1.4

Meanwhile, the Canines were teaming with litters being whelped. The midwives and doctors didn’t have enough staff on hand with the births they were delivering. The alpha of their clan stepped where he could, but many of the women screamed at him to leave. When the Wolf elder came back, he was ushered to the hospital. The panicked alpha rushed up to him. 

“Gene! We’ve had an influx of women go into labor. What do we do?” 

He placed his hands on the wide-eyed alpha. His gruff voice soothed even the antsiest member. “We’ll contact the other kinsmanship and ask for their assistance, Braden.” 

Braden calmed soon as he heard the idea. It was simple that he hadn’t thought of it in his state. “I-I should’ve thought of that, but I tried to help where I could.” 

“And you were rightly booted from the room. Am I right?” 

He nodded his head. “I wasn’t going to do anything.” 

A midwife passed their line of sight. Gene called her. “Inform the other clans. We need assistance with labor and delivery here.” 

The woman nodded curtly before rushing to the office to make the call. Gene returned his attention to Braden. “None of those women were your sisters, mother, wife, or family. They are only your kinship. I have told you, we have only our animals that tie us together. You have no relations to those women outside of that.” 

Braden nodded his head. “I hear you, Elder Gene, but I can’t just sit back and allow them to go without help. That’s part of the duties being an alpha.” He motioned to all the people in the small hospital. 

Gene sighed. The thought popped into his mind once more. Elders should be the alphas instead of their guide. Braden was a young pup thrust into being an alpha too soon. “You’re a grand alpha, Braden, but you’ll be better when you start using your head first.” 

Braden’s head drooped. Gene could see his wolf ears flop down as if they were on his head. “Yes, Elder Gene.” 

Braden headed out of the hospital but was stopped. “Braden?” 

“Yes?” He kept his head down. 

“Do you know if any of the pups had the sun sign?” 

He raised his head. “No, we are fortunate to not be saddled with the shifterless.” Braden left the hospital. 

Gene breathed in relief. A shifterless in the canine clan would not go over well. Yes, in normal canine packs it’s much more loving, but these animals are complicated with human emotions and actions. The way they run their kinsmanship is different to a pack. Soon after, the door opened to an influx of help coming into the hospital. Much to his relief, he went to the office to ensure the safety of their pups, When a shriek turned his attention to one of the rooms. Everyone was speaking at once. Gene got up and went to the door. He bellowed so they could calm down and listen. “What is the problem?” 

An elderly midwife opened the door. He peered over her to see blood on the floor and sheets. “We have a mother who is having complications, elder. We’re doing an emergency c-section.” 

He nodded his head. “Do what needs to be done for the mother.” 

She slowly nodded and closed the door. 

After all, the excitement of ten women going into labor at the same time. The elder went to the nursery to inspect the children. Every single babe was swaddled in a blanket. Some in hues of pinks, blues, greens, and yellows. Sometimes an elder can look at a newborn and sense a familiarity with their kin. Gene only could feel a handful of the two dozen children that will grow to transform into a form of canine. It was a shame. One child that had the strongest pull on him had black hair. Darker than the moon. He sensed this child would be special in their kinsmanship. He called over an attendant and pointed. “The child there with hair darker than the darkest night. Who’s child is he for?” 

The man ruffled through the chart. “He’s for Samantha Jones.” 

Gene grunted in acknowledgement and headed to her room. When he got there, it was the same room they were doing the cesarean. Rapping on the door, he opened it. The woman laid on the bed groaning in pain. Her bleary eyes connected with his. Her head rolled to the side before she spaced out. She was in no shape to talk. Gene just wanted the name of the child. He wanted to ensure they would have the best of everything, even if it was to the detriment of their alpha. 

He left the room and headed home. He passed Braden outside with his head down. Gene looked at the young man and continued walking past him. Braden was a good alpha, Gene could admit that, but he was too tenderhearted to do what is necessary to ensure their thriving community. 

Over in the reptile kinsmanship, a few of their eggs were hatching. Someone who struggled with normal pregnancy opted to lay eggs. The incubation period was shorter than the normal birth. Solomon had gotten to the incubator to see a young hatchling emerge from their shell. 

He watched as each egg hatched, inspecting every inch of their body. So far, no sun was anywhere on them. When the last egg hatched, a child with white hair emerged. Their pupils were narrowed into slits. A soft hissing could be heard from the child. 

Soon, several women came in, holding their bulging bellies. One woman spoke on behalf of them all. “Sss-Solomon! Where are the doctorsss? Or nurssesss?” 

He informed the women of the aid that was sent. “We’re down to a sss-skeleton crew. The canines had an influx of deliveries.” 

The outspoken woman nodded her head. “I ss-see, but we also need to be assisted. Will they come to our aid as we came to theirs?” 

Solomon nodded his head. Right then, the king cobra came into the hospital. He stood tall and commanded everyone’s presence. “Ss-Solomon, did my egg hatch?” 

He turned to the man and held up a hand. “One moment, these women are going into labor. I need to get them settled first. Taerin.” 

Taerin sat down and waited. For all his commanding presence, he was a leader of leaders. The kind of alpha their reptile kinsmanship needed. Solomon ushered the women into separate rooms and called for their nurses on staff. He then made the call to the canines, asking for their nurses and doctors back. 

When he was finished with that, he gave Taerin his undivided attention. “There were a few eggs that hatched. Which incubator was yours in?” 

Taerin stood up and headed towards the room. “It was in incubator twelve. Did you ss-see an egg from there?” 

Solomon walked with him. They reached the incubator with the white-haired child. Taerin gasped and smiled. “He looksss jusst like a Ghosst ssnake. Hiru.” He pressed his face against the glass. 

Solomon committed the name to memory. “He is a reptile shifter.” 

Taerin turned to him, then back. “Whether a reptile shifter or of the other three kinsmanship. He’s my son and I’ll love him, regardless.”