“I want you to breath deep,” I said in a calm tone. “And as you let out your breath, focus on the life inside you.”
Jessica dramatically took a deep breath and then abruptly huffed it out.
“I know you can do this,” I encouraged her. “You felt the life of your babes sooner than I ever would have thought possible.”
Jessica opened her eyes. “I know you said they’re fine. But…” she said as she gnawed on her lower lip. “But the chances of all three making it? I mean, they probably won’t.”
I nodded in understanding. “I promise you that I’m going to do everything possible to bring your pups safely into the world. It’s okay to get attached to them,” I assured her. “They aren’t going anywhere for a while.”
Jessica gave me a shaky smile and actually tried to follow my directions this time. The room was quiet as she stayed focused. While she tried to connect with her pups, I checked for any signs of cervical insufficiency, blood clots, or infection. To my relief, everything looked great. I didn’t have that much experience with this, but I was learning everything I could. I was mixing the medical knowledge I already had, expanding it with information in human medical texts, and combining that with magic that I’d learned from fae midwives. I was determined to bring these pups into the world and keep both them and their mom healthy. Regardless of how much she irritated me.
“I felt them!” Jessica cried out with a big smile. She ran her hands over her belly, and her eyes glistened with unshed tears. “It’s faint, but I can sense them.”
“Keep practicing,” I urged her. “Do your best to connect with them while they’re in your womb. Help them get as strong as they can to prepare them for the birthing process.”
Jessica gave me a determined nod. “My pups will be strong.”
I helped her off the table. “Why don’t you stay here tonight?” I offered. “I worry about you traveling right now with everything that’s going on. And until your pack gets a new pack master-”
“I know,” she interrupted sharply. “I keep waiting for either a human rights group to attack, or to be taken over by a rival pack.”
“I just put fresh sheets on the bed in the back,” Lori offered helpfully. “And Anna will be close by to monitor you if there are any problems.”
Jessica looked like she wanted to object, but I cut her off before she could speak.
“That’s a good point, Lori. Inside the clinic is the safest place for Jessica and the pups. Plus, no one can object since she’s here for medical treatment.”
Jessica shut her mouth and obediently moved toward the room across the hall. It was small, but private. Everything was brand-new, and she’d be the first overnight guest we had.
“I’ll let you get settled in,” I told Jessica. “I’ll send someone back with dinner and anything else you need.”
“My driver has an overnight bag in the car with him,” she mumbled.
I looked at her in surprise. I thought it would be a fight to get her to stay, considering that she was previously cast out of Seaside and ordered never to return.
“Just in case,” she said defensively. “The pregnancy book said to always keep a bag packed in case you have to go to the hospital.” She paused and looked around the small bedroom with the IV stand in the corner. “Or to some random wolf clinic, I guess.”
“I’ll have one of the guys talk to him,” I told her with a smile. “I’m sure we can find a place for him as well.”
“And have him bring me my bag,” Jessica demanded as she settled down on the bed, looking ready for a nap.
Since she had her eyes closed, I felt safe in rolling my eyes at Lori. Lori made a face back at me, then smiled.
I closed Jessica’s door and motioned for Lori to follow me back into the house.
“I was hoping to get a chance to talk with you alone,” I told Lori with a smile. “How are you and your guys fitting in here?”
Lori sighed. “It’s weird, you know? All I ever wanted was a safe place to call home, and I think this could’ve been it if it wasn’t for the whole apocalypse thing.”
I gave her a wry smile. “Apocalypses don’t last forever. We’ll get through this.”
Lori wrinkled her nose. “I don’t know if you’ve ever watched