The Alpha And Her Tinkerer

Reeva POV I am lying in a hospital bed in the pack’s clinic, happily listening to the rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor as I rub my swollen belly. My heart thumps with excitement, my baby is coming. “I can’t wait to meet you, princess,” I whisper and laugh softly when she kicks my hand. Simon sits quietly by my side, his fingers interlaced with mine, and his thumb brushes over my knuckles in absent circles, his gaze lost somewhere far beyond the window. My heart sinks, and I take a deep breath. He is here, but he is not. “Hey,” I whisper tenderly. “You’re supposed to look happier than me. I’m the one about to push a whole new life into the world.” “I am happy,” Simon says softly, gazing tenderly at me with his beautiful, tawny eyes. “I’m just … thinking.” “Oh,” I nod and look at my stomach. I do not have to ask what he is thinking; I know exactly what it is about. And I wish I could say it is because of our mate bond, but it is not. I know, because he has been sulking about this since we met. He was a proud Alpha but lost his pack during an attack. When I found him, he was injured, and the wound on his leg was severely infected. The smell of fresh mint instantly hit my nose when I approached him, and I knew he was my mate. I brought him back to our pack, treated him, and nursed him back to health. I was so happy when he accepted me as his mate, and he integrated well into the Fire Eclipse Pack. Unfortunately, the loss and humiliation he endured stuck with him. “You know,” I say, looking lovingly at him, trying to cheer him up. “The Moon Goddess truly blessed me when she crossed our paths a year ago.” “You mean when my pack was wiped out, and I was the sole survivor,” he replies sourly. “You shouldn’t look at it like that,” I say sympathetically. “If you weren’t injured, and I weren’t on border patrol, I wouldn’t have found you. Something beautiful came out of your darkest hour.” “That’s easy for you to say,” he grunts. “You’re the Alpha. You’re everything our kind needs. And I … I’m nothing.” Oh, Goddess, not today, I sigh inwardly. I sympathise with him, really, I do, but today is not about the past. It is about our daughter and our future as a family. When my father, Charles, passed the Alpha Mark to me before his death, he declared me the Alpha of the pack. I am a natural warrior, and I accepted the position. Now, he makes me feel guilty about it. Like I have done something wrong by becoming the Alpha. I have tried everything. When he is around, nobody calls me Alpha, because I do not want him to feel bad. I meet my warriors in secret when I know Simon would not be around, so it does not offend him. I honestly do not know what else to do, and he refuses to talk to a professional. “That’s not true,” I say, using my best supportive voice. “You’re my equal and my anchor. We’re a team. I could never lead this pack successfully without your help.” Just then, my sister, Reese, walks in, dressed in her white doctor’s coat and carrying a tray with medical equipment. “Look at you two,” her bright and musical voice cuts through the tension in the room. “The soon-to-be parents of the century.” “Hello, Reese,” I smile. "Reeva, how are you feeling?" She glances at me, puts down the tray, and sits beside me. “Eager to meet my girl,” I smile. “But my contractions are still far apart, so I guess I’m about to learn patience.” “Which will come in handy once she’s born,” Reese chuckles, taking my hand. “Right,” I roll my eyes theatrically. Reese is the sweetest girl in the world. Growing up, she always followed me, imitating everything I did and taking my words as her guiding principles. She has always been kind and caring. Even as a child, she would bring home injured animals and try to save them. It was no surprise when she announced that she wanted to be a doctor after Dad passed away. Now, she is the pack’s doctor, healing the wounds of my warriors, and her face will be the first one my baby sees. "Just remember the breathing techniques when the time comes,” Reese says. “I'm sure my little niece will be out soon." “Will the breathing help with patience?” I smirk. “I’m certain it will,” she laughs. A contraction hits me, and I grab my belly when the pain wants to rip me apart. “Damn,” I let out a long, deep breath. “That was unpleasant.” “I’ll give you an epidural,” Reese says, standing up. “It will help with the pain.” “No, I don’t want any drugs,” I say, shaking my head. “Reeva, you can be a hero on the battlefield, but this is my territory,” Reese replies, taking out a needle which is much too thick and long for my liking, and curls me up into a shrimp position. “Fine,” I give in reluctantly, and a sharp, piercing pain shoots through my spine as Reese pushes the anaesthetic into my body. “This is weird,” I mumble when I try to move my legs, but nothing happens. “Reese, something is wrong,” I say when I start losing feeling in my upper body. “I can’t move my …” I trail off when my eyelids twitch uncontrollably, and Simon and Reese's faces grow blurry. I want to ask Reese for help, but I am pulled into darkness. ** A dull ache rips through every fibre of me, and I realise I am waking up. I have no idea how long I was asleep, but I cannot open my eyes or speak. "Right now!” Reese’s furious and desperate voice penetrates my brain. “Why are you still hesitating?" I will my body to move, but nothing happens. "Listen!” Reese continues. “I've already f*****g injected bupivacaine and wolfsbane into her spine. She won't wake up. She won't know it was us." What the f**k? Did she just say wolfsbane? "Get the silver into her artery now!” Reese hisses. “Otherwise, we'll never have a chance if she wakes up!" Wolfsbane and silver? That would kill me! What the f**k is going on? "Simon, this has to be done by you!” Reese insists. “Don't you want to be the alpha of Fire Eclipse?" My heart beats wildly when I realise Reese is talking to Simon. f**k no, I must be having a nightmare. Reese and Simon love me. They would not kill me, and Simon would definitely not kill his own child. I try to get out of bed, but it is no use. The anaesthetic holds me like a magnet. "Not until my child is born,” Simon says firmly. "Please, don't be so naive!" Reese whisper-screams. "I’m not raising my sister’s child. You and I can have our own.” “Reese, I …” “No!” Reese cuts him off. “You said it yourself; you’ll be nothing as long as she’s alive. You have two choices. You kill Reeva, become the Alpha, and we’ll rule this pack together, or I’ll do it myself and take over as Alpha. And let me remind you what the warriors are calling you: the ‘male luna’. Is that how you would like to be known for the rest of your life?” A heavy silence fills the air, and I desperately try to wake up. My abdomen begins to ache intensely, like countless steel ropes tugging at my womb. My baby! Goddess, please, not my baby. An inaudible growl erupts from my throat, and my puppy trembles violently in my womb. "I'm sorry, Reeva,” Simon says beside me, inserting a needle into my artery. “But I've had enough of this." Silver crawls into my body, burning every inch of me, and I can feel my baby losing heat bit by bit, leaving me. No! My baby! I roar in agony, my body trembling, and bitter tears streaming from the corners of my eyes. "What the f**k!” Simon cries in surprise. “She's awake." "Up the dose,” Reese orders, pressing the button, sending more silver sluicing into my body. “Don’t,” I protest weakly, on the verge of unconsciousness. I feel my baby’s tiny foot when she kicks before her movements slow down, and then she stops moving. “No,” I cry. She is dying. Overwhelming heartbreak and anger wash over me like a river, giving me strength to open my eyes and roar. “s**t! More silver,” Reese screams, putting her cold hands around my neck. "Reese … don’t,” I stare at her in disbelief. "Give me the Alpha Mark,” Reese demands, her voice filled with venom. “And I'll let you live." What? My child and I are being murdered just for the Alpha Mark? “Over my dead body,” I croak, accepting my fate as she strangles. Poor Reese, you will never get the Alpha Mark, ever.