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–”

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

be back in the morning,” she replied casually,

that she was staying, but she was gone before I could

her breath behind me, hugging herself. I turned to face her, my face twisted in

contractions slowed, and she hasn’t

midwife just

who is progressing quicker,

But before I could say anything else,

stormed into the room, red

think she’s going?” Rowan growled, shutting the door behind him. I exhaled, crossing my arms over my chest as

she

to the hospital,”

and I felt the electricity between

get worse, we’ll have the midwife come back. If her labor has truly stalled, then

“They’re fine.”

wait

midwife nearby. I’ll have someone call down to her practice and see if she can come,” Rowan said, his

best if the original midwife doesn’t come back, anyway. Lena doesn’t like her,

walked across the hallway, sliding into our bedroom and shutting the door behind me. Lena was asleep in the bed with what looked

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,

whispered to my unborn

***

ripping through my skin as she stood in front of me, bent at the waist, her head pressing into my

thunder made the glass 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. This

as she hurried to the bed, where Maeve was laying out several blankets and towels. There was an old infirmary downstairs that hadn’t been staffed in years,

I was holding onto her for dear life while she

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

I asked, and she

in my breath and tore my gaze from hers to look at Maeve and Hanna, who were standing side

with a soft smile on her face as Elaine and Clare lingered in the

in this room. We’d be okay. All I could do now was to continue telling myself

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

pressed against the sweat-soaked fabric of my T-shirt. I closed my eyes, letting that shadow of

you want to be?” I asked in a whisper. “Do you want to lie