Forever Our Ever (7 page)

The crowd parted to allow them to pass, many bowing their head to Kris as they walked. Ever also noted the expressions of surprise as eyes latched on her stomach. Obviously, the word had not circulated that she was pregnant. She knew that she needed to hold her body with a sense of pride. Ever kept her head up, meeting their gazes and smiling despite the nagging pain that was now flaring across her abdomen. She really needed to sit down. The walk had certainly been too strenuous.

The parting created a pathway of sorts, and one man in particular seemed to be leaning farther forward than the rest. He was rather attractive, his light hazel eyes seeming to call to her mind. Yet, there was something dramatic about him, and the way he examined her made her feel almost uncomfortable. As if sensing that his scrutiny was too specific to her, he looked at her men. The intensely of his gaze seemed as if he was analyzing their appearance.

Ever wanted to know who he was, but she was hustled forward, and the man disappeared back into the crowd. Kris led her up to a raised podium with six chairs on it. One of the two highest chairs was occupied by a slightly graying man with deep-set, vibrant blue eyes. The woman sitting next to him was watching her wearily. She was quite beautiful, with flowing black hair and a thin figure. Kris tensed against her side and she shivered. This was the mysterious father, Julius, and his girlfriend, Sherra, who had joined the family after their father had gotten a divorce. She was a longtime family friend, and the men knew her from when they were younger, but Ever had never met the woman personally.

His eyes flowed from her face downward, stopping as he stared openly at her stomach, but his expression remained unreadable.

Kris stepped up the single step, steadying her so she could remain beside him. Mick and Liam both walked to the side, taking seats in two of the lower chairs.

Kris smiled, but the expression was lacking in amusement. “Father.” He was tense against her, the muscles in his arms tight and ready to defend himself. Ever hoped that he didn’t need to. It would be impossible for her to sit and watch them fight, but she would have no other choice. It wasn’t as if she could help him in her current condition. She was terrified for him. Kris was her alpha, and she loved him more than she had ever imagined possible. It was an unwavering love that filled her entire body like a shimmering light. How had she ever doubted him? She wanted to tell him again how much she loved him. She wanted to beg him to take her somewhere, anywhere that would save him from danger.

Their father stood, his eyes narrowing as he turned them directly on his son. His gaze was so strong that it made her even more nervous.

Kris must have felt it, because he hugged her tighter and planted an adoring kiss on her head.

The gesture obviously infuriated their father. “My wayward son and his Amar whore. You bring her here with her womb filled with child. I’m surprised at you, Kris.”

“Why is that? Did you not think that I could father a child?”

“If that is what you think, then you are more naive than I imagined. Human women don’t have were children.”

“Ah, so you think me stupid enough to not know when a child is mine? I do know, father.”

“The blind love of youth.”

Ever whimpered softly as a spasm radiated out from the cramp. Kris spun his head to look at her and Mick hurried to her side. Ever knew that she needed to appear strong, but the pain had been very bad. The babies were also kicking the hell out of her and she was in agony. “I need to sit down,” she whispered softly.

Mick put his hand to her abdomen and chuckled. “How long have you been having contractions, Ever?”

“What?”

“You are having contractions. At least your water hasn’t broken.”

“Oh fuck.” How could she be so stupid? Probably because she wasn’t expecting to give birth for another month at least. “I thought it felt weird when I peed.” She inhaled sharply, grabbing for Kris and Mick. She dug her fingers into Mick’s arm. “Oh shit. That really hurt.”

“When did this start?”

“I think maybe when I was sleeping. I just figured that one of the babies was leaning on a nerve or something. It is getting worse so quickly. I want to go home.”

“Of course she does,” said their father. “She wants to hide the children once they are born because they are human.”

Ever glared at him. “I am not a tramp, and they are not fucking human.” Her voice seemed to resound around the gathering area and almost all conversation stopped. She probably would have been embarrassed if she wasn’t in agony.

