Chapter 96

Renee’s POV

All the color has drained from Marks face. On the other hand, Mias face darkens to a plum color. For a second I think her head might explode.

“So,” Mark says snapping shut the laptop and sounding eerily calm. “We make a deal on the phone, you bring your passwords to hand over the cash and we return your precious beloved back to you unharmed,” Mark vaguely points in my direction. “You didn’t hold up your end of the bargain, so now,” Mark shrugs his shoulders. “My hands are tied,”

Technically, I am not unharmed so really Mark didn’t hold up his end of the bargain first but i decide to leave that detail out of the conversation.

“I’ll take the honor,” Mia says shooting me dagger looks.

“Touch her and I’ll kill your,” Eric growls. Mia’s hand flutters up to her chest toying with a small diamond necklace.

“Eric, baby, you don’t mean that,” Mia shamelessly flirts with Eric and my cheeks burn with rage, with it a pang in my gut. “Once she’s gone, you and I can pick up right where we left off,”

Eric sneers. “You mean you mooching off all my money and your brat of a son giving me a headache?” Mia’s hand falls to her side, the innocent look on her eyes vanishes and instead set on anger.

“He won’t be worth anything when we’re done with him,” Mark says and as if on cue five more wolves saunter into the bonded building they line up behind Mark and while I don’t recognize a single one, Eric holds each of their gazes.

I’m assuming Eric knew them once upon a time in his youth, his dads friends and pack members. “Where the new one?” Mark barks out.

“You mean me?” Andrew strides in and takes his place at Eric’s side. Mark watches with confused astonishment. “Yup, careful who you let go not your circle,” Andrew says confirming Marks curiosity.

“You’re a traitor,” Mark declares.

“No,” Eric cuts in. “He’s the most loyal beta to exist,”

I watch as each pack take their places. Even though Eric and Andrew are younger, they’re seriously outnumbered-even with Mark being down one than he anticipated. Besides, Mark and his crew might be older but clearly these men all take good care of themselves. Then there’s Mia. She’s small, but she is feisty and unpredictable.

Eric and Andrew also have me, but this pang in my stomach is growing more problematic. I try to ignore it and take on my fighting stance, for the sake of our family and I’m only slightly prepared for what comes next.

Mark let’s out a war cry and instantly his two front men leap into the air. Eric and Andrew react quickly and pounce on the men tackling them straight to the ground. One of them lands with a sickening thud.

I let out a yelp as a burning sensation spreads across my hips. I look down and see fresh bright red blood seeping into my torn white t shirt. I look up and see Mia cocking her head at me. “Ooops, I missed.” She says looking at my stomach.

I curse under my breath. I have to stay focused. I crouch down and assess where I can attack. I guess I take too long because before I know it I’m being plummeted to the hard floor.

Then just as quickly as it happened, whoever threw me down is instantly pelted across the warehouse and I see Eric standing over me. “Are you okay?” He asks but all I can do is open my mouth and scream.

One of Marks men jumps on top of Eric and he collapses. I scramble to all fours and sink my teeth into the burly man who lets out a high-pitch howl. Eric takes advantage of this momentary opening and punches the man across the face.

Eric and I give each other proud looks. We make a good team. Unfortunately, we don’t have much time because two more men come launching through the air. Together we fight them with everything we got, but just as I’m going in for a kick to his gut, my own stomach pain causes me to stop short. I hunch over and that’s when my new attacker strikes me at the side knocking me over.

This time Andrew comes over and elbows the man in the lower back and then kicks his head so his teeth smash into the concrete floor.

I’d feel more horrified if my own abdominal pain wasn’t taking me over. “You good?“ Andrew asks, blood pouring down from no known source somewhere at the top of his head. I nod but the truth is, I’m seeing stars.

Don’t give up. I get to my feet and I prepare myself for what seems like an endless battle. I try to doge legs that kick out from under me. I grab and twist arms that are thrown at me.

I roll once more with Mia, our nails sinking into each other fur by the time we pull away we both have clumps of fur missing.

The floor of the bonded place is slippery with blood. I get glimpses of Eric. At any given time he’s taking on at least two wolves at a time. He’s the best fighter, but in the quick flashes in which I can get glimpses at him, I’m horrified at what I see.

He’s covered in blood and sweat, I know it’s not all his because he looks tired, like he’s lost a good amount of fluids. I know he won’t give up, but I’m beginning to think neither with Mark.

I’m panting and sweat drips from the tip of my nose. I collapse to the floor on all fours. I grab my stomach and clench my teeth. The pain is getting worse.

I think all the beatings from Mark and Mia have caught up to me, that and the stress of the last several hours. I just hope my baby is okay. I’m feeling little kicks so I know they’re still alive, but I need stop fighting.

Everything in my body is screaming at me to slow down. If I don’t listen to it soon, I might just completely shut down.

I glance at Eric who’s pinning down a wolf that’s throwing punches wildly. I have to keep fighting for him.

I don’t know when all this will end, I assume when members from the opposing back either decide to quit or die and considering none of us here are quitters. . .

A sound I’ve never made before escapes me. Something between a grunt and a cry. It’s enough of a sound to stop everyone from fighting and have all eyes on me.

I suck in a sharp breath as I bear down and feel this pain spread across my stomach. My eyes are squeezed shut so I don’t see what happens, but I feel it.

Warm liquid drains from me and dampens my fur. Someone gasps. The princesses for a moment and I open my eyes again. Eric is kneeling down next to me, he rests his bloody paws on me. “Renee,” he whispers in shock. I nod.

“My water just broke,” I tell him confirming what is already evident all over the floor. “The baby is coming,” Eric swoops me in his arms, my water and his blood mixing together.

“But it’s too early,” he says his voice laden with concern.

I grown in pain as another wave of of a contraction hits. I know it’s too early but it’s happening. The stress must have done something and my baby wants out.

“We have to get you to a hospital,” he says urgently but I shake my head.

“There’s no time,” I’ve only given birth once before, but I know – I know this baby is going to be here before we would even make it to any major road.

Eric pulls me in close to his chest. I can feel the thrum of his heart beating hard against his chest. “The rest of the pack is coming, Jasper can help. He’s a doctor,”

Despite the pain, I smile. Of course Eric called for help before he arrived. I just hope the baby will survive.