Sold AS The alpha King's Breeder

Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder Chapter 641

CHAPTER 141 : OF ALL THE NIGHTS TO BE BORN

*Xander*

Rowan was pacing back and forth across the length of the library, a glass of scotch clutched so tightly in his hand that I thought it was going to crack. Troy and Ethan were quietly chatting as they sat opposite of each other in two high-backed armchairs. They seemed calm, practically jovial.

Rowan, on the other hand, looked like he was going to murder someone.

Lena had kicked me out of the bedroom she was laboring in. I didn’t protest, not at the time. I was planning on going back up there to relieve Maeve of her “support person” duties once I finished the light dinner a maid had brought up for us in the library.

I was also waiting for news about the ship carrying Adrian and Abigail to the port of Findali, which was late because of the thunderstorm that was brewing over Mirage. Rain was starting to patter against the windows, but I found the sound comforting. I hoped Lena would, too.

“Can I get you another drink?” I asked Rowan, who was either ignoring me or didn’t hear me, whichever one. I let out my breath in a long, drawn-out sigh. I hated that Lena was suffering. Knowing that she was in pain was ripping me to shreds. But her agony was coming out sideways, and she was lashing out at everyone and everything. I couldn’t comfort her right now, and it was killing me.

I didn’t let it show. I walked back over to the long table in the center of the library and forked another bite of roast beef into my mouth, washing it down with tepid coffee. It was going to be a long night. Lena wasn’t progressing as fast as we originally thought.

The library door swung open and Maeve walked inside, red in the face and her hair tied in a messy, somewhat sweaty bun on the top of her head.

Everyone in the room turned to her, and for a moment my heart dropped into my stomach thinking I’d missed the birth, but Maeve caught my gaze and shook her head.

“She’s fine–pissed, but just fine. She said she was going to try to sleep for a while,” Maeve breathed, glancing toward the food on the table.

I motioned for her to eat as I walked toward the door leading out of the hallway and into the first-floor corridor. I didn’t look back as muted conversation about Lena and the baby rippled through the air. Maeve would fill them in, I was sure, and I’d find out for myself what kind of shape Lena was in now.

I walked up the grand stone staircase to the third floor. It was quiet up here, and down one darkened corridor I could see our bedroom door was slightly ajar, but darkened. I let out the breath I was holding, thankful she was able to get some rest.

But then I heard whispering coming from the sitting room just across the hall from our bedroom.

I stepped inside the sitting room to find Hanna with her arms crossed over her chest, her cheeks pink with emotion while the midwife, a portly older woman who I found out had a mean streak, packed up her things.

“What’s going on?” I said in a hiss as I stepped into the room.

Hanna’s eyes flicked up to mine before she ran her hands over her face, her shoulders slumping in resignation.

“The labor has stalled. That baby isn’t coming ’til tomorrow, I guarantee it–”

she gathered up her bag. She blinked up at me, shrugging

morning,” she replied casually, pushing past

stop, and that she was staying, but she was gone before

face

hasn’t made any progress since

midwife just

mother who is progressing

I could say anything

the room, red in

shutting the door behind him. I exhaled, crossing my arms over my

nothing I can do about it!” she argued. “Lena is fine, anyway. She’s

the car around. We’re taking her to the hospital,” Rowan said firmly, running his fingers through

what she wants!” Hanna protested, and I felt the electricity between the two mates fall over

said with conviction. “If things get worse, we’ll have the midwife come back. If her labor has truly stalled, then there’s

“They’re fine.”

we wait

practice and see if she can come,” Rowan said, his voice leveling out as his initial anger

it’s best if the original midwife doesn’t come back, anyway. Lena doesn’t like her, and I don’t either,”

behind me. Lena was asleep in the bed with what looked like five bedrooms worth of pillows around her. Her hair was damp with sweat, and her face was twisted in a painful scowl, but she was asleep.

room and sat in the armchair near the window so I could have a full view of her face as she laid on her side. Rain was streaming down the windows now, and outside, the wind was starting to pick up.

to be born,” I whispered to my unborn daughter, “you chose this

***

as she stood in front of me, bent at the waist, her head pressing into my stomach. I was breathing hard, watching as Maeve

panes in the windows tremble violently as the room was lit up by a flash of blue lightning. Lena screamed, and not from the storm.

at all from the midwives,” a third maid cried as she rushed into the room with a basket full of supplies. Gauze and antiseptic jostled in her basket as she hurried to the

onto her for dear life while she brought our daughter into the world

me with tears in her eyes, but no fear. Determination was etched into her expression, a righteous fury behind her eyes that immediately

I asked, and

at Maeve and

at me and Lena with a soft smile on her face as Elaine

okay. All I could do now was to continue telling myself that

and the road to the castle is washed out. I don’t know about the trail–” Rosalie began, but Lena’s moan of pure

against my chest, her cheek pressed against the sweat-soaked fabric of my T-shirt. I closed my eyes, letting that shadow of power embrace

you want to be?” I asked in a