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Maisie chuckled. “That’s great for the shifters in the area.” She loved how humble he was. If she had been a family physician and a vet and she was dating a new wolf she really, really liked, she would have told him all about it to impress him.

Anne walked in with Colleen’s bag. “Wow, I overheard Colleen saying Robert was a family physician before. We aresolucky to have you. I’ll call Grant to let him know the babies are on the way,” Anne said, since Maisie and Robert were taking care of Colleen.

Colleen groaned. “I don’t want to mess up your home and clinic open house.”

“Nonsense. If you’re ready to deliver these babies, I’m ready,” Robert said. “This is a perfectly good time for me.”

Maisie wasn’t sureshewas ready. Robert’s vet tech, Tiffany Moore, was a wolf, but she wasn’t going to start working there until he opened the clinic, so she’d decided to take a vacation before that happened. Maisie wondered if Anne was any more comfortable with the idea.

Anne said on her phone, “Hey, Grant, it appears Colleen’s in labor. She’s here at the vet clinic with Robert, Maisie, and me. Her water just broke. Uh, okay. We’ll see you in a few minutes.”

Maisie was helping Colleen take off her sandals and then her dress. “I just can’t wait for the babies to be born.” Maisiewas so excited for Colleen.

“Thanks. Me too. I just didn’t think I would do it during the open house.” Colleen still sounded regretful that the babies had to come right at this time.

“This makes for the absolute perfect open house. You are christening the opening of the vet clinic before we’re open.” Robert was getting everything out that he needed for the delivery and then setting up the large, disposable pad on the floor for Colleen for when she delivered her pups as a wolf.

Maisie admired him for being so flexible, patient, and caring.

“How far apart are the contractions?” Robert gently felt Colleen’s belly before she finished stripping off her clothes and shifted.

“A couple of minutes apart, and they’re strong and consistent,” Colleen said.

Maisie helped her out of her bra and panties, and then Colleen shifted into her wolf.

They heard a truck engine roar up to the clinic. That had to be Grant. He must have torn down the road from the castle to reach the clinic so quickly.

Truck doors opened and closed. “Colleen!” Grant roared as he opened the front door of the clinic.

“Back here, Grant! Colleen has shifted,” Robert called out.

Colleen woofed. She was pacing around the delivery room. Robert made more of a bed for her to lie down on when she needed to rest and brought out a dish of water for her.

Grant and Enrick quickly entered the delivery room. “Lachlan and Edeen are on their way,” Grant said. Maisiehad never seen Grant look that worried about anything. He appeared anxious as he frowned and hurried to crouch down next to Colleen, then hugged her. She licked his cheek, and he smiled.

Enrick was on his phone right away. “Heather, Colleen’s going into labor. Have one of your brothers bring you to the vet clinic… Aye, that’s where Colleen is right now, and Robert, Grant, and others are here to assist her. I don’t want you driving to the clinic alone… Alright.” Enrick sounded worried that his own mate might go into labor any minute too, not that Colleen’s labor could trigger Heather’s delivery.

“It could still take hours for Colleen’s first wolf pup to be delivered,” Robert said. “These things can take time. She’s having hard contractions, and I sure don’t want to risk that the first baby comes quickly someplace where Colleen’s not comfortable though.”

Fifteen minutes later, Edeen and Lachlan arrived and peered into the delivery room. “Hey, how are you doing, Colleen?” Edeen asked.

She woofed at them.

Edeen smiled. “I’ll be in your place in a few months. Chef is getting ready to set up refreshments for the open house at your house, and Lachlan is going to take charge of it in your absence, Robert.”

“Okay, thanks,” Robert said.

“I’ll assist them,” Enrick said, though a bunch of wolves would be helping out by serving food and drinks.

Everyone was anxiously waiting to learn of their packleaders’ babies’ deliveries.

“I’ve helped my brother before with puppy births,” Edeen said, and Maisie felt relief wash over her.

“I’ll help in any way that I can,” Maisie said. “I watched Robert assist with Lady’s pups, but that’s as far as my training goes.”

Robert smiled at her. “You also had a sprained ankle at the time, or you could have assisted me more.” He lifted Colleen up onto the exam table and then he checked to see how far apart her contractions were. “Her contractions are coming closer together and getting harder.”

“For three days, she’s been saying she’s having them, but she said they were false contractions, just getting her ready for the real thing.” Grant sounded like he thought she’d been mistaken.