Ziva pulled a face, wrapping her arms around her stomach. "My water broke and I really wanted this meeting to be over." We all froze for a moment, not truly grasping what she had dropped on us. "Hello? I am in labor!"

That snapped us out of it. Ned was quick to gather her in his arms and ran off with her. The rest of us took off towards the house. We were too far from any hospital, so the compound was our best option. I found strange the fact I wasn't able to smell her pups. Was she hiding the scent? No, that was impossible. Only she-wolves had that ability. Right now, I should be able to smell blood or the pups alone.

'Ty, I need you to set up Eyal's place. Get everything we need for the arrival of the pups.'

'Pups?'

'Yeah, Ziva is in labor.'

'Holy shit! Is she okay? Are the pups, okay? What exactly am I getting? Wait, I know. Don't worry I am on it.'

Suddenly I don't think Ty was the best one to call. 'Hurry up, we are about five mins out.'

'On it.'

Of course, Ty didn't worry about keeping his mouth shut. The packs were all gathered around, waiting for their alpha female. Birth had always been a big deal in the packs. It was the continuation of our kind and blood. But the birth of alpha pups was a whole different track. It was the birth of new leaders, protectors. Pushing past, the wolves Ned carried Ziva into her bedroom. Nathan and Clay stayed behind, keeping the curious wolves at bay. I gathered the pillows around the bed, creating a small nest around Ziva.

Ziva glanced around confused. "Ah-what are you doing?"

I froze with a few pillows in my hand. "Shit, sorry. My instincts were kicking in. She-wolf creates a nest around herself. Sort of like a safe space for her pups." To my surprise, she grabbed the pillows from my hand and settled them around her. "Ned, get the midwife." Waiting until he was out, I took her hand in mine. "Ziva, what's going to come next is the hardest part. For a human, this will be twice as painful. Just breath through it and listen to whatever they tell you."

A short elderly woman stepped into the room. She was one of the elders in the packs. Arat had been in Eyal's pack since it was first created. She helped deliver the first alpha and everyone after that. With all the calm energy in the world, she helped Ziva get into position. Her eyes scanned for the room with a frown. "Where is the male?"

"Ma'am, Eyal is still not well." I reminded the older woman.

"I know that young luna." She shook her head. "The alpha Ned Stark."

"Ah, he is outside."

"There must be an alpha male present in the room." She reminded. "If not him, then bring your mate."

"My mate, not the best idea." I chuckled. Nathan may not be Ziva's mate or alpha, but leave him in the room with pups and he will become possessive. "Ziva?"

"N-ned is fine." She groaned, squeezing down on my hand.

Had I not been what I was, my hand would have been broken by now. "Ned!" But that didn't mean it wasn't hurting. "Ned get your ass in here!"

The clearly overwhelmed man stumbled into the room. If it weren't for the current situation, I would have laughed. "What?"

"Eyal can't be here." I reminded him. "You need to take over. The pup needs to feel an alpha male's presence. There also needs to be an alpha with Ziva." I knew Ziva didn't know, so I wasn't going to mention the second reason. "Besides, I need to go out there and help the others."

Nathan took my spot by her side. "I got her." He stopped me before I could walk out. "Make sure you have the others keep the males away."

"Understood." Leaving her in his hands, I rushed out of the room. Being so close to another female in labor was stirring my pups going. "Settle down you two. There is no way in hell you are popping out now."

"If you are not an alpha or the females' mates, you need to leave!" Clay bellowed over the rowdy wolves. "We need the mother and pups in a stress-free area. All of your emotions will overwhelm the pups."

"Clay take the pack for a run." Nathan ordered. "Stay there until I call you back."

Clay nodded hearding the pack away. "Let's go mutts! Move it!"

I walked back into the living room, taking a seat on the couch. The painful moans from Ziva earn a whimper from the pack. "And to think I am going to go through that in a few days."

"Yeah, but it might not be as painful as that." Nathan leaned against the door frame. "Your body is made to handle this. Hence our higher tolerance for pain than humans."

