The Elf's Royal Match (Book 4 The Wolves of Winter Valley)

Chapter 7 - Disasters And Miracles

Adam POV

Aiden howled when Megan cut the channel, and I braced myself against his expected push for control. He was instinct-driven and often acted rashly. I was more level-headed, and while I felt exactly the same way he did, at that moment, I knew we had to keep our heads. Running off half-c****d with very little information could actually do more harm than good. That didn’t mean that I didn’t want to. Every second counted, and we were wasting a lot of them just standing there.

“Natasha!” I called out, attempting to pitch my voice over the near-hysterical ones of pack members, seeking an explanation for what had just happened and the incessant shrill beeping of car alarms. We’d had earthquakes before, but they were rare and usually barely felt. There had never been one as violent as this. At least, none during my lifetime. Naturally, everyone was a little panicked.

I called to Natasha again. She didn’t even look up. An older woman was talking to her, waving her arms wildly. She couldn’t hear me. I started to open a channel but stopped when I saw Gideon racing across the packhouse lawn with Isabella on his back.

He skidded to a halt just outside the large group of pack members. Natasha raised her hand to silence the crowd while an obviously distressed Isabella passed Piper to Sophia—one of the packhouse omegas. “There is Grande mudslide at Valley Road intersection. Sinead and Megan are there. I try channel both, neither respond,” she shouted to us, then Gideon charged in that direction.

I surrendered control to Aiden.

Follow Gideon. He’s on his way to Megan.

Those were the only words he needed to hear. He shifted into his natural form and leaped forward, running for all he was worth after the gray and white wolf a few lengths ahead. Amalia, Justice, and Katie, along with several other wolves, fell in line behind us. I felt the tug of a channel opening, then Natasha sounded the alarm to the entire pack.

ATTENTION WINTER VALLEY PACK! I NEED ALL AVAILABLE HANDS AT THE VALLEY ROAD INTERSECTION NOW! THERE HAS BEEN A MASSIVE MUDSLIDE. GAMMA CLAY AND SINEAD ELIAN ARE MISSING AND NOT ANSWERING CHANNELS!

Adrenaline surged through our veins. I thought I knew fear. I’d carried the weight of it for much of the last year. Every time something had happened to Megan or had come close to happening, I’d been nearly suffocated by it. But nothing compared to the outright terror that gripped Aiden and me when Megan said she didn’t think she was going to make it. That was a feeling I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.

As we reached the edge of the village square, more wolves joined our ranks. At the warrior’s compound, winged beasts of varying types took to the skies while those without wings shifted into their animal forms—if they had one—and bled into the pack. My heart swelled with gratitude at the outpouring of support from our guest warriors. Not one of them was obligated to assist in this rescue. They could have gone about their evenings, as usual; instead, they were choosing to help. Even those creatures who held no love for wolves ran with us to save two of our members.

Colt POV

Shortly after the bunkhouses emptied, the ground stopped shaking, but no one was in a hurry to go back inside. Most knew there would be an aftershock or two. Others were still frightened and in need of the comfort being with other people provided. While my housemates huddled with our neighbors, sharing their traumatic accounts, I stepped away and scented the air. The smell of earth, pine, and decaying leaves was more pungent than it should have been. There hadn’t been a good, soaking rain in a couple of weeks, and it was still too early for heavy snowfall. I started across the gravel road and nearly walked into the path of a pack SUV as it came speeding around the corner. It fish tailed as it stopped next to a pair of pack warriors who had been guarding the perimeter around the compound. The driver spoke to the warriors for a couple of seconds, then sped away again. One of the faeries who had been standing near the warriors came running over.

“There’s been a mudslide!” she said in a panicked rush. “They called the whole pack to the scene for search and rescue. They believe the pack’s Gamma Female and Sinead….”

A lead weight dropped into my stomach. Then I was running through the door of the bunkhouse and down the hall to my room. The only thought in my head was getting to Sinead. It didn’t matter that I had been trying to keep my distance. I didn’t care if anyone found out that she was my mate. None of that trivial s**t mattered. All that mattered was that she was found safe and unharmed. As quickly as I could, I stuffed a pair of shorts and a tank top into my satchel, flung it over my head, and ran back out again. Someone called my name as I breezed by the crowd, but I didn’t look back. My mate was in trouble. I had to get to her.

I took two steps into the forest, shifted, and shot into the sky, not bothering to make sure the coast was clear. At that moment, I didn’t care who saw me.

You’re tense, Colton. What’s wrong?

Sinead is missing. There was a mudslide.

The connection is still intact, so she’s alive.

Well, that’s something.

If you had claimed her, you’d be able to channel her.

And you damned well know why I couldn’t. Why I can’t… We’re not doing this now. If you want to know what’s going on, keep those thoughts to yourself, or I’ll put the block back up.

Fine. But I make no promises after this is over. You are not the only one who suffers. She is my mate too.

And I make no promises that I won’t block you then. Let it go, Kai.

My eyes widened when I arrived at the disaster site and saw a massive mound of dirt and debris. Of all the images that had flashed through my mind, this hadn’t been one of them. I circled the area, surveying the scene, then landed deep within the untouched portion of the forest and shifted back to my human form.

When I emerged from the trees, Isabella was pacing in front of the mound. The rest of the pack was pulling on running pants and t-shirts from giant tubs in the back of a black pickup.

“I smell magic,” Isabella said, c*****g her head.

Sinead POV

I straightened my stance and raised my hands to the sky, then shouted an Irish incantation over the din.

