Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder novel Chapter 639

Chapter 139 : We’re Having a Baby Today

*Lena*

I watched through the window in my bedroom as Xander kicked a ball as far as he could into the back garden, Sasha's golden hair flying out behind her as she chased it into the tall grass. Xander turned around, laughing and saying something inaudible to my dad and Troy. Troy and Maeve had just arrived a few hours ago from Winter Forest. My grandparents were here as well, but they were napping, tired from their journey to Mirage.

No one else was set to arrive this far from the wedding, but it was nice to have some time with them before the festivities began.

“When is Abigail getting here again?" Maeve said from my bed. She was lounging with a notepad on her lap, her hair piled on the top of her head. Mom was sitting next to her, folding tiny baby clothes.

“Tonight. Last I heard, they were passing the Isles," I replied, waving down at Xander as the group of men looked up to my window.

Now that we had a date for the wedding, which was quickly approaching, I'd had Xander send word to his own realm. I let out my breath as I watched Xander interact with my family. Dad and Xander had been spending a lot of time together lately. I was thankful for it. It seemed like they were starting to get along, just in time for the wedding, too.

“Any word from Oliver?" Maeve asked.

I shook my head, turning to face her in time to notice the pain rippled over her face.

“I sent invitations to New Dianny. That's where I was told he might be," I said softly, crossing the room to lie down on the edge of my bed, facing my mom and aunt.

Elaine and Clare had gone out on an adventure in Mirage, neither of them familiar with the city. Maeve hadn't met Elaine yet, and I was reluctant to mention that Xander and I believed Elaine was the mate Oliver believed he sacrificed to save his realm. I was praying to whoever was listening that Oliver would show up to my wedding just so he could see her and the bond would snap into place. Maybe, just maybe, he'd be able to heal.

I heaved a breath as my belly tightened painfully. Mom sat up a little straighter, but Maeve smirked, nudging Mom playfully.

“She's fine, Hanna. She could have this baby today and they would both be fine."

“She'd be four weeks early!" Mom protested.

“All of the babies in this family have been early," Maeve shrugged. “Well, Lena was only two weeks early, but still. They'd be fine."

“I hope she doesn't come early," I said, running my hands over my face. “You'd have to adjust my dress a fifth time, Mom."

Mom rolled her eyes. “I'm more worried about you giving birth at your own wedding."

“Well, my wedding would be the talk of the town forever, if that's the case. It would save me from being sucked into an endless conversation with Aunt Georgia and Aunt Vicky!"

Maeve snorted, flipping to a new page in her notepad.

It was quiet for a moment as we listened to Sasha's screaming protests three stories below as the men tried to coax her inside for lunch.

“What was my own birth like?" I asked, looking at Mom.

Maeve set the notepad down, turning to Mom as well.

“Painful," Mom said matter-of-factly. “But compared to your aunt and grandma, I had a pretty straightforward birth. It was the… the weeks after that were difficult."

“Why?" I asked, looking from Mom to Maeve.

Maeve's eyes darkened, a fleeting memory passing behind her eyes.

“I was… I wasn't well, mentally. Not for a while. I think I was just…"

“We were all still reeling from what happened with Tasia, and the prophecy," Maeve said softly, giving Mom a weak smile.

Mom smiled back, her eyes creasing with understanding. “We didn't know what to expect, Lena. That's all. I didn't feel… I didn't feel adequate. I didn't feel like I was good enough to be your–your mom."

I opened my mouth to reply that of course she was good enough to be my mom, and ask why she would think that, but then I saw the tears welling in the corners of her eyes, and my heart began to crack.

“Mom–"

“Maeve and your grandma came to me shortly after you were born. They helped me through it, and as you got older… you were just this ray of light in my life, honey. I was so proud of you, so in love with you. Your dad and I discussed having another baby but you were just… enough. You were enough for us, for me."

My heart was in my throat as I looked into her eyes.

“We didn't need any more boys in the family; that's why they didn't have another. They didn't want to risk it!" Maeve teased.

Mom let out a little laugh. I exhaled, thankful for the look of peace that crossed over my mom's face. Mom cleared her throat, fixing me with a smile.

“You're going to be fine, Lena. And if Alexis is born–"

“Alexis? You named her?" Maeve said excitedly, sitting up a little straighter.

I nodded, fighting back a grin.

“Xander and I recently decided on her middle name," I said, toying with the creases in the comforter.

“Oh? Are you going to tell us, or keep it a secret?" Maeve pressed.

“Alexis Hanna," I said, meeting my mom's eyes. “Alexis Hanna Crimson."

