Page 91 of His Impossible Elf Mate
“Yeah, that pack is cool. Alligators! We’ve told them about the elves and are getting them up to speed.” Chase had settled into being Second well.
“Cryabell is working on her meditation!” Kade’s eyes lit up with joy. “She hopes a family bond will be enough.”
“That’s great news!” Teárlach said cheerfully. “I hope we get more elves with animal souls soon.”
The room was beginning to get too noisy and full. Kade caught me squirming and fussing with the blankets I had just placed.
“We’re overstaying our welcome. Call us back for the birth if you want. We won’t be offended if you want less people there.”
Just the thought of them not being by my side nearly gave me a panic attack. Fucking hormones. “No! I want you there, I just…”
“It’s okay, Ax. You’re overstimulated. Shift with T and get your alter scents over the nest now it’s done. Just chill today and we’ll come back as soon as you need us, okay?”
I was relieved Kade got me. It shouldn’t have been a surprise. He was an omega. A born one. He would understand the process better than me.
“Thank you.”
Kade looked wistfully at my nest. It hit me. He didn’t get the chance to prepare like I had. His birth came on too quickly for anything but a hastily built nest.
“It’s a great nest. Can’t wait to meet our niece!”
I’d been in my shifted form for two days. My alter wasn’t letting me shift back. They knew our daughter was close to arriving and wanted us to rest and heal before she made her way into the world.
Kade had been right. I’d needed that day of shifting with Teárlach to get the scents almost right. When I’d shifted back, I’d asked him to head to Abrocaelum and get something with his mother’s scent on it so she could be represented in the nest.
He brought her back with him.
The elf queen of Abrocaelum had been in my bedroom as I lazed around in my nest, fat and snacking on potato chips.
Teárlach had not been allowed to sleep in the nest that night. Not until he apologized for neglecting to warn me about her arrival. He had forgotten his phone. Again.
Two days after that incident, I shifted and my wolf didn’t let me turn back. Instead, they asked our mate to bring us food in the nest and even hand feed us. Diva!
“I think today will be the day, dear one,” Teárlach stated calmly.
Why was he so calm? I was pacing the nest.
Yeah?
“Oh yes. You’ve been in early labor since yesterday.”
What?
“My magic has been masking the labor pains. Your brothers are on their way, as is Michaella. Aldrin and James will arrive in the next couple of hours. Hopefully, in time to see the birth. I’ll shift once they are here.”
Why have you been taking my pain?
“I did not want you to suffer. Your wolf knew. Did they not share it with you?”
Clearly not.
My wolf was unrepentant. In fact, they were quite cheerful about it.Elf takes pain, makes birth easier.
Our family filtered through the door. After her last visit, the queen sent her regrets that she would have to miss the birth. Like Blake, she had much to do with all the revelations. So many of her people were attempting their own soul-bonds to gain an animal soul.
I was grateful she wouldn’t be there. While I liked her, we weren’t close, yet. It would take time.Teárlach still kept her at a distance, though both were making more of an effort in their relationship.
Pain ripped through me.
