Mating the Female Alpha
Chapter 91 – Opening the layer door.

Landry's POV

"The vampires will sense that their spell has been broken," Crystal said, taking a step back from the door. "It won't be long before they come out."

Landry could now sense the dark energy swirling around them. The dark spell that kept Alaric's layer hidden was broken. They were staring at the door they'd been searching months for. "Leave," he told Crystal. "We can handle the rest from here. Thank you."

She nodded before taking off. His army stood behind him, shifting into their wolf forms and getting ready for the fight that was about to be unleashed. Caleb, Bernice's brother, was amongst his army. Caleb has also not slept and has been working tirelessly with others to find this layer. He had a look of determination on his face, but Landry wasn't sure he could handle a fight like this. He was only 15 after all.

"You should go too," Landry told him. "This fight might get ugly, and you're exhausted."

"I'm not leaving,” Caleb said, shaking his head. "I'm going to fight for my sister."

Landry knew there was no arguing with him, so he nodded and turned toward the layer. Landry and the other's crouched their bodies; anything could be emerging from that layer; and once it did, they would be ready.

When the door finally opened, vampires piled out. They had a look of fury crossing their faces. They yielded weapons of silver; items that could do serious damage to wolves. Landry knew some of his men could get injured, maybe even killed.

it seemed the vampires were waiting for the wolves to make the first move. Perhaps it was an order from their lord, who has yet to make an appearance. There was no doubt in Landry's mind that he was still hiding in his layer. "Where is your leader?" Landry demanded to know, a growl escaping from his throat.

"If you want to get to him, then you'll need to get through us," one of the vampires spoke in a deep and dark tone.

Landry was hoping he would say that; a scowl spread across his wolf's mouth, revealing his sharp canines. He was ready to rip through some vampire flesh.

Without another word, Landry and his men lunged.

...

Bernice's POV

Late in the evening, I felt a lower abdomen cramp before bed. I pressed the palms of my hands to my stomach to steady the pain.

The doctor had mentioned that I might feel some cramping and discomfort, but this felt different. It was growing more intense with each passing moment.

"Ouch..." I said under my breath, trying to maintain my breathing.

The doctor mentioned taking in deep breaths would help ease some of the pain.

Pain coursed through my body, jolting me like an electric bolt.

"Shit!" I yelled between my gritted teeth.

I heard the footsteps of Laura from the next room; she must have heard me.

"Denise?" She asked as she poked her head into my room. "Are you okay?"

"I don't...." More pain shot through me.

I screamed in agony.

"What is it? Is it the baby?" She asked with wide eyes.

The baby wasn't due for another month; this couldn't possibly be the baby arriving. Something must have been wrong. I bit down on my bottom lip to keep from screaming again.

I'm usually good with pain, but nothing could have prepared me for this.

"Aaaaaahhh!" I growled as tears burned in my eyes.

This couldn't be the baby. It just couldn't.

Just as I was about to tell Laura to call the doctor, I felt a warm liquid oozing between my legs. My heart fell into my stomach; I worried for the worst. I was afraid that if I tossed the covers back and assessed what was happening, that I would find blood.

"Please... goddess... no...." I said between my teeth.

Laura narrowed her eyes at me, grabbing onto one side of the blanket and tossing it off my body. She gasped again, even louder.

I dared to look at the mess I created.

It wasn't blood, but the liquid was clear.

What the hell?

"Denise... I think your water just broke..."

"What?" I gasped. "No... that's not possible. He's not due till next-"

My words fell short as I screamed out in pain once again. Laura wrapped her arms around my torso and struggled to lift me against the headboard, so I was sitting up.

"It's okay!" She said breathlessly. "Hold on a second, I have the stuff to do this. I've delivered plenty of babies before!"

"What?!" I hissed. "Call the doctor," I demanded.

She was looking at my lower half with a frown.

"I don't think we have time; that pup is coming now," she told me urgently.

I felt sweat beading on my forehead; my entire body was burning up. I needed to get these clothes off.

As if reading my thoughts, Laura stripped me of all my clothes.

"I'll be right back!" She told me, rushing out of the room.

I kept screaming as more pain consumed me; how did women do this all the time? This was unbearable. All I could think about at this moment, besides the pain, was Landry. I wished more than anything that he could be here. I never wanted to have a baby without him. I wanted him to be here with me to hold and comfort me. I wanted him to see our baby as soon as he's born.

My heart ached knowing he was going to miss this moment.

Laura returned to the room moments later with a cloth, a bowl of water, a couple towels, and a couple extra pillows.

"Just keep breathing," she instructed as she placed the pillows under my back to leverage me and then placed one of the towels under my butt. She placed the other towel over my front half to give me some coverage, which was I glad for. "Deep breathes."

I took in a steady and shaky breath, feeling a world of pain consuming my body. I wasn't sure how much of this I could handle. Even Julia had fallen silent; or maybe I just couldn't hear her over my agonizing screams. "The doctor..." I gasped.

"I already called him, he's on his way..." Laura assured me.

That was such a relief to hear; but that relief didn't last long as I felt the pup pushing it's way out. Telling from Laura's face, I didn't have much longer.

"But we don't have time for the doctor," Laura said, looking more determined tha never as she crouched before me. "You're going to need to start pushing."

I didn't want to start pushing, but this pup wasn't giving me a choice.

Laura counted me down and one she got to number one, I started pushing with all the strength I had left. I gritted my teeth and felt every muscle in my body tensing and working overtime to get this baby out of me. I felt my lower half tearing away to make room for the baby and I thought, once again, that I was going to pass out.

I laid back on the pillow, panting for a breath of air. I felt dizzy and I worked to keep myself awake.

"Push one more time... I see its head. It's almost out," she told me; she kept her voice calm, which oddly enough made me feel better.

I took in another deep breath and pushed as hard as my body would allow.

"That's it!" She coached excitedly.

I continued to push, not stopping until that baby was finally out of me.

As soon as I heard the crying, I let out a gasp of breath and allowed my body to go limp against my pillow. I was breathing heavily, trying to steady my rapid heartbeat. My entire body was on fire, and it trembled uncontrollably. Tears fell from my eyes, and I couldn't seem to stop sobbing.

I had a baby. I just had a baby boy.

I needed to see him; I needed to hold him. Telling from the sounds of his cries, he needed me too.

My vision was blurry, but I could make out the imagery of Laura wrapping him in a blanket and holding him close to her chest. She had a small smile on her lips as she stared down at my pup; the pup that doesn't have a name.

I held my arms out, while still panting for breath.

"Let me see him..." I said, breathlessly.

She glanced over at me, staring at me for a short while, contemplating whether or not to hand me my pup. I frowned, narrowing my eyes at her and trying to get my vision back. Her face was coming into view and that's when I noticed it was no longer Laura's face.

She took a step away from me, still holding my pup.

"Talia...?"