Chapter 127

Alyson

"Relax," Ryan coos, brushing my hair back. He has finally come to my side, forcing my eyes to stay on his, even as he paces his attention back and forth between me and the healer. I squeeze my mate's hand, feeling pressure build in my abdomen. "There you go, he's done."

The healer removes his gloves, my eyes catching a glimpse of Olivera in the hall, seeing him pace frantically fast back and forth in the hallway. I look at my mate now, glimmering with sadness as he peers down at me. I know he feels like I've grown feelings for the rogue Alpha, and I haven't, but I can be sympathetic to the wolf who lost everything; just like I had.

"Are the pups okay?" I breathe.

Ryan flinches. "More than—more than one?" He watches the healer as though waiting to hear so magical, good news. "What is going on? Are they okay? How many are there? I—"

The healer settles his hands together before his body, like a man with bad news. "It's hard to tell right now," he breathes, shaking his head. "What I do know is that there are two pups, Alpha. As for the bleeding, it could have just ruptured something in her system. The being thrown around, the stress of that fight—I think she needs rest and when she is further along, I'll be able to tell you more information."

Ryan inhales sharp. "How far along are you?"

"The meadow," I breathe. "I was in heat, Alpha."

Ryan waves the healer out of the room and the door closes on us both. I don't have time to react, Ryan straddling me gently on the cot, his lips plowing into mine. I don't know why, but feeling his body makes all my pains wither away. I forget about the worries, about the blood that concerned me, and take on his lips.

He needs this, I can tell, just wanting to make sure I am going to be okay and feel that I am fine now. His hands press into my hips, his tongue dragging against my bottom lip and tasing me with a lasting, suffocating kiss. I run my fingers through his hair, my nails dragging up into his scalp. He moans so loud I think I may erupt in pleasure just from the noise.

"Dammit, darling, I'm sorry—we can't—" he pants.

I feel him attempt to lift off of me, but I pull him back on top of my body, begging that he doesn't leave. While conventional sex may not be the best idea right now, I know he can sense my hormones boiling over.

"Just a little?" I plead. "It would make me feel better," I say, unsure if it's true or not.

"Anything for my Luna," Ryan groans, his hand brushing down my body.

He is weak, with open wounds and he shivers in balance and strength. I wish I could make this stop but the mere idea of him pleasing me just a little bit would force my body to finally relax and free it of ache and stress.

His hand slips over my sensitive button, flicking it ever so slightly and making me coil. My legs tremble around his sides, Ryan making out with the mating mark over my throat, the sensation of his lips on that mutual bond marking forcing me to subdue a scream.

I feel so hypersensitive of the world right now.

Though he doesn't penetrate me, I feel weak at the sensation of his fingers toying with my sex, my wolf and my mind and my mate finally finishing in bliss.

I grab into his arms, digging my nails in until he slows and stalls. When I look up, I see he is tense, my fingers daring to come close to his wound. I retract my hands suddenly, ready to plow through my apologies, but he kisses me profoundly before I can say another word.

"Feel better, mate?" he huffs, breathless.

"Yes," I admit, seeing white spots form over my vision, distracting me from the frustration of pain in my pelvis. "Than—Thank you—"

"Anything for you," he says again, nuzzling into my neck before getting off the cot.

I sit up, cradling my stomach, my palm rubbing methodically patterns around my tiny pregnancy belly. "Well, should we discuss the next steps?"

Ryan furrows. "What next steps?"

"The rogues, the cure—we know it works now," I hum.

He shakes his head, his face stone cold in expression. "You're not allowed to stress over any of that anymore, mate. I won't allow it. You're going straight to bed, with dinner first, and you're staying there until I say otherwise."

I pout, feeling like a child in time-out. "Ryan, I'm okay—the pups will be okay—"

"I'm not risking anything," he says, firm. "You bled today because you were put into a stressful situation and I can't let that happen again. If anything happens to those pups—" he hesitates, breathing heavily and stressed. "If anything happens to you… I'd never be able to continue on in life, Alyson. I almost lost you before, too many times it count, and I can't rely on the moon goddess to keep sending you back."

He is stressed, I understand why, but I fear he will overdo the stress and turn far too overprotective for his own good health, spiking his stress levels to a dangerous level. Both of us need to fix these problems together, as a strong mating pair.

We are the Alpha and Luna. We have to be together in strong terms or we will be in trouble. For now, I subside to my mate, the Alpha, and allow him to know that I will be careful in the future so I can protect myself and the pups.

He kisses my forehead and helps me off the cot where we spot the rogue Alpha leaning lazily against the bedroom door to our suite. His arms are crossed, his cheeks flushed like he knows exactly what we were doing in that office, and I can't help but feel somewhat embarrassed.

"Well, the cure works," Olivera hums.

Ryan bumps him out of the way and leads me into the suite, the rogue Alpha following closely behind us both. "Lay down, darling, I'll call the chefs to bring something up for you to eat." He turns next to Olivera, riding the line of wanting to thank him for the cure experiment or wanting to rip his throat out for picking me up outside.

It's hard to tell where they stand with one another.

"I will work with the healer to duplicate this cure," Ryan hums, his wounded, bleeding shoulder flinching slightly. "I won't take it until every rogue in a facility under the elder's watch is given a dosage first."

Olivera appears shocked, but I don't know why.

I always knew my mate was a commendable Alpha, worthy of praise beyond measure.