I got off the bed and looked down at the wet blanket. My eyebrows furrowed when the fluid kept leaking out.
I was still peeing!
Wasn’t that too much?
I stomped my foot in frustration but then paused.
The fluid trickled down my legs as I stared at bed. This wasn’t normal. The fluid was clear…colorless.
I touched the wet spot with two fingers and brought it to my nose.
It didn’t smell.
When realization dawned, my mouth fell open.
OH!
Ignoring the wet trail I was leaving behind, I waddled to the bathroom as quickly as I could…which wasn’t too quickly.
My belly was huge. Even Ivy said I was really big for my body size.
Alessio loved it, though. He showered my pregnant belly with so much love. He mentioned a couple of times that he loved me pregnant.
Because it showed everyone that I was his.
I could never understand men and their possessive tendencies.
My back was aching as I stripped off and took a quick shower. After changing into a clean dress, I tied my hair in a bun and walked out.
I glanced at the bed one final time and left the room. The maid would have to clean it.
Slowly, I walked down the stairs. Alessio was going to throw a fit, but I had a perfect way to shut him up.
I came to a stop on the final step when I noticed the men in the living room. Maddie and Lena were there too. They were both sewing baby booties for Princess.
Perfect. I had everyone in one place.
When Alessio noticed me, he immediately stood up.
“Ayla! Why are you walking down the stairs alone?” he bellowed, making his way to me. He looked really mad, and I almost flinched at his loud tone.
Alessio held me by the waist and half-carried me to the sofa. I planted my feet on the floor before he could push me in a sitting position.
“Wait,” I muttered.
He paused.
I swallowed hard and felt suddenly nervous.
He took my silence in a bad way and started panicking. “What is it, Ayla? Is something wrong? Is it the baby? Are you hurt? Are you in pain?”
“No. I’m okay. Everyone, stay calm. It’s all good and okay.”
He raised an eyebrow and waited for me to continue.
My gaze went to everyone before meeting Alessio’s again.
“My water broke.” I could hear the excitement in my voice as I waited for their reaction.
There was about five seconds of shock and silence before everyone exploded together.
“What?”
“Shit!”
“We’re not fucking ready!”
“Oh dear.”
“Oh my God!”
“You’re not due for another two days!”
That last one was Alessio. For the first time, he appeared almost speechless.
He looked at me like I had grown two heads. Actually, all the men had the same expression on their faces.
Viktor looked like he was about to faint. Nikolay was practically ready for make a run for it. Phoenix was already taking a few steps back.
“You’re not ready. We’re not ready. The baby isn’t supposed to come out now. Ivy said so! Another two days. We have another two days, Ayla!” Alessio rambled.
His eyes were filled with fear when he palmed my very pregnant belly. There was a hard kick, one that I felt in my lower stomach, and my back contracted painfully.
“Ouch,” I muttered, rubbing the sore spot.
“What’s wrong?” Alessio’s eyes went even wider with panic. He pulled me closer and pointedly looked at Viktor.
“Get the car,” he demanded.
Viktor stared at me, not moving an inch.
“I think he’s in shock,” I whispered to Alessio.
“Viktor!” Alessio bellowed this time. I winced and sighed at the catastrophe in front of me.
Viktor snapped back to the present, tripped over his own feet, broke Lena’s favorite vase, and went down in a heap.
He laid there for a second before quickly getting back up and running out of the door.
“Phoenix, go get Ayla’s bag. Princess’s bag is in the piano room,” Maddie ordered as she came to stand by my side.
“Nikolay, can you make sure Viktor doesn’t crash into something with the car? I don’t think he can drive at the moment,” I told him.
He looked the calmest. Well, as calm as he could be in this situation. If it was his choice, he would have been out of the door by now.
At my suggestion, he nodded and quickly ran out to check on Viktor.
“Are you having any contractions?” Lena asked, pushing Alessio away.
Alessio glowered before coming to stand in front of me.
“No. Nothing yet. My water broke about twenty minutes ago. Or a little less,” I explained.
“Hmm…you’ll probably start your contractions before you reach the hospital,” she continued.
I nodded in understanding. “How bad will it be?”
While speaking, my gaze stayed on Alessio.
“It’s different for everyone, dear. I can’t say for sure.”
I hummed in response, watching my man silently freak out at the thought of his wife giving birth. He was already sweating heavily, and I noticed his hands shaking at his side.