JADES RESCUE

COOPERATION

CHAPTER TEN

Turning his attention to the men gathered, Victor asked if one of them could bring his car to the palace.

I can do for you sir, said the youngest of them.

Thank you, said Victor, and what is your name?

My name is Jordan," answered the young man.

When you deliver the car, come to the palace and ask for Victor—said Victor. I will have something for you.

You don’t need to do that, sir, answered Jordan. It is my pleasure to help the husband of our Queen.

Victor smiled at Jordan. Please allow me to return the favor and come to the palace.

As you wish, said Jordan with a bow.

Victor bid the rest of the men a good day. Running toward the woods, he began to shift into Jake. Without looking back at the men, Jake crashed through the woods and onto the palace grounds. The guards heard him coming before they saw him. Not long ago, it would have put the whole palace on alert to hear a wolf coming in their direction, but since the appearance of their new Queen, they had become used to seeing Jake.

As he reached the palace grounds, Jake shifted back to Victor. Grabbing a towel from the poolside, Victor wrapped it around his waist and headed for the servants' entrance.

The cook gave a startled shriek when Victor walked half-naked through the entrance.

Please forgive me, said Victor. I didn’t mean to frighten you. I assure you I don’t usually walk around with a towel covering me.

“I suppose I should get used to the new way things will be from now on, " said the cook. It’s just that it’s been so long since anyone other than Mariah rattled around this dusty old castle. I sometimes forget we have a young King consort and Queen now. She laughed and continued" Maybe we will have little feet running through the kitchen soon.

Victor snagged an apple from the fruit bowl on the table and smiled. Maybe, we can only hope it’s not for lack of trying.

Oh my! Said the cook and laughed.

Victor took a bite of the apple and headed out the door into the hall. Without waiting for someone else to catch him in his half-naked state, he took the stairs two at a time and ran down the hall to the room he sometimes shared with Jade. Grabbing a pair of faded jeans, a white button-down shirt, and some underwear, Victor started for the shower.

Jade wanted to shower and change before her appointment with Dr. Gaines. She walked into the bedroom and noticed Victor’s clothing on the bed. She hadn’t realized he had arrived already, but no matter what, she went to the closet and started to choose her clothing for her doctor’s appointment. Jade picked a white sun dress with small pink flowers on it and white strap sandals. She walked to the dresser and got a white bra with white panties. With her outfit put together, Jade slipped out of the room and down the hall to a spare bedroom. She didn’t want to bother Victor, she didn’t want to start something that neither of them had time for right now. Undressed, she walked into the shower and turned on the hot water.

Victor walked into the bedroom. He could have sworn he had caught Jade’s scent just a moment before. Maybe it was lingering in the room. After all, this was her bedroom. He raised his head and sniffed the air again. No, she had been here recently. Why had she not stayed? Well, she must have had her reason, and he was running short on time. He didn’t want to keep her waiting for him. Victor quickly dried and dressed.

Jade quickly showered and dressed. She had asked Victor to meet her, and she knew how he hated to be kept waiting. Towel-drying her hair and running a quick comb through it, she finished dressing and made her way to the hall.

Victor and Jade were in such a hurry they didn’t see each other and almost collided in the hallway.

Victor reached out and caught Jade to keep her from falling.

I thought I caught your scent, said Victor. Why didn’t you stay?

I didn’t want to bother you, and I was running short on time. Answered Jade.

Well, it seems as if we are both just a bit behind. But we are here now, said Victor. Shall we go? We don’t want to be late for your appointment.

Agreed, said Jade. This is one of the most important appointments of our lives.

Jordan was waiting for them out front with the car.

Victor opened the car door for Jade and waited for her to sit down. Walking around the car he took the keys from Jordan and handed him a folded one-hundred-dollar bill.

Oh, you don’t owe me anything, said Jordan. He tried to hand the money back to Victor.

“Keep saying it, Victor. I always reward those who do what they say they will, and it appears you have kept your word and delivered my car.

Jordan put the money in his pocket and smiled. Yes sir, he said before turning and running off into the village.

Victor took his seat in the car. Jade turned to face him.

It would seem you have made yourself a new friend. She said.

Victor smiled; it never hurts to have at least one friendly face in a sea of hostiles, he said.

Is that the way you see my people, asked Jade.

Not all of them, but let’s be, real relations between the fae and the wolves have been strained for some time now, answered Victor.

I suppose that’s true enough, sighed Jade and laid her head back against the seat. She closed her eyes and was soon sleeping.

Victor looked at the woman in the seat next to him. She didn’t know just how beautiful she was, but now looking at her something had changed. Her face had lost some of its youthful appearance and her jawline had become more defined. Her mouth was fuller and more drawn around the edges. She looked tired even in her sleep. Victor would speak with Mariah and see if they could lighten her workload just a little and give her more time to rest. He knew how Jade loved to read. He wondered if she was getting time for herself lately. He made a mental note to ask Mariah about this.

