Talons

Chapter 77: The Request

Robin’s POV

My mate has been extra attentive toward me since getting pregnant, and I can’t say that I’m annoyed by it. He pampers me like a queen, rubbing my feet, kissing and talking to my belly, everything a mate should do.

He is obsessed with my pregnancy scent and since he is really of alpha lineage, he has become extremely overprotective as my belly grows. That isn’t all bad because being locked in a room with my mate all day is the kind of fun I used to dream about when my urges first started.

Luke and I are resting in bed when I feel a sharp pain in my abdomen; apparently, he felt it too because he doubled over dramatically.

The next thing I know, he and I are being rushed to the pack hospital, where I’m in labor, and he is in sympathetic labor. I can’t stop laughing as my mate clutches at his belly, feeling exactly what I’m feeling, but his reactions are extreme. It hurts, but it's not that serious.

Somehow, Raven knew I was going to give birth today, so she and B were already waiting for us at the hospital. I haven’t seen my sister in person since her return, and instead of feeling the labor pains, I’m staring at her, trying to figure out what's different, but I can’t place it. She is wearing her typical oversized clothing and glasses, so it's not the way she’s dressed.

Luke and I have been put in the same room because he insists on seeing his pup being born. Even though being around me is physically hurting him, he will not leave.

I’m in labor, but I’m not ready to deliver yet, so I’m mostly covered. Raven is mocking my mate, and while I should be angry, right now, I can only giggle. Even he has to laugh at himself.

I suddenly feel an intense wave that brings with it the urge to bare down. I flip the blankets off of my legs and spread them.

“Help me push,” I say to my twin and Raven literally retches at the sight.

“I can’t do this sh*t,” she shouts as she runs out of the room.

B is just staring between my legs with wide eyes that let me know there is something there. Unlike my b*tch ass twin who has abandoned me; she absentmindedly puts on a pair of gloves and used the blanket I had over my legs to cover her body.

I’ve gone into labor early, and my doctor hasn’t arrived yet. There is a doctor available, but Luke has insisted that no male will deliver our pup. Lark did the same thing with Emma, but Ducky took his time, unlike my little one who wants to say hello right now.

My mother hasn’t even gotten to the hospital yet, and I know she is going to be pissed that she missed this moment.

“B, get him out of me,” I shriek, and my mate starts groaning as if he is in severe pain.

My sister doesn’t even miss a beat, she sits on the edge of the bed, puts my feet on her shoulders and tells me to push with my next contraction. I do as she asked, and after what felt like an hour, I hear my son cry.

“Hello Corbin,” B says. Luke and I exchange a glance; that name just feels right.

Rhea’s POV

After helping my sister give birth, I stayed on Claw territory so that I could bond with my second nephew before classes start.

Nearly a month has passed since then, and Angel and Mike have been competing for my attention. Neither of them has it, but since Angel has a clean record for now, he isn’t completely ignored.

He and I hang out from time to time, but it's purely platonic. He has asked me out several times, but my answer is always no. Angel is no angel; he doesn’t even try to hide the things he does, and I’m not about to join his entourage.

Mike on the other hand has changed a lot and it’s not just noticed by me. He drinks less, he takes his school work seriously, and he is overall more mature. The only problem is that Coach says that he is distracted, and somehow, I know it has something to do with me.

I start heading toward the gym, wanting to rid myself of anxiety about it. I’m alone because Jamie and Raven have gone shopping for homecoming tonight. They even took my card to buy their dresses with. I don’t care because I feel like it’s money I owe to Raven for helping me become successful, but I fear what they will return with.

I enter the athlete gym and slow when I hear some of the guys inside. They don’t typically work out during this time, so it's odd for them to be around, but I guess they are doing the same thing I’m doing. A lot of the senior athletes have family members coming, so the pressure to win their first game at home is serious.

I hear Angel loudly moaning, and male voices giggling. I hear him clapping and my mind tells me that he is telling some sort of lewd story, but I’m shocked when I hear him mention my name. He is going into graphic detail about s*x that he and I have never had.

