Mated to the Alpha and His Beta

Katie

I'd been in labor for nearly twelve hours.

Last night, | didn’t think I’d survive another second with this pup inside me, and now here | was, still breathing through contraction after contraction.

Asher had left at some point in the middle of the night when things really started to get intense.

| didn’t blame him, though.

It wasn’t like this kid was his, and his mother and sister were still by my side, and that was all | really needed.

And yet, Mason had stayed.

He was still there, right by my side, holding my

hand!

It was just the two of us in the guest room right now while Quinn and Sable took a brief break. Another contraction hit and my back arched involuntarily as it coursed through my body.

Alow, rumbling growl echoed from inside me.

My voice was too weak and h oa rse to scream anymore.

| squeezed Mason's hand again, so hard | thought his bones might break, but he didn’t even flinch. It finally passed and | collapsed back onto the bed.

“I'm worried I'm gonna mangle your hand,” | said breathlessly.

He laughed.

“Don't worry,” he said, flexing his arm muscles, “I can take it.”

To be fair, his arms were pretty f u cking huge.

Sometimes, during particularly painful contractions, would stare at them just to make it through. Thank the go ds he’d thrown on that tight t-shirt after the party. now”

“Plus, there’s no way that what I’m going through is anything close to the pain you're dealing with right Damn.

This guy was good.

“You know, you really don’t have to stay here,” | told him. “You've been up all night, and Quinn and Sable can handle this. You should get some rest.”

“Nope, we're not having this conversation again. You're stuck with me, kalle. Mynt

and my wolf agrees.”

Okay, this guy was really good.

| was definitely blushing, but | doubted he could tell. My face was probably a blotchy, sweaty mess. Between that and the screaming, | was shocked | hadn’t run him off.

But also very, very grateful that he’d stayed.

| “You might change your tune once this pup is actually shooting out of me,” | said.

“Shooting?” He coc ked his eyebrow, and we both laughed. “Then I guess this is a good time to tell your that I’m a pretty skilled catcher, too.”

The corner of his mouth quirked up in a devious little smirk.

Apleasant pric kle of heat crawled up the back of my neck that had nothing to do with labor.

“What can’t you do, Mason?”

He shrugged.

“I'm the son of an Alpha; we're born to handle just about everything.”Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.

Wait, what?

How could he have failed to mention that little detail last night?

And how did the son of an Alpha end up in rogue territory?

“Mason, you didn’t tell me...”

But | trailed off when | felt it.

Another contraction, ripping up my back and radiating out through my whole body like white-hot.

| clenched my teeth hard, the pain so intense | couldn’t make a sound.

This time felt different.

“Something's happening.” | finally wheezed out.

“SABLE!” Mason yelled, then turned back to me. “Breathe, Katie, breathe.”

But then there was another stab of pain, and | felt my pup move between my pelvis.

“The pup is coming...” | managed to breathe out as Sable and Quinn rushed into the room.

“It's time to start pushing,” Sable instructed.

| bit back another scream, squeezing Mason's hand for dear life while | felt myself parting around the pup’s head, a burning pain engulfing everything below my chest.

“That’s good, Katie. You’re doing great,” Sable encouraged. “Again.”

and pushed as hard as | possibly could.

I felt a release.

It was happening.

| was almost there.

Tears stung my eyes, from both pain and relief.

“Stop!!” Sable yelled.

The fear in her voice made my heart lurch.

“The cord is wrapped around the pup’s neck.”