Rowan
Between dealing with patients and setting up the clinic just the way I wanted to with Kiki‘s things, I was dead on my feet. Even I could admit my aching body was ready for a break. Despite that, I was thrilled to have familiar items around me, giving me a kind of inner peace I hadn’t felt in a long time. Not since she’d passed, really.
At a good stopping point for the night, I decided the time for that break had come and suggested to Bastian that we head to the den for the evening.
It was well past ten, and I had to get some sleep.
As he joined me, holding my hand on the walk, I noticed Orsen and Greylen lounging on sofas in the family room.
Grey, seeing me go by, opened his arms in invitation, his mouth stretching into a soft grin.
I didn’t hesitate, clambering into his arms, splaying my body out all over him. He didn’t complain, chuckling softly. As he ran his fingers through my hair, I relaxed into him, my brain slowly turning off.
“Did you get everything the way you like it?” Grey whispered, still stroking my hair.
“Hmm.” I nodded, my eyes closing as the fatigue I’d been battling finally won. “Mm-hmm.”
I wasn’t sure what happened after that, whether anyone kept talking. I just passed out, snuggling with Grey on the couch.
“Ro!”
Flinching, I was woken by someone shaking my arm.
“Wha—” I jerked up, looking around wildly in the dark, remembering I had been on the sofa with Grey. For once, I had been sleeping deeply, and I had no idea what time it was, so it was startling to say the least.
Nina was looking at me apologetically, worry furrowing her brow. “I’m sorry to wake you, but it’s time! Poppy is in labor!”
Adrenaline shot through me, and I was completely awake. Luca’s sister had been staying in one of the nearby cabins as her due date approached.
As I scrambled off the couch, Greylen hardly moved under me. Sleeping dragons slept like logs, and it made me giggle. Must be nice.
“Here.”
Well, not all sleeping dragons.
Across the room, Bastian was standing near the doorway with a travel mug of coffee and a pastry in hand, holding them out toward me, expression serious but steady.
“How…”
Nina laughed. “He was awake, watching over you when I came to find you. I can’t decide whether it’s creepy or sweet.”
“Given my sleep-deprived state and the points he has going for him when it comes to being less of a butthead, I’m going to say sweet.” I took the pastry off him and rose onto my tiptoes to kiss his cheek.
“Fair. Any man who provides caffeine is a good man,” Nina agreed.
“Shall I wake them?” Bastian asked, jerking his head toward Greylen and Orsen, both of whom were snoring away.
“No, let them sleep. It’s the middle of the night, and they could use it. If I need any more help, I’ll send someone to get them.” I turned to Nina, my healer brain waking up. “Who’s with her? And how far apart are the contractions?”
“Samuel, of course, and Luca. Samuel said they appear to be about two to three minutes apart, and I quote, ‘look really intense.’”
I smiled, rolling my eyes as I grabbed the coffee and headed for the door. “These babies are going to be here in no time!”
Samuel and Poppy were living in one of the best cabins right next to the den.
It gave them a degree of privacy, which was why the Alphas had decided to give it to them for the duration of their stay.
Luca was sleeping in the den—though, half the time, Poppy joined him when Samuel was working, helping keep me safe, and she didn’t want to be alone.
She’d also lent a hand in cooking for some of the horde, offering to make meals so that we could all have dinner in the main hall once in a while. It was kind of her to step in when Ma couldn’t perform her usual duties, and I wouldn’t forget how much help she’d been during all this.
As I approached the cabin, Luca was pacing outside, unsure what to do with his hands, alternating between putting them on his hips and running them through his hair.
“Morning! Lovely day to become an uncle?” I asked, smiling at him.
He blew out a breath, his eyes closing as he shook his head. “Sure, middle of the night!” He laughed. “Please, just tell me this is all going to be okay.”
“It’s going to be amazing, Luca. And babies run on their own schedules, so get used to nighttime chaos,” I assured him, patting his arm. Turning to Bastian, I asked, “You okay to stay out here?”
He frowned, narrowing his eyes at me.
“You two can keep each other company. It’s not like you’re going to be in the birthing room. You aren’t Poppy’s mate,” I pointed out, raising my brows as I paused outside the cabin door.
Bastian didn’t look happy about it but nodded. “Fine. Luca and I can patrol the perimeter of the building.”
“Thank you.” I smiled gratefully, a little smug because, come on. He didn’t really have a choice in the matter.
“Let’s get in there. You’ve got the extra bag?” I asked Nina.