Rise and twine, thickest vines

Twist and bind, grow and climb

Form a shield around this place

Shelter us in this space

Golden sparks shot out from the bottom of my staff when I slapped it against the ground, signaling that my spell had been cast. Within seconds, cracks formed in the pavement, and hundreds of vines crawled out, surrounding us, thickening as they grew until not a speck of light could be seen between them. Above, the ends bent and twisted, sealing the dome. And right on time, too. Immediately after the dome closed completely, the slide overtook it. The noise was deafening within the confines of that wooden structure. Rocks and trees crashed against it with such force I feared it would collapse, but it held strong, protecting us from being buried alive.

“solas (light),” I said when, at last, silence fell.

The crystal in the top of my staff began to glow, and I lifted it high to examine the interior of our temporary shelter. I’d almost forgotten that Megan was in there with me until she cried out in obvious pain. I hurried toward the car. She was bent forward, clutching her stomach, and crying. She was in full-on active labor.

Great.

Her screams reached inside me and pulled at the very fiber of my being. Despite having no knowledge of the birthing process, I was going to have to deliver this pup. I reached for the door handle and found it locked.

“Megan, open the door,” I called to her.

Wide, terrified eyes met mine. “No! You stay away from me! You did this, didn’t you? When are you going to accept that Adam has a mate?”

Okay, I admit I deserved that, but now was not the time for past grudges. We were alone. She was in labor, and I was the only one who could help her through it. “Megan, listen to me, please. We are trapped under the Gods and Goddesses only know how much dirt from the mountain. It’s likely going to take them hours to get to us. Your baby is not going to wait hours. She’s coming now. Let me help you.”

Megan gripped the steering wheel so tightly her knuckles turned white. Another contraction ripped a scream from her throat while beads of sweat formed on her brow and upper lip. “Oh God!” she cried. “My water just broke!”

“Megan, open the door.” I tried to keep the sense of urgency out of my voice but failed miserably. I had to get her out of the car. There was not enough room for her to deliver in the front seat. “Megan, please. I promise you have nothing to fear from me. Your mate bond is safe.” She didn’t move. Instead, she pressed her forehead into the steering wheel and cried harder. I was at a loss for something—anything—I could say to convince her to let me help. Frustration and panic grew and blended, and then it hit me. Colt. “Megan, Adam is yours, I don’t want him anymore. I found my match!”

Her head came up and her eyes locked on mine. She stared at me for a long time, then pulled at the door lock as her body was wracked by another contraction. I yanked the door open. As quickly and as gently as I could, I turned her around in the seat.

“Do you have a blanket or something in the car?”

Megan pulled her keys from the ignition and pressed a button on the fob. There was an audible click, then the trunk lifted. Rushing to the back of the car, I found her hospital bag and an emergency roadside kit complete with a thick fleece blanket. Thanks to the Gods and Goddesses for Megan’s preparedness.

Megan POV

I still didn’t trust Sinead, but she was right. My precious angel wasn’t going to wait until we were rescued to make her grand entrance. And as much as I hated the idea of putting myself and my child in this woman’s hands. I had little choice. I couldn’t deliver this baby on my own, and I couldn’t deliver in the front seat of my car. After Sinead spread the blanket over the ground, she came to me and helped me to my feet.

“It’s not going to be comfortable, but at least you will be able to stretch out,” she said as she guided me to the blanket and eased me down, positioning my hospital bag beneath my head as a pillow.

Another contraction seized my body, and I groaned.

“Breathe through the pain, Megan. It will help.” She gave a brief demonstration, then turned her attention to pulling my leggings and panties off, exposing my lady bits.

I flinched and battled back the impulse to close my legs. As humiliating as it was to have a virtual stranger’s eyes focused on my nether regions, it was, unfortunately, necessary.

“I can see her head,” Sinead said, drawing my attention away from my state of undress. “On your next contraction, I need you to push!”

Tears rolled down my cheeks as the next contraction began. I panted as the pain intensified. The urge to push took hold, and I reared up, hooked my hands around my knees, and bore down. The pain was unbelievable, and though I tried not to, I couldn’t stop the agonizing screams that escaped me. She was too big. Dr. Barry worried that I might not be able to deliver naturally because of her size and my humanity. We’d discussed it at length at my last appointment but had decided to wait until labor started to make a decision. Now, it wasn’t an option, and the delivery could kill us both. I began to panic.

“No, no. I have to go to the hospital,” I insisted and tried to get up.

Sinead held me in place. “Megan, we’re trapped, we can’t get to the hospital.”

Just a minute after the last contraction ended, a new one began. The urge to push was stronger, but I fought against it. “Use your magic to get us out. I can’t deliver here. She’s too big. I need Dr. Barry.” Deep down, I knew that I wouldn’t make it to the hospital, but I was incapable of rational thought when fear had its claws in me.

“My magic doesn’t work that way.” She gripped my hands and looked into my eyes. “I know you’re scared, but you can do this. You are stronger than any warrior I’ve ever known. You’re a fighter, Megan. And I’m willing to bet that this little girl is a fighter too.” The flood gates opened, and Sinead was at my side, embracing me without a moment’s hesitation. “I promise I will do everything in my power to see you both through this whole and unharmed.” She was still holding me when another contraction began. “Come on, Mama. Don’t fight it. Let her come.”

Again, I forced myself to sit up and grab my knees while Sinead resumed her place in front of me. I took several panting breaths, then pushed with all my might.