Pregnant With Four Alphas' Babies: A Reverse Harem Romance Chapter 106: Simmer Down

*Rose*

“Drugged?” I repeat Tristan’s word out loud, mostly to myself. It makes sense, considering how awful Mark looks, but I’m worried. After all, the chef was drugged—poisoned—and she died. “Is he going to be okay?” I ask.

“Probably,” Eli assures me, his hand on my shoulder. “It’s probably some kind of a roofie, something that was meant to make him sleep so she could set it up like they were having sex.”

“But, I have to wonder, the way that Barbara was all worked up, maybe she was supposed to give him something else, too,” Reece says.

I look at him in surprise. “Like what?” I ask.

“Like some kind of aphrodisiac,” Tristan responds for Reece. “Maybe she accidentally gave it to herself.” He chuckles under his breath. “Goes to show that even the best-laid plans don’t always result in anyone getting laid.”

I turn and look at him, raising an eyebrow, but I don’t say anything. How can he be joking at a time like this?

“I’ve summoned Dr. Penderghan,” Shelby announces, running a few steps to keep up with us since she’s been slowed by her mental conversation, I assume. “She said to take Mark to his room, and she’ll be there shortly.”

I turn to my friend and look into her eyes. “Thank you,” I say. All of the anger I felt before has melted away. I know now Mark would never do anything to hurt me. I’m still not sure what he was doing in Barbara’s room, but I’m assuming it had something to do with the conversation he had with King Gene right before then. The other Alphas had just come into my room to tell me that King Gene had walked in on them scheming and summoned Mark away.

“Why did you bring Rose to see that, Tristan?” Kelly asks, walking next to her brother. “What if Mark really had been having relations with that bitch?”

Tristan shakes his head. “I knew he wasn’t up to something he shouldn’t be doing. He told me he needed help. We were in the middle of a conversation, the lot of us, and I just figured we might as well all go together. I wasn’t going to leave Rose there all alone”

That makes my heart swell, and at the same time, it makes sense to me; I’m glad Tristan brought me so I could see for myself what we are up against.

“King Gene was involved in this,” Reece snarls. He doesn’t seem any more worn out than the rest of us though he’s carrying another grown man with one arm. “He must’ve been trying to set this up so it looked like Mark was cheating.”

“He’s been trying to poke holes in our relationships with Rose all along,” Eli replies, sounding equally as angry. “Now that he realizes we are potentially organizing against him, he’s probably even more worried. He doesn’t just need to worry about what to do about Rose. He’s going to have to contend with all of us, even the one he names as king. Maybe he’s having second thoughts about abdicating.”

Eli has a good point, and it makes me nervous. I feel my stomach start to swirl, and my heart is beating feverishly in my chest again.

“Rose, are you all right?” Tristan asks. “You don’t look so good. I mean, you always look good, but you look pale.”

I shake my head. “I’m not feeling so well.”

“She should put her feet up,” Shelby suggests. “When Dr. Pendergan is done checking Mark, she should check Rose, too.”

It’s a good idea. “I think I need some water, too,” I say, and then suddenly, I start to feel weak. My vision is a bit dark around the edges, and my forehead feels clammy.

Could I have gotten poisoned vicariously through my love for Mark?

Tristan scoops me up into his arms, and I lean against his chest. We are almost to Mark’s room, but I’m glad I don’t have to walk the rest of the way, especially at this quick pace. My pelvis feels like it’s ratcheting itself apart.

We enter Mark’s room, and Reece lays him on the bed. Mark is still sweating, his brow damp, and his eyes are closed.

“Unbutton his shirt,” Kelly insists.

“You unbutton his shirt!” Reece holds his hands up and walks away.

“Put me on the bed next to him, Tristan,” I insist. As soon as I’m settled next to Mark, I unbutton his shirt. He groans a little. “Get a wet washcloth.”

Kelly moves to the adjoining restroom to do as I’ve asked and returns with a cold, damp cloth, which I put on his forehead. He opens his eyes slightly and looks at me, and I lean down and kiss his cheek.

“I’m going to find Adam,” Shelby says. “We need to figure out how deep King Gene is into this and what we can do about it.”

“I’ll keep you posted,” Kelly says, and Shelby nods her thanks before she takes off out the door.

