Chapter 17
W aking up to the sounds of terror coming from your omega is nothing I want to endure again. I was able to jump out of this bed and race up to her when I heard what sounded like Ash taking the stairs.
He was far better suited for conversations like this than I was. I stuck in the hallway until new noises emerged from Taryn’s room. Hearing them moan wasn’t on my to do list today. Fuck that. It was my cue to get out of the house.
There was just a little bit of jealousy bubbling in my chest, only because Ash was up there with her first, not that he was up there and I wasn’t.
When I made it downstairs, Mathias was tying up some sneakers.
“Going for a run?”
I must have startled him because he jumped a little off the couch.
“Shit, dude. For a big guy, you are light on your feet, but yes. I’m headed out. There is no way that I’m staying here with all that noise,” he said, pointing towards the ceiling.
“Same. Care if I tag along?” I asked. “I just need to get my phone and shoes on.”
“If you think that you can keep up,” he smirked.
“Don’t worry about me,” I countered, already feeling the challenge in his words working me up. Yes, this was exactly what I needed to let off steam.
There was a loud moan and that had my feet moving faster.
“I’ll meet you out front,” Mathias called out as he moved towards the front door with just as much haste. We’d have to get used to those noises now that we were a pack. But until I’ve had her for myself, I knew my alpha would be feral having to sit here and take it.
Note to self, sound proof that room when we do renovations.
“Right behind you,” I promised as I jogged back to the room I was staying in. It didn’t take me more than a few seconds to grab my phone and shoes, taking them outside.
Mathias was fiddling with his smartwatch when I walked out front. He gave me a nod as I put on the first shoe. I glanced up to see him stretching as I got the other one on.
This was not my kind of cardio, what Ash and Taryn were doing… that was.
“Okay, let’s do this,” I told him as I joined him in the driveway behind the cars.
Mathias pushed something on his watch and took off. He must be tracking his run, I didn’t care about that.
He started at an easy pace and I thought I would be okay at it… that was until we came to a fork in the path and he took the uphill one. After what felt like an eternity my lungs started to burn and I was regretting my decision to follow Mathias.
There was a buzz in my pocket but I ignored it. There was no way that I was letting Mathias out of my sight so he could leave me in the dust. I’d never hear the end of it.
I would die trying to keep up with him before admitting defeat.
This time my phone rang, but I didn’t answer. Two seconds later it was going off again.
That wasn’t a good sign. I stopped and yelled for Mathias to hold up when I pulled the little device from my pocket.
My heart stopped a little when I saw Buck’s name on my phone. There had to be something wrong if he was calling me. I took a few gulps of air before I answered.
“Boss, I know you have a lot on your plate, but it’s Daisy. She calfed and is down. No matter what we do she will not get up. I needed you here yesterday. You know that you are the only human that can get her up,” he said before I could even say hello.
“Give me an hour and I’ll be there,” I told him and then I ended the call.
Mathias must have noticed and he walked back to where I was standing.
“I have to get back to the ranch. You coming?” I asked.
“What’s going on?” he asked as we headed back the way we came.
I filled him in before we started to jog again and I knew that he was on board to go back. My heart hoped that Taryn would go with us as well.
The jog back seemed to fly by and my lungs held out the whole way.
“I’ll get Ash and Taryn, you grab whatever you need to,” Mathias said as he ducked back in the house.
When I crossed the threshold, I headed straight to change back into jeans and boots. That way when we got back to the ranch I could have my boots on the ground and check in on my baby.
I was on autopilot as I changed and when I was buttoning up my pearl snap shirt, that’s when I heard a little cough from the doorway. It was Taryn, her coconut, kiwi, and vanilla scent drifted in but I was too focused on my task to look up.
“Sorry to bother you,” she said when our eyes met.
“You could never do that,” I promised. “Sorry, I’m just focused on getting back.”
“I love that you have a passion for the farm. Mathias filled us in. What can I do?” she asked as she walked towards me and finished the last two buttons on my shirt.
“Thank you.” I let out a breath to calm myself. “Daisy was my first bottle calf on the ranch. We have a weird connection, even if she’d run my ass over for a bucket of cow cake.”
“Oh, you have another woman in your life, huh?” she teased as she stood on her tiptoes to kiss me on the lips.
When they met, I groaned at her taste… I wanted more, but Daisy needed me.
“I promise, you’re the only woman in my bed,” I said as I kissed her this time. “But it seems reality is determined to pull us back in.”
“Well, I want to meet this Daisy,” she told me, then bit her lip. “If you want?”
“I absolutely do. Pack a bag though. It’s just thirty minutes from here, and we can come back once I know that Daisy is alright, but we may have to stay the night.”
“I think I can handle that,” she smiled before turning and heading out of the room.
Taryn was the only one who really needed to pack, we all lived nearby.
We regrouped in the living room and Ash came and hugged me. They knew what she meant to me. This was why we were a pack. Having someone have your back but also understand, was huge.
“Daisy is a bitch, there is no way this is gonna keep her down,” he said when we both took a step back. I chuckled, knowing he was right.
To everyone else she was a whole problem, but to me she was my baby.
