"Where did you put your clean clothes?" Theo asks as he steps out of the water.
"I didn't bring any. I didn't plan to take a swim," I say, standing beside him.
"How did you plan to walk back to the packhouse?" he asks, arching his brows at me. "In your bloody clothes?"
"I didn't think about that. I just wanted to get the dirty clothes and blood off me."
"It's fine. Raise your hands," Theo says, and I do as he asks. He slides his T-shirt over my head.
"Thank you," I say, dropping my hands.
"You're welcome. Let's go," Theo says, when he's done putting on his shorts. I start walking in front of him, but he pulls me back. "Not in front of me. Walk-behind me," he says, pushing me behind him.
"Why?" I ask, confused.
"I need to block any unmated wolf from seeing your legs."
"Really? My legs?" I scoff.
"Yes, your legs. You don't know what beautiful legs you have, mate. Stay behind me," he says.
"Okay," I say, smiling at his compliment. Theo is one possessive werewolf.
Theo and I walk into the packhouse straight to our room. This pack was lucky the fight happened outside the packhouse, so the place is still livable, unlike the last pack. I put my phone to charge and get under the covers to go to bed. I'm closing my eyes to sleep when Theo speaks.
"She-wolf, is your plan to drive me crazy?" Theo says from beside me on our bed.
"What are you talking about?" I ask, turning around to face him.
"Why are you sleeping with only my shirt on? I can see your ass once you lie down."
"I don't understand what's wrong with you seeing my ass?"
"Anastasia , it's bad enough I smell you in my bed all night. That enough drives my wolf crazy because he hasn't marked you. Now you want to sleep almost naked in our bed. It's like you're asking me to mark you so you die"
"Oh," I say, understanding now why it's a problem that I want to sleep with no underwear. "I'll put on some PJ bottoms," I say, going to my luggage to find some bottoms.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome," I say, walking back to bed after putting on my PJ bottoms. I love Theo 's scent, so I keep his shirt on.
***
The following morning, I wake up early and go downstairs to help in the kitchen. As I walk into the kitchen, I'm facing the one person I don't want to see this early in the morning.
"Morning, Scarlett," I greet her. She's supposed to leave today. I can't wait. I'm so happy Theo didn't listen to me and asked her to leave once her replacement arrives. "Do you need any help making breakfast?" I ask, one of the omegas cooking in the kitchen. Before she can answer, Scarlett does.
"No, we don't. We have everything covered here," she smiles.
"Okay, if you need me, I'll be outside," I say, walking out of the kitchen. I guess I woke up late because it seems I'm not needed since her Royal Highness Scarlett is in the kitchen. Royal highness, my foot. I'm sure she woke up earlier than me to intentionally help in the kitchen before I got a chance. She wants to make me look like I'm not helping, so others will say she's the perfect match for the Alpha King.
I walk around the pack grounds to find something to do or someone to help. We've found and treated almost all the injured since we arrived two days ago. I walk into the woods to clear my head of my racing thoughts.
While walking, I hear someone in pain. I quickly run toward the sound.
"Are you alright?" I ask, the pregnant she-wolf on the floor. Who was screaming?
"Thank goodness you're here. I need your help. The baby is alm-" she doesn't get to finish talking because she's interrupted by her own screams in pain.
"Are you in labor?" I ask, worried she might be.
"I need you to help me give birth to my baby," she says, grabbing my hand as she screams again from another contraction.
"I can't help you deliver your baby. I need to take you to the clinic," I say, placing my hands around her shoulder to lift her off the ground, but she stops me.
"There's no time to get to the clinic. We need to deliver my baby now."
"Are you sure you can't hold it in a little longer? The clinic isn't far from here."
"I'm sure. My...baby...is com...ing nowwwww..." She screams. "Please help me," she pleads with her eyes. I look at her and think about what to do. I'm not a doctor. I don't know how to deliver a baby, but I don't think I have a choice right now.
"What should I do first?" I ask, rolling up the sleeves of my shirt. I also use it to wipe off the sweat on her forehead. Childbirth seems so difficult. I wonder if I'll ever get blessed with something as amazing as getting pregnant.
She gives me all the instructions on what I'm supposed to do. "What's your name?" I ask, wanting to know who I'm helping. Then she screams again. She tells me her name is Vanessa.
"Deep breath in, deep breath out, now push," I tell her as we try to bring her baby into this world.
"Good job, one more. I can see the head, Vanessa!"
"I can't go on anymore," she says, throwing her head back in exhaustion.
"You can, and you will, just one more." I made my voice certain and authoritative, knowing that's important to have.
"Ahhhhhh," Vanessa screams while pushing the baby out of her with all her might. Once she stops pushing, a baby cry is heard.
"You did it, Vanessa, you did it," I say, smiling as I wrap the baby in my shirt. I quickly release my claws and cut the umbilical cord.
"Can I see my baby?"
"Of course," I say, handing the precious thing to its mother.
'Theo , where are you?' I mind link my mate.
'In the packhouse, you sound tired. Is something wrong?'
'Nothing is wrong. I just helped a woman give birth. Please send doctors to where I am."
'You did what? How are you? How is the baby? Is the mother fine? Where are you?'
'I'm fine, so is the mother and the child. I don't know where I'm, but you can try following my scent to find me.'
'Okay, the doctors and I will be there shortly.'
'Okay, we're waiting.'