Chapter 97

Renee’s POV

Another harsh jab of pain takes my breath away. I clutch to Eric as I write in pain. He hugs me back, trying to steady my fall, but there isn’t much else he can do and he knows that.

“I’ll take her pain away,” a member of Marks pack growls and approaches. Something inside Eric snaps, I see it in his eyes. He spins around, guarding me while I lay on the floor behind his legs. “Don’t worry, I don’t mean it like that” the man sneers and slowly lets his eyes drag over me.

Despite my quite literal bloody and sweaty appearance, some creep still manages to check me out. “I’ll just kill her,” he says flashing Eric a smile. “And the baby,” I know in that second this man just made a big mistake.

Eric rams his head into the man’s gut. He goes flying back, his face frozen in pain and shock. Eric completely wails on the guy. Everyone stands back and stares in stunned horror.

It’s as if Eric was going easy on the pack before, but then this guy went ahead and made a comment like that and practically asked to be murdered and well, Eric is delivering.

Sickening thuds echo through the warehouse as Eric pulls back his fist just to slam it back down. Each time he raises his arm, more and more blood spreads until eventually his entire forearm is slick with red goo.

Seconds later a commotion ensues at the gaping hole where the doors used to be.

Emily, Jasper, and one of Eric’s old mega’s named Johnny come in through the door. It doesn’t take long for them to assess the situation, me on the floor, and the dead guy beaten to death now laying limp at Eric’s side.

“Renee!” Emily screams and comes running over to me. “Are you okay? Where are you hurt?” She asks carefully inspecting my body.

“The baby is coming,” I gasp. Emily stares back at me in disbelief, but when she sees I’m not joking-as if this would be the time to make a joke, her face instantly falls into concern.

“We have to get you to the hospital,” she says and moves to help me up despite my protests that there’s no time.

“I don’t think so,” Mark says stepping out into the center of the warehouse as he leaves his deceased pack members side. “I told my pack to go easy on you because you’re my son after all. Seeing that you killed one of my own, didn’t bring a celebrity you, and now you have the rest of your pathetic pack show up when I told you to come alone, well,” Mark chuckles. “I’d be proud if you if I didn’t have to kill you, but you know it’s nothing personal, business is business,”

“Let’s fight then,” Eric says his voice thick with anger. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him so aggravated, so laser focused and blood thirsty.

It all happens so fast. The fighting continues but this time, it’s more violent.

No one holds back. Fetal shots are being thrown and no one is showing any mercy.

Thankfully, everyone leaves me alone. Still I pull myself to my feet just in case but it seems like everyone agrees to leave me alone, or maybe to leave my baby alone. For whatever sinister reason, Mark wants my child which means I have to stay alive. Even if Mia wants me dead.

I watch in horror knowing I’ll have nightmares for the rest of my life as the battle continues. Ear-piercing shrieks and pools of blood spill out from gaping wounds. The grotesque sight almost makes me forget about my own pain. Almost.

I grown in pain and clench my teeth. The contractions are getting closer.

I’m pulled out of my internal state of pain when right before me Andrew lands on top of another wolf with his hands huge paws wrapped around his neck. I watch as the older wolf struggles to loosen Andrews grip. His eyes buldge from their sockets until they become lifeless.

I think I might be sick.

Thankfully, it seems like the fighting has stopped as I look around. Only Mark and Mia are left standing. Somehow no one in our pack is laying among the carnage, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t injured.

Jaspers arm hangs at an awkward angel, Emily has cuts so deep she’ll be lucky if they don’t leave scars, and Eric is drenched in so much blood I can’t even tell where he coming from.

For a moment, no one moves. Then I break the silence with another cry of anguish. At once, Emily and Eric are by my side. Andrew and Jasper limp over but remain standing as a protective wall around me.

Mia looks around and without a word bolts out the door. Her sudden movement is unexpected but not surprising. Of course she’d run out when she sees her pack has lost. Mark watches her go, his hands balling into fists at his side.

“You either leave now, or we kill you,” Eric tells his father who’s still looking in the direction Mia ran away. Sweat rolls down his back and makes his salt and pepper fur plaster to his skin.

“I’m going to watch the birth of my grandson,” Mark says and Andrew doesn’t miss a beat moving closer to Mark who quickly backs away.

Understanding Erics seriousness, Mark hangs his head and leaves. I’m surprised Eric didn’t kill him right then, but maybe that’s because he has more of a heart than his own father does. Either way, I don’t have the energy to contemplate it.

Another wave of contractions hit me and I bare down.

“It’s time,” Emily says and I know she’s right.

Emily helps lay me down to my back and grabs my hand in hers. She might already have a broke leg, but she’ll definitely have a broken hand when this is all done.

She starts guiding me through my breathing, Eric caresses my head and dabs the sweat from my forehead. Andrew guards the door and Jasper assumes his doctor position and waits down by my waist.

We don’t mention to anyone that this isn’t anything he hasn’t seen before. “I see the head,” Jasper declares and thank God he does because I don’t think I can do this much longer but that revelation is enough to motivate me to keep going.

“You got this,” Eric says as if reading my thoughts. “You’re the strongest woman I know and I’m so proud of you,”

His words fuel me and I push. “Okay, slow it down,” Jasper says sounding a bit worried.

“What’s going on?” I ask, my tongue feels heavy.

“Someone get me a towel!” Jasper tells but it sounds like he’s under water.

“It’s everything okay?” I think I ask.

Eric touches my head and it sends tingles down my spine. “Everything is great, you’re fine. Everything is fine,” Eric says and I get very sleepy.

Maybe I’ll just close my eyes for a little. “Renee,” someone says but I don’t answer, I’m so tired. “Renee!” Someone says again, and that’s the last thing I remember.