Chapter Twenty
Idris
We had no idea how long my pregnancy would be, since I was a bear and Rook a panther, but day by day, I wished this baby would come. My ankles were swollen. Magda had insisted I take a leave even though I never asked for it.
Besides that, Rook wanted to support me in starting whatever business I had in mind. I’d told him over that weekend at the inn about my career dreams, and he hadn’t forgotten.
Right now, we would just plan because I was uncomfortable and achy. I’d been on bed rest for over a week, trying to get my ankles to normal size. Nothing fit.
Rook had gone overboard with the nursery. We decided on pale yellow and white since we knew we were having twins but we didn’t know what the sexes were.
We wanted to be surprised.
I got up to go to the bathroom and as soon as my feet hit the floor, I knew something was wrong. Wetness gushed from inside me, running down my legs. I grabbed onto the post of the bed and gasped. It wasn’t urine.
“Rook,” I called out, trying to remain as calm as possible.
“I’m here. What happened?”
“How did you get in here so fast?” I asked, already walking toward the bathroom.
“I felt something happen through the bond. Did you…your water broke.”
“It did. I’m going to clean up while you get the bags and call the healer. We have time to make it to the birthing center. We have time.” That last line was to convince myself more than anyone.
Rook stood inside the bathroom while I quickly showered and changed into more pajamas. There was no reason to put on regular clothes since I would be taking them off soon.
I was toweling off when the first contraction hit. I thought I was prepared for the pain, but one of those had me questioning everything.
The ride to the birthing center was a blur of pain and breathing. Thank goodness Rook had insisted on birthing classes because that breathing was coming in handy as the contractions got more and more painful.
By the time we arrived, they were only a minute apart.
“How far apart?” Jingie asked once we got inside. I could barely walk, having to lean on Rook for support.
Rook answered all their questions and we were preregistered. I was in a room and surrounded by soft tones and soothing music in no time.
An exam later and it was almost time. I was fully dilated and ready to push. My bear confirmed we would soon greet our babies.
“I’m right here, mate. You can do this. You’re the strongest omega I know.”
I moved around the room. Lay on the bed. Bent over the bed. Swayed my hips, anything to find a position. My bear urged me to squat and so I did. He knew what to do. He wouldn’t encourage me to do anything that would hurt me or our cub. Neither would Rook or the healer, but my bear new best.
Rook got on the floor with me, encouraging me with his words and his presence.
A few pushes and a great deal of pain later, and one twin was born. A girl. Our next baby girl came with over a dozen more pushes but then, as I heard both of their cries, I knew it was all worth it.
The pain.
The worry.
“You did it, omega,” Rook said, kissing my forehead while the healer cleaned up our girls.
After everyone was cleaned up and settled, both of my babies were put into my arms as I lay on the bed.
We named one Frankie, after Franklin, and one of them Maggie.
Magda would say it was after her, but we really just liked the name.
And, of course, she decided she was their godmother, and who were we to argue when they so clearly adored her.
Both of them were gorgeous and looked just like my alpha.
We were a family.