Chapter 17 Maxwell #2
“Can I ask you something?” Camden asked when we were in our bedroom.
“You know you can always ask me anything at any time.” I pulled my One into my arms and kissed his forehead.
“You said you were also my doctor, and it’s true that you’ve done all of the prenatal care while I’m pregnant, but we’ve delivered Drew and Sebastian’s baby. And Michael and Marc’s.”
I nodded. “We have. What of it?”
“There were two of us delivering the babies. But the omega’s mate was with him,” he said. “He was supporting his mate, not busy delivering the baby.”
I blinked down at Camden. I truly hadn’t thought about that. “Are you saying you don’t want me to deliver the baby?”
Camden took a deep breath before he replied. “No. But I was hoping you would be there to help me. To support me. I watched Sebastian while he helped Drew push the baby out. Marc did the same with his mate. I’m going to have nobody because you’ll be…”
“Busy delivering the baby.” I nodded. “Would you be comfortable with Costas delivering him? He’s the only other warlock doctor I know who would be able to come on a moment’s notice.
Alexander lives here on Treasure Ridge. He’s a wolf shifter, and he’s the doctor for the Pack in Timber Valley.
Arik is Master Edison’s son. He lives in Honey Creek and is also a doctor.
He’s a tiger shifter. There are those two if you’re all right with them. Or there’s Costas.”
Camden looked up at me with worry on his face. “I thought that because the baby is a warlock, he would need to be delivered by another warlock because of the magic.”
“Yes. But if I’m there, I can do that. I can be your support and not deliver the baby.
I apologize for not thinking about that before now.
I know the council didn’t intend on its newest doctor being the current doctor’s One and for us to have a baby right away and then take even more time off of work. ”
“Is it too much? Should we not? You should go into work,” Camden told me. “I’ll stay home with him at first, and then we can switch?”
I shook my head. “That’s not how things are going to work.
The council has had weeks to get someone to fill in.
Most likely, it will be Costas because Chase still hasn’t given birth, and he’s pregnant with dragons.
” He was miserable. He’d been miserable before, but he seemed to be more so this time.
“I feel so bad for Chase. I know he loves his mate and their twins. But he’s the only wolf shifter in their family.”
I chuckled. “This is true. But remember, Master Ambrosius is also in his family, and Chase isn’t the only one who is a dragon.”
Camden’s mouth opened, and I saw when that seemed to truly sink in. “How did I not realize that? He was even talking about Chase when he was in with little Andrea.”
I nodded. “Master Ambrosius and Emmerich have four children now, and two are vampires. So there are three vampires and a wolf shifter in their family.” I was sure there would be more, and I wasn’t convinced that Chase and Reinhold were going to be finished having children. Time would tell.
Camden’s phone ringing caught both of our attention, and when he pulled it from his pocket, he smiled. “It’s Cameron. I’ll let him know I can’t talk right now.”
I shook my head. “Don’t do that. Answer and talk.”
Camden swiped to answer the call. “Hang on, Cam.” Camden looked up at me. “Are you sure? Aren’t Winston and Lukyan still downstairs?”
“I’m certain, and yes, they are. I’ll go down, and you can join us when you and your brother finish your talk.
It’s Sunday, and it’s expected that you catch up with him.
” I leaned down and kissed Camden on the forehead, and after he turned into the nursery, I went in search of my fathers.
I found them in the kitchen, drinking tea.
“Is everything all right?” Father asked.
“Yes, of course. We went for a short walk, and then Camden needed to go to the bathroom. His brother called, and he was going to talk to him for a few minutes, and then he’ll join us.”
“We should have told you,” Papochka said. I shook my head, and he did the same. “No. We should have.”
I shook my head again. “It wasn’t mine to know. You did what you thought best, and I understand. I don’t…” I couldn’t stop shaking my head. “I can’t fault you for not. It was something that was incredibly traumatic. For both of you. I’m sorry I pressed.”
Papochka came and gave me a tight hug. “We love you. We adore Camden, and I promise you that I’m all right.
We’re excited for the baby. We hope this won’t cause concern for the two of you.
I’ve been to therapy. I’ve had a long time to heal.
I’m so incredibly thankful for the son I have and the mate that gave him and my life to me. ”
I rubbed up and down Papochka’s back. “I love you too, Papochka. I always will. I’m sorry you went through that.”
Papochka loosened his embrace and took a partial step away. “I am too. It happened and cannot be changed. I am truly grateful for you and your father. I love you both so much. And I can already see a similar love from you for Camden. He is good for you, no?”
I smiled. “Camden is very good for me. He certainly wasn’t expected to be anything other than my coworker. I love him, and I fell fast.”
“That is the way it used to be,” Father said.
“Back when I met your dad, there was none of this dating for a month or more to get to know each another before we claim one other. We had our mate. We recognized them, and we claimed one another. They were chosen for you for a reason.” Father sighed and shook his head.
I had to chuckle. I felt much the same, but I had also known others who didn’t care for their fated mate.
It happened. It wasn’t common, but Thomas didn’t always use to get things right the first time.
He and Canyon did an amazing job now, and there were certainly no complaints from me.
“Camden is only a hundred and thirty-seven, but he was more than ready for a mate and family. He was in complete agreement with me on not waiting since we both recognized who we were to one another and saw no need to wait. We make sure we talk about things, and we’ve not had any issues. The mutual respect goes a long way.”
“That it does,” Father said. “Not to cut things short, but our dinner time is almost here. Our presence has been requested, and we’ve been asked to join Alistair and his family.
But even I know it’s not his family, as in his One and children.
Is there a reason why I’m being asked to join the created warlock for dinner? ”
I really could use Camden’s ability to look completely innocent, but my parents knew me too well. “I couldn’t say for certain, but I know there has been talk of asking you to join the council in a committee position. Beyond that, I cannot say, as I wasn’t there.”
Father and Papochka shared a look. Father sighed, and Papochka grinned. “Your father didn’t believe me when I said that was probably why. I told him it’s completely his choice. I won’t complain about getting to run in the snow in the winter in my shifted form.”
I chuckled, because I’d said that very thing to Camden. His fox was looking forward to it as well. “I have no say in the matter,” I said, holding out my hands.
“Sorry about that,” Camden said as he came into the room. “Did I miss something?”
“No,” I told him. “Father and Papochka need to go have dinner with Master Edison, though, so he can try to persuade Father to join his committee.”
“Oh, that would be nice,” Camden said as he pulled down a glass and pushed the water dispenser in the door of the refrigerator.
“The baby would have grandparents around a bit more frequently,” he said absently.
This was true, but I wasn’t going to say anything either way. It was their choice completely.
“Yes, he would,” Papochka said. “I’ll have to work on Winston a bit more and see if he’s willing. It isn’t as if he can’t poof us somewhere warm and sunny when needed.”
Camden grinned. “That’s so nice, isn’t it?” He set the water down on the counter, and Papochka wrapped him up in a hug. “As soon as you can and are ready, we’ll go for a run. And by run, I mean you’ll run, and I’ll trot.”
Camden laughed. “You’re probably right there.” He looked down at his stomach and rubbed it. “You might need to give me a few weeks though.”
“We have all the time,” Papochka said. He hugged Camden, and when he met my gaze, his eyes were a bit watery.
I understood to some level. At least I thought so.
I would love the opportunity to have my fathers close again, but I didn’t expect that to happen.
But when I saw the way Papochka and Camden were smiling at one another as they said something quietly, I thought that maybe it was a possibility.
The appeal of a pregnant omega seemed to have an effect on everyone.