Chapter Eight

Sheldon

I knocked on the half-open door because it didn’t seem polite to walk into a mated pair’s bedroom unannounced. Dakota sat upright on the bed with the blankets tucked up under his armpits. My brother sat lower down on the bed massaging his mate’s feet. I almost didn’t want to interrupt them, but I’d already knocked.

“Come on in,” Cardian said.

“Travis could’ve come too, if he wanted,” Dakota said in lieu of hello.

“He wants to give you guys privacy,” I said, but Dakota laughed.

“Yes, I’m on Scott’s side, but actually on his side. So, whatever he wants us to do about what happened, I’m doing. As of right now Travis isn’t on his shitlist. So, he’s not on mine either. It’s nice to meet you by the way,” he said and nodded to a kitchen chair someone had brought into the bedroom.

“You too,” I sat down in the chair.

I cocked my head to the side. A noise tickled my eardrum, and I couldn’t place it. It wasn’t the whoosh or splash of water breaking. It wasn’t someone next door running a faucet. It was a huff and then a tug and something more. I hadn’t heard the combination all together before.

“Sheddy? What is it?” Cardian asked, his shoulders squaring out like he was ready to do a security sweep with his sword as soon as I gave the word.

“I’m not sure,” I said and nodded toward Dakota’s full moon belly. “May I?”

“He’s your nephew,” Dakota nodded before my brother could answer.

I stood and inched onto the bed not wanting to get bitten by the laboring wolf man for invading his space too quickly. His heart skipped a beat as I grew closer, but he nodded for me to go ahead. I pressed my ear to his belly through the blanket ignoring Travis’s approaching footfalls. I shook my head and listened again. I’d heard my fair share of pregnant bellies in the coven, but this was different. This wasn’t right or okay. I glanced up at Travis standing big-eyed in the doorway. I mouthed the word ‘doctor’ to him and sat up. He turned with blurring speed and disappeared down the hallway.

“What’s going on?” Dakota asked.

“I’m not sure. I’m sure it’s nothing,” I said, stumbling over what to say.

“Sheddy?” Cardian said, drawing out my name.

“It’s just a sound I’ve never heard before, but I’ve never listened to a wolf’s pregnant belly before. It’s probably nothing,” I said, moving back to the chair next to the bed wishing Travis was already back with the doctor.

Cardian dropped Dakota’s foot on the mattress and moved to the top of the bed to hold his mate. I was an asshole scaring a laboring carrier over what was probably nothing.

The doctor arrived quicker than I anticipated since the village’s build wasn’t as tightly knit as the stronghold.

“I’m Dara,” the dragon announced walking into the room. “Terrick’s on the way. I asked my mates to get the portable ready and to send him with it. I came ahead. What did you hear?”

He didn’t give me time to answer the question before he pulled his stethoscope from around his neck and put it on. Cardian uncovered his mate’s pregnant belly and Dakota didn’t protest. Dara pressed the cool ringing metal against the pregnant man’s belly and shut his eyes. He moved it once and then again. He bit his lip. I swallowed a groan. Of all the times I wanted to be wrong, this was the most important.

Dara stood up and wrapped his stethoscope around his neck.

“In the old days, I would’ve taken you into the hall, Cardian, to explain things, but fortunately for us, this isn’t the old days. We need to move you, Dakota, to the clinic. There’s a chance the baby’s wrapped himself up in his cord and you might need an emergency cesarean.”

“Can you do those?” Cardian asked.

“I’ve done many of those,” Dara nodded, his scent still eerily calm. “Let’s get him up and we’ll get him over there. Nothing to be afraid of,” he added to Dakota. “Baby’s heartbeat is still strong.”

“Just do whatever you need to!” Dakota said, his voice raising in octave.

“I’m coming too!” I stood up looking around for Dakota’s robe and found it hanging from the foot board.

My heart skipped a beat and I prayed to a universe who hardly listened in that the baby was okay.