The bedroom door closed behind him. Julia waited. Five seconds. Ten. Twenty. Then she exhaled.
Another tightening sensation rolled through her abdomen. Julia gripped the blanket.
“Oh.”
This one definitely hurt. She breathed slowly until it passed. Lila immediately became restless.
“Pup coming.”
Julia stared down at her stomach.
“No, no. Not today.”
“Pup does not care.”
“Ryker just left.”
“Pup still does not care.”
Julia closed her eyes.
“Of course.”
She remained sitting there for several minutes, trying to convince herself that it was nothing. False contractions. Pressure. Normal late-pregnancy discomfort. Anything except labor.
Because her mate had just left for the western border where rogues had been spotted. This was absolutely terrible timing.
Another contraction came. J
