Chapter 91: Preparing for War.
Yara.
The pack has been preparing for war. I insisted on completing physicals on all of our pack’s warriors to ensure that they are healthy and able to fight. It also worked out that two warriors who didn’t know, found out that they were pregnant and are now required to remain in the pack.
Apparently all the celebrating that we’ve been doing means more pups in our pack. As long as it doesn’t cause problems with mate bonds, I’m thrilled.
When Harold returns with his warriors, I’m excited to see Savannah again.
“Savannah!” I say, rushing to hug her when I see her. I see that Warren has followed her over to the pack hospital, and I know it’s because he loves seeing me happy. It’s not like Savannah doesn’t know her way to the hospital.
“It’s good to see you, Luna! Although, I wish it was under better circumstances,” she says, hugging me tightly.
“How are you?” I ask her, looking over at my mate and giving him a big, happy smile. The one I know he’s been waiting for. He winks at me and turns to go back to work.
“T’m good, Luna. I’m pregnant,” she says, excitedly.
I squeal, hugging her again.
“I understand that you are too?” she says.
“Yes! And while you’re here, I’d love for you to do an ultrasound on me.
It’s not easy trying to do it to yourself.”
“Tell me! I’ll do yours if you’ll do mine,” she says.
“Deal!”
She says hello to everyone, spending a few minutes asking them questions about themselves and how they are doing. She meets Katie’s new pup, and as I watch her, I can see that she’s grown into her role as Beta. She’s a great leader, taking time to speak with everyone, giving them individual attention before turning to the next person. She’s a natural, which I guess makes sense since she’s mated to a Beta. “Alright, let’s get down to business. Tell me what we’ve got here,” she says.
Noelle and I walk her through our plan for how we want the hospital to run. Since we know that we’ll have a lot of injuries, we’re keeping our operating side as is and stocking each room, then we’ve opened up the other side for lesser injuries, setting up cots so that the warriors have a place to rest other than the floor while they are waiting for their turn to be seen.
“You, me, Noelle, and either Piper or Anna, whoever you choose, will be in the operating rooms. Anything you can’t handle, I get. Katie won’t be able to help because she has a newborn, but Erica agreed that Katie could watch her pups and she’ll be here to help triage.”
“Piper, are you strong enough to work in the OR?” Savannah asks her.
“Yes, Beta. My voice is still raspy, but finding my mate has helped me get stronger, faster.”
“I can’t believe everything I’ve missed,” she says, shaking her head.
“Okay Piper, you’ll be with me.”
“Anna, that means you and Erica will be running triage for everyone coming in and then treating less critical injuries. I want the two of you to work together today to make sure you know where everything is, that you have everything you need ready to go and in place. Savannah, you, me, and Noelle will be assessing your pack’s warriors today.”
“T’ve already started the assessment, Luna. Before we left, I had to tell several of our warriors that they were sitting this one out. We’re not as strong as this pack is yet, but we’re getting there,” she tells me. “That’s okay. We’ll see what we’ve got.”
It’s a long day, one that is long for everyone. Warren, Harold, Charlie, and Franklin are working with the warriors, going over their battle plans and how they intend to attack Brady and his pack. They will each take a group and attack the pack on four sides, blowing the bombs and booby-traps and then destroying Brady and his pack.
I only had to tell three of Harold’s warriors that they weren’t strong enough to fight. They weren’t happy about it, but Savannah insisted. As their Beta female, they listened to her and calmed down.
Haynes and Laney will remain in the pack to make sure the warriors get through quickly and the pack remains safe. Because we will have more warriors in our pack, Harold brought Henry and Farrah here as well. Farrah wants to fight, but so far, I think Harold has convinced her to stay.
After everyone was assessed, Savannah and I got the ultrasound machine and went into a room. I did hers first, excited to see her pup.
“How far along are you?” I ask her.
“A week maybe, possibly two. I’m not sure.”
“We may not be able to tell the gender yet, then,” I say to her, putting the gel on her stomach before putting the wand against her still-flat stomach.
“That’s okay. Franklin is just excited to see his pup. Like I said, I’ve done the best I can, but it’s not easy trying to find your pup and laying flat enough to get a good image.”
“And then trying to get a picture of them. Anna is great, but she’s not as experienced as you are, and I think it was her first time using the ultrasound machine. Not having any pups of her own, I don’t think she knew what to look for.”
I move the wand around as we both
watch the monitor. When I see the thumping of a heart, I stop. “There heart, I stop. “There
we are. Do you want a video so
Franklin can hear his pup? I thought Warren and Arric were going to melt into a puddle of goo when they heard ours,” I tell her.
“I would love that,” she says and something in her tone has me looking at her. “Savannah?”
“Are you scared, Luna? Are you worried that they won’t come back?”
she whispers as tears pool in her eyes.
I reach out and take her hand. It’s always a possibility. Always.
าวเ
“Our mates are strong. Our alliance is strong. There will be injuries, absolutely. But you know my rules. No one dies in my hospital. And since everyone is coming here, no one dies. I think I’d better make that announcement tomorrow. Your warriors don’t know that, but they need to understand that no matter what happens to them, they live.
That includes our mates, too. So, no. I’m not worried about them dying.
Our mates are smart, powerful men. They’ve been planning all day while we’ve been preparing. Those
that I’ve pulled out of the battle weren’t strong enough to survive. The group that’s going is,” I tell her.
5/6 She takes a deep breath, letting it out. “And this?” I say, indicting the video with audio that I’m creating. “This will make sure that your mate returns to you. He has too much to live for. He did before when it was just the two of you, but now, he has even more to live for.”
“Thanks, Luna,” she says.
We switch places and I get on the table. “Alright Luna, let’s see if you’re having a boy or a girl.”
When she starts moving the wand over my stomach, she frowns, tilting her head.
“Savannah?”
I’m trying to follow what she’s doing, but she’s moving fast.
“Hold on,” she says and walks out of the room. She’s back a moment later, strapping a heart monitor to my stomach. When she turns it on, I hear my baby’s heartbeat. But then I frown.
“Savannah?” I ask, wondering if she’s hearing what I’m hearing.
She smiles at me before taking pictures and giving me the information thatIwant.
When we finally leave the hospital, it’s late. We’re both quiet, deep in our own thoughts about telling our mates about their pups.
When we walk in, I can hear the sound of loud talking coming from the dining hall. There’s an excited, nervous energy about that pack Everyone knows that tomorrow we go to war.
When we walk in, Savannah goes straight to Franklin. But I stand in the doorway, watching my mate as he talks to our pack members.
He’s going to be so excited.
As if he heard me, his head snaps up to mine and he smiles that gorgeous smile of his.
He stands and walks over to me, wrapping an arm around me and stroking my cheek.
“I could use some good news,” he says. I must have spoken out loud again. “So, did you find out? Are we having a boy or a girl?”
The room around us goes quiet and I wrap my arms around my mate’s neck. “You, my mate, have very potent Alpha sperm.”
“I was working hard to give my Luna what she wanted.”
“And you did it very well, because I’m not just carrying one, I’m carrying two of your pups.”
I smile as I watch the shock register on my mate’s face as our pack erupts into cheers around us.