Chapter Three

John POV

 

“How about this one?” I lifted a clear bottle of blue liquid and popped the cap off.

 

Zander coughed, his green eyes watering. “How about never?” I laughed at the look of disgust on his face and was rewarded with a firm punch to my arm.

 

“No wonder you can’t find anyone to marry you.” He muttered.

 

His words pierced their way into my soul and the loneliness I constantly fought to keep at bay took its place at the forefront of my mind. Was that really why it was taking so long to find my mate? Was I that immature that the moon goddess thought I was incapable of taking care of a wife? Zander must have noticed the change in my demeanor because his next words were spoken gently. 

 

“Don’t worry John, you’ll find her. Maybe she’ll be at the wedding! Sarah’s pack is pretty big and you haven’t met everyone yet.”

  

“Well here’s hoping” I forced a smile, picking up a pink bottle off the glass display case. We took turns picking up bottles and forcing the other to smell whatever concoction the other chose. There was no need to spray the bottles, we could smell everything without even lifting the bottle off the shelf thanks to our supernatural genes. 

  

I looked up at the display case and caught my reflection in the glass. My glossy blond hair was just long enough to frame my face nicely. I wore circular glasses over my blue eyes for aesthetic. My vision was 20/20, One of the perks of being supernatural. Zander's jet black hair made its way into the reflection as he turned tensely to look outside at some commotion. I heard the bell hanging from the door ring, but didn’t pay any attention still lost in thought about finding my mate. That was, until I heard screaming. I turned to see about ten men dressed in black carrying automatic weapons come filing in.

  

“Everybody to this corner!” The man in front projected loudly, lifting his gun to make his point.

 

Mass panic ensued, people were running chaotically, and some just dropped straight to the ground. A lady in a red dress tripped and fell into the cologne and perfume display causing hundreds of bottles to come crashing down on Zander and me. If we didn’t have headaches from chemicals before, we sure did now. Not to mention we probably smelled awful. I could feel the anger radiating off of Zander as he planned to attack. 

 

“Don’t even think about it.” I said just loud enough for him to hear as I started walking us to the section of the store we were told to go.

 

“We can take them!” He hissed.

  

I eyed the men. They all looked lean but were wearing too much gear to tell how much muscle they had packed on. Compared to Zander and me, they didn’t look very buff. We both liked to lift, and that plus our wolf genes made us pretty muscular.

  

“There are two of us, Zander, against ten guns at close range. We don’t heal that fast. Sarah will kill me if anything happens to you, we wait this one out.”

  

Zander was mumbling under his breath but I knew he agreed with me. There were about thirty of us in the store, now all packed into the corner furthest from the main door. Normally I wouldn't shy away from a fight, but being an Alpha was more than being a good fighter, but a wise one too. While I was a fool compared to my father who lead before me, I always tried to make decisions he would be proud of. If there were fewer of them, or even if they had more basic handguns, we could probably take them. But even then, there would probably be collateral damage and I wasn’t going to risk that. Hopefully, they just wanted money and would leave when they got it.  

 

As the men filed in with their gear, one came around with a bag asking for cell phones. As the men in black settled in, a faint smell drifted around me. I couldn't help but smile as it warmed me from within, making me happier than I had felt in a long time.

 

“Do you smell that?” I spoke softly, my wolf in full alert.

 

“Smell what?”

  

“That...that smell, it’s like... freshly baked bread, but better.”

 

“Dude all I smell is what we are covered in, I don't know how you can smell anything else right now.” He grumbled, still upset with me.

 

As the men started unpacking their gear, my eyes were drawn to someone much smaller than the rest of them, they were throwing off their backpack when their hair got caught, pulling it out of their black toque. The smell got stronger as she pulled off her hat and shook out her deep chocolate hair.

  

“Zander,” I whispered, not taking my eyes off of her, “I think... maybe...”

 

Just then she turned flipping her hair over her shoulder and our eyes locked.

 

“Mate.” My voice was hardly above a whisper but Zander heard me. 

 

“Oh shit,” Zander said under his breath. “Don’t do anything stupid John.”

 

I could hardly hear him as my heartbeat thudded heavily in my ears. She looked a little taken aback, but quickly turned to hide her flushed cheeks and went back to her business. She was a human. Had to be or she wouldn't have looked away so quickly. Humans could feel the attraction, but wouldn’t feel the pull as strongly as wolves do. I needed to get closer to her. To know how soft her skin would feel on my own, to hear how melodious her voice would sound caressing my ears. To see if her hair was as silky smooth as it looked. More than anything, I needed to know how my beautiful mate was mixed up with these terrible men.

