Carried Off

by Raven Willow

  “I promised to always protect and guard you.”

  “Even if right now, all I want is for you to be in our warm bed with me?” She took his hand and guided it back to her belly. “With all of us?”

  Riona heard him exhale while he pinched the bridge of his nose. He turned around and kneeled before his mate, showering her belly with kisses. She could hear him mumble something incoherent to his pups. In response, they stirred and seemed to acknowledge his presence.

  “Your papa is here...” He pulled her closer so he could immerse himself in the scent of his family. Riona closed her eyes, feeling content as her mate talked to his pups. The wolf gave up the fight and backed down, letting the man console them.

  “Your papa will never leave you.” He peppered one more kiss to the area one seemed to favor kicking before looking up at Riona.

  “I will never let anything happen to you ever again.”

  “I know.” She stood him up and walked them backwards to the bed. “But I also know you fear it.”

  She sat down, encouraging him to stand between her legs.

  “Could I not ease those fears, just for tonight?” Riona undid the ribbon holding the neckline of her gown and loosened it.

  “As your mate, it is my job to put your mind from such things.”

  She innocently looked up at him, shrugging off the top of her gown to reveal her heavy breasts.

  “Will you take me to bed?” Riona bit her lip, fighting the ache slowly building within her.

  Alistair was on her like a wild beast, covering her mouth with his own and kissing her wherever his lips trailed. He would spend all night making love with his mate, she knew.

  “Anything for you, my love.”

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Alistair began reading the old wives’ text; the book gifted to him by his own mother. For your future mate, she would say with the hopeful glint in her eye. The book provided remedies and methods for labor and delivery going back generations. There had been a time when the knowledge was nearly lost to the wolves due to the scarce breeding. When many failed pregnancies and births soon followed, and the mortal women began entering the packs in mating, bringing with them modern ideas to ensure safety during childbirth.

  He flipped through the books day and night, installing a rope he had constructed for his mate to use as an aid during labor. He had also readied a handful of cloths tied together for Riona to pull, while he held the other end to offer support when the time came. The preparation pleased the wolf. He wanted to be hunched over working on every tiny detail of the cradles, making sure not a single sharp edge remained once he was through carving them.

  “What is all this?” Riona waddled in, noting the mess. A hunk of wood stood in the corner with a pile of new furs.

  “I am simply preparing.”

  “You’ve been in here for hours.” Riona took his hand, pulling him up to meet her, but not before he stopped to kiss her belly.

  “And you should be right there in that bed, little one.” He noted her swollen ankles. But the dust that stuck to the cloth still in her hand told him her nesting impulse had likely kept her busy for most of the day.

  “No, I still have to clean the kitchen then mop the floors and—”

  Alistair stood at his full height and straightened his shoulders. The wolf demanded obedience.

  “What you need to do is lie there and get off these poor little feet.” Without a word, he carefully hoisted his mate up and placed her where he wanted her nestled in bed.

  “But there is just so much to do.” Riona pouted.

  “Are you asking for a spanking, little one?” Alistair raised an eyebrow.

  “In this state? You couldn’t!” She playfully backed away, but Alistair followed her in bed.

  “I can and I will. I have my ways.” He ran his hands up her gown, wanting to feel the softness of her skin. He ached to place his lips anywhere; just a taste to sate him. The wolf would protect and guard, but what he wanted more was to mount.

  “Will you obey me, mate?”

  Riona bit her lip and brought a hand to her breast. She was remembering her place. The wolf was in too delicate a state to test.

  “Yes.”

  “There’s a good girl.” He leaned in and kissed her lips. All he wanted was to see her here resting, not putting any stress on her body.

  “Would you like your needles and yarn?”

  “No, a book perhaps?”

  “Anything for you.” Alistair brought her favorite tea and a pile of books he had collected over the years.

  “I should keep you right here in this bed until they come. Just occupy you with pleasure when you grow anxious.” He winked, making her giggle and hide her face. She knew he would. The thought was tempting.

  “Anything for you.”

