Chapter Seventeen
Thomas
My stomach felt so tight and full, I was thankful I was carrying an egg and not having a live birth.
The fact that I was pregnant with a bear shifter’s offspring meant that I could have had to go through six to eight months of pregnancy.
Luckily my dragon genes kicked in and I only had to carry the egg for two months and then wait another six weeks for the hatching.
It wasn’t as short as a wolf or fox gestation of two months, but it definitely wasn’t as long as a bear or, goddess forbid, the nearly two years that an elephant shifter suffers through.
“I think it’s time for you to go on paternity leave.
” Jason stared hard at my stomach, his eyes squinted.
“You look like you are about to pop. I know we have had you on administrative duties around here, filling out the paperwork and making the meals instead of going out on calls, but I really do think it’s about time for you to stay home.
Isn’t there a nest you need to build or something?
My brother said he had to build one for his pregnancy. ”
“Isaac and I have been setting up a nesting area in our bedroom since we first found out this little one was on the way.” I rubbed my stomach, feeling the tightening on a contraction begin. “But I think you might be right about starting my leave.”
“Oh, thank the goddess. I was preparing for a whole argument.” Jason sat down and let out a deep breath. “My brother would have argued with me right up to the moment labor started.”
“Well, the funny thing about that—” A contraction took my ability to speak away.
“Fuck.” Jason jumped up and came to my side, helping me sit in a chair. “You’re having contractions, aren’t you?”
“Ding. Ding. Ding. You win a prize.” I forced the joke out between pants. “Can we skip over the panic part and jump straight to you calling my mate to come get me? I would love to deliver this egg in the comfort of my own home; not have it be known as the firehouse dragonette.”
Isaac didn’t take long to arrive since he was at the bookstore in town buying the newest release by his brother. And the drive home seemed to whirl by in a rush of contractions, box breathing, and telling my baby to stay inside my belly for just a little bit longer.
“Thank you, honey, for getting us home in time.” I lay down in the nest we had built in the corner of our bedroom.
Several quilted blankets, fluffy and soft pillows, and colorful stuffed animals surrounded me.
“I didn’t want to end up like one of those omegas who end up giving birth in a car or on the side of the road. ”
“That’s my job, getting my mate home to have our baby in comfort.” Isaac helped me undress so that we could deliver the egg easier. “Now, we just need to help get the egg out through the omega line and keep it warm.”
“Did you call the midwife?” I closed my eyes as I experienced one of the worse pains yet. “Ryver said that he would be available anytime this week to help us through the birthing process.”
“He’s on his way, but he told me to be prepared to assist you if the labor progresses faster than it takes him to get here.
” Isaac examined the stretched and red omega line that already showed signs of separating.
“Hopefully he will make it on time, but if not, I do have a little experience with the process. Although they were live births, I am sure that it’s similar with birthing the egg.
And I know what to look out for in case we need to rush to the hospital for an emergency assist from the medical team. ”
“I don’t think we’ll need that.” I was glad that the hospital was only a block from my apartment though. It made me less nervous about trying a home birth. “Can you just hold me for a few minutes while we wait for Ryver?”
“Definitely can do that.” Isaac maneuvered around so that I was lying against him, his arms wrapped around me and his hands rubbing my swollen belly. “How’s that? Are you comfortable enough?”
“Perfect.” I leaned into his body, feeling the energetic strength of our mate bond. Some of the pain was transferred from me to him through our bond, and I felt my body relax a bit.
With the pain dulled due to the transfer to Isaac, I drifted into a nap. I wasn’t sure how long it was before Ryver arrived, but the door buzzer woke me, and I felt my mate shift me onto the pillows so he could get the door.
“I’ll be right back.” Isaac left the room, and I felt the full pain of my next contraction hit. The short reprieve I had while my mate took on the pain almost made everything feel even more intense.
“How’s everything progressing?” Ryver flowed into the room.
I had met the young beta a few times since I started working for the fire station.
He liked to stop by and speak with Jason.
I heard rumors they use to date, but I never asked if there was truth in that.
Although sometimes the chemistry between the two men made me believe there was something to that rumor.
“I checked and it looks like it might be time to get the egg out.” Isaac joined me back on the blankets. “Just tell me what you need me to do and I’ll do it.”
“Let me take a peek and see how far the gap has grown. If we can get the egg out, I will need you to hold Thomas and take a bit of his pain for him.” Ryver knelt in front of me, his hands roaming my abdomen.
“I don’t see any signs of trouble and the opening has advanced enough where we can start to guide the egg out. Are you ready, Papa?”
“Let’s do this.” I gripped Isaac’s hands and leaned into his body for support. Once again, I felt the mate bond allow a large portion of the pain to be transferred to my mate. I checked with Isaac to see if it was too overwhelming. “Is that too much, babe?”
“I can handle it.” Isaac gritted his teeth as he felt about ninety percent of the next contraction come through. “If it makes it easier for my mate, I can take the pain for you.”
“I love you.” I brought our joined hands to my mouth and kissed his knuckles. “I might let you have another baby after this one, then.”
“Let’s get this one out first, yeah?” Ryver chuckled. “I’m going to start massaging your abdomen and coax the egg to descend. Let me know if you feel anything more than discomfort while I do it. The contractions will happen but if you feel anything sharper, tell me right away.”
I wasn’t sure how long the labor would take, but I didn’t expect to be holding my egg only five minutes later.
“Everything looks good.” Ryver examined me again.
“The line should start stitching itself up within the next few minutes. I put on some magical balm that will help the process. Just lie here and shower your baby with love. I’ll go have a cup of coffee in the kitchen and check you again in an hour.
If everything is looking fine then, I will leave you three alone for the night to bond. Yell for me if you need me.”
Ryver left the room, but I only paid half attention to him. The beautiful iridescent blue egg that held my child had my full focus.
“It’s beautiful,” Isaac whispered, his fingers gently gliding along the top arch of the egg.
“Can I just hold it for the next six weeks?” I bent and kissed the shell. “I don’t think I can lay it down.”
“We can hold it as much as you want, love.” Isaac adjusted us so that we were both lying on our sides, the egg resting in the crook of my arm. “I don’t think I ever want to get up from here.”
My eyes started to feel heavy and I closed my lids. “I’m going to take a nap. Wake me up when Ryver comes back.”
“Go right ahead. I’m here to make sure everything is okay.” Isaac stretched his neck and kissed me gently. “Get some rest.”
The last thing I remembered was Spice joining us in the nest and rubbing up against the egg before curling up next to me. I drifted off to sleep, content to know that my little family was already bonding.
I wasn’t sure if they woke me for Ryver to examine me or if they just let me be, but my eyes didn’t open again until the morning sun came and the dreams of tiny dragon babies playing with bear cubs faded.