Their father’s face was a mask of fury, but Kris chuckled softly. “You heard the lady. It appears that my sons will be born tonight. I think that you are losing your ability to know the truth, Father. I propose a bargain. When they come out were, you will peacefully resign. Right, Father?”

The man stared at his son, his eyes lowering in anger. “And if they are human?”

“Then I will go home and not come back. I will give up my birthright to Mick.”

Ever grimaced. This man who hated her would be there to witness the birth of her children. How would they know if they were werewolf or not? It was not the time to ask and sound completely stupid. Another cramp threatened to take her to her knees. Kris grabbed her, supporting her. She wanted to go home to the privacy of their house.

“Do you agree, Father?”

“Why should I?”

“Because you accused me of being stupid. You accused my mate of being a whore and trying to pass off her indiscretion as my children. You question my intelligence and my mate’s integrity. I’m insulted for the both of us, and I am calling you on your accusation. The truth will be easily proven and when it is, I request that you resign. Those are my terms, or I will choose other ways to defend my honor, Father.”

“You are a fool, Kris. The woman stays here and her children are born before the witness of the clan. The agreement is made and will be sealed by the moon.”

Ever was horrified. She was going to have to give birth in public before all these people? Kris swept her into his arms, cradling her to his chest. “Liam, can you go get her something soft to lie upon?”

Liam nodded and sprinted back through the crowd. Kris sat down in one of the lower chairs with her on his knees. “They are mine?” he asked in a whisper directly into her ear.

“Yours and-or Liam’s. Yes. Are you suddenly questioning me?”

“No. It’s just that my father is usually right about things. I’m not really doubting you, I had to ask. It was stupid. I guess I’m a bit stressed.”

She supposed that he was entitled to one bitchy moment after all the ones he had forgiven her for. “You’re going to make me give birth out here in the open with all these people watching?”

“They will only be watching to see what the babies are like.”

“How will you know the difference?”

“They will be born under a full moon, which will make them stronger. Within moments of the time they are birthed, they will turn to protect themselves from an unknown world. It is instinctual for a were baby.”

“Is it possible that they won’t turn because they are part human?”

“They will turn,” said Mick in a stern, no-uncertain-terms manner.

“Yeah, just as I was not supposed to be able to get pregnant.” Ever drove her nails into Kris’s back as another contraction hit, this one far harder than all the rest. Was it really going to be this bad for the next twelve to twenty-four hours, as she had read in the baby book? Kris flinched as she gritted her teeth, blowing air in and out, as Mick had schooled her. He had spent hours back at her house teaching her how to breathe and having her watch birthing videos. Both Kris and Liam had done the exercises with her, but she wanted to be with Kris now. “Don’t leave me!”

“I’m not going to.”

Liam raced back to them, laying out a thick slab of foam that Ever often used when she was laying in the living room watching television. He put a night pad down that Mick had gotten for her to sleep with. He said if her water broke, it would absorb the liquid. Next, he put down a thin blanket and then put a few more at the bottom. Then Liam gestured to it with his hand. “All yours, our sweet one.”

Kris moved his hand up to the back of her head and urged her into a kiss. Ever was happy to oblige, the momentary distraction from the residual pain wonderful. His mouth was soft and gentle, his eyes locked on hers even as he kissed her. When he pulled back, he stood and laid her down, sitting cross-legged at her head and lifting it into his lap. Kris stroked her hair as Liam handed Mick the stethoscope.

Mick sat down at her side, putting it to her stomach. “My, they are being active little pups tonight.”

“I’ve noticed.” Another pain hit, tightening her abdomen and making her whimper before she began to pant. “How long is this going to last?” she asked in a sharp tone.

Kris looked up at the sky as Liam looked at his watch. “It’s eleven fifteen. They will be born before or at twelve.”

Ever had no idea that it had gotten that late. She had been thinking that they had left the house just after sunset, which would be about sevenish. Liam stepped up onto the platform and walked around her feet to sit at her opposite side. He took her hand. “How are you holding up?”

