“Well, I’ll be damned. If they never came
inside the compound, how’d they get to Frogs?
” Silas said
sounding mystified.
“Did you check the food and water?
Air?”
“Yes, those were the first things
checked.”
“What about deliveries? That would account
for them leaving. Here’s the thing - when David sensed the problem,
he didn’t run to the adults. He went to the other kids. That’s why
I didn’t think much of i
t,” Jasmine said.
“Did you ask him why he didn’t come to you
right away
?
She thought about it. “
Not directly. We need
to have a talk with the kids. What if they can merge like the
twins? If they are developing skills, we need to
know.”
“Later, I promise to revisit this
thing with the pups, right now we need to track those bitches and
find out what they used to kill Frogs so we can counter
it.”
“I agree. Is there anything I can
do to help?”
“You just did. Now we’ll focus on footage
from outside the bubble. There has to be a connection somewhere.
We’ll find it - until then I want to minimize all
connections
.”
“Emergencies only, got it
.” She didn’t
like it or understand his reasoning for shutting down communication
but she’d go along for now.
Asia corralled all the kids. “Come on and pick
out your beds.” They jumped up and ran to the room with multiple
twin beds. Jasmine had remodeled the room when the babies were
born. The beds were close together so there could be more floor
space to play in case they were ever confined to this one
room.
Jasmine went to check on her mama. Victoria had
been whining all day, requiring her mate’s constant attention.
Jasmine wasn’t sure what was going on but needed to make sure
Victoria wasn’t having health problems. This was one time she hoped
her mom
was
playing diva.
Jacques answered her soft knock.
“Mama okay?” Jasmine asked.
“She’s sleeping. Not well, the pups are more
active than normal but she’s trying.” Jasmine could tell he wanted
to get back to her mom. “Let me know if you need
anything.”
He nodded in agreement and closed the door
after she walked off. Down the hall, Rose and Tyrone had a room.
Jasmine tapped on the door.
Tyrone opened it and she shook her head at his
haggard appearance. “Let me sit with her while you get some sleep.
If she has those babies, you won’t be in any shape to go through
the birth with her.”
He yawned, looked behind him and then nodded.
“Just a couple hours, that’s all I need.” Jasmine patted his cheek
and walked inside. Rose lay on her side and offered a half-smile,
half-grimace.
“Thanks, he wouldn’t listen to me. I’ve been
telling him to get you or Danielle for the past hour so he could
rest.” Rose stared at her mate and then looked at Jasmine. “I
think…” she froze and then released her breath slowly. Recognizing
the signs, Jasmine moved close to the bed and took Rose’s
hand.
“How long have you been having contractions?”
she asked Rose.
“What?” Tyrone said from the other room and
then re-appeared in the entrance.
“A few hours now. I wasn’t sure if this was the
real deal or like the other time, when it turned out to be a false
alarm.”
Jasmine nodded and watched as Rose breathed
through another contraction.
“Mama?” Tyrone said from behind her.
“Huh?” She said without releasing Rose’s
gaze.
“What’s going on? The babies? Are they coming
now?”
“Maybe.”
He gasped. “Please ask Silas to allow Matt to
deliver the baby. He hasn’t been contaminated and neither has she…
please convince him to allow Matt to come inside,” Tyrone
said.
“Rone…” He didn’t realize what he was asking.
Silas refused to allow his godson entrance and he was the state
Alpha.
“Who’s going to deliver the baby, Ma? You? Me?
Asia? Because that’s all we have right now.”
“What about Jacques?” Rose said. “I’m sure he’s
done something similar before.”
Jasmine’s mom wouldn’t allow Jacques to stand
close to another woman, let alone deliver babies regardless of
family connections. Being pregnant had brought every insecurity and
vulnerability to the surface to the point her jealousy was on
steroids.
“Silas, this is an emergency.
Rose’s contractions are coming closer together. It’s time for her
to have the pups. Can Matt come and deliver the babies?”
“No
.”
No? That’s it? No explanation. Maybe he didn’t
understand what could happen if something went wrong with the
birth.
“Who will deliver the babies, then
?” she
asked.
“Jasmine, I’m busy here
.”
She inhaled and then released it slowly. Seeing
the grimace on Rose’s face, she stepped to the corner, allowing
Tyrone to take her spot while she discussed the matter with her
mate.
“Send for Matt, Silas. Have someone
bring him through the underground tunnel dressed in hazmat gear
till he gets to this level.”
“No one in or out until we find the
cause of death, don’t you understand?”
“I’m trying to work with you on
this, Silas.”
“Good.”
“Not so good because you don’t seem
to understand what will happen if my daughter does not deliver
these babies in a healthy manner. I’m not qualified to deliver
babies, neither is anyone else.”
“Jasmine...”
“Do you seriously expect me to risk
not only my son, who may die with the loss of his mate but my
grandchildren as well? We both know I can’t do that.”
“The quarantine keeps everyone safe
–”
Her stomach tightened at his stubbornness
.
“I can assure you I don’t give a damn about your quarantine right
now. My daughter is in pain and about to give birth to my
grandbabies. So send for Matt now damn it!”
“Calm down, Jasmine.”
“Fuck that. You’ve never given
birth, so you don’t sit or fucking stand wherever you are and deny
her the care she needs. Get the damn doctor here now or I’ll go get
him myself. I’m serious about that.”
“He’s on his way
.”
She exhaled and looked behind her. Tyrone and
Rose stared. “What?” she asked.
“Nothing, just things got hot in here for a
minute there,” Tyrone said looking around the room and then back at
her. “I assume Matt’s on his way?”
Jasmine sensed the heat, cleared her throat and
straightened. “Yes. I don’t go against my mate’s judgement often
but this is an emergency.”
