Chapter 75: Chapter Seventy-four

Delanie

“No, I need to get out of here,” I breathed heavily and panted.

I wanted to get up but the pain around my abdomen was intense. Ainsley held out a glass of water as she held her phone to her with her other hand.

“Ross isn’t picking up. What the hell are these guys doing?”

I’d never felt Ajax before. I felt his pain and an overwhelming sense of danger. Gosh, I hoped I wasn’t turning psychic. I couldn’t take that right now.

“We’ll figure them out later, Del. We have to get you to the hospital. Something could be wrong with the baby!”

She was right. Ainsley helped me out the front door and settled me into the front seat of Ross’s truck. The drive to the clinic would be short and Ainsley let Shaina know we were on our way. I couldn’t stop thinking about how weird the situation was or how intensely I felt Ajax.

I hoped he was okay. That’s all I wanted and for the baby to be fine. As we neared the clinic the pain in my middle eased rapidly.

I sat up straighter in the seat and smoothed my tummy.

“Feeling better?” Ainsley asked.

I nodded, “Yeah. No, pain at all.”

“You’re still seeing the doctor. Look there’s Shaina now. She must have been worried.”

Ainsley parked and Shaina jogged to the truck.

“Good. You’re here. Ajax is inside. He’s unconscious.”

Ainsley and I gasped. I knew something was wrong.

“What happened?” I asked.

“They had a mission and it went wrong. A dozen of shifters just left others had to be sent to the army doctor because it was too much for me.”

Shaina took me to Ajax’s room. Ross stood by the window with a sling around his arm. He probably didn’t need it because he’d be healed in a few hours but it was the doctor’s orders.

“Why didn’t you answer the phone!” Ainsley exclaimed.

Ross cringed. “It got busted when I shifted.”

I inched closer to the bed where Ajax lay with his eyes closed and an arm across his middle. He had no visible scars on his face or arms and his breathing was steady.

“Why’s he unconscious? He looks fine,” my voice cracked.

“Poison. Aconite and wolf’s venom. Nasty mixture, but Ajax’s is a fighter he’ll pull through,” Ross explained.

“Has this happened to him before?” I asked.

Ross raked a hand through his hair. “I don’t think anyone has.”

I turned to Shaina. She was the doctor she could give me some real answers.

“When will he wake up?”

She raised her shoulders and my heart sank. “There’s no telling.”

She placed her hand on my shoulder in support but until his eyes opened I wouldn’t be okay.

“He’s got a baby to fight for and you of course. He’s the warrior Alpha, he’ll pull through.”

Everyone shared the same sentiment. They left me so we could be alone. I picked up his large hand and squeezed it. I thought he’d feel me and wake up but he didn’t stir.

“You have to wake up, Ajax. You have to fight the poison,” I whispered.

I rubbed my belly at the same time I held his hand. I felt a strong static connection. I felt like the bridge between the baby and Ajax. It surprised me because for a second I thought I imagined the little jolt but it went from static to a smooth flow move from me to him.

“I think your baby was worried about you, Ajax. You’re not going to let him down are you?” I sniffled.

The sun setting painfully slowly in the sky and he hadn’t moved. Shaina came back to check on him but she wasn’t selling me hope I think in a situation like this I would have bought it just for a little bit of peace. After checking on him she left.

I got up to close the curtains but I lingered a little just to stare at the sun slowly wave goodbye in the distance. My tummy rumbled and I realized I hadn’t eaten since morning. My tummy rumbled louder. Now the baby was just mad.

“You’re starving him,” the words came with a pained chuckle.

“Ajax,” I breathed out.

I ran over, cupped his cheeks and kissed him. “Why? Why do you like to scare me like this?”

He brushed my hair out of my face. “I love it when you worry about me.”

“It’s not good for the baby!”

His brows dipped. “I know. You were all I could think about when I went down. I let Max get away.”

“It doesn’t matter. Forget about him.”

“I can’t Delanie. What about your Mother? Without his blood, she’s stuck on Treason Rock.”

I rubbed my hands together and a chill ran down my spine. I didn’t want him to see my disappointment because I didn’t want him to beat himself up for this. I noticed the sweat on his brow instead. Sweat formed rapidly on his forehead like steam on glass.

“Hey, you’re burning up,” I said.

He grunted. “Side-effects, don’t worry about it. Come here let me hold you.”

Despite his obvious pain Ajax sat up. He yanked his shirt now drenched in sweat over his head and pulled me close. My back faced his front so he could hold my middle accurately. I felt that flow again. Maybe it was a bond between them maybe this really was Ajax’s baby. I felt it heavy in my heart. It could have been strong wishful thinking but I felt it, this was my mate’s baby but Max wouldn’t think the same.

He’ll come after the baby as soon as he gathers his strength which I know he’s doing.

“Oh, I didn’t mean to interrupt. Good to see you’re feeling better!” Shaina said, smiling.

“I feel like shit,” Ajax grunted.

“That’s normal. Delanie, you had an appointment with me today. Do you guys want to see your baby!”

Ajax and I shared a look. It’s so soon, but we couldn’t pass up the opportunity.

A couple of minutes later I was the one laying on the bed. Shaina spread some cold gel on my belly using a device connected to the monitor. Ajax squeezed my hand as we waited for the image to appear.

“Look there’s your baby!” Shaina said with glee.

I frowned. “I don’t see anything.” My heart sunk to my stomach.

Shaina giggled. “It’s very small. It’s still early stages. Look at that dot, in the weeks to come the baby will be much bigger.”

Ajax and I shared a look. I didn’t have the right words but in our silence, everything was said. I told him I loved him a million different ways.

“You need to rest, sweetheart,” Ajax said softly.

“Actually, you need another round of detox. You don’t look good enough to discharge,” Shaina ordered.

“I’m fine. I’m going home with my fiancée,” he grumbled.

“You’re no good to her if you pass out again so head back to your room while I tell Delanie all the vitamins she’ll need to take.”

I cracked a smile as he gave in and dragged his feet back to his room.

“I do have vitamins to give up but this is also about Rebecca and her man friend.”

I sat up. I remembered Rebecca’s plan to take Ajax right from under my nose.

Shaina dug out a white jar, big enough to fit in my fist from her coat pocket and handed it to me.

“It counters magic and it’s added protection for you and the baby. I don’t know what she’ll do when she learns you’re expecting.”

“Do you think I should tell Ajax?” I whispered.

“No, wait. You don’t have proof other than me and he could tell you, you didn’t actually hear anything because I did.”

I nodded. “You’re right.”

The little jar in my palm was just a short-term solution because after Rebecca finds out her plan was foiled she’ll come back with bigger guns so I’ll need evidence to remove her from our lives.