Chapter 20

Chapter

Twenty

Callista

I didn't wait for Kael to stop the truck before I leaped out the door and sprinted into the trees. Lush ferns brushed against my legs, and branches snagged my clothes as I pushed through the underbrush. I didn't care. I needed to get to Marissa.

I knew what it felt like for my body to be out of control, and I couldn't imagine having to stop on the side of the highway to give birth. She had to be terrified.

My ears strained for any sound of the others. Rowan and Jasper had gotten ahead of us by a few minutes.

"This way," Lana called.

I shifted direction, my boots struggling for traction on the moss-covered logs. If I slipped, I was going to bite it hard. My arms were filled with supplies, and there was no way I'd be able to catch myself.

Somehow, I stayed upright, and a few seconds later, we saw them. Marissa on her hands and knees on a quilt, Evelyn and Will by her side. She wore an oversized T-shirt and socks, but her pants were already off. Rowan crouched next to them, looking like he'd just been slapped.

Marissa's breaths came in short, sharp gasps, and her hands gripped the fabric beneath her. Her chestnut hair was plastered to her forehead, and her eyes were half-closed, her face a mask of concentration and agony.

Kael slowed, approaching warily. Will growled under his breath, his territorial protectiveness and panic warring with his knowledge that he couldn't do this on his own. "Who the hell is this?"

"He's Finn for the moment," Jasper muttered.

Evelyn's hair fell over her shoulder as she leaned in and spoke in calm, soothing tones, instructing Marissa to breathe, to focus on her voice.

Kael took another step, and Will stepped between him and his mate. I waited for Kael to snipe at him, but he didn't. "I know how to deliver pups. I'm going to make sure they're both safe." His voice was calm, authoritative. He didn't wait for a response from Will, just moved past him and dropped to his knees.

Will's dark brown eyes flashed. "How are you going to help with one arm?"

My jaw dropped. Kael didn't answer. He just opened the bag of supplies he'd bought and pulled out a spool of string and scissors. "You've got two choices. I can help as best I can with one arm, or you can deliver this pup yourself."

Will's jaw ticked, and after a moment, he stepped back. "Fine. But if you hurt her?—"

"He's not going to hurt her," I snapped. "And that was an asshole comment." I pushed past him and knelt next to Kael. "How can I help?"

"Let's get her comfortable." He showed me where to put my hands as we helped Marissa into a crouch. He pointed at Will. "I need you to sit behind her and support her so she can relax." Will surprisingly didn't argue. He followed his instructions as Kael unwrapped the string and used his knee to help him cut two lengths, then set them on the blanket.

"I'm going to have Callista take off your underwear so I can see where we're at." Kael looked Marissa in the eyes. Marissa winced in pain and nodded.

I waited for Will to object, but he didn't so much as flinch as I reached under Marissa's shirt and stretched her underwear over her knees. She lifted her heels one at a time.

Kael slipped a towel under her, and it was a good thing he did. Fluid and blood leaked out of her, soaking the fabric. He gave instructions to Rowan and Jasper, then scrubbed his hand with the soap and the bucket of water Bill set next to him.

He dried it on a clean towel and then placed it on Marissa's knee. "I'm going to check to see how close we are to this pup entering the world, okay?"

She nodded once, leaning back on her mate's shoulder. Will whispered something to her, and she nodded, her breathing heavy.

Kael's expression shifted.

"What's wrong?" Will demanded, his voice cracking.

Kael drew a deep breath. "Nothing. Your baby's heart is strong."

He was lying. My heart started to race.

Tell me, I sent to him. With my emotions heightened, it felt as easy as breathing to push my thoughts.

The baby's breech. We need to turn it. Kael moved further up the quilt. "Callista's going to help me turn your baby a bit so he can come out smoothly."

Marissa squeezed her eyes shut. "Okay." She gritted her teeth as another contraction gripped her.

Put your hand on the baby's bottom. Kael put his hand over mine and guided it between Marissa's legs. I held in a gasp as my palm met slick heat. You're going to apply gentle pressure when I tell you.

I nodded. He removed his hand and placed his hand on her abdomen.

"Now." Kael began applying pressure with his hand, pushing the baby's head upward, away from the pelvis. I mirrored his movement, my hand on the baby's bottom, applying just enough pressure to assist the turn. Kael guided me with subtle nods and brief instructions, our movements synchronized as if we'd done this a hundred times before.