Rose extended her arm. “Thank you,
mom.”
Jasmine’s eyes filled as she accepted Rose’s
hand. “No need to thank me, just have those babies wait a few more
minutes and we’ll be good.”
“Jasmine.”
“Not now, Silas, I’m too
angry.”
“Davian has to come with him, do you
understand what that means
?”
She didn’t respond.
“Cameron has to babysit Tomas and
your ex-lover will be in a confined space with you for an
indefinite time. My wolf will be distracted.”
She rolled her eyes
. “Tell your wolf my
ex-lover will be with his mate and you won’t be with
yours.”
He growled through their link. “
I don’t need
this now.”
“Then stop talking and handle your business.
Between four pups, a son about to pass out from exhaustion, his
mate about to give birth and my Mama suddenly incapable of doing
anything without the help of her mate I assure you I’m quite busy
myself
.” She disconnected their link. Sometimes he made her so
damn angry.
“Tyrone go lay down. Danielle and I will sit
with Rose until she has the baby. We’ll wake you when it’s time,”
Jasmine said, shooing him out the way.
He released Rose’s hand and placed a kiss on
Jasmine’s cheek. “Love you, Mama.”
“I know, baby. Now go rest.” She took the chair
still reeling from her confrontation with Silas. She imagined their
next private conversation would be filled with fire and then well,
they always finished their arguments with hot, mind-blowing sex.
Just thinking about the latter got her excited. A few moments
later, Danielle stuck her head in the room.
“Is this a private party?” She chuckled and
walked inside.
“Nope, pull up a chair, I’m timing the
contractions. When Matt gets here, he’ll tell us what else to do,”
Jasmine said looking at her watch and then at Rose.
“Oh thank the Goddess, I wondered who would
deliver the babies. I just couldn’t see any of us doing it.” She
frowned. “Wait. What about the quarantine? Has it
lifted?”
Jasmine’s cheeks warmed. “No but Silas is
concerned and wants Matt to handle it.”
Danielle stared at her a moment longer and then
nodded. “Yes, Ma’am.”
Butterflies filled Jasmine’s stomach as the
contractions came closer together. Sweat beaded on her brow as
Rose’s discomfort ratcheted. Where the hell was Matt? Rose’s moans
escalated to sharp shrieks.
Jasmine didn’t want the children to waken and
decided to move Rose to her and Silas’ private rooms at the end of
the hall. She needed Jacques to change the code for the others to
enter that space.
Excusing herself from the room, she knocked on
Jacques’ door and explained the situation. He stepped outside but
didn’t close the door completely.
“I need Silas’ permission to do that,” he
said.
“Get it then,” she said not seeing a problem.
At this point Silas would give Rose and Tyrone whatever they needed
for a safe delivery.
Jacques sighed. “If I bothered him for that
he’d skewer me. Can’t you place a bubble over their
room?”
Jasmine didn’t know how to do that. Silas had
been working with her on controlling her energy but she had a long
way to go.
“Jacques,” Victoria called from their
room.
“I’m sorry, I have to go.” He returned inside
and closed the door behind him. Shock and anger battled in
Jasmine’s breast over being dismissed as if she had asked for a
favor he couldn’t provide. If she didn’t accept no from Silas, she
damned sure wouldn’t accept it from Jacques. Jasmine stared at the
door a few more seconds and then knocked again.
Jacques stuck his head out the door again,
looking perturbed.
“I don’t think you understand,” she said in a
hard voice, crossing her arms over her chest. “I told you to change
the panel code on the door. Not once did I ask for an alternative
solution. Or your opinion of my mate’s response. No, I told you to
change the damn security codes. I expect you to go and do that
right now.”
His brow rose and then he nodded. “Yes, Ma’am.
Will you stay with your mother while I go do your bidding?” She
ignored his conciliatory tone and stepped inside.
“Jacques?” her mom called.
“He’s not here, Mama. I needed him to take care
of something, he’ll be back soon.” Jasmine sat in the chair across
from her mom’s lounger and stared at her. “Are you enjoying
this?”
Victoria’s cheeks pinkened and then she smiled.
“Yes. Yes I am. I’ve never experienced anything like it before. All
the pampering and sweetness… it’s great. Was it like this with
Silas when you were pregnant?”
Jasmine bit back a laugh. She couldn’t imagine
her hard-headed mate doing this beck-and-call routine Jacques did.
“No, he was busy running his world.”
Her mom frowned. “But you were having his pups,
that means a lot to them, doesn’t it?”
“Yes, but he has a job, like Jacques has a job.
Trust me it won’t be like this when the quarantine’s
lifted.”
Her mom waved. “I know but it’s really nice
right now.” She paused. “How’s Rose? Jacques thinks her time is
near.”
“Her contractions are close; I’m moving her so
she can have the baby.”
“Down here? Who’s going to deliver it?”
Victoria scooted up and stared at Jasmine.
“Who do you think?”
“You?”
“No. I can’t do anything like that, she’s
having twins or more. We need someone with experience,” Jasmine
said watching her mom’s face tighten.
“Is that what Jacques is doing? He’s between
Rose’s legs delivering her babies?” She tried to stand. “I’m sorry
but I can’t handle that,” Victoria said and burst out
crying.
Jasmine stood and hugged her mom. “I know,
Mama. He’s working on some technical stuff for me. Matt is coming
to deliver the baby.”
Victoria pushed back, sniffing and wiped her
face with the back of her hand. “Why didn’t you tell me
that?”
Jasmine frowned. “Why would I?”
Victoria opened her mouth and then snapped it
shut. “Good point. Honestly, what’s wrong with me? That’s my
grandbaby, how can I get upset over Jacques helping?” She stared at
Jasmine.