Victor turned the car into the circled driveway and came to a stop in front of the entrance. Jade stirred awake when the car stopped.

She looked at Victor.

I’m sorry I didn’t realize how tired I was. She said.

“It’s fine,” said Victor," after all, you are resting for two now. I worry that you aren’t getting enough time for yourself to rest. We may have to make some changes to your schedule to make sure you are taking better care of yourself.

“I promise to make more time for resting, said Jade and reached for his hand. And thank you for worrying, but you don’t have to. I’ll be fine.

Just then, an attendant appeared at the car door. He opened it for Jade, and she stepped out into the fresh air.

Jade slipped behind the changing screen and put on the gown the nurse had given her. Stepping over to the examination table, she held the back closed and climbed up on the bed.

Dr. Gaines knocked on the door. Looking at Jade’s chart as he entered the room.

Good morning Alpha, he said, turning toward Victor.

“Good morning," said Victor.

Turning toward Jade Dr. Gaines smiled and said," So you think you are pregnant. Well, I guess today we are going to answer that question.

Yes answered Jade, and I hope we get the answer we both want.

Dr. Gaines smiled and said let’s not waste any more time.

First, he did a physical exam, then he had his nurse draw blood, and then she asked Jade to give her a urine sample.

Victor sat quietly watching the whole process. He was amazed at how strong Jade was during all of it. She was poked and prodded

but yet she kept a smile on her face.

The two of them sat in silence waiting for Dr. Gaines to return.

It seemed like it was forever, but actually, it was only fifteen minutes.

Once again, Dr. Gaines knocked on the door. This time when he entered he smiled.

One question Jade, when was your last period? He asked

I haven’t had one yet this month, but it’s not time for it for another week, answered Jade.

Then what made you think you were pregnant? Asked Dr. Gaines.

I don’t know, I just knew, said Jade as she looked down at her feet.

Maybe he was going to tell her that she wasn’t pregnant. She began to feel foolish for dragging Victor away from his duties only to

find out she wasn’t pregnant.

Well began Dr. Gaines. All our tests show you were right that you were going to have a baby. He smiled at Jade.

Victor jumped out of his chair and lifted Jade from the bed. He hugged her so tightly that she began to have trouble breathing.

Victor, she whispered, could you squeeze me a little less hard?

Realizing how tight his grip was, Victor sat her back on the bed and kissed her forehead.

I’m so sorry I just got carried away when Dr. Gaines confirmed you were pregnant. Said Victor.

It’s okay, I forgive you, said Jade between gulps of air.

Dr. Gaines cleared his throat.

If the two of you are ready, I can tell you when the baby should arrive. He said.

Yes please, Dr. said Victor, giving him his full attention.

You will have a Christmas baby, " said Dr. Gaines with a broad smile.

A Christmas baby! Exclaimed Victor." Did you hear that, Jade, we are going to have a Christmas baby said Victor with excitement in

his voice?

Jade looked confused.

That’s only five months away. How can that be if I’m only just pregnant? Asked Jade.

Victor turned and looked at Dr. Gaines. I will handle this doc.

“As you wish,” said Dr. Gaines Jade, you can get dressed, and when the two of you are ready I would like to see you in my office we

need to go over some things.

With that, he turned and left.

Why don’t you go and get dressed, and then we can talk, suggested Victor.

Jade shook her head and slipped behind the changing screen. The whole time she was changing she tried to make the time frame.

make sense. Humans carried their babies for nine months, but now Dr. Gaines was telling her that her baby was going to be born in

five months. How was that possible?

Jade stepped from behind the screen. Victor was waiting for her. He took her hand and led her to a chair.

Please have a seat, Jade.

She did as he asked and looked at him expecting an answer.

Victor cleared his throat. I know you are trying to make sense of this, so I am going to explain some things to you. These are things

your parents should have told you, but they were trying to protect you and I understand, but still, now you are confused. So here goes.

Jade, you are human, but you are also a wolf. Wolves don’t carry their young as long as humans. The gestation period for wolves is

sixty-three days. Because the baby also has human traits, it needs more time, so nature has decided that five months is sufficient time.

for the baby. Victor finished with news that Jade wasn’t ready to hear. One more thing you need to know. When the baby is born we

will have to leave it at the hospital for a few weeks just to make sure the human side has sufficient time to develop.

Jade snapped her head up to look Victor in the eyes.

Are you telling me that our baby might not be able to survive when it’s born? She asked, tears filling her eyes. She couldn’t take the

Loss of another child.

Victor knelt before her. He took her hands in his large ones.

I know what you are thinking, but it won’t be like that, Jade. The baby will be fine. It might just need to be placed in an oxygen

chamber for a while. Human lungs develop slower than wolves. But a few weeks in the oxygen and the baby should be fine.

But there is a chance it will have complications and not survive, stated Jade, fear filling her voice.

Maybe I should let Dr. Gaines explains in this part that he has experience.

Victor stood and pulled Jade to her feet. Come along, let's meet him in his office like he asked. You can ask him any question you

want said, Victor.