life.


    Katie


    Asharp pain ripped through my belly.


    Something between a roar and a scream tore from my lips, and | stumbled, clinging to Mason for dear


    My vision blurred as another stab of pain stole the air from my lungs.


    Distantly, | heard Mason calling my name, asking me if | was okay.


    | was not f ucking okay.


    But | was in too much pain to tell him that.


    My vision briefly came back into focus, and | could see Mason waving away Mindy and her mates.


    “I''m getting you to the car,” he murmured. “You''re gonna be okay.”


    And then Mason wasying me across the backseat of Asher’s car as another stab of pain shot through.


    my middle.


    Go ds, it was happening.


    | was going intobor.


    At least, | hoped it was that, and not something worse.


    “Can we get her there in time?” | heard Mason ask in a low, anxious voice.


    “It''s not ideal driving through these winding roads. But it’s not like we can shift and carry her on our


    backs.”


    | whimpered uncontrobly, the pain getting more intense with each strike.


    “She''s in serious pain,” Mason said.


    Asher’s hands mmed on the steering wheel.


    ‘m takingl


    “| know! to Stillwood. It’s close, and my mom can help.”


    Asher nced back at me, and our eyes met. His were wide and ssy with fear.


    Another st of pain.


    And then everything went ck.


    | awoke with a start to the sound of multiple worried voices.


    “We came as fast as we could!”


    “She could''ve f ucking died!


    inn?


    “She’s waking up.”


    Another familiar voice.


    | blinked slowly, and Quinn’s mother’s face floated into focus.N?velDrama.Org content.


    “Sable?” | asked in a cracked whisper.


    “Katie, you''re going to be okay. But | might ask you to push soon.”


    Push?


    “Why? | don’t...”


    Another stab of pain, and it came back to me.


    This pup needed to get the f uck out of my stomach,


    “Shhh,” she said, patting my arm. “It’s okay. I’m a healer.”


    This didn’t make sense.


    She worked at the Stillwood school.


    “Healer?” | croaked out. “I thought you were a teacher?”


    “Still sassy, even in excruciating pain. That’s why | like you.” Sableughed.


    “I''m a healer, too. Many of us rogues train for multiple jobs. There are no hierarchies here.”


    While she spoke, | felt two people grab each of my hands.


    Asher and Mason.


    “You''re still here?” | asked in a small voice...


    “Yes.” Asher smiled. “You''re not getting rid of us that easily.”


    “lm here, too, Katie!”


    Ahand rested on my knee, and | looked up to see Quinn standing by my bed, too.


    Tears rushed to my eyes.


    Thank the go ds she was here.


    After all the night’s weirdness, seeing her reminded me that I was still me.


    | was Katie, | lived in Stillwood, and | was having my baby.


    “The pup is early, so we need to be very careful,” Sable instructed another healer in a hushed voice.


    My ears perked up.


    Was something wrong?


    Quinn’s mother could sense my distress.


    “It''s alright, Katie. You’re only a couple weeks early. It’s rare, but not unheard of.”


    She gave me a soft smile, but even through the pain | could tell that she was concerned.


    Looking around, | saw the same unease mirrored on all of their faces.


    I


    “What happens when pupse early?” My voice shook, and | squeezed Asher’s and Mason’s hands


    harder.


    “It''s usually fine,” Sable said ominously. “But not always...”