Chapter Twenty-Three

Rowan

Three words I never thought I'd hear myself say: Pregnancy Yoga Lessons.

But here I was, stretching and moving along with the instructor Talon insisted be brought into the house, even after I showed him the plethora of videos available for free online.

That man didn't listen.

My blood pressure had corrected itself, which Amir said was a rare thing but sometimes happened with shifters, and with my due date coming up, he signed off on the yoga provided my BP continued to be normal. I had to test it before and after each session.

After my session with Jada, she insisted on a small meditation. I turned around to roll my eyes but complied, opting for my chair next to the bed instead of trying to get down onto the floor only to need help getting back up.

I'd made that mistake day before yesterday when she insisted on the same thing.

I closed my eyes and listened intently to her words. Words of calm and reassurance. Sometimes her counsel during these meditations was so on point, I would swear Talon had given her a Rowan point by point email, telling her what to say.

"Breathe in calm and breathe out turmoil and anxiety. All is well."

I repeated the mantra. I wouldn't easily admit it to anyone except Talon, but as much as I fussed and kicked up dirt about the meditation, I thought it was helping.

I had made it to week thirty-eight and so, I was all clear. Whenever this babe of mine wanted to come, we were ready.

All of us.

Once the session was over, I stood to thank Jada. When I did, a great whoosh that started in my lower belly released a gush of water that traveled down my legs.

"It's okay, Rowan," Jada said. She immediately got on the phone and called Talon. Talon bounded up the steps and was in front of me in seconds.

"I called the healer. He's on his way. Would you like to shower first?"

I tipped my chin in Jada's direction. Didn't really have it in me to speak yet.

"Jada. I'm sorry. Thank you for the session. Your pay is already in your account." He dismissed her the way he dismissed me after my interview with him. When my alpha dismissed someone, they left. Promptly.

It was his way.

"Yes, I need to shower," I said.

Talon washed me and, while we were drying off, an aching pain clamped down on my lower back in a wave, making me cry out and brace myself on the edge of the counter.

"Talon, I think this baby is coming right now."

"The healer is on the way."

I laughed. It sounded hysterical. "The baby doesn't give two shits, Talon. They are coming. Now."

We had planned on a home birth but not like this. There was a sterile tub and water to be drawn, but we had no time for that. My mate thought fast and ran some slightly warm water into our huge tub.

"Get in," he said as the water still ran.

"I think…I think I need to push." I grabbed hold of the edges of the tub and bore down, pushing all my force down into my hips and the channel where the babe would emerge.

"You're pushing already?" Talon was on his knees beside me. He had never looked so helpless before. So powerless.

If my alpha hadn't built me up in the months since he'd loved me and known me, I might not be able to be the strength our babe needed.

But he had.

And I had it in me to deliver this baby.

"It's…" I cried out. "I think that's the head. Gods, I'm on fire!"

I raised up in the tub to give the push of a lifetime, more than ready to get this baby out of me.

The healer appeared in the doorway and rushed to my side. He nearly jumped into the tub, trying to check out what was happening. "Your baby is crowned. Two or three more pushes and we're there."

"Okay. I've got this. I'm strong and capable." I thought I said those words to myself, but, when Talon leaned over and kissed my temple, I knew he had heard.

"Yes, you are. You so are."

With those sentences, I pushed with all my might. The first one released the head of our babe, and one more drove him out of me with a great whoosh of pressure.

"It's a boy," Amir said. "Ten toes and ten fingers and looks like a big, healthy boy at that. Good job, Daddy."

He placed our son on my chest. The babe immediately quieted and nuzzled against me.

"Look what we did," I said to Talon who had rivers of tears rolling down his face. One of his hands was on the back of my head and the other stroked the back of our child.

"What's his name?" Talon asked.

"Lincoln James Marwood," I said. "We can call him Link."

"Hello, Link," my mate cooed at our boy. "I'm your papa and this is your sweet, strong, daddy. We love you so much."

Amir took Link so he could be cleaned up and weighed and measured. Vivian came in and after delivering the afterbirth, helped me from the tub. I could see how torn Talon was, looking from me to the babe and back again. I insisted he stay with Link.

Finally, a few hours later, after we were both checked over, Amir left and asked us to call if there was anything we needed. He made sure Link was latching well and drinking, which he was, like a champ. Vivian brought in some snacks and told us to call when we wanted a real meal.

All was quiet. Amir said my blood pressure and the swelling would go down and I would heal faster than a human, of course, but to take it slow.

"He's perfect." I handed Link to his papa. Talon sat next to me and hadn't moved from that spot.

"He is and so are you. I can't get over how strong you've become."

I nodded. "You made me strong."

"No." My mate shook his head. "You were strong all along; you only needed the proper praise." He lifted his gaze to me and kissed my lips, lingering longer than a peck. "I love you, Rowan. I'm grateful every day for the moment you walked into that interview."

"I love you too, Talon. You're the best mate I could've ever asked for."