The Alpha King (Kingdom of Askara #1)(62)

He knew they were nearly at Neira and the city was sheltered by the surrounding hills—making it possible to locate the silk farms nearby. There would be no snow in the capital and it would get warmer much quicker.

Kit felt a little pressure in his bladder and sighed. He must have had to pee a zillion times yesterday and it looked like today wasn’t going to be much better. He rolled to his side, having also worked out yesterday that the easiest way to get upright without help was to get on his hands and knees first. He knew Luca was getting increasingly worried and he was amazed that he wasn’t. He was stuck in the middle of nowhere with a bunch of guys who knew nothing about childbirth except what caused it and how to hand the liquor around afterwards. It could be worse though. He bit his lip to stop groaning and got up onto his knees. Human women go through this for nine months.

It didn’t bear thinking about.

He shuffled onto his knees and shivered as the blanket fell off. He had gone behind a stack of boxes in the corner and peed into a bottle last night, now that Taheesha was sleeping with them. It suddenly seemed a long way.

“Are you okay?” Taheesha whispered.

“Go back to sleep. I’m just—oh,” Kit shut up in shock as he felt something run down his leg.

“What is it?” Taheesha sat up.

“Nothing!” Shame and panic flooded him. What the hell?

The lamp came on in the corner and Taheesha peered at him. “Kit—”

“No, don’t look.” Kit whimpered. He wanted to cry. He was a grown man. He couldn’t believe he’d actually...

“Oh honey, I think your water broke.” Taheesha stared at the wet patch on the sheet under him.

“My...”

“Your water. The sac that cushions the baby breaks at the start of labor. Well, at least it does in a woman, and I guess it must be the same with you.”

“But where the hell is it coming from?” Kit all but shouted.

“Hush, sweetie.” Taheesha rubbed his back gently.

“What? What’s wrong?” Kit swung his head to see Luca had leaped up the steps and now stood at the opening to the inside of the cart.

“Right,” Taheesha said, all business like. “Unpack the spare blankets and pass me the bag Molly gave you.”

Luca didn’t move. Taheesha arched an eyebrow. “The baby’s coming.”

Luca looked panic-stricken. “But it can’t. We’re not... I mean...”

“Molly says babies and cats do as they like.”

“Cats,” Luca echoed, as if Taheesha were speaking a foreign language.

“Asher?” Taheesha called out, and Asher put his head in.

Asher took one look. “What do you need?”

Taheesha immediately rattled off a list, but she was interrupted when Kit let out a sharp cry and rocked forward onto his hands.

“What’s wrong?” Luca asked urgently. He looked back at what Kit assumed was a crowd. “Is there someone who’s delivered a baby before?”

Even Kit could hear the leaden silence. Taheesha grunted in disgust and turned to her brother. “You know someone out there who’s even seen a delivery, never mind assisted in at least six.”

Luca opened his mouth. “But, you’re...”

“Your best shot,” Taheesha snapped, getting annoyed, then she took a steadying breath and beamed at Kit. “I’m sorry, but he drives me nuts. I don’t know how you put up with him.”

Kit blew a steady breath out. His belly didn’t hurt exactly, it just felt hard. “I need to pee,” Kit said miserably, and Taheesha turned away while Luca quickly helped him. “How are we going to do this?” he asked when he had finished.

“Do you think you can lay down for me?” Taheesha grabbed a dry blanket from the armful Asher appeared with and laid it down for Kit to lie on. “Luca, help him. Asher, go boil some water.”

Asher disappeared and Kit felt gentle hands turn him over. He sighed as he laid down.

“He needs to get those wet pants off.”

Kit groaned. The only thing he could fit in was a pair of loose sweatpants that Luca had hacked off at the knees to make short enough for him, but much as he loved Taheesha and he knew nudity wasn’t a thing around werewolves, there was no way his cock and balls were gonna hang out around her. Taheesha threw a small towel at Luca and turned around. She grinned mischievously. “On his back with no pants. Cover what you need to with that.” Kit felt Luca ease his pants down and then draped the towel across his cock.

“Taheesha?” Darrin called from outside. “My dad delivered both my little brothers and I was there. Can I help?”

Luca jumped up and held the canvas open for Darrin to come in.

“I need to see. Can you raise your knees?” Taheesha insisted.

Kit shot a mortified look at Luca. Luca clasped his sister’s hand. “Honey, she’s a werewolf, and I’m here.”

Taheesha smiled. “I’ve seen this at least six times this year.”

“With how many men?” Kit gasped out, a low ache starting in his back and spreading to his belly. Taheesha shrugged and Kit let Luca raise his knees. Luca kept the towel in place.

Taheesha raised her eyebrows and she met Kit’s eyes. “That makes things simple.”

“What does?”