She nodded, holding it up for me to see. I smiled back, pushing the door open.
Despite her insistence that it wasn’t going to happen anytime soon, we had prepared for Poppy to give birth at the cabin the day after she arrived, so everything I could possibly need was already there: a doppler to monitor the heartbeat, ice packs, barf bags with peppermint, so many towels and liquid-absorbing pads, a change of sheets, cord clamping and cutting tools, a bowl for the placenta, receiving blankets, the list went on.
Inside, Poppy was in bed, wearing a thin nightdress that stretched over her bump, her face red. Her hair was pulled back in what had once been a neat braid, but was now slipping free around her face. She cupped her bump, taking several deep breaths.
Samuel stood behind her, rubbing her back as he coached her. “You’re doing great, baby. Crushing those contractions.”
“Rowan!” She grinned, eyes flaring wide as she saw me. “I am so glad to see you. You too, Nina!”
Nina beamed at her, carrying the bag as I gathered up the first tools I’d need.
Walking over to her, Nina took Poppy’s hand as she set the bag on the floor near the bed, saying, “I heard that two little someones are ready to enter the world!”
“I’m so sorry about the late hour.” Poppy winced, breathing as the contraction peaked and then eased off.
I waved off her concern. “I literally just told your brother that babies are on their own schedule. It’s an honor to lose sleep to bring your twins into the world.”
“Plus, this gives us an amazing excuse to nap the day away tomorrow—no one would dare complain!” Nina giggled, checking through our supplies.
“Do you think they’ll be here soon?” Samuel looked between us, and I gave Poppy a quick visual assessment.
“Two minutes to ninety seconds apart means babies will be here very soon.”
Tearing up, Poppy looked up at Samuel as he held her hand, squeezing tightly. They looked at each other with such love. This was why births were some of my favorite duties.
Poppy had possibly one of the simplest pregnancies I had ever seen. I had very few concerns about her delivery, so we were preparing the basics: clean towels, ensuring there was a fire going, and plenty of fresh water as she progressed naturally.
Two bassinets sat next to the bed, ready for the babies.
The contractions were moving everything along just as they should, and both mom’s and babies’ heart rates looked excellent.
When she needed to, Poppy walked through the contractions, stopping occasionally to crouch into a squat.
I checked her after one of them, having her breathe through the discomfort.
I smiled at her, though, pulling off my glove. “You’re fully dilated and effaced. And—”
Trading a look with Nina, I also glanced at Samuel.
“—I can feel hair.”
A happy sob left Poppy, and Samuel immediately took up his spot behind her, pressing on her hips to counter the contraction as it wound down.
“How do you want to push, Poppy?” Nina asked as I gathered the blankets closer, making sure we were ready to receive.
Poppy crouched again, turning to rest her back against the side of the bed. “This feels better. Can I just do this?”
“Absolutely. We follow what your body needs.”
Time sped up then, rushing through the last moments of stillness that accompanied the final contractions; the calm before the storm. Then Poppy was bellowing low, using gravity to help her push the first baby out, the head arrived, then shoulders, which had “baby one” sliding right into my arms.
“Okay!” I called out, my voice shaking with proud tears. “We have a boy! Look at that.”
I wiped the baby’s face gently, and not even a full second later, he was crying loudly, filling the room with those incredible first sounds. When I handed the baby to Poppy, she held her little bundle to her, tears of joy flowing as she peered down at her newborn child.
It was only a few moments later when the next contraction hit, and through three more pushes, baby two was born—another boy.
“Congratulations, new parents!” Nina giggled, wiping a tear with the back of her gloved hand.
Everyone basked in the glow for several moments, taking it all in before we clamped the cords and Samuel cut them. Poppy let us swaddle the newborns, Nina helping with the afterbirth, and then a frantic pounding on the door cut through the little bubble in the room.
“I heard crying! Am I an uncle?!”
We all laughed, and I shot a look at Poppy, who nodded as Nina got her covered in the bed.
“You are!” I called out. “Come and meet your nephews!”
Luca and Bastian burst into the room, with matching expressions of awe, as they looked at Poppy holding one baby while Samuel held the other.
“You two get to be the first visitors to meet Lucas and Liam,” Poppy said, pride ringing through her tired voice.
Samuel let Luca hold Lucas, the baby no doubt named after him, then walked to his mate, laying a kiss on her forehead. “You did it, babe. You’re a total rockstar.”
Poppy grinned, laying her head against the pillow, little Liam snuggled into her chest. “Yeah, I am a total fucking rockstar.”