Chapter 113
**AMELIA**
This day is getting weirder by the minute. I never thought I'd have a day like this when I woke up this morning.
It was weird enough to be in my house alone with Xander, but it was even weirder to find him wandering around our room. He didn't even have the audacity to pretend to be embarrassed.
As I close the door of the house behind me, I take a moment to breathe and try to push through the pain I feel in my belly. It feels like someone is pressing on the walls of my belly from the inside but I know it's too early to feel that. Once it's more comfortable, I pass Xander, who looks at me suspiciously but keeps his mouth closed. As I take a few steps, the pain returns and I instantly feel his hand on my shoulder.
"Are you all right?" he asks worriedly.
"Yes... it'll pass." I grimace and he lifts me in his arms as if I weighed nothing. "I said..."
"Stop it. I can see you're in pain and we'll get to the pack house faster this way. Noah would kill me if anything happened to you on my watch... Not that I'd be able to forgive myself." Our eyes meet and I can read in them that these words are sincere.
Just as I start to see the pack's house in the distance, we're joined at full speed by Noah and Zack. He must have sensed something was wrong with me and came to find us.
As soon as he's in front of me, I can feel his anxiety, his anger and his frustration... it's promising. He grabs me with a jerk to carry me, making me wince.
"Easy, man." Xander tells him through clenched teeth.
"What's the matter with you?" He asks me softly as he kisses the top of my head, completely ignoring the comment.
"I'm having like some kind of contractions but there's no way that's it. I need to see the doctor." I tell her, trying to hide my anguish but failing miserably.
"I'll take you to see him." He replies.
As we start to move forward, I hear grunting behind me and when I look over Noah's shoulder, I see Zack blocking Xander's path. The latter doesn't seem too pleased, but our Gamma says something in a low voice that seems to calm him down. As we pass through the gates of the pack house, they're hot on our heels.
**NOAH**
"She's far too stressed. Her blood pressure is too high and her placenta has separated very slightly. I'm going to have to keep a close eye on her, but above all we have to take it easy." Arthur looks towards the large door of the infirmary and lowers his voice. "Between her assault, the surprise pregnancy, her duties as Luna and looking after the kids." He sighs. "I'd advocate absolute rest for at least a week. We'll keep a close eye on her, but if her condition worsens even a little she won't leave her bed until her pregnancy is over." He runs his hand over his face. "Will you come with me to tell her or leave me to fend for myself?"
I growl. "I'll go with you, but then she goes upstairs to our place, she'll refuse to stay here. At least she'll be able to see the kids and have some semblance of a normal life."
***
Did Amelia take the news of the bedrest well? No, she didn't. And do I give a shit? Not a bit. She's honestly the strongest woman I know but damn if she didn't think she was Wonder Woman.
When I felt her pain and concern, I thought Xander had tried something but when I saw her in his arms... fuck. I was so scared and I hadn't been there for her. He, on the other hand, had been there.
After breaking the news to Amelia, I joined the kids and her parents to give them an update, and of course they refused to leave until they were sure she was all right. And I'm really grateful for that, at least I don't have to deal with childcare during that time.
When I finally reach my office and hope for a breather, Alec, Zack and Xander are already sitting inside waiting for me.
"Longest day of my life." I mumble as I close the door behind me.
Xander jumps to his feet, knocking his chair over. "How's Amelia? Everything okay? Where is she?"
My best friend and beta clenches his teeth so hard, I'm afraid they'll fall out.
"She's still the infirmary, but they're moving her up to our apartment here tonight." I slump back in my chair, pinching the bridge of my nose. "She's bedridden for at least a week. She's too stressed and she could lose the baby if she doesn't get some rest."
"And you think that's my fault, right?" He tells me and I lift my head to look at him.
"What the fuck do you think?" He's starting to seriously get on my nerves. "We were happy before you came into our lives. Are you in love with her? Okay, well prove it and get the fuck out. Forget she exists so we can go back to normal."
Zack closes his eyes briefly before clearing his throat. "I think everyone's on edge. I suggest we let this day end and come up with a plan tomorrow. We mustn't forget our objective." He turns to Xander. "We mustn't forget that if someone gets their hands on this pack, all the others could be in danger, it's the open door to anything. Any opportunist will think he can get his hands on a pack and our whole organization could collapse. Our ancestors spent centuries making sure that our species was safe and that we could live freely, so let's not allow all that to come to an end because of one man's ambition."