 

The leader of the crew stepped forward. He was tall with slick dark brown hair. A thick strand had fallen out of place and was draped across his right eye. In his thirties maybe, with pale skin. His suit looked to be expertly tailored to the most exact measurement of his body. He looked to be the strongest of his group with the broadest shoulders and the most demanding presence.

 

“We are not here to harm you, so please stay calm and don’t try to be heroes.” His voice was cool and controlled, almost emotionless but calming and commanding all at the same time. "The store you are in just happens to share walls with a small bank.” He took another slow step forward.

  

“Unfortunately, it will take us a while to break through that wall. Long enough that the police may be made aware of us before we’d like. That's what you are here for. Just a little insurance policy. Once we get what we came for you will all be free to go. Nod if you understand.” 

 

The small crowd shuffled around as they nodded. I was right, they only wanted money. We just had to wait it out, and that wouldn't be an issue. Now I was faced with a whole new problem. How was I going to get my mate's attention? More than that, how was I going to separate her from her team and convince her to stay with me?

 

There was a small whimper from the back of the crowd. My mate instantly picked up on it as her eyes quickly scanned to find where the noise had come from. She walked over with purpose right past her leader as if he didn’t exist, her eyes locked on someone I couldn’t see.

 

“When are you due?” Her voice like music rang in my ears. It was so beautiful I almost didn't take note of what she was saying.

 

“One week from now.” I heard a shaky voice reply.

 

“Did your water break?”

 

“No, not yet.”

 

My mate was pushing through the crowd, I watched as her decadent hair disappeared into the people surrounding the pregnant woman. Everyone else was silent. The leader watched intently, but the rest of the men went back to work. 

 

“They could be Braxton contractions.” She said hopefully.

 

“No, I’ve had those before, this…this is it.” Her voice was now strained. 

 

The crowd became tense, but the man with the gun didn’t seem phased in the slightest.  My mate asked the pregnant woman a few more questions before I saw her head pop back up. She looked at her leader with worry in her eyes. “Can we?”

 

He shook his head no.

 

Her eyes narrowed, as if attempting to intimidate him into changing his mind. He did not. With a frustrated sigh she continued, 

 

“I need a private room then...And help.”

 

He nodded, saying only one word, 

 

“One.”

 

My mate turned back to the pregnant woman. “Come follow me, I’ll take care of you.” Her voice was filled with kindness, but her eyes were concerned. As they walked through the crowd and towards a back hallway she stopped and looked back at us.

  

“Are any of you doctors?”

 

Silence.

 

“Nurses? EMTs?”

 

The crowd shifted uncomfortably.

 

“Doulas, midwives, first responders...knows first aid?”

 

I raised my hand.

 

“What are you doing?!” Zander hissed in my ear.

 

“I’ve helped bandage up people after combat, I can do first aid things.” I justified.

 

“Bruises are different than babies!”

 

I ignored him as she looked at me. I could stare into her piercing blue eyes all day. They looked to be made of crystal. She broke our gaze to look at her leader who nodded. Turning back to me she motioned to follow before she took off down the hallway with the pregnant woman waddling at her side. She was in a navy blue dress with small yellow flowers that swayed as she shuffled, using my mate's arm for balance. I jogged up to them as my mate opened a door to look inside.

  

“Hi” I looked down at her. Her nose crinkled as she looked up at me.

 

“Sorry, I was below the perfume rack when it came down.” I shrugged sheepishly.

 

Her lips twitched as she suppressed a smile. Too bad, oh how I wanted to see her smile, to hear her laugh.

 

“Hi.” She responded curtly. "Check those rooms, please. I’m looking for a break room or something with a couch, it has to have a door that shuts completely.”

 

Nodding, I quickly went down the hall checking doors looking for a room fit for a baby. She wanted a door, but I wanted to impress her with a room a hospital would be jealous of. My quest was a little unrealistic, but a few rooms down I found a door that actually latched shut. It was perfect! I signaled down the hall to the two women that I had found something suitable. My mate walked slowly, supporting the other woman and talking to her calmly the whole way. I had found a break room. There was a large blue couch, a couple of brown recliners, and an attached bathroom. I was feeling pretty proud of myself.

 

“Is this your first?” I heard her ask as the woman shook her head breathing heavily.