“I would love something for the pain.”

“No can do,” replied Mick. “I already told you this. Pain meds could hurt the babies.”

“I know.” She tilted her head back into Kris’s legs, squeezing Liam’s hands. “Ah, it hurts.”

Kris stroked her cheek. “Breathe. In through your nose and out through your mouth. Blow the pain out with each exhale.”

“I’m trying, but each one is harder and it hurts more. Fuck.”

Mick held his hand to her stomach and when the next one hit, she panted for air. Mick frowned and moved down to her feet. He threw a blanket over the lower half of her body and draped it over his head before pulling her shorts off. “Damn it,” he whispered.

It was not what Ever wanted to hear. What the hell did he mean by “damn it”? Mick put his hands to her stomach, massaging the flesh with his fingers. Another contraction hit, this one causing her to arch her back in pain. Ever cried out, despite her desire not to.

“Liam, take this and go run the blade through the fire. Have someone find Renta and get me some suturing thread.”

Liam took the knife, frowning at Mick. “What are you doing?”

“I’m trying to save her life. If we don’t take the babies, she is going to bleed to death. Maybe if I take them, I can stop the hemorrhaging.” Liam looked under the blanket and then turned, eyes set in a blanched face, to Ever. He hurried back into the crowd, who parted like the Red Sea to allow him to get to the fire.

Kris held her face, leaning over to catch her eyes. “Look at me.”

Ever had no choice. “I’m going to die, aren’t I?”

“You are not going to die!”

Mick was trained in homeopathy, not surgery. He couldn’t do a cesarean. She needed a real doctor in a real hospital. This was not something that could be done outside under the moonlight and flaming torches. The pain was so intense, and no amount of panting was helping. Ever felt incredibly dizzy. Her heart was beating too fast, her head throbbing.

Liam ran back up to them, handing the knife back to Mick. The silver blade was blackened from the fire and she imagined that it was scalding hot. Without warning, Kris grabbed her shoulders. Liam sat down, reaching over her body to hold her hips down. “Try not to move,” said Mick in a strained voice as she felt the knife pierce her flesh. Ever looked at him for only a second, his face swimming out of focus amidst a fog of overwhelming agony, right before she screamed.

* * * *

Mick handed the first child to Liam and Liam handed him to Kris. There was no further reason to hold Ever down. The pain had caused her to pass out. Kris took his son, holding him up to the moon. For a moment, he feared that the child would remain human. He had never doubted that Ever had been faithful until his father had spoken the words. Unfortunately, his father was also right. Humans didn’t have were children.

Kris closed his eyes, the soft, slick feel of the baby warm in his hands. “Please change,” he silently whispered before lowering the screaming infant back into his chest. He opened his eyes, and smiled brightly. His son was covered with dark brown-and-black fur. His firstborn was not only his, but he was alpha. Kris stood and held the child up in his palms. “Father, you were wrong. Human babies don’t grow fur.”

His father appeared stunned as he walked closer and looked at his grandson. He gently touched the child’s cheek. “He’s an alpha were, born of a human mother. Impossible.”

“Not impossible. He is living proof.”

Renta raced up to them, sliding to kneel beside Mick. Kris looked down at Liam, who now had two other children in his lap. They both had fur. Mick handed him a third bloody babe. “That’s it.” He pulled the blanket back over his head.

Liam smiled, although his skin was ghostly pale. “Three boys and a girl. The boys both have silver fur. I think the girl is mine, she has light-brown fur. They are beautiful.”

Kris knelt down beside him, touching each tiny face as Daisy ran up to the podium with Snow at her side. They had a bucket of water and took the two boys to wash them off. Once they were clean, Snow bundled them in the extra blankets that Liam had brought with him. Kris reluctantly handed over his son and went to kneel beside Mick. The amount of blood on the light-blue blanket was disturbing. Mick leaned back on his heels. “I got her stitched up and I think I stopped the bleeding, but she has lost so much blood.”