I realized.
“Yeah,” I croaked.
“We’re going to get you feeling better soon, don’t worry. The pup is on its way out,” she said.
“Pups,” Ken corrected. “I’m a doctor and I gave him a quick once-over before we came here. He’s having two.”
Her brows raised. “Two, eh?” she said to me with a smile. “Well, aren’t you lucky.”
Right now, I did not feel lucky at all. My whole body was wracked with pain. Jericho held my hand, and I felt like I was nearly tearing it off with the amount of force I was mustering. But my sweet alpha never complained. He gazed down at me with eyes full of sympathy.
“I know it hurts,” he said, smoothing back my hair with his free hand that I wasn’t currently crushing. “But it’s going to be all over soon, and you’re going to forget about the pain as soon as you see your babies. I promise.”
I whimpered, unable to speak, and nodded slightly. He leaned down and kissed my forehead. I almost started crying. I don’t know what I would’ve done if Jericho wasn’t here.
At that moment, I heard a door burst open and footsteps rushed in.
“Mason, are you okay?” Beth cried.
My hormones were raging and I almost cried at the sight of my friend. “Yeah. Well, no. I’m in agony.”
She smiled. “I know. It must really suck. But I heard you’re having twins?”
Before I could answer her, more people rushed into the room.
“Is he delivering right now?” Charlie asked Ken frantically.
There were more of my friends’ voices - I heard Flint, Shadow, and Tyson, at the very least. More voices mingled until it was all chaos in my head. I groaned but couldn’t find the words to make everyone be quiet.
Thankfully the nurse and Jericho had the same idea at the same time. They turned towards the gaggle of people crowding up the room and snapped, “Everyone be quiet!”
It went silent.
“Come. Let’s go get you prepared to have those babies,” the nurse said gently to me.
Jericho and Ken followed us in. I saw Beth coming towards me with a sympathetic expression, but the nurse held out a hand to prevent her from following.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “Family and doctors only, please. You can see your friend once he’s done delivering.”
Beth and I exchanged a glance, then she disappeared from sight as the nurse wheeled me away to the delivery room.
***
I woke, groggy and confused. I was aware of being in a hospital bed, and hating it. The white walls and fluorescent lights made me feel uncomfortable and out of place.
Then I remembered where the hell I was and what was happening.
“My pups,” I muttered, my voice hoarse from disuse.
Instantly Jericho was there, and calm washed over me again. His face was bright and his mouth was stretched in a big grin.