The other three Alphas are standing around, adjusting their weight from one foot to another, not sure what to do.

“Water!” Eli finally shouts and then rushes off to get me a glass of cold water. I appreciate it, and when I take a few slow sips, it helps a bit.

Soon enough, the doctor is there. She rushes in with her black bag to check Mark first, and I lean out of her way. She’s brought one of the nice nurses with her, Harmony, and the other woman comes to check on me.

“How are you feeling?” she asks me.

“Uhm, tired… and nauseated. My heart is beating so fast.” I sit still, being a good patient, while she checks my vitals.

“Your heart rate is a little high, but I think it’s okay,” she announces. “I’m sure this has been scary for you. Just try to relax, and Dr. Pendergan will check you as soon as she’s done with Mark.

I thank her, and watch as Dr. Pendergoon starts an IV on Mark. “What are you doing?” I ask the healer.

“I’m going to give him some fluids,” she explains. “It’ll help push the drugs out of his system. He was definitely given something pretty potent, roofies or something, I’d say.”

Another nurse comes in with a pole for the IV bag, and I see it’s the mean one. I take a deep breath and look away from her.

I see the other Alphas standing across the room, conspiring about something, and I wonder what they are talking about.

I only hear one word: Emily.

Why are they talking about her at a time like this? I have no idea, but it makes my heart start thumping even harder.

“Calm down,” Harmony says in a melodic voice that matches her name.

“Is he going to be all right?” Reece asks the doctor as I do my best to do what Harmony has instructed.

“Yes, in a few hours, he should be okay,” she assures us. The doctor gets up and comes over to me as Reece goes back to confer with the other Alphas.

“Rose, you need to calm down, dear,” Dr. Plentygas says to me as she rechecks my vitals. “You’re getting too far along in your pregnancy to have these sorts of blows to your nervous system.” She puts her stethoscope back in her bag. “I want you to rest for the remainder of the day. Only get up to go to the bathroom.”

“Are the babies okay?” Tristan asks.

Dr. Picklegrasps checks my abdomen by pushing around a little bit and then nods. “Yes, the babies are fine. But for the babies to stay fine, the mama needs to be left to relax. No more stress, or else we’re going to end up with four pups born way before they are due!” Dr. Pondergoose is looking at my men now.

“Yes, Dr. Pendergan,” they all sing in chorus, looking ashamed, like they’ve done something wrong. I have visions of what my sons will look like when they do something naughty.

The doctor turns back to me and lightly instructs, “Get some rest. Eat well today. Vegetables, fruit, those sorts of things.” Then she turns to the other Alphas and says, “You can leave her lying next to Mark, and I’ll come and check on both of you in a couple of hours, all right?”

“Thank you,” I tell her as she pats my hand. I am worried about my babies, but I know I will be well taken care of by these people who love me.

Dr. Poppinggator leaves, and I rest my head back on the pillow. I close my eyes, but when I open them a moment later, the light from the overhead lamp is blocked by a mop of dark curls. I almost jump with a start until I realize Tristan is leaning over me. “Yes?” I ask him.

“Are you okay?” He is looking at me with his bushy eyebrows raised.

“I was… until you gave me a heart attack.” I narrow my eyes at him.

His face turns pink. “Sorry. We are going to go have a discussion, the three of us. And Shelby and Adam.”

I look at Kelly. “I’ll stay here with you guys,” she says with a gentle smile. “I can’t get Shelby to answer me on the mind-link, though. I know she found Adam. I told her you guys were okay and the doctor was here. Now, she’s not answering.” Since Shelby was the kingdom’s Beta’s wife, she had the ability to reach everyone via the mind-link.

Tristan rolls his eyes. “I guess we might be about to walk in on a real-life sex scene instead of a make-believe one.”

“We could always just knock and wait,” Reece suggests.

“Nah,” Tristan says. “Walking in is always more fun.”

I stifle a laugh as Eli spreads a blanket over me and Mark and then kisses my forehead. “We’ll be back.”

“Be careful,” I warn.

“Don’t worry,” he assures me. “We will be. You just rest.” He pats my baby bump, and then the three of my men who can walk right now head out of the room.

I put a hand on Mark’s chest above his heart, feeling the thumping there and I close my eyes again, willing myself to relax.