Chapter 31 - Stubborn
Alyssa's POV:
It was now that 15th of December, so much had happened in the last two weeks, I don't think any of us have stopped to take a breath other than in the evenings when I was cozied up on my couch with my mate. Caitlin and Ryan would also come over several nights a week. The guys always ended up turning on some kind of sports thing once Tenley had gone to bed. That's when Caitlin and I would break away and talk for hours on the patio with the outdoor fire place roaring. She enjoying wine while I drank my ginger soda and we'd laugh, cry, and just sit together while working through all of the madness.
I adored having her back in my life. She was truly my person. Caitlin had settled in extremely well, and her parents were thrilled at how well she was doing and would be coming to spend Christmas with her and Ryan. Caitlin's parents had been wildly upset with Brent throughout the process, but slowly things were becoming more calm as the real culprit on all of this was Dalton. Watching Caitlin and Ryan together was truly a dream come true. I couldn't have picked a better mate for my best friend.
Today we were finalizing all of the Christmas feast details. With barely ten days to go it was a must that we get this done. The pack house decorating finished up over a week ago and every inch of this place was dripping with Christmas cheer. Myself, Jess, and Caitlin have been working together to finish up the Christmas feast.
Jess had just left to go have lunch with Anderson and his parents who had just made it to the pack for the holiday season. Much like Brent's parents, they spent their retirement traveling. Caitlin and I were powering through though, as we had planned a double date at our house this evening and needed to get today's to do list finished.
Now that it was just the two of us I was ready to pounce, "sooooo, you having something new... care to give details?"
Her face lit up, "yes, he marked me!" she said, pulling her hair back, showing off the white, shiny mark.
I squealed, "did you mark him back? Details woman!"
She laughed, "have you seen that man? Of course I marked him back! It was better than I ever could've imagined. I love brushing my fingers over it. It drives him insane and I love it." We both laughed some more at the revelation she shared.
"I completely agree, I love doing that to Brent, too, he gets so wound up. I love the effect I have on him, It's so nice after... well you know," my voice trailed off.
It always brought out a level of confusion when discussing the differences between the bond I shared my Brent and the bond I once had with Dalton.
"You okay?" Caitlin asked.
I shrugged my shoulders, "I mean, yes I am fine, but I don't know. Every time I talk about my bond with Brent I just get so confused at how I was ever mated to Dalton, it just doesn't feel like it should've even been possible. The differences between what I feel with Brent and what I felt with Dalton aren't even comparable," I glanced over, "oh gosh, look at me, ruining your moment! Keep going," I over enthusiastically urged .
She stopped walking and patted my shoulder, "you're not ruining anything. I always thought your mateship to Dalton was strange and never seemed right. Watching the two of you together, I don't know... you could just tell something wasn't right. I am so happy you have Brent now." She smiled and grabbed my hand as we continued walking.
I paused for a moment, "you sure you're good?" Caitlin asked as she hesitated at opening the ballroom doors.
Shaking my head and rubbing my growing bump, I swallowed down the bile in my throat.
'Alyssa?' I felt Brent press.
I waved her off, "I'm good, just getting kinda dizzy and nauseated."
'Alyssa, please answer me or I am coming to find you . ' Brent pushed through again, sounding worried.
' Honey, I am fine, just a little past lunch so I am not feeling the best. I'll eat very soon , ' I assured him.
' A little? Alyssa it’s past 2:00 pm. Lunch is over. You have got to eat soon. You're going to get sick. I'll call down to the kitchen and have them prepare you something,' h e fretted once more.
'Sweetie, I have one last thing to do and then I promise I'll go eat. Besides the ballroom is on the way back to toward the kitchen. I'll be so fast, it's just place settings.' I tried to offer some reassurance, but he was still very worried.
'Ugh, fine. Be fast, I mean it. You need food, and rest ,' he warned me before closing the link and Caitlin and I entered the ballroom
Unfortunately this was not near as fast as I thought it would be, finally an hour later I had the perfect place setting in front of me. I grabbed pieces from the pre selected table options, and created one myself. The company did great, but I had a vision and was totally invested in seeing it come to fruition.
Once I was done, I stepped back, admiring the setting. The table cloth was a deep, mistletoe green, with black chargers, and cranberry colored, gold rimmed plates nestled into a wreath of mistletoe, the plates had handprinted sprigs of holly all around it. I had chosen matte black wine glasses which added a modern feel to the traditional gathering. Gold silverware pulled it all together and I was thrilled. There would be mistletoe, poinsettias, holy, frosted cranberries, candles, and twinkling lights all throughout. It was going to be magical. I smiled at the visual in my head. This was absolutely my favorite time of year.
We signed off on the setting and with one last look at the menu, which made my stomach growl, we headed out.
We were chit chatting and suddenly I felt faint, having to lean on Caitlin to keep from falling.
"Alyssa? Honey, are you okay?" Caitlin asked, slightly worried.
"I just, I just need to eat, I'm okay," I shook my head trying to clear the fog, which made me even more dizzy.