The ride back to the ranch was a tense and quiet one. I knew it was because of how stressed I was, and when I was like this, I had the tendency to bite people's heads off.
When we were about halfway back Ash tried to turn on the radio and I slapped a hand over the knobs. He didn't try again.
Taryn tried to give it a try, "Holt, do you just have cattle on the ranch?"
She gave me a few minutes and didn’t push, which made me feel bad. Finally, I sighed, "Sorry, I'm not trying to be an asshole. I just can't lose Daisy when I'm not there. I know she's an old gal and she can't live forever, but I have to be there when she goes."
"We get it, brother," Ash promised. "I remember when you brought her to the ranch. You two played together as if she was a big puppy. She's been a part of the family. I'm glad that we can all go back together."
"When did you become so sentimental, Ash?" Mathias asked.
"I have my moments," he countered, trying to lighten the mood.
And it worked.
My heart was a little lighter with them on my side. That and I could see the gates that were at the end of the ranch's drive.
I was almost home and I was bringing my mate with me. Even if I was distracted, this was a big moment.
"I'm going to drive you three up to the house and head straight to the barn," I told them as I slowed to make the turn. "I'll bring in whatever you need after I check in on Daisy."
"Can I go with you?" Taryn asked. "I'd like to meet Daisy, but if now isn't the time, I understand."
"Take us all to the barn," Ash said, "You go in first. Then, if we can join you, send Buck out. If you don't, we can walk to the house."
"I like that idea," I said as we headed down the long drive. It was nice knowing they knew what I needed even if I didn’t.
No one else said anything as we went but I could see that Taryn was taking it all in.
The fact that she was a part of all of this, too, meant a lot to me. I wanted to tell her that I was so happy to finally be bringing my mate home, but my words failed me.
This worry for Daisy was all consuming and I'd hate myself if she passed and I wasn't here.
We drove by the house and the barn wasn't too far behind it. When I stopped, I threw the SUV into park and jumped out. I knew that one of the others would deal with it for me. I had to get to Daisy.
I ran through the open door and didn't stop until I got to the stall where we pin up the birthing mothers. There were a couple moos and neighs as I opened the panel.
My eyes trailed the room until I saw her. There was my girl, ignoring Buck and a bouncing little white and brown calf, no wait, there were two. Daisy had twins.
"There's my baby," I cooed at her. I noticed that one of her ears perked up at my voice and that was a good sign.
"Of course, she hears you and responds," Buck sighed, flashing me a tired look.
"Well, she's my best girl," I told him as I covered her ears. "Well… second best now."
"Get this girl off her ass and you can tell me all about it," Buck said to me.
"She's here, you'll get to meet her. Why didn't you tell me that Daisy had twins?" I asked.
"I've had my hands full and I knew that you'd like the surprise," he winked as he moved to capture one of the babies. "I need to feed them, you good here?"
"Yeah, give me some time to talk to her," I answered.
I kneeled down in front of Daisy and she nudged me with her head just a little. I tried to keep my hopes down, she had to get up and moving.
"Hey, girl. Why aren't getting up? You have two beautiful babies that need you. I need you. I'm being selfish here. You can't leave me, I just found my mate and you need to meet her," I told her, keeping my voice low and soothing.
I stepped back to give her room.
"Get up, come on. I know you can do it," I cheered her on.
She made a little movement to get up.
"That's it. Just like that," I said.
One of the babies came up to me and rubbed on my leg.
"Mama, look at this," I smiled and checked to see if it was a bull or heifer. "Oh, she's trying to replace you, mama. You better get your ass up and show her who's boss."
She mooed and lifted herself up and finally stood on shaky legs. Daisy took a step towards me and her baby and bumped the baby with her head to get to me. I gave her all the pets she wanted until she moved to inspect her baby. Buck was back with the other one and he didn't enter the stable, just turned the baby in.
It bounded up to me but decided against it and went to Daisy instead.
She mooed at her babies and they both went to find some food. I didn't move until the twins were attached. I gave Daisy another pat before I joined the others on the outside of the gates.
Taryn's eyes were full of wonder and excited as I stopped to stand next to her, "She is beautiful. Do I have to be jealous?"
I kissed her on the forehead and laughed a ‘yes.’
This got a playful hit from her.
"Daisy going to be okay?" Mathias asked, leaning on the gate.
"Maybe. We have to keep an eye on her and make sure the twins are eating. But her up and nursing is the best we can hope for," I answered.
"Boss, I'm going to get some shuteye so I can take the night shift," Buck said with a tip of his cowboy hat.
Taryn went rigid beside me and I glanced down at her but she didn't say anything until Buck was out of the barn.
"Oh my god, he did the cowboy hat tip, that is a real thing? Not just something in books?" she squealed.
"Shh," I said to her. "The barn is a squeak-free zone."
"Oh, sorry. Did I scare the animals?" she questioned, looking around to see if any were afraid.
"No, just your alphas and beta," Mathias joked.
"So, what are we doing now? We aren't just going to stand here and stare at Daisy are we?" Ash asked.
"Nah, I'll come back in thirty to check on her. Let's show Taryn our home," I answered, holding out a hand for her.