Chapter 61 Reaper 38

Chapter 61 Reaper 38
“Are you missing him?” Rory pushed her chip across the plate with her fork. And Bethany frowned. Rory was acting strange, and had been since the men had left the afternoon before. She was twitchy

“Is this the first time you have been apart from Roman?” Bethany settled her own cutlery down on her plate.

“No, we were apart a lot in the beginning, and nothing good ever came of it.” Rory sipped her water making a face. “You know they call us ‘the lost mates’, don’t you?”

That was news to Bethany. “They do?”

“Yep, we are the lost mates. Guess we are the found mates now. Still, I’d be lying if I said it didn’t make me nervous, them being away. Bad things always happen when I’m not with him.” A wave of pain swept over her face and Bethany sucked in her breath.

She had been seeing that same look on her friend's face since yesterday. “How long have you been having the pains Rory?”

Rory smiled weakly. “It’s nothing, just Braxton Hicks…  I think that’s what I was told they were called.”

Bethany nodded. Oh yeah, she remembered those well. “Are you sure?”

“Pretty sure.”

“Shall we go back to the office, or get one of the…” She waved in the general direction of their bodyguards. Their men might be gone. But they had made sure they had a constant supply of able-bodied wolves to watch their every move. “Pack to take you home?”

“Office,” Rory reached and took her hand. “I hate staying there when he isn’t there.” She sounded so small and lost, that Bethany wrapped her hand around hers and squeezed back.

“Back to the office then, and you can rest in the back room.” The back room was little more than a cupboard, just big enough for a small narrow bed. A place for the men to crash for a few hours. “Then tonight, if you like, you can stay with me. We can have a girly night.”

“I like the sound of that very much. We can discuss Requiem,” she giggled. “And have popcorn.”

“You noticed it as well then?” Bethany shrugged into her coat. “the way he looks like a schoolboy any time he mentions that girl Mae’s name?”

“Yeah I’ve noticed. Requiem never has any shortage of female admirers. Hell, none of our men have.”

Bethany felt her smile fade. She really didn’t want to think about Reaper's many female admirers. Her fingers brushed the top of her breast.

Right over his mark.

Those women were the past. And she wouldn’t be jealous of the past.

She wouldn’t be THAT GIRL.

“But I’ve never seen him look like that over one.” Rory mused, totally failing to see the look on Bethany’s face.

“Could she be his mate?”

Rory shook her head sadly. “Requiem had a mate, she died.” She stood on wobbly legs. “It's why no one mentions it to him.”

“Maybe you can have more than one?”

“Not how it works. They only get the one, their fated mates; and not everyone is even lucky enough to find theirs. We have been very lucky to find ours when we were so young.” She linked her arm through Bethany’s as they strolled out of the café, their ever-present shadow slipping into step behind them.

Bethany looked up from the computer screen. There really wasn’t much for her to do. And filing past reports was dragging the life out of her. It was hard reading, some of it. Knowing the danger Reaper had been in. That he would continue to put himself in.

The idea of her big strong Alpha being the hero was hot as hell.

The thought.

The reality was very different. Chilling.

There was that sound again, a slight whimper.

“Rory?” she called out; she hadn’t seen Roman’s mate in the two hours since they had been back from lunch. She had thought it best to let her sleep. She was so far along in her pregnancy and Bethany remembered those days. It had been exhausting.

There was no answer, but a slight whimper again.

“Rory!” Her voice was panicked now as she left her desk, for a second she stood. They had told her never to leave the door unlocked if she had to leave the front desk unsupervised.  She glanced about.

No one.

Where was a bloody wolf when you needed one? Then she made a decision. She could risk it for a few seconds. Just to check in on Rory.

Rory was standing, feet apart with a shocked look on her face as she braced one hand against the wall. Her face is a sheet of pain.

“Shit Rory, we need to get you to the hospital!” Bethany’s eyes took in the pool at her feet. “Come on, let's sit you down. I need to go and find one of your pack.”

“Don’t leave me.” Rory’s voice was small, but she allowed herself to be led back to the cot.

“I’m not leaving you, just lay back ok. We will get you to the hospital, and you will hold your baby in your arms before you know it.”

“Bethany, it hurts so damn much!”

“I know.” Bethany smoothed her sweaty hair from her face, like she would do when Liv was sick. “I know, I know. Deep breaths.” She went to stand only to be clutched tighter as another contraction ripped through Rory’s petite frame. “I think I want to push.”

Bethany’s mouth fell open in a little O. “Okay okay, no time for the hospital then.” She tried to keep it light, even as fear tightened around her like a vice. “Me and you can do this together.” I hope, she added silently. “Oi wolf boy!” she yelled out of the open doorway. A blonde head appeared with a grin. Some of them really did have a warped sense of humour.  It was a smile that quickly faded. “I need you to lock the doors, and I need towels and “She racked her brain.  What did she need? “Med kit?” They were bound to have a med kit, and not a basic first aid kit. Even shifters needed stitches now and then.

His dumb founded expression had her shouting her requests for the second time.

“And a doctor, maybe an ambulance.” Bethany pinched the skin between her eyebrows. “And get hold of your Alpha, his baby is on its way!”