  

“That's good. The more you have the quicker they come, it’ll be over before you know it! Let's get you settled.” She spoke cheerily, but her voice didn’t match her eyes which were focused and scared.

 

I walked them to the couch and helped the woman get comfortable. My mate examined her expertly, as if she had done this hundreds of times. Hopefully, she was a nurse or something. 

 

“You’re only dilated a couple of centimeters, we have time.” She smiled to comfort the groaning woman. "Who knows, maybe we’ll be out of here by the time baby comes and we can get some EMTs looking after you."

  

“Babies take that long?” I blurted out. “The movies always make it a huge rush to get to the hospital.”

  

She giggled as she stood. “Ok, so you’re not a doctor then.”

  

“No. Sorry, but I have a lot of experience in first aid and am great in high pressure situations.” I made myself out to be more than I was. It wasn’t fully a lie though. I had fought in many wars and felt like this should be a cakewalk in comparison.

 

“Well thanks for volunteering, not many men are brave enough to help with births.” She grabbed a pillow off a chair and handed it to the woman on the couch. “This is Maggi, I’m Rebecca, and you are…?”

 

 It took me a moment to respond as I was still reeling at my mate calling me brave.

 

“Nice to meet you Rebecca, I’m John.” I realized I was staring at her and ignoring the other woman. "And you Maggi."

 

She smiled at me again and I felt like a million bucks. Rebecca asked Maggi some more questions as she continued her examination.

 

“You're doing great Maggi. I’m going to step out with John and let you rest for a bit while we get some supplies ok?” Maggie nodded. “ And keep timing those contractions for me ok?”

 

Maggi wasn't very talkative. Her eyes were wide with fear, only magnified by her thick rimmed glasses. Her curly brown hair had started to stick to her face as she sweat. I couldn't imagine I would be very talkative in a similar situation. We stepped outside. Rebecca took a big sigh and leaned up against the closed door with her eyes closed.

  

“Are you alright?” I asked, looking for any opportunity to get to know her better.

 

“All in a day's work.” She smiled, her eyes still closed.

  

“So, you’re the team medic?” I guessed.

 

She laughed. “In a way, but not quite.”

 

“Well, you’re too nice to be a bank robber.”

 

“Is that your way of asking what a nice girl like me is doing in a place like this?”

 

“Yeah, I guess so.” I pushed my blond hair back off my face blushing a bit. Of all the things I could have said to her, I chose the cheesiest line in existence. She looked up at me with curiosity. She could feel the pull, I knew it. She pressed herself off the wall.

 

“That's a story for another time and we don’t have a lot of that right now.” She started walking and I followed. "I’m going to need towels, blankets, pillows, shower curtains whatever this store has.”

 

I nodded as she lead us back to the main part of the store. I carried the shopping baskets as she filled them. Her boss kept throwing weird glances my way but I tried to ignore him. Zander and everyone else looked fine, so I tried to just focus on my beautiful mate.

  

She pulled some clothes off a rack and looked me up and down. “These will do.”

 

“What’s wrong with what I have?” I exclaimed looking down at myself worried that she didn’t like my outfit.

 

“Your clothes smell like a chemical soup, you’re giving me and I’m sure Maggi a headache.”

 

“Fair enough.” She was right, I needed a shower. I added my new clothes to the pile.

  

Rebecca was upset that the store didn’t have much of what she wanted but I thought we had plenty of things. She also grabbed her backpack which had to be filled with useful things, or at the very least, lots of heavy things. She asked her boss multiple times to let her take Maggi to a hospital or even the next building over but he wouldn't budge. I stayed quiet as we brought all our stuff back to the room, letting her cool down. She was clearly frustrated and I didn't want to accidentally make her more mad.

  

Maggi smiled when we came in, but she looked very uncomfortable. Rebecca put my new clothes in my hand and pushed me towards the bathroom. I closed the door and started to get undressed. While I was here I decided now was as good a time as any. Running the cool tap water I tried to wash off some of the perfume and cologne. I was almost finished and half dressed when there was a knock at the door.

 

I opened it just to have Rebecca push herself in quickly and close the door behind her.

 

“We have an emergen...cy.” She paused as she had finally turned to look at me, her eyes tracing my rock hard abs up to my pecks. I tried not to flex as her eyes worked over my body, wanting so badly to impress her even more. Oh wait she had said something about an emergency.

 

“What's wrong?” I asked.

 

She jumped a little and brought her eyes to mine. “Her water finally broke, but the baby is breached.”