Alpha Dom and His Human Surrogate

Chapter 290 – Contractions

Ella

Slowly, I breathe through my contractions, taking deep breaths in through my nose and huffing them out of my mouth. The pain is…well, I suppose I can’t say like anything I’ve felt before, can I? Not after all I’ve been through in the past five months. But it’s incredible, the way it radiates through my body, making me grit my teeth against it.

I can feel my body moving, changing along with the contractions. The pain in my pelvis, particularly, is insane, as the bones shift to make room for the baby to pass through. My eyes flash open during one particularly difficult contraction and I hear myself cry out against the pain. God, I would have thought that being a wolf made this easier – wolves seem to have a whole litter of pups without much trouble, by themselves out in the woods.

Passingly, I consider shifting into my wolf form to ease this

–

But then, suddenly, Sinclair bursts into my room, dashing for me.

“What,” he gasps, almost skidding to the side, looking me all over for what is wrong. “What is it, Ella – I heard you scream –”

“No,” I say, gasping a little as the contraction starts to come to its end. “No, it’s just the contraction – god, Dominic, these suck – ”

He shakes his head, still panicked, trying to put it all together as he kneels by the side of the bed and takes my hand. “Cora is coming, she’s close,” he murmurs. “She’ll be allowed in.”

“And Hank?” I ask, looking at my mate. “And Roger?”

“Roger?” Sinclair asks, confused.

“Yes, Dominic! Roger! I want him here as well!”

“Why?” Sinclair’s eyes are wide with wonder now.

shoulder, frowning at him. “He’s the child’s uncle! And his godfather! He should be here! I can’t believe

Sinclair sighs, reaching for the cell phone in his back pocket as I lean back on into the pillows, taking deep breaths. “I can’t believe you’re thinking about propriety while you’re giving birth

–

((

make it for Rafe!” I snap, determined. “And if I have to give birth in a war zone with no epidural, then Roger can damn well get out of bed and come

without any further questions. I hear him tapping on his phone and then he shifts. I watch him stand, leaning over

bed, quickly taking the pillowcase between his two hands and

C

boil water that’s just in the movies. I’m sure

leaning down and wiping the sweat from my brow with the little square of pillowcase folded in

“I feel… determined,” I say, gazing up at him. “Rafe is ready. He told me so. We’re

taking my chin between the fingers of his

–

and in pain. I am strong. For him, and for Rafe, and yes – for myself – I can

–

hands moving low on my stomach. “Here comes

start to breathe in that

together. I’m moving through this birth process fast, and I don’t have any control over it. If I could wait, just hold him in while we wait for Cora to get

like Rafe and my body

of the travel clothes I was wearing on the way here. He brings me two cool cups

face the worry and guilt that he’s done something horrible in not getting me to the hospital.

flies into the room, panting, a medical bag slung over her shoulder. I almost spill the glass of tap water Sinclair

singular focus to be at my side, to

balance himself so that he doesn’t go sprawling on the floor. Cora ignores

enture

her eyes sweeping over me. “Tell me what’s going