Life Straight Up (reposted - feedback wanted)

Chapter Thirty Three

Ray's POV

I couldn't stop my heart from pounding, as I was overcome with fear and panic. The look on Grace's face didn't reassure much either, she seemed unsure of herself and a little scared. Greg sat beside me holding my hand, I think he sensed I really didn't want to be alone right now. I was grateful for the comfort he was supplying, but I wished, more than anything, that Cole was here with me. We may not have been seeing things eye to eye right now, but I needed him. Without him I felt weak and powerless, I couldn't even feel Cwen's presence, but I knew she'd be focusing on protecting the babies. Grace had checked my blood pressure and listened to their heartbeats, apart from their hearts beating a little faster than usual, she couldn't seem to find out what was wrong. Despite this, my stomach still ached and cramped periodically, making me feel more and more uncomfortable. I hadn't felt them move once while she checked me over and normally they went berserk.
"Ray I really don't know what to tell you, I've never seen this before. I know your stomach has been cramping, but I don't think you're contracting. You no longer seem to be bleeding and their heart beats are slowly steadying," Grace said sympathetically, as she placed her hand on mine.
"I haven't felt them, I haven't felt them move," I whispered, terrified of the words leaving my lips.
"I'll go grab the ultrasound machine and we'll have a quick look at them. For now, I think it's best if you stay here until we know what's happening. I want to keep a close eye on you. It might just be that these babies are telling us they're ready to make an appearance. At least let's hope that's it," she said, squeezing my hand. "You need to relax Ray, you've been stressing yourself too much. I know it's not been your fault, but it's not good for you or them," she continued, letting go of my hand and placing it on my rounded tummy.
She walked around the bed and kissed Greg's forehead, squeezing his shoulder before she hurried out of the room.
I couldn't stop the tears from falling as she walked out the room, I was scared and I didn't know what to do.
"It's going to be ok Ray, everything is going to be ok. You heard Grace, they might just want to come out a little early, that's all," Greg said, trying to calm me, but it wasn't helping.
"She doesn't know that for sure, none of us knows for sure what's wrong and it's killing me. I don't know how to protect them and it's killing me that Cole isn't here with me," I broke down completely.
Greg's grip on my hand tightened slightly as he tried to show his support.
"I'm sure he'll be here as soon as word gets to him that your here. The last I heard, he was at Alpha Stone's pack house, welcoming the new arrival. He's probably just gone for a quick run or something to clear his head," he said giving me a small smile.
"I know, I was there when he turned up. He tried to talk to me and I pushed him away. Why did he have to do this to me, why now?" I sobbed, starting to feel a little angry with the situation.
I was surprised when Greg took his hand away from mine. I looked over at him and he looked over at me with his arms crossed across his chest.
"He didn't do this to you. You're angry at the wrong person," he simply stated, making me feel uneasy.

Cole POV

I came to in a dark dingy room, it stank of mould and rot. It made my stomach churn as my concussion made it that much worse. I pulled myself up to standing on unsteady legs, only to find my ankle was chained to the wall. I tried to break the chain from the wall, but the metal just bit into my skin. I knew my only chance to escape and confront the bastards that put me here was to shift. I focused my mind on my wolf, but nothing happened.
"There's no point even trying that," a strange female voice filled the room, making me turn quickly to the open the doorway.
Once again my blood ran cold, as I looked into the eyes of my mother.
"Mum, but how? I saw your lifeless body, how could you possibly be standing here in front of me? Why would you do this me, to your own son?" I asked outraged and confused.
I felt uneasy in my gut and had a feeling that Ray needed me, that something wasn't right. Knowing that my own mother was keeping me from her had me seeing red. I growled and pulled against the chain, desperate to escape and get to Ray.
"Easy there Alpha King, we wouldn't want you to hurt yourself now, would we," another voice entered the room.
A voice I would never forget, a voice that put me in a murderous state of mind. Precious strolled in happily, with a smug look on her face.
"You bitch!" I snarled, as I spat at her.
"I told you you'd pay Cole, you shouldn't have refused me. But then again, if you hadn't I wouldn't have found myself in the arms of my true mate again. In fact, I should thank you, it was our venomous hatred for you that brought us together," she said giggling. "How's Ray, by the way?" she asked as her lips curled evilly.
"Now babe that was a bit below the belt don't you think?" a third voice said, another voice I was more than familiar with.
Jude walked in and went straight to Precious, wrapping his arms around her waist and nuzzling her neck. I could feel the bile rising up my throat as I watched the display in front of me. I understood why precious and Jude would be part of this, but not my mother or whoever she was.
"I think you should burst his little bubble before his tiny brain explodes," Precious laughed, as she turned to the ghost of my mother.
"Oh it would be my pleasure," she replied taking a step towards me, her features growing even clearer to me.
"We'll leave you to it, besides I have a mate to take care of," Jude laughed, as he hauled a giggling Precious over his shoulder.
She smirked and blew me a kiss as they turned and left.
As I stared at the women in front of me, I was still amazed how much she resembled my mother. The same dark, wavy hair, which she gave to my sisters. The same slightly tanned skin, though she seemed perhaps a little paler. She looked like an older version of Celeste. As she stopped mere inches away from me, I noticed one significant difference, her eyes. My mother shared the same chocolate brown eyes with that of the triplets. This women though, her eyes were blue. The exact same shade as my own. I stood there frozen and confused, who was this women?
"Hello nephew," she smirked, placing her hands on her hips.