Chapter 474

“Okay, okay,” I say, smiling at Pippa, giving her hand one last squeeze. “Good luck, Pips! I’ll be right outside the door!”

Pippa gives me a nod and a smile, her face flushed and sweaty. She squeezes my hand back. “See you in a minute, Ari,” she says, turning away to Elias and my mom and Cora – Alpha, magical healer, and OBGYN - who will be staying in the room for the birth.

I sigh, stepping away, biting my lip, desperately wanting to stay –

“Out, Ari,” mom says, flashing me a grin and pointing towards the door as Cora leans towards Pippa with a watch in her hand, timing her contractions and murmuring to her that it’s time to push.

“Oh fine!” I sigh, scowling at my mother and turning towards the door, flouncing out with a pout readily on my mouth. I sigh, pulling the door shut behind me, knowing that my presence isn’t necessary but really, really wanting to be there.

“How is she?”

I jump a little, turning in surprise to the croaking voice, my eyes widening in surprise when I see Mark and Benny sitting on the hallway floor, each of them looking mildly miserable and worried.

“She’s fine,” I say, flashing a smile at Ben. But then I turn to Mark and frown. “What on earth are you still doing here?” I ask, crossing the hall and squeezing in between them.

Mark sighs, scootching to the side a little bit to make room for me. “Don’t ask, Ari, okay?” he murmurs, looking down at his knees, clearly miserable.

I just stare at him, baffled, but Ben gives me a little nudge with his elbow.

I spin to my friend, confused, but he just shakes his head gently at me, urging to do as Mark asks. I frown at Ben, not getting it, spinning my head back to Mark because –

I mean, why the hell does Mark even care!? Ben’s presence and worry I get - this is his mate’s first child. But Mark looks almost green with worry –

Seriously, why on earth would he be this worried about a girl he hardly knows!?

But suddenly my eyes go wide, my wolf leaping to her feet because –

But no way –

No way –

It’s…not my baby Markie, he’s just a baby…and Pippa of all people –

Ben elbows me again, sharper this time, and by instinct I spin my head back to him with a scowl. Because, honestly, that kind of hurt.

But Ben shakes his head more vehemently this time, intuiting what I’ve intuited and letting me know that it is not going to be helpful to Mark for me to interrogate him at this moment. I sigh, masterfully tucking my curiosity away and simply putting a hand out on Mark’s knee, letting him feel my support even as I force myself to keep my attention on Ben.

Honestly, I’m very impressed with myself at the moment, I am rarely capable of such restraint.

But for Markie, my baby? For him, I can do it.

“Anyway,” I say, clearing my throat and keeping my focus on Ben’s face. He grins at me, seeing the effort it’s taking. “Pippa’s fine. She’s going to start pushing now.”

A huffy little worried moan breaks from Mark but I manage to ignore him.

“She’s amazing,” Ben says, looking towards the door. “She’s been…so brave, running away from everything she knows and having her baby here.”

I murmur my agreements, studying my friend’s face, allowing my attention to drift to him – which is easier in this moment than I thought it would be. Suddenly I feel quite guilty, wondering if I’ve neglected Ben in all of the crazy events that have been happening lately.

“How are you doing, Benny?” I ask quietly, genuinely wanting to know. “How are…things? With Elias? And with Pippa?”

He sighs, long and slow, but can’t keep the smile off of his face. “It’s been complicated. Amazing but…complicated.”

I nod, tilting my head to the side, understanding.

“Elias is in a weird spot,” Ben says, shifting his gaze to the door. “I’ve been trying to be supportive and I hope that I’m succeeding. But we’re just so…so happy with each other, Ari. Like – he’s so great. He’s so funny, and strong, and smart, and clever – I just…every moment we spend together is amazing.”

I beam at my friend, thrilled for him, and fight heroically against my urge to turn towards Mark’s jealous little snarl.

“Is there a but coming?” I ask quietly, intending that it’s not all roses.

“Of course there is,” Ben says, laughing a little. “My mate – he’s married, isn’t he? He’s got a Luna and a baby. And he and Pippa are incredibly close. Pippa and I…we’re jealous of each other, in our own ways. And while we both want Elias to be happy…” he sighs and shakes his head. “We’re having trouble…finding our places in each other’s lives. It has not been simple.”

I hum consideringly, reaching out my other hand to rest on Ben’s knee, wanting to support him as well. “Do you think you will find a balance?”

“I think we will,” Ben says, nodding to me. “Pippa has…come around to me more. She likes me more than she did at the start, especially as she’s come to realize that I’m not trying to take Elias away from her – that I think there’s some way we can do this together as some sort of weird…triple parenting,” he says, laughing a bit, shaking his head.

Mark snarls again and my wolf howls, desperate to know what the hell is going on.

“I think that’s lovely,” I whisper, smiling at him. “Three parents to love her – the baby would be a lucky girl.”

“Yeah,” Ben says on another sigh, returning his gaze to my face. “But…I think Pips is feeling lonely. Elias used to be all hers, after all, and now his attention is split. I think she’s…worried. And feeling alienated and alone.”

I sigh, my heart going out to her, and I mentally root myself to the determination to do better by her – to be a better friend. I bite my lip, considering. “Do you think maybe they should come with us to Alpha Academy?” I murmur. “That would make things easier, and then I’d be around so we could hang out, and the sudden demand to accommodate two little girls would make it easier to argue for why the Academy’s policies regarding children should change –“

A terrible, rough snarl breaks from Mark at the suggestion and my will breaks. I whip my face to him, my eyes flicking astonished over his angry visage. “What the hell is going on with you, Mark!?”

Mark’s mouth flies open to reply –

But suddenly the door opens, and Cora peeks her head out, beaming. “She’s here!” Cora says, laughing a little and peering back into the room. “A beautiful little girl, perfectly healthy! Mama’s doing well too!”

Mark moans in relief, returning his head to his hands. I just stare between Cora and him, not knowing what to focus on.

Cora also gives Mark a weird look. “Um, just a few minutes to clean up the baby and then Pippa says you can all meet her – but briefly, okay? The new mom is going to need her rest.”

Ben and I murmur our agreement and Cora nods, ducking back into the room and closing the door.

“Congratulations, papa,” I say, laughing a little and leaning over to Ben, pressing a happy kiss to his cheek.

“Thanks, Ari,” he murmurs, hugging me close. “It’s…a very cool day. Honestly, I’m grateful she’s a girl – girls I can handle.”

I laugh a bit, knowing that he can. He’s got sisters, after all – this is well within his wheelhouse.

The three of us sit quietly for a bit, our eyes fixed on the door, and I keep glancing at Mark from the corner of my eye – my heart going out to him. Eventually I shift my hand from his knee to his back, petting him in long, slow circles.

He glances over at me, his face drawn, and gives me a little nod of thanks. I lean against my brother, hoping he knows that whenever he’s ready to talk to me…I’ll be right here.

Eventually the door opens again and Cora waves a hand magnanimously into the room. “The new Atalaxian Princess awaits!” she says, laughing a bit.

I grin, getting to my feet alongside Ben and Mark. Ben and I eagerly move for the door while Mark hesitantly follows.