***

*Xander*

“I bet he'll show up," Troy said, tossing the rubber ball against the side of the castle while Sasha jumped up to try to grab it. We'd tried and failed to usher the little girl inside for lunch, and we were now back outside on the patio, eating chicken nuggets and french fries in the sun.

I crossed my arms over my chest, turning to look at Ethan, who was sitting with his legs crossed looking down at the chicken nuggets with a skeptical expression shadowing his face. He picked one up, turning it back and forth before shaking his head and putting it back down again.

“I invited him and his mate, as well as Theo and Ciana. It's a long journey, and a big ask. It's likely Lena and I will have a second wedding in Egoren when we return," I said, leaning against the castle wall with my arms crossed over my chest.

Rowan only nodded. I knew he was still struggling with the idea of me taking his only daughter and only child, as well as his soon-to-be granddaughter, back to my realm.

It wasn't like he couldn't visit, and we would be visiting often as well.

Still, it was a great distance… a great distance, and an entirely other realm.

“Soren won't come," Ethan declared.

I eyed him, then let my hands fall to my sides. “Why wouldn't he?"

“Why would he?" Ethan replied.

I looked at Rowan, who shrugged.

“Because I invited him, and Lena is his, what, great niece? Right?"

“What, Ethan? Are you afraid he's going to come back and stake a claim to the old truck that's still in your garage in Winter Forest?" Troy laughed, which elicited a glare from Ethan. Troy was truly fearless.

The door to the patio opened and Hanna stepped out, looking around until she found me, her eyes widening.

“I think you should come upstairs," she said quickly, “Lena isn't feeling well."

Troy caught the rubber ball, and Rowan stood up from his chair.

“Is she alright? Is it the baby–"

“Maybe," Hanna said, the corners of her mouth twitching. I could tell she was trying not to smile, but there was definitely worry in her eyes.

“Okay," I said, glancing at the men before following Hanna into the castle.

I heard Troy exclaim excitedly, as the door shut behind us, something about Rowan entering what I thought I heard as “the old man phase" of his life. Ethan grunted in response, so I assumed I'd caught the words correctly.

“Where is she?" I asked, following Hanna towards the stairs.

“Laying down in her room. She's been uncomfortable all morning–"

“She's been uncomfortable for days," I corrected, my voice dropping an octave as we climbed the stairs. I couldn't help but be excited. My heart was hammering in my chest as we turned and walked briskly down the corridor. I entered our room without knocking, finding Lena bent over the bed, her cheek pressing into the mattress.

“I do not feel well," she huffed, her cheeks reddened and hair slightly damp with sweat.

Maeve was rubbing her back, her mouth pulled into a wide smile.

“You two are having a baby today; I guarantee it–"

“Don't say that!" Lena snapped, burying her face in the quilt over our bed.

I sighed deeply as I walked over to Lena, running my fingers through her hair.

“Let's go for a walk, okay? Just you and I. I bet it'll make you feel better." I turned to Maeve, then Hanna. “Is she in labor, for sure?"

“Early labor," Hanna said with conviction, nodding her head. She looked a little pale, but the excitement was shining behind her eyes.

“Have the midwife come, but we're not going to panic. Okay? Right, Lena?"

“I'm not panicking," she said into the bed. “But my wedding dress–"

“Don't worry about the dress!" Hanna exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air.

Lena looked up, her face reddened with pain and frustration.

“Let's go for a walk, come on," I coaxed, lifting Lena off the bed by her armpits.

She bared her teeth at all of us, looking more like a demon in need of an exorcism than my occasionally kindhearted mate. I definitely needed to get her out of the castle before she started cussing at all of us.

This was going to be a long, long day, and probably an even longer night.

“Come on, let's go," I said, patting her lower back.

She slipped her feet into a pair of slippers and shuffled forward, swatting my hand away. I exhaled through my nose as I walked past Maeve and Hanna, mouthing “stay calm" as I passed. Maeve was about to break into a fit of excited giggles, and Hanna was still pale, but she seemed a little more at ease now that I was taking over.

Truthfully, my stomach was tied in a tight knot. I'd been in battle. I'd stared death in the face. I'd even died, and then come back to life.

But I'd never been on the cusp of becoming a father, and I felt totally and utterly unprepared.

I held onto Lena as she walked down the stairs, her face screwed up in a face of utter determination to not have this baby today.

“You're going to be alright," I said. It was the wrong thing to say.

“If you say another word to me," she growled, “I'm going to rip you to pieces." She bent over as we reached the second-floor landing, huffing out her breath. She straightened up, looking me in the eyes, and looking absolutely feral.

“I won't say another word," I said, hiding the smile threatening to spread across my face.

We were having a baby. We were having a baby today.