  * * *

  The pains began in the middle of the night. The telltale cramps spread over her abdomen, warning of what was to come. By the time Riona had woken Alistair and Ailith arrived, they were coming fast. Alistair remembered to time the space in between in his head as the text had taught him.

  He bit back the tears of pain and sadness. Elspeth was supposed to be here, comforting her and guiding her. It would not be the same without her.

  Alistair helped her sit up, gathering her hair up for her in her favorite ribbon. He rubbed her shoulders while they awaited the next contraction, speaking through the bond.

  “I know this is hard, love. I know this will be difficult. But you are alpha mate. You are stronger than you will ever know. You are mine, and I am yours. Give us our children.”

  * * *

  The ordeal lasted throughout the night. Riona’s cries awoke the pack, who all gathered around the cottage anxiously awaiting news. Ailith would not attempt to coax Alistair out of the room. No one would keep him from his family. The scent of his children became stronger as they grew closer to entering the world. It mixed with Riona’s, putting the wolf on high alert between pacing the room and holding Riona in any way she needed. The rope did wonders; he held her up and supported her while Ailith did her work. Elspeth had taught her well. She would make a fine healer for the pack.

  He grieved for his friend still, as did his mate. He could feel her sadness in the midst of her pain. Silently, he prayed to the goddess for any sign she was with them. Ailith began to chant as she was taught, calling upon all the forces to aid the alpha mate. Herbs burned in each corner of the room while Ailith gathered all her strength and prayed for guidance. They would be coming soon.

  Chapter Forty

  The thin gown clung to her body, her hair mussed and sticking to her forehead. Riona had witnessed childbirth many times, but never imagined how she would deal with it herself. All she wanted was Alistair. It seemed that whatever she needed, he already knew; bringing her water or helping her stand when it was time to use the rope again.

  As the hours drew on, she grew more desperate. Her inner wolf demanded her babies; to see them up close and hold them, looking into their eyes and taking in their scents. She begged them to come, aching for relief from the pain. But Riona was growing weak. They were too strong and she had lost track of how long it had been. She didn’t want to ask, it would only panic her. Riona lay back, just wanting the exhaustion to take over and ready to give up.

  On cue, her mate sat behind her forcing her up, taking hold of her thighs and pulling them upward.

  “Mate, you will give us our children and you will do it now. You have been through more pain than I can imagine, and I know you can do this. But you have to do it now!” He was stern and unrelenting.

  Alistair continued his verbal support, not letting go of her legs and allowing Ailith to deliver. Riona dug down deep, mustering all the energy she had left and pushed and pushed until she could hear the wail of her first baby.

  Epilogue

  Riona had not taken her eyes off her sons for even a second. They lay in perfect little blankets of furs, swaddled so neatly and sleeping soundly after she
had nursed.

  Alistair had given the good news to the pack; two healthy sons, Cathal and Ailill. Both with shades of dark hair that matched their mother, but strong chins like their father. Riona could hear the joyous cheers from inside. A small tear fell down her cheek as she processed what had just occurred.

  She was a mother now.

  An alpha’s mate.

  A leader.

  But most important, she was happy. The happiest she had ever been. She hadn’t known such happiness was ever possible. None of it ever seemed possible. The two little miracles that lay peacefully at her side in bed cooed. They fussed and whimpered, but instantly calmed when feeling the touch of their mother.

  Alistair strolled in, a proud father.

  “And how is my family?” He kissed Riona’s head.

  “Amazing. Perfect. Wonderful. I don’t know what more to say.” Riona laughed, finally able to understand the bond.

  “They know me.”

  “Of course they do. You are their mother.” One baby clutched his finger and began to suckle.

  “I never thought I would know this love.”

  “The love of the wolf is unlike anything in the world.” Alistair stroked her hair.

  “All I need is this love. The love of you, of them. Of the pack.”

  One baby opened his eyes, looking around curiously.

  “You will have my love forever, and all eternity until my last dying breath, I will live for nothing but this. To be able to come home to my family.” His promise implanted itself deep within her, and Riona knew the rest of her life would be filled with happiness.

  “Forever.”

  The End

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