Page 46 of Snowbound with the Alpha Wolf
Because clearly he’d given up onher.
On the thirdday since their arrival at the Mitchell Ranch, Adrian realized he could no longer keep avoiding Darcy. He felt like a heel, leaving her inthe care of the other Lupines. But Aiden Mitchell had wanted to talk, alpha to alpha, about what had happened in themine.
He’d busied himself with learning about the ranch from Aiden and Darius. Might be a good investment for his pack for thefuture.
And at dinner the second night, Darcy hadn’t shown up for the much-smaller gathering in the lodge. Nia informed him that Darcy hadeaten earlier.Alone.
By the time Adrian had gone to bed, Darcy’s door was firmlyshut.
Planning on joining her for breakfast this morning, he showered and dressed and then started down the stairs to the secondfloor.
Darcy was leaving her room. She saw him, ignored him and keptgoing.
“Darce,wait.”
Noanswer.
Adrian sighed. “Okay,” he called out. “Iknow I’m a louse, but will you at least stop for aminute?”
That got her attention. Darcy whirled, her green eyes storming. “Why? Aren’t you afraid I have some disease you’ll catch? Isn’t that why you’ve been avoidingme?”
Temper rising, he forced himself to speak in a level voice. “I had to meet with Mitchell. Business and pack politics. Speaking of which…” Adrian craned his neckto look down the hallway. “It’s quiet in there. Too quiet. Where iseveryone?”
“Most of the pack left earlier this morning. Some kind of big baby shower celebration or something.” Darcy narrowed her eyes. “So breakfast is on your own. I’m sure as hell not cooking foryou.”
“Thank the powers,” he shot back. “Your cooking could be used as rodentkiller.”
She glared at him andstarted for the stairs. Adrian silently cursed. This was all wrong. How the hell had he screwed up thismuch?
“Darcy, wait,” he called afterher.
A harsh cry drew his attention down thehallway.
They looked at each other. Then Adrian raced to the rooms claimed by the alphacouple.
“What’s wrong?” he asked. “Can Ihelp?”
Nia sat on the bed, Aiden beside her, equallypale and distressed. Nia’s scared, wide-eyed gaze found his. “The baby’s coming. I’ve had back pain all night, and then my water broke. And the midwife isn’t here. She and her team are at a baby shower on another part of theranch.”
“A baby shower?” Aiden roared. “When my mate is about to deliver ourchild?!”
Nia glared at him. “Hush up. I gave her permission. She’s been hovering,everyone’s been hovering around me, and I just wanted a little time alone.” A grimace tightened Nia’s face. “I didn’t think the baby would come this soon. I thought the aches and pains in my back were justbackache!”
Aiden’s expression smoothed out, and he became a concerned mate. “It’s all right, sweetheart. We’ve got this. It’s just like the classes we took. Breathe throughit.”
Nia uttered another moan, and her mate paled, but he clutched her hand and murmured assurances as she took cleansing breaths. Like their wolves, Darius and Samantha paced the room, the couple lookingdistressed.
“I can’t believe all the females with birthing experience are at this shower. No one’s here to help. I’ve never delivered a baby before,” Darius said, jamming a hand through hishair.
“Me either,” Samanthaechoed.
“I’ve delivered a horse and a calf.” Darius looked hopeful. “Can’t be muchdifferent.”
“I,” Nia grated out, her face contorting with either pain or rage or both, “Am. Not. A.Cow!”
Her mate stood, cracked his knuckles. “Of course you’re not, sweetheart. I’ve done this before. I’ll deliver mychild.”
“No.” Adrian rolled up thesleeves of his shirt. “Your mate needs you at her side. I’ll deliver thebaby.”
