“The water is getting cold, let’s get you out.” Sebastian said after some more massage, pulling the drain to let the water out and then rinsing off all the remaining soap before he went to get a towel from the rack.

However, as Sebastian turned around to get the towel, Viola decided to stand up on her own to take it from him, but a sharp pain shot through her back and all the way down to her lower abdomen. She bit back a moan, and Sebastian immediately swirled around, worried at her sharp in take of breath.

“What’s wrong, honey?” He held her against him as she squeezed her eyes shut.

“Nothing…I am…” But she moaned in pain again, grabbing her stomach, and Sebastian didn’t wait for her to try to pretend to be fine. He carried her out of the bathtub and into the bedroom, where he had already called the doctor through mindlink.

Sebastian’s head was a whirlwind of worry, so much so that his face had turned deathly pale and his throat had turned sandpaper dry as he asked her where it hurt. But she slowly began to relax, her hold on his arm loosening as she said,

“It’s subsiding…I don’t feel the pain anymore.” She said it honestly, confused about what that pain had been, since it had almost felt like the labor pain she read about. But her assurance did nothing to calm Sebastian. He ran into the closet and came back with her clothes and began to help her into them.

“You’re still seeing the doctor. You don’t look all right.” He said firmly, even though his stomach was turning and he felt sick himself from panic, his fingers trembling.

Viola didn’t argue with him at all, and she allowed him to dress her in a shirt and shorts. It didn’t take long for the doctor to arrive, looking like he had run all the way to her, and Viola felt guilty, because of her, Sebastian had ordered Gilbert from returning to the healing house. He was to stay in the building until after the children were born, which meant he couldn’t attend to other patients.

“What’s wrong with her?” Sebastian asked after a few minutes of examination.

Gilbert straightened, putting away his stethoscope. “Her muscles are strained from shifting repeatedly during the fight, and the physical exertion may have caused temporary uterine tightening. It’s not unusual for a pregnancy like hers, especially with multiple pups.”

“Is she going into labor?” Sebastian asked, his expression darkening with worry. He hadn’t thought they were prepared for a premature birth. They hadn’t even bought any baby clothes or supplies yet, and the possibility of the babies arriving this early… Sebastian’s stomach tensed up.

“Not from what I can tell. Her pups’ heartbeats are steady, and the pain has subsided. She needs proper rest and must avoid strenuous activity for now. If the pain returns or she experiences any unusual symptoms, contact me immediately.”

Sebastian finally released the breath he’d been holding, though the worry hadn’t entirely left his face. He went forward to sit on the edge of the bed and asked, “Are you sure you’re feeling all right, my love?”

Viola nodded. “I feel fine.” And as she was parting her lips to assure him more, Gilbert handed her a box he’d brought with him.

“Here is what I promised to bring.” He looked at her face. “It’s a few things of your father’s that I have in my possession. You can keep them safe with you. You have more right to them than I do.”

Gilbert had kept his uncle’s few personal belongings with him, along with those of his own mother, but now that he knew about his uncle Vincent’s children, he had decided to part with the things and hand them to her.

Viola reached out and took the brown box, which wasn’t big but wasn’t small either, and she placed it next to her on the bed, looking at it like a treasure chest. To her, it was one in a way, for inside it were real items belonging to her real father, a figure she had always dreamt of having and being doted upon by.

“Thank you, Gilbert…” Viola thanked the doctor, who waved his hand in dismissal as if it were nothing, even though he himself was emotionally attached to things from his past in a way.

“Do you want to open it now?” Sebastian asked her.

Viola looked at him with trembling eyes, and he realized she might want to wait until she was emotionally ready. He placed a hand on her arm. “It’s okay. You can open it when your sister comes back.”

Viola couldn’t help but agree. It was best to wait for Ivy’s return so they could open the box together and share the memories of whatever was left inside. She looked down at the box, her heart growing heavy with longing, though she did her best to hide it.

As if sensing her emotions, Sebastian intertwined their fingers and gave her hand a gentle squeeze, silently reminding her that he was there for her. He was her family, someone she could always rely on, even when she missed the parents she had never gotten the chance to know. Through his touch, he wanted her to understand that he would always hold her hand and give her all the support she needed. Viola raised her head to look at him, a watery smile spreading across her face.

Sebastian was leaning down to kiss her when she turned her face away, reminding him that they weren’t alone in the room and Gilbert was still there, watching them as though he hadn’t finished what he came to say.

Sebastian turned a glare on the doctor, who quickly cleared his throat, feeling awkward. He hadn’t meant to stare rudely at the lovey-dovey couple, but who could blame him? He had been speaking to them, yet they seemed to have completely forgotten his presence, as though he were nothing more than air. Even air, however, couldn’t be ignored forever.

Gilbert couldn’t blame the couple. He knew what it felt like to be around one’s mate, and he wanted to experience that feeling too. Unfortunately, he still had a long way to go with his own mate.

“I was saying,” Gilbert repeated, picking up where he’d left off. “I’ve heard that the Darkbur Pack hasn’t departed yet. Alpha Price has been demanding to see you before he leaves,” he reported, sharing what he’d heard in the building on his way there, since Sebastian didn’t seem to know about it.

“The fucker, what does he want?” Sebastian gritted through his teeth, and Viola, knowing he needed to be out there attending to matters, placed her hand on his arm and said,

“I think you should go and hear what he wants. He has signed a contract and shouldn’t still be here.” Viola said this, but Sebastian turned to her with a frown, as though he didn’t want to leave her. He was about to tell her how he wasn’t going to leave her side, especially when she had just been in pain, when she said,

“Have you forgotten what we talked about this morning? I can handle myself. And if you would do me a great favor, buy me that strawberry cake you got me a few days ago, a lot of it. I’m craving it.” She kissed his cheek, and because she had requested the cake, Sebastian was already on his feet as though he were leaving to get the cake rather than to attend to his duty. But the two errands ran the same path, as the pastry shop was on the way to where the people of Darkbur were.

Gilbert was not used to seeing the Supreme Alpha this way and he felt awkward, but they soon left the Luna on her own.