Chapter 149 –
Jaxon's
POV Two weeks later:
After Clay managed to get into the pack, I decided things needed to change. I started putting things back in place like they used to be when I was growing up. The only changes I made were for the children. They didn't have to train until they turned twelve. Their initial training would be the obstacle course, and they could train more if they wanted to.
I started training when I was very young, but that was because I had to. We all knew that there was a threat against us at the time. The threat was no longer in place, so towards the end of my father's time as Alpha, he loosened the reigns up on the pack. It was due to several members of the pack complaining about the challenging regimen after the threat against us had been dealt with.
Our warriors continued to train hard, but those who didn't want to train only had to attend one or two weekly training sessions. We were obviously too lax now. We discovered how they got in the day after they entered the pack. The warrior who noticed it thought it was just a glitch in the system and didn't do a review to see what had actually happened.
I demoted him, but he can rise in the ranks again. He was grateful because if one of our pack members died due to his negligence, his punishment would have been much more significant. I shudder to think about what would have happened without Saoirse and Cara. They ended up protecting everyone in the house that day. Knowing Clay, he would have definitely killed every single one of them before he left. That fact was later confirmed by both Anton and Saoirse. We all knew just how much of a sacrifice Saoirse made for her daughter and the whole group. I don't think there was any other way for me to truly thank her other than to build her and Robert their dream home. He had been asking questions here and there to her, nothing pressing enough to make her question why he was suddenly asking about her preferences. Cara is also in on it and has been a big help on the finer points of the home, specifically the kitchen. All women envision their perfect kitchen, and I wanted Saoirse to know that we love and appreciate her.
It was not unusual for Cara to ask her mother her opinions on the kitchens she was looking into. Cara paid attention to the ones her mother spent the bulk of her time looking at. Between her, Robert, and Cheryl asking her questions, we had a good idea of how she wanted her kitchen and her dream house to be. Anton was happy to make their home designs a reality. We made sure that the house was almost complete.
Saoirse and Robert will be coming in next week. Robert is so excited to show her their home. He will also get her to pick out the colors for each of the rooms as well as the backsplashes and make it the home of her dreams. Brenna and I were excited about seeing her face when she saw it for the first time. Cara and Alexei will be there as well. We were going to wait in the kitchen for them. Cheryl and Anton also asked to come. Luna and Kevin will be there as well, and Kevin helped pay for the lumber for Saoirse and Robert's home. We split the costs between us. He knows as well as I do that we would have both lost our mates that day if not for their actions.
Alexei was already building their home. Cara told Brenna, and me that building a house to welcome my mother into the pack was all the thanks she needed. We all saw what happened that day. Cara was devastated at the thought of losing her Mom. She was able to push through and deal with the situation without us. We didn't have a way to make it downstairs without being shot. Not until she dealt with their weapons.
Robert went through hell that day. Their new home is also my apology for Alpha commanding him to stay silent. He was going to expose us, and some of us could have died if I hadn't done what I did. I had to look at the bigger picture as we devised a way to make it downstairs safely. I knew Robert was pissed at me, and I could fully understand why.
If our roles were reversed, and it had been my mate about to die. I would have done the very same thing he had. Things are better between us now. He realizes our hands were tied to what we could have done that day. I know he has spoken to Alexei, Anton, and his father, Blake, at length about it. They all told him their opinions about what happened. Saoirse and his babies being safe and healthy was the only reason he got past it. If anything had happened to them, I don't think that he would have ever been able to recover from it.
I had just finished my paperwork for the day when I got a mindlink from Brenna. 'Jaxon, meet me at the hospital. Saoirse believes that I am in labor, and she and Cara are taking me there now!'
'I am coming now,' I replied, running out of my office. I don't think I even shut the door. I mindlinked Blane and told him what happened. He would ensure my office was secured when he left the Beta's office. I didn't even wait for a response as I ran to the hospital. I knew that with Saoirse and Cara with her, they teleported her straight to the hospital.
I mindlinked my parents as I ran to the pack hospital. I asked my mother to call Kevin to tell him that Brenna was in labor. We knew Luna wanted to be here for the birth. We just found out that Luna was pregnant last week. Cheryl is ecstatic about having a new grandbaby on the way. No one knew when Saoirse was going to go into labor. But she was getting pretty big.