I felt it again. Safe. This version of him, capable and calm—steady—made me want to open my heart wide and drink him in.

"A little more, please." Kael was gentle, and as I adjusted my pressure, the baby started to shift beneath my fingers.

Holy shit. I didn't realize I'd sent that thought until the corner of Kael's mouth twitched. There was the ridge of a spine and then?—

"A head. There's a?—"

Marissa wailed, bearing down as another contraction hit.

Kael moved back between her knees, and I pulled my hand back. Bill offered me the bucket of water and soap.

Marissa's cries grew more insistent, and Kael breathed with her. "You're doing amazing, Marissa. Just a little longer."

Will's hands shook as he held Marissa's, his knuckles white from the pressure. Evelyn's eyes were wide, her breathing shallow. Kael applied the iodine with gauze, and Rowan was ready next to him with a trash bag.

"On the next contraction, you're going to push, okay?" Kael motioned for Bill to wipe up the mess under her and place another clean towel beneath her and one on Kael's lap.

Marissa let out a guttural moan as she curled into herself, and Kael placed my hands on her knees, showing me how to apply counterpressure.

"Amazing. Breathe deep and then one more like that." His hand was there on the pup's smooth head. Tears pricked my eyes when I saw a shock of dark hair on its tiny head.

"Here we go," Kael soothed as Marissa's body shook with the effort of another push.

Before I could blink, the baby slipped free. Kael caught the newborn, his hand steady as he cradled the tiny, squalling form in his lap.

Will's eyes filled with tears, and he reached out, his hands shaking. "Is it?—"

"She's perfect," Kael smiled. He gently wiped the mucous from the baby's face and turned her on her stomach. He didn't have to do anything else. She sucked in a breath and cried. A strong, healthy wail. Kael handed the baby to Marissa, who tucked the pup under her shirt and held her up against her chest, her shoulders shaking with sobs.

Tears trailed over my cheeks. It was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen.

Kael tapped my hand, handing me the string. "Marissa if you can lower the baby a little." She let her daughter descend, and Kael turned the pup toward us. "Can you tie this there and there?" He pointed to two places on the umbilical cord.

I nodded and did as he asked. "Is that tight enough?"

"Perfect." He reached for the scissors and cut the cord, then looked up at Will. "Help her lean back a little more. Marissa, you're going to feel a few more contractions."

She nodded, and Kael guided her through the final stages of delivering the afterbirth with calm, quiet instructions, never rushing, never letting the intensity of the moment take over. Kael gently coaxed the placenta out and inspected it.

What are you doing? I asked.

I need to make sure it's fully intact. If anything stays inside, it could cause infection.

I wanted to kiss him.

When he was satisfied, Kael moved back off the quilt. He looked up at Will. "You'll need to wash her at home. I don't want her to freeze out here." He turned back to Marissa. "You both did great."

"Thank you," she whispered, clutching the baby to her chest.

Kael reached for the bucket and soap, but Rowan put a hand on his shoulder. Kael looked up. Rowan didn't say anything, just nodded once and stepped back.

I helped clean up, making sure Marissa was comfortable while Kael tended to the final details, saving the afterbirth so she could take it home and dry it. I'd heard in recent years that mundanes had started following our traditions of eating our after birth. Odd since their bodies didn't need the added nutrition of supporting pups who grew at twice the rate of normal humans.

Kael and Bill started packing away the supplies. All of us jumped in to help as Jasper helped Marissa stand. He and Will took a few towels and began to carry her and the pup to their car.

"We'll wash this back at the house," Bill said, telling Evelyn to just toss everything in a trash bag.

Once we'd gathered everything together, we made the trek back to our trucks. Rowan and Jasper wouldn't let Kael do any of the work. They loaded the supplies and then looked around for anything else that needed doing.

I got in the truck with Lana. Kael walked to the passenger side of Bill's truck, and Rowan strode over to Lana's window.

She rolled it down. "Satisfied?

Rowan lowered his eyes. "Just be safe."

Lana wrapped her hand around the wheel and grinned. "I'm always safe."

Rowan rolled his eyes. He patted the side of the truck then looked up at me. "You and Kael were quite the team."

I wet my lips. "He gave good instructions."

Rowan nodded. "That's the funny thing. I didn't hear half of them." He met my eyes. "But I think you did."