I tried to take another step, but the room spun faster. Before I knew what was happening I was falling, Caitlin doing her best to keep me from falling too hard as she guided me to the floor, her shouts for help the last thing I heard as I slipped into darkness.
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Brent's POV :
‘brENT! The Luna is down!' Ryan yelled through the mind link, jolting me from my task.
I jumped from the desk as I took off, attempting to test the bond, finding it closed. What the fuck happened I thought as I pushed my wolf forward to find her scent, not even bothering to ask where she was as I knew I'd find her easily.
It led me to the ballroom where she'd been an hour ago. I threw the doors open and just steps in front me my mate was laying in the floor, her head in Caitlin's lap, Caitlin was sobbing over her as she begged her to wake up. The scene causing a roar in my ears as I blocked everything but her out. I paid no attention to Caitlin as I took Alyssa in my arms and I took off to the hospital. I knew she hated hospitals, but I could not lose my mate, I couldn't lose my child.
Everything moved in slow motion as I ran with her in my arms. Not stopping until I flew through the entrance and to the doctor and the midwife that were there waiting. I laid her down and stepped back as monitors were attached to her belly, the precious rhythmic heartbeat a beacon of hope for my anxious mind. An IV was placed quickly by Emily. I knew she was a good choice.
Blood vials were taken as well as a poke to her finger, "ah! Just what I thought," Dr. Greer exclaimed shortly after, "Emily, she needs emergency glucose, and change out her IV to D5 as soon as you're done."
"Doc, what, what is it?" Both professionals ignored me as they worked to get Alyssa stable.
My mind race, "someone say something!" I hollered.
Dr. Greer was the one who answered, "Alpha, her blood sugar is 30. We have to get her stable or we will lose them both, please let us work. We will update you as soon as we can."
The roar in my ears returned as I took in the words and bent over to clutch my knees. Knots forming in my stomach as I prayed for their safety.
They worked in sync for what seemed like an eternity when finally Emily turned to look at me and said she had risen to 50, and that we needed her to be at least 70, if not a little more. I wasn't sure what all that meant, but I was grateful to hear that things were moving in the right direction. Still, I held my breath, nervous for the outcome.
She finally began to stir awhile later, croaking out, "my head hurts really bad."
I stepped to her side, and placed my hand on her forehead, offering her comfort through the bond, "I'm sure you do, you missed lunch by 3 hours, little miss 'this won't taken long, I'll eat soon'." I narrowed my eyes at her, repeating her words from earlier as she realized what had happened.
Before she could speak Dr. Greer stepped in, "Luna, carrying this heir is much more difficult than your pregnancy with Tenley. This is an entirely different pregnancy. Your body is working in overtime to grow an Alpha's child to be as strong as possible for his or her future role. This means you will be drained of your energy and nutrients. You cannot skip meals, and they must be a good balance of protein and carbs. I am going to recommend you add in two snack times as well and never go anywhere without packets of honey and peanut butter crackers. Alpha, I am also sending y'all home with emergency glucose." He paused, allowing us to take this all in. I told him we understood and that he could go get the nurse to prepare for discharge.
Once he left, she looked up at me and immediately began to apologize, but I shushed her. There was no apology needed. I knew she was headstrong, and I knew she never liked to get off course of a deadline. Attributes that truly made her a perfect Luna.
"Alyssa there's no need to apologize, but you cannot miss out on meals like this. I know you were pregnant with Tenley,and I respect that you have experienced pregnancy before, but just like I have been telling you, carrying the child of an Alpha is not for the weak. We literally cannot get just anyone pregnant they have to be..." I trailed off with my words...realization slamming into me. Maci was never meant to be mine. She was never strong enough to carry my heir. This is why she couldn’t get pregnant. My mind raced constantly with these thoughts, but now more than ever.
Alyssa scrunched her brow at me, "What? Are you thinking I am not strong enough? Like this was a mistake?" Her eyes started to fill with tears, her liptrembling. She had mistaken my silence for regret.
I shook my head, "no, oh honey no. My mom did this and so did my aunt! Both, like you, are incredibly strong women, but you, still have to be careful and get the proper nutrition. I'm sorry, as I was saying, not just anyone can carry an Alpha heir, and even those that do, still must be careful."
She looked at her hands, "I don't mean to upset you, and this may not be the right time to bring this up, but I wonder if that's why Maci couldn't become pregnant."
I drew in a breath, so she'd been thinking this, too, "that's exactly what went through my mind while speaking to you just now. It's so odd, and would just be plain cruel of the Moon Goddess to pair an Alpha with someone who cannot have his heir. That is just not how things work. I just don't understand it," I sighed, "I'm sorry for my rambling, let me go see when they are discharging you." She grabbed my arm and pulled me back before I got very far.
"I was just telling Caitlin today that I don't understand how I was ever mated to Dalton. It's just too different. I don't understand it.." she slowly shook her head. He mind reeling with unanswered questions. I needed to figure this out, and I would. I would give her the answers we both sought.
I sat on the edge of the bed, facing her and taking her small hands in mine, "I assure you I will figure this out, and as soon as I do, she will pay."