I doubt she will make it more than a month before they arrive. Cara was about a week or two behind her mother, but this was all new to Dr. Gurin when the babies would arrive. Saoirse was already much larger than Brenna, but we were having one baby. I knew where they would have taken her when I arrived, so I immediately headed to Luna's room.
It was also the room we gave Saoirse while she was in her coma. It was the least we could do to help take care of her. As soon as I arrived, I saw Brenna's shoulders sag in relief. She was trying to put on a brave face, but I knew she was worried about going into labor. She had mentioned it several times before.
My mother, Saoirse, and Cheryl had been honest with her. Cara spoke to her in a low voice, reminding her how strong she was when I walked up to her bed. I kissed her on the top of her head and then hugged her. I could see the excitement at meeting the baby and the fear of the unknown. My mother told us that the first labor is usually the toughest. Others had agreed with her, including Cheryl and Raven's twin, Reagan.
"I'm here, baby," I told her as I hugged her. Trying to comfort her and give her some of my strength. I felt helpless because I may be the Alpha here, but I couldn't do anything but support her. I couldn't do it for her, and as another contraction hit, I could tell that they were very close together.
"How close are the contractions?" I asked Cara.
"Three minutes apart," Cara replied. I knew she would know because she had her phone out with a timer showing on the screen.
"Why didn't you bring her earlier," I growled out.
"I didn't tell them, Jaxon. I was trying to wait until you came home so we could come here together. I couldn't wait any longer because our stubborn pup demands to meet us as soon as possible," Brenna gritted out. She was leaning forward and bearing down through the contraction. My mother entered the room, and my fathers followed right behind her. They stayed back by the door as my mother approached the bed. "Are you OK, Brenna?" my mother asked as she handed Brenna a cup of ice chips.
"I'm OK. I'm just ready to get this over with," Brenna told her, putting a few ice chips in her mouth.
"Do you want Cara or Saoirse to stay here with you and Jaxon?" my mother asked. My mother has always been like this. She was a take-control type of she-wolf who had made a perfect Luna.
"I was thinking that you could stay with me?" Brenna asked hesitantly.
I watched my mother's eyes widen in surprise at Brenna's request. "If you want me to, I would be honored to stay with you. I didn't want to step on any toes," my mother responded. I knew how much this meant to her. This baby was her first grandchild, and she was over the moon already about getting to meet them. We had waited to tell her she would be the second person in the room until now because we wanted to make it more special for her.
We discussed this last week with Saoirse, Luna, and Cara. Saoirse was heavily pregnant, and she wanted to do it. But she acknowledged that standing for several hours would hurt her back. Cara and Luna were hesitant to do it, as they thought seeing Brenna going through her delivery would scare them about their deliveries. I think they were right. I knew how daunted Brenna was about physically having the baby. She is a strong she-wolf, but the unknown was really getting to her.
"The contractions are just a few minutes apart now. I need to check and see how dilated Brenna is, so please clear the room," Dr. Gurin announced with a smile. He was just as excited about the birth of our pup. They were the heir and would be the next Alpha for the pack. No matter if it is a girl or boy. Brenna had already decided that, and I agreed with her. The archaic opinion that only males could run a pack needed to be changed.
My mother cried at the thought of being in here with me as we welcomed the baby. Saoirse and Cara took turns kissing Brenna on the cheek before leaving the room. My fathers had both kissed my mother goodbye and nd wished Brenna well before they left the room. My mother and I stayed near the top of her bed while she was checked.
"How long have you been having contractions, Brenna?" Dr. Gurin asked.
"I didn't realize it, but they started yesterday. But they were not as painful as they are now. I thought it was the fake contractions again. Saoirse was the one who realized I was in labor and insisted on bringing me here," Brenna responded. I see I have another reason to thank Saoirse. "Well, you are almost completely dilated, Luna. The baby will be here soon," Dr. Gurin said. He exited the room to inform the nurses they needed to set up the room. I was suddenly nervous. Goddess, I am about to be a father. I was prepared, or so I thought. Am I even ready for this?