His Redemption (Complete His Series)

Liam

I carry my stubborn mate through the Inn and towards the back. She keeps trying to reassure me she is fine, but I felt the subtle panic in her when she was speaking with Lacey.

“Liam, it’s just pregnancy pain. Really, I just stood up too quickly,” she tried to soothe me. I wasn’t buying it. She was getting bigger, yes; her belly now very noticeable. But she still had two months yet to get our pup to term. I ignored her placating and brought her inside the cottage. I took her straight to the bed and laid her down gently. When she tried to move from the bed, I growled.

“Stay put,” I ordered her. She scowled at me but listened. I went over to the kitchenette and started the teapot while pulling out my phone.

ME

| Azalea is having recurring pain. I think in her side. Should I bring her in?

Thankfully, he answered quickly.

UNCLE

| Does she have any other symptoms? Fever, Nausea, Tiredness?

ME

| She is moving much slower but I hoped that was just the pregnancy wearing on her. We also had a bit of a scare so she slept a long time last night.

UNCLE

| Has she eaten much today? Check her temperature

ME

| She picked at lunch and dinner.

The pot heated up quickly, so I fixed Azalea a cup of tea and brought it over to her. She was sitting up against the headboard with a blanket over her lap.

“Who are you texting?” she asked, taking the cup from me.

“My uncle,” I told her. She gave me a pointed look. “Oh no. You aren’t going to give me an attitude. I am worried about you even if you aren’t. Now come here.” I reached forward, touching the back of my hand to her forehead. She was burning up. “Baby, you’re burning up….”

“I’m okay,” she said.

“No, you aren’t,” I held fast.

ME

| She is burning up but still covered in a blanket.

UNCLE

| I think you should bring her in.

ME

| Now?

UNCLE

| Could be an infection which is uncommon for wolves. I am concerned. I can be at the clinic in 30 minutes.

ME

| Were at the Inn. Make it an hour.

“Liam, what is it? You’re making a face,” she asked softly.

“Baby, I need to take you to the clinic.” I looked into her worried face.

“That really isn’t necessary. The kids are in bed, and it’s late,” she tried to reason.

“No, Azalea. My uncle is worried, so you are going to get checked out. You and the pup’s health are more important than the boys getting a solid night’s sleep during summer vacation!” I was getting a little angrier with her than I meant to. She blanched slightly. I let out a sigh, trying to calm myself. “Just sit tight. I am going to get the kids so we can go,” I told her more gently this time. She was wise not to argue with me and just nodded her head. Her fear started to seep through our bond, and I know I was scaring her with my own concern.

I went to Missy’s room first. She and Maddox would be able to help get the boys while I carried Azalea to the car. Her door was shut, so I just pounded on it until I hear movement.

“Missy, we need to leave. Get Maddox and get your things,” I linked her.

“What’s going on?” she quickly answered. She must have been awake.

“I need to bring Azalea to the doctor.” I didn’t linger at the door, just moved onto the room where the boys were sleeping.

I started to gently shake them awake so they wouldn’t be worried when they woke up. Leo woke up first, rubbing his tiny fists over his sleepy eyes. “Daddy?” he asked groggily.

“Yea, little man. Daddy needs you to wake up. We got to take a car ride,” I said gently. Missy and Maddox came into the room. When I looked over at her, my daughter’s face was blushed. I started to wonder why, but Gavin reminded me that we needed to get Azalea to my uncle quickly. Missy and Maddox offered to get the boys and meet me at the door. I grabbed the bags and was happy to find Missy’s and Maddox’s outside the door. I gathered everything and went back out to the central part of the cottage. After grabbing Azalea’s things, I quickly deposited everything in the car before hurrying back to the cottage. Leo was cuddling Azalea when I got back, rubbing her belly lightly while Missy, Maddox, and Junior stood by the couch waiting.

“Everyone ready?” I asked. They all nodded. I went over and picked Leo up from the bed.

“I’m going to carry Mommy, okay? She’s very tired,” I told him.

“Cause she’s growing my baby!” he said in his cute toddler voice. I nodded my head, giving him a smile.

“Yes. It is very hard work, so I need you to walk with Missy,” I said. He nodded enthusiastically. When I placed him on his feet, he bounded over to his sister, but Maddox picked him up and swung him onto his shoulders easily. Leo had to duck because the ceilings weren’t high enough, but he giggled nonetheless.

“That one is okay for our pup,” Gavin said.

“We’ll see. I want to test him on the training grounds,” I argued.

“Better than the other one….” Gavin grumbled. That I did agree with. I grabbed up Azalea in my arms, and we were all off to the car.

–

When we pulled into the packhouse, I turned to Missy, and she answered before I could even ask her, “We’ll take them in and tuck them in their beds.” I smiled. That’s my girl.

I parked near the front doors, and they both hopped out. Junior followed them silently, still tired and clearly not wanting to be awake right now. Leo had fallen back asleep in his car seat. Maddox unbuckled him and effortlessly pulled him from the car. They headed inside, and I took off to the clinic immediately.