Not only am I still a virgin, but Sylvia and I have decided to wait. We don’t want to end up like Raven, who while fine, slips into random periods of depression anytime something reminds her of Tucker.

“She is a screamer, especially when I have her bent over.”

“Shut up Angel,” Mike says, and I hear a weight drop abruptly.

“Are you mad?” Angel asks while laughing. “Come on bro, you had your chance, and you blew it. I’m just doing my part and helping her get over you.” Some people are giggling, and based on my interactions with the guys, it's likely Gavin and Derrick, who hate me for some reason.

“I’m not mad, but you’re a damn liar. B would never give it up to someone like you.” Angel starts laughing mockingly.

“Oh yeah? Well, she has a tiny birthmark right on her-” I step into view before Angel can finish his lie.

“Where’s my birthmark Angel?” I ask, and although he looks nervous, he actually tries to push forward with the lie.

“B, baby, we are all adults. No one is judging you.”

“No, no, no, continue with your story.” I say, walking up to the man menacingly. Sylvia is pushing forward, and we really want to hurt him, but I’m holding her back.

“B don’t waste your energy,” Mike says as he steps into my path. “He’s an immature i***t, I used to be like him, so trust me, I know. The only person who believes him are those other two idiots.” Mike points at Gavin and Derrick and Derrick gives me the finger. I don’t know what I did to him, but obviously, he and I are at odds.

It took every ounce of my being not to seek him out and break his legs after he dislocated my shoulder, especially because I believe he had done it on purpose. Now, he is pushing a different set of buttons, ones I don’t want or need pushed.

As I near eighteen Sylvia gets stronger, and the stronger she becomes, the harder it is for me to hold her back. Right now, I’m physically shaking with the effort it's taking to hold her from taking over.

She should not be able to do that, but I can’t trust what's normal with her. We met way earlier than we were supposed to, we can focus-heal our injuries, and I can already see her in my mind.

“Never talk to me again,” I quip, walking away from the gym as Mike scurries behind me. He keeps calling out to me, but I need to keep moving or I’m going to break Angel's neck. I don’t know why I’m so angry, but after a while I calm down.

"I’m sorry," Sylvia says. "I know they are just words, but words like that almost put us in a situation where we would have had to kill, and who knows where we would be." I understand her reasoning, but Angel is human. I confirmed with Coach, and as bad as she wants to attack him, she cannot.

****

The outfit raven and Jamie picked out for me is not as horrible as I thought it would be. They went with a burgundy peekaboo-shoulder long sleeve lace crop top, and a metallic gold pencil skirt. Compared to their outfits, I will be dressed conservatively.

When we get to the large gymnasium where the party is being held, I can feel eyes fall on me, but fortunately, I have Raven and Jamie as buffers. They are pulling just as much attention as I am, and when guys swarm in on them, I dart in the opposite direction.

“B!” I hear and I spin to see Braylen, who is one of the alumni presenting awards today. I run to him and hug him, then of course, I hug Georgiana who is visibly pregnant.

“I missed your wedding,” I say, feeling guilty, but Georgiana tells me that she heard what happened with Mike and she was happy that I chose to get away from him.

“You look amazing,” she says, spinning me so that she can look me up and down. “Brent and Brice said you lost weight, but they didn’t tell us you were so... sexy.”

“That would have been weird babe,” Braylen says, making me laugh.

Miss Lorrie joins us a short while later, and I find myself chatting with the group as if they are my family. I imagine what it would have been like to grow up in a human family, and part of me wonders if they still want to adopt me.

Starting to feel depressed, I tell everyone that I need water, but before I can go find a place to hide, I’m stopped by a woman and a teen who looks like a skinny Mike.

“You must be B,” she says, extending her hand. “I would’ve recognized your face anywhere. Skinnier in person, but my son told me that you’ve changed.” I shake the woman’s hand, and she points to a secluded area, to which I follow her. “My son needs football, and lately his head isn’t in the game. I don’t know what he did, but I’m begging you; for the sake of his future, can you at least pretend to have forgiven him?”