61. Alena

61

ALENA

T he first contraction came out of the blue and hit Alena with the force of a freight train, a searing, twisting pain that radiated from her back and left her breathless. She gasped, one hand flying to her belly with the other groping for Orion's arm.

"It's happening," she managed, her voice tight with strain. "The baby's coming."

With a strangled sound, Orion tore the virtual reality headset off his head and dropped it on the couch. His face drained of color as he stared at her with wide, panicked eyes. "What do we do now? I forgot what I need to do."

They'd been preparing for weeks, and he'd had everything memorized, but panic had a way of erasing sense. Her mate, the fearless warrior, was reduced to a stammering mess at the prospect of impending fatherhood.

It was endearing to see him so unraveled. But she didn't have time to coddle him, not when their child was eager to make its way into the world.

Kid number fourteen would not take as long as kid number one had taken, or even number five. That first contraction had not been a gentle warning. It was a war horn.

It was time.

"Call Merlin," she said, her voice calm and steady now that the pain had subsided. "Tell him that we are on our way to the clinic. I suggest you summon a golf cart because I won't make it there on foot. The baby would come out on the way."

Yeah, that wasn't the best way to approach a male who was already panicking, but she really didn't have time. This baby was going to be out in less than an hour.

Orion nodded, fumbling for his phone with shaking hands. As he dialed, Alena focused on her breathing, on the familiar rhythm of inhale and exhale that had carried her through thirteen previous labors. This was like a comfortable old hat for her, a dance she knew by heart. But for Orion, it was all new, all raw and terrifying in its intensity.

Her delivery bag had been packed since before the cruise, and she kept it by the door so Orion wouldn't have to look for it.

There was nothing to prepare because she'd been ready for weeks, hoping the baby would arrive early. Instead, it was arriving late.

She reached for Orion's hand, lacing her fingers through his and giving them a reassuring squeeze. "It's going to be all right," she murmured, meeting his gaze with a soft smile. "I've done this many times before, remember? Fourteen is my lucky number."

Orion didn't look convinced, but he managed a shaky nod, bringing her hand to his lips and pressing a kiss to her knuckles. "I love you so much," he whispered. "I love you so much, Alena. You're the strongest person I know."

"I love you too." She smiled. "But we better get moving, or this baby will be born on this sofa, with you delivering it."

The last comment did what she'd expected: lighting a fire under Orion's bottom and getting him moving fast.

When they left their house, a Guardian was waiting for them with a golf cart. "Hold on tight." He smiled at Alena. "It's going to be a bumpy ride."

She lifted a hand. "No need to drive like a bat out of hell, Rodney. Slow and safe will get us there on time."

During the drive another contraction hit her harder than the first, and as she white-knuckled the seat and bit on her lip to stop herself from whimpering, Orion continued calling her family to let them know that the baby was coming.

By the time they reached the clinic, she'd had three more contractions. They were coming every two minutes now, which meant she was getting close.

Orion half-carried her inside, his strong arms supporting her weight as Merlin and Hildegard rushed to meet them.

The eccentric doctor was a comforting sight. He hadn't delivered any of her other babies, who had all been born before he had even been born, but she liked him and his unruly shock of white hair and his piercing blue eyes that seemed to see straight into the heart of things.

Orion, on the other hand, wasn't pleased with Merlin. The doctor's eccentricities blinded him to how brilliant and compassionate he was.

The distrust was written all over his face. "When are Bridget and Julian coming back?"

Merlin smiled good-naturedly. "When the twins are back on their feet, I guess. But don't worry. Alena is in good hands. Hildegard and I have delivered plenty of babies over the years, and your mate is a pro at this. She'll be fine."

"You delivered human babies."

Hildegard stifled a chuckle. "There is no difference. Now stop jabbering and get your wife on the bed. There is no time to waste."