Missy

Maddox carried a limp Leo, and I pushed Junior all the way up to their rooms. Junior went inside his room and slammed the door behind us, not wanting to be put to bed. I didn’t blame the kid. He wasn’t a morning person, and waking him up before he had at least eight hours of sleep was akin to terrorism for him. I led Maddox into Leo’s room and pulled back his comforter so Maddox could lay him down. He barely made a move as we covered him up and left. Once outside in the hall, we stopped and looked at each other.

The drive from the Inn had been a little awkward. All I could think about the whole time was what he had said about keeping me safe. Surely, some of this had to be coming from how he lost his pack?

We stood a few inches apart, but I couldn’t bring myself to look him in the eye now that we were alone. Suddenly, my fingernails were very interesting. “You don’t have to say anything,” Maddox said softly. I looked up at him tentatively. He was smiling at me. “I just needed to tell you. I thought you should know there is more out there for you if Vlad turns out not to be your mate.” He didn’t wait for me to respond. He leaned forward and placed a soft k**s on my forehead before turning around and heading down the hallway. I stood there a little dazed, watching him disappear.

“Missy, what is going on? Why is Maddox in the packhouse?” Lily’s voice interrupted my thoughts. I shook off all the weird goosebumps on my skin and answered her.

“Liam brought us home because he needs to take Azalea to the doctor. He dropped us off and drove over there,” I told her.

“Goddess, what is going on?” she asked worriedly.

“I don’t know. We all just got in the car and came home.” Liam was tense the whole ride back, so there wasn’t much conversation going on in the car. I turned and headed to my room. I needed to sleep because this all felt like some sort of weird dream.

Azalea

I sat in the hospital bed with my hand resting on my belly. Liam was sitting next to me in a chair, bouncing his leg nervously. His hand kept running through his hair, so I know he was going crazy. I sighed. I didn’t want to worry him. The pain was starting to get to me, but it wasn’t anything I couldn’t manage. Finally, Doctor Ron joined us. Liam shot up from his chair immediately.

“Calm down, nephew,” he said, holding up his hand. “Azalea, you seem to be worrying more than just your mate.” He grabbed the chart from the end of the bed and started looking at vitals his night nurse had already taken. “Seems you are running a fever, and your b***d pressure is a little high,” he told me, looking up at me.

“Doctor Ron, really, I’m okay. I just need some sleep,” I tried to persuade him.

“All in good time. Sit up, lean forward a bit for me,” he said, coming over to my side. I gave Liam a sideways glance, and his face was severe. I sighed and did as I was told. Doctor Ron started carefully pushing along my back. When he got down lower, I winced. “Hmmm. Is this where the pain comes from?” he asked.

“Uh, I think so,” I answered.

“Have you been nauseous recently?”

“Well, yea. I’m pregnant,” I said.

“More than your average morning sickness? Maybe foods are upsetting you when you least expect them to?”

“My appetite has been slimming the past couple of days,” I admitted.

“Alright, Luna. I think my suspicions are true. I believe you are dealing with an infection. This pregnancy must really not be agreeing with you. I am going to take some b***d to test and see if we can narrow this down. In the meantime, I am going to start you on a broad-spectrum medicine to start attacking this head-on.”

I nodded my head. “So, am I stuck here for the night then?”

“Tonight, and probably another day or two. I want to make sure this doesn’t spread or get worse,” he said. My heart sunk. I did not want to be stuck in a hospital bed for days. I turned to Liam, and he shook his head.

Doctor Ron got to work drawing the b***d he needed to test, and his nurse came in to start an IV in my arm with medicine. It was cold and uncomfortable. When they both left, Liam was standing next to me. His hand rubbed the top of my head gently. “I’m not sorry, Little Luna,” he said softly.

“I know,” I sighed, resigned.

“I wish you would tell me when you aren’t feeling well,” he said.

“If we came to see your uncle every time I felt the slightest bit off, we would live in his office, Liam. I am pregnant, and my body isn’t suited for werewolf pregnancies,” I explained. I looked up at him, and I could see how upset he was. His expression was making my heart clench. There would always be some part of him that blamed himself for my physical limitations.

“I’m sorry, Little Luna. We shouldn’t have left this up to chance,” his voice quivered. He leaned down, resting his head against mine. I reached up to cup his cheek.

“The Moon Goddess wanted us to have another pup, Liam. Everything is going to be fine,” I tried to reassure him.

“I can’t lose you. Azalea, I won’t survive. The sun would never rise again if something happened to you,” he confessed.

“Liam….” I whispered. I wanted him to hold me; I wanted to be close to him. I didn’t even have to ask because, without words, he picked me up just enough to reposition me and climb into the bed next to me. He was careful of my IV, and I quickly found myself snuggled against him, completely wrapped in his large frame.

“Sleep, Little Luna,” Liam pleaded. I didn’t put up a fight; I just closed my eyes and breathed deeply, letting my favorite forestry scent lull me to sleep.