The Council by Cooper (Jara & Mason)
Chapter 35
Jara
After the Alpha Quinton offered to send us his best tracker and Mason accepted, we agreed to end the meeting, reconvening next weekend or before if things escalate between our alliance and Gunnar’s alliance.
When we’re done, Mason tells Elijah to get some warriors ready to send to Alpha Luke’s pack, and we head to the pack hospital.
When we arrive, Dr. Johns is waiting for us. “Hello again, Luna. I’d like to do an ultrasound and see how far along you are, if possible. We’ll also take some bloodwork and get some measurements today.”
He leaves the room and I put on the gown before getting on the hospital bed. When he comes back, he rolls in a machine.
“Alpha, Luna, this is an ultrasound machine. It will let us see images of your pup and it will give me an idea of how far along you are.”
He finishes getting the machine started before looking at Mason. “Alpha, this requires your mate to bare her stomach and for me to be in close proximity to her and your pup while she’s in this limited state of undress. This is part of the procedure. I have no ill intentions with your mate or your pup.” He says, looking at Mason.
Mason nods, frowning a bit. I’m not sure why the doctor felt the need to tell him that. We’re here, after all, because Mason insisted.
However, the moment the doctor pulls the gown open, exposing my stomach, Mason’s possessive snarl rips through the room. Dr. Johns stops, holding very still watching Mason.
I put my hand on his arm, trying to calm him. “Mason, Dr. Johns told you this was necessary.”
Mason blinks and looks from me to Dr. Johns. “My apologies. I’m not sure what just happened.” He says.
Dr. Johns doesn’t move. “It’s in the medical books. I have never seen it, but I’m glad I followed procedure. It states that when a she-wolf is pregnant, her mate becomes extremely possessive and protective of her and their unborn pup. It warned doctors to inform the male before touching his mate. It was very clear that Alphas, in particular, have been known to severely injure of even kill doctors who don’t warn them of the need to touch their pregnant mates.”
“Mason, we want to see our pup. Dr. Johns isn’t going to hurt us.” I say. I can see the battle that he’s having, fighting his instinct to protect me from this unmated male who is touching his mate’s stomach right where our pup is growing. Not only that, but my stomach is bare to him. It may not be rational, but Mason’s instinct to protect is very strong.
I reach out, taking his hand in mine. “Let’s let Dr. Johns show us our pup.” He grits his teeth, turning to Dr. Johns and nodding. I’m not sure he could get words out right now his teeth are clenched so hard.
Dr. Johns watches Mason for another moment before proceeding. “I will explain everything that I’m doing while I’m doing it. That way you can understand the process a bit more.” He says, putting some goo on my stomach. “This is to help the ultrasound wand move more easily over your mate’s stomach.” He says.
“You know his mate is right here and can hear you.” I say and my aggravated tone lets Dr. Johns know that I’m not happy being talked about as if I’m not here.
“My apologies, Luna. I was thinking of saving my own hide.”
“Apology accepted.” I say. Mason’s aura, even though he’s allowing this is still potent.
Dr. Johns turns the screen toward us as he begins moving the wand over my still flat stomach.
As he moves it, I’m watching the screen not seeing anything that makes any sense. I know Mason is struggling as well because he begins watching the doctor’s face instead.
“What is it? Is my pup okay? What’s wrong?” Mason asks in rapid, succession. And I look up at the doctor to see him frowning.
“Nothing’s wrong.” He says distracted, clicking a button on the machine. “Luna, how long have you known you were pregnant?” He asks, turning to me. I can feel my face heating a bit. Technically, I haven’t known for long.
“I took the test over the weekend.” I say, but I can tell that even the doctor knows I’m hiding something.
“Jara?” Mason asks.
I look at Mason before looking at Dr. Johns. “Hana noticed the signs over a week ago. I was afraid of a negative result, so I put off the test until she pushed me to take it this past weekend.”
“Well, that explains it.” Dr. Johns says, looking back at the machine. “Explains what? What’s going on?” Mason asks, and I can tell that he is also feeling completely lost with this conversation and his concern for me and our pup is rising quickly.
“Your mate is a bit farther along than I was expecting.”
“Farther along? How far along? What do you mean?” Mason asks.
Dr. Johns looks at me. “You would have figured it out very quickly if you hadn’t taken the test this weekend, Luna. I couldn’t say for sure without seeing her medical records, but I’d say you’re at least, as far along as Luna Hana, possibly even further along than she is. Based on the size of this pup, I’d say you and our Alpha created this little one within a couple days of your claiming.”
“What?” We both ask, looking at each other.
“Yep. I wasn’t expecting to be able to tell you, but did you want to know the gender of your little one?” Dr. Johns asks, looking at us.
“Yes.” I say, my voice choking with the tears that I feel pooling in my eyes.
“Congratulations Alpha, Luna. You’re having a little girl.” Mason’s face nearly cracks, his smile is so big.
Dr. Johns leaves us, giving us time to cry our happy tears together. Mason tells me over and over how amazing he thinks I am.
A little girl! We’re having a little girl! Dr. Johns told us that my scent will start changing any day now. Because we’re having a girl, my scent should increase. Mason was thrilled to hear that.
He helps me get cleaned up but before helping me off the bed, he leans down sniffing my stomach where the doctor said our little girl is currently residing. He sniffed and sniffed until he said he finally caught just a hint of stronger scent of nutmeg, proudly claiming that he’d found our little girl.
He let me get up and began helping me to get dressed. “Mason, I’m pregnant, not an invalid. I can put my own clothes on.”
“Shhh, I’m practicing for when your stomach is so big that you can’t see your feet.” He tells me, practically bouncing around in his excitement.
As we leave, Dr. Johns gives us a picture of our daughter. I still can’t tell what I’m looking at, but Mason doesn’t care. He says as long as we know it’s her, he’s framing it and putting it on our wall.
When we get back to the pack, everyone is coming in for dinner and I know he’s bursting at the seams to tell them our good news.
He gives me a huge grin and I just shake my head at him before he pulls me to the front of the room.
“Attention everyone! I promised to keep all of you updated on the status of our Luna’s pregnancy and I have an update.”
The room goes quiet. He turns, looking at me with so much love in his eyes. “Our Luna has apparently been holding out on all of us, because the doctor was able to tell us today what the gender our pup is.” He turns to look at our pack and I can feel the excitement spreading like wildfire in the room.
“Did you want me to tell you?” He asks, teasing our pack.
As expected, they all start speaking at once, insisting Mason hurry up and tell them.
“We’re having a little girl.” He doesn’t get any further as the room erupts into booming cheers and the pack swarms us, everyone wanting to congratulate and hug me and their future pack princess.