"I just hope it turns out well." I frowned at not hearing anything. "Why is it quiet?"

Nathan frowned. "I don't know."

Jumping from the couch, I jogged to the door knocking rapidly. "Ned?!" Not getting a response, I pushed the door open.

My eyes were drawn to the two little bundles in Ziva's arms. Before I could say anything, I was pulled out of the room, just as a large figure lunge itself against the door.

"You okay?" Nathan had us against a wall. "Not the best time to go looking."

"Was that Ned?"

Nathan nodded. "Yup, give him a few hours to calm down."

"Talk about being an animal."

Time jump:

I looked up at hearing the bedroom door open, revealing a disoriented Ned. The man pulled the door wider and disappeared back into the room. Nathan stood, taking my hand and leading us into the room. The smell was overwhelming, the sweat, afterbirth, both Ned and Ziva's emotions. Yet two scents drowned them out completely.

Ziva sat up against the headboard, with one pup in each arm. She looked up at us with a tired, yet amazing look. "Two girls."

Not able to hold myself back, I rushed to her side. Taking a seat beside her I gently pulled down the corner of the blanket to see the child. She stated back at me with wide brown eyes. She smelled of flowers and pack. Her hair was wet from the bath the midwife must have given them. "This one is going to be the rebel one."

Ziva snorted. "The other one is sound asleep."

"See? Already defying her mother." Biting my lower lip, I nudged Ziva. "Can I hold her?"

"Of course."

Taking the child in my arms I unknowingly made my way over to Nathan. "She's a beautiful pup."

"She is." Nathan whispered.

Kissing her on top of her head I inhaled the smell that could only be a baby's. "Ned?" Something was wrong.

"Yeah?"

"Why does she smell of you?"

Nathan frowned leaning down to scent the child. "You marked them?"

Ned nodded. "You know two know pups must be scent marked by an alpha as soon as they are born."

"Yeah, by their alpha." Nathan growled. "Who happens to be their father as well."

"How do you expect this to work?" I snapped. "Ziva is the alphas mate and commander of the pack. Her pups can't be smelling of-"

"Enough!" Ned regretted yelling as the pups began crying. Taking the girl from my arms he handed her back to Ziva. "Both of you. Outside now!" Closing the door behind us softly. "Listen, I had no choice. Ziva may be the alpha female, but she alone can not mark the pups. This is just to provide safety for the pups until Eyal can take over. Both packs will be inclined to protect them as their own."

I sighed. "Eyal is going to flip when he finds out."

Ned shrugged. "I didn't mark them. I didn't bite them. It's just my scent. When Eyal is back to himself, he will mark his pups."

"How long will the scent last?" Nathan asked.

"It needs to be redone every other day." Ned replied. "Just not mine, but yours as well."

"Mine?" Nathan frowned.

"You and Eyal share the same pack. Ziva because of her connection to the human, is united to you. Therefore, the pups-"

"Belong to our pack." I finished. "It will also bring the pack protection up to three for the pups."

"How is Ziva?" I asked.

Ned shrugged. "Better than I had thought she'd be. Stronger."

"So she's out of the woods?"

"For now."

"Any update on Eyal?" Nathan asked.

I shook my head. "Nothing new. Ty said they did another bleed out. Most of the toxin and silver are out, but Eyal will need at least three more before completely clean. They give him about another month before he is completely out of the woods."

"They are taking too much blood in so little time." Nathan growled.

"They are doing what they can." Ned assured him. "The toxin is moving quickly through his bloodstream aiming for his heart. They need to drain his blood to prevent that from happening and to clean it. They wait too long and it will kill him."

"So it a nothing, but a waiting game." I sighed.

Ned nodded, glancing towards the house. "I just hope Ziva is strong enough to handle whatever comes."

"Please, that woman just gave birth to two wolf pups." I chuckled. "I don't think there isn't anything she can't handle."

"She's strongest than she looks." Nathan mumbled.

"Yeah, she is." Ned swallowed the lump in his throat. He knew now wasn't the time to tell them what the doctor truly told him. He wasn't about to ruin the moment. Not now.