Chapter 366
Chapter 366
36-Ben
I push myself up from my seat, an urgent need propelling me toward a phone. I have to check on her-Elara. It’s strange, unsettling even, that I can sense her presence from so far away. We aren’t mated or marked; there should be no connection strong enough for me to feel this. Something is seriously wrong. And then, out of nowhere, a crowd swells around us, people bustling in a chaotic frenzy. My instincts sharpen, and I catch the sharp shout piercing through the noise. Read complete versıon only at.net
“Jeremiah! Pull your head out of your ass!” Kennedy’s voice cuts through the chaos, directed at our best friend. I turn to see what’s causing the uproar. Rayna’s face is flushed a deep crimson, shifting between furious yelling at Jer and grimacing with pain. Her body trembles uncontrollably. Jeremiah blinks, coming back from whatever daze he was in, and without hesitation, scoops Rayna up into his arms, cradling her head against his chin. Without wasting a second, they rush out the door. Kennedy and Ryker follow close behind, slipping into a waiting SUV. Jason, Tommy, Danny, and Bennet pile into another vehicle, while Josh shouts at me to hop into a third. It seems both our packs are unexpectedly ushering in the next generation sooner than anticipated.
All thoughts of Elara are shoved to the back of my mind as I focus on Jeremiah. His words are jumbled, but his nervous excitement is unmistakable. He’s with a Luna who’s about to give birth, and she’s not making it easy on him.
“How’s she holding up, Jer?” I ask, trying to steady my voice.
“Man, I have no clue,” he admits, frustration and worry thick in his tone. “All I can do
is watch her suffer. Even our bond is screaming in pain p>
“Can your wolf take some of that pain from her? Make it easier?” I press.
“He’s trying, but this is normal. She’s not hurt her body’s just adjusting to delivering twins. It’s brutal p>
“We’re right behind you, Jer. If you or Rayna need anything-food, water, anything —just say the word. Focus on her. We’ve got your back p>
“Thanks, man,” he says, relief flickering in his eyes.
The drive to the pack hospital is short but tense. Once there, healers usher us into a waiting area. Ryker and Kennedy come and go freely, but surprisingly Ryker settles into a chair, leans back against the wall, and closes his eyes. “Let me know if you need anything, Lamb,” he murmurs. It’s a ridiculous nickname, but I notice Rayna’s eyes soften instantly at the sound. Still, she doesn’t sit; instead, she talks quietly with Beth and Sarah, Ryker and Rayna’s mother. Hours pass, and eventually Sarah steps out of the room.
“She wants to see you, Kennedy,” Sarah says softly. Most others in the waiting room have drifted off to sleep.
Kennedy approaches Ryker and plants a gentle kiss on his cheek. I should feel jealous, but instead a pang of envy washes over me. That kind of connection-that bond—I’ve always longed for it. I thought I had it with Elara, but lately my mind keeps wandering to a fiery redhead who doesn’t want me. Damn my luck.
Still, I can’t shake the nagging sensation of pain I felt earlier, the strange unease about Elara. Yet I must keep my focus on Jeremiah and Rayna. How do leaders manage to split their attention like this? I rub my face, trying to calm the storm inside.
“What’s eating you, man?” Jason asks, his voice low. “You’ve been on edge since we got here. Rayna and Jer are fine, so what’s up p>
“I don’t know,” I admit. “My wolf’s restless. Something’s wrong, I can feel it, but I have no clue what or how to fix it p>
“You need to head back to Black Claw and figure out this magic mess,” Jason says. “I felt something between Black Claw and Red Fang before we left. Like a charged barrier or something. It faded as we moved north, away from the water, but it was still there p>
“Why are you telling me this now?!” I snap, then catch myself-many here are asleep, waiting for news. “What the hell p>
“Relax. If something was truly wrong, Elara would call you p>
“Uh, no, she wouldn’t,” I scoff.
“Yeah, but Dev or Jax would. Besides, that barrier’s always been there. That’s why I spend so much time patrolling that border. I sense the magic more than others, but I can’t find the caster p>
“She won’t give me the truth. I need to see it for myself. Once I check on Jer and Rayna―now that the pups are here—they’ll probably stay put for a while to let her heal. She’ll be better off with her mom, Beth, and Kennedy anyway p>
Tommy strolls over, clearly eavesdropping on our conversation. “I was thinking the same thing. I want to stick around and talk to Ryker’s elders while we’re here. They probably know a ton about magic, casters, and what this person might be doing with the defensive magic Jason’s feeling. They might even have insight into the suppliers -maybe how the human drugs are getting in. Have you heard from Junior? Wasn’t he checking in daily p>
“Usually, yes, but they all knew what we were doing, so they’re probably giving us some space, which pisses me off.” I shake my head. Junior wants to handle things on his own, and Elara wants to prove she doesn’t need a male to lead. This is their chance to show it. I take a deep breath, exhaling slowly. “Sounds like a plan. We’ll regroup in a few days. Now, I need to see those pups before I head out to secure the borders and bring them home safe p>
Kennedy and Ryker emerge, hand in hand. Naturally, the room stirs awake, everyone crowding them for news. All they say is that there’s a girl and a boy, both perfect and healthy, then they slip away.
“You should go now,” Tommy urges, glancing at me. “If you hit the road soon, you’ll be home by dinner. We’ve got this. We’ll call if anything happens. It’s better that Rayna and the pups stay here while we sort things out back home. Alpha James is there too; he can help. Go. Tell us what you find and if you need anything p>
“Yeah, we’ll talk to Jer. He’ll understand.” Jason pats my back and steers me toward the door.
Well, I guess I’m leaving.