33. Kace
On the second of February, in the middle of a snowstorm, Nevin became restless. He’d been showing nesting behaviors all week and I knew it was coming, but hell, I wasn’t ready.
Not tonight. Not when the wind was howling and buffeting the side of the house, making the shutters rattle and sending a chill through the air. Not when several feet of snow and ice was built up on my truck—and that’s if it would even turn over.
Anxiety nipped through me, and I was tempted to pace right along with my Omega. I didn’t want to stress him out any further though, so I grinned and beared it. What if Nevin went into labor and we couldn’t make it to a hospital in time? I wasn’t prepared to deliver a baby!
“Kace?” Nevin’s soft cry came from the hallway. “Help me!” Those two frantic words sent a tremor down my spine that could’ve shaken the Earth’s core. I was on my feet, running towards him in seconds.
He stood in the middle of the hall, bathed in the light of the bathroom, his eyes wild and his breathing coming in quick bursts.
“What’s wrong?” I demanded, and he turned, pointing to his pants, which were soaked down the back and the thighs. Shit.
“I-I think my water just broke and I… I’m having contractions.” He sounded as scared as I felt. I knew how much my mate wanted a baby, but you never really thought about the raw act of childbirth, just the sweet baby smell and the coos and cuddles and dirty diapers. “We need to get to a hospital.”
“I don’t think we’d make it, Nev,” I said slowly. “It’s nearly midnight and it’s snowing like mad outside. The roads will be terrible. What if we slide into a ditch while you’re in labor?” I scrubbed my hands over my face. “I’m going to call Mom.”
“Kace,” he whined.
“C’mon, honey.” I took him by the shoulders and led him into the bedroom, where I helped him clean up and change into a looser pair of cotton PJ pants. I propped him up in bed and draped a blanket over him, but he shook his head and kicked it back off. His forehead was ashine with sweat.
“Don’t leave me!” He grabbed for my hand, so I gave it a squeeze.
“I need to call Mom. I have to go grab my phone, but I’ll be right here. Hang tight, okay, baby?” I kissed his cheek, then untangled his fingers from mine and fled down the hall, my heart hammering away in my chest.
Fetching my cell, I dialed Mom’s number. It rang and rang, but no one answered. Shit. I waited a minute or so, then tried again. Nothing. Mom was a heavy sleeper, and if she’d had a busy day at the clinic, it’s likely she’d passed out early.
So I called Xan instead. Thank god, he picked up on the second ring. “What’s up?” he chirped. The sound of video games played in the background, like he hadn’t even bothered to hit the pause button.
“Xan? Where’s Mom.”
“Asleep? It’s like, midnight. What’s going on?”
“Wake her up,” I demanded. “Nevin’s gone into labor and in case you haven’t noticed, we’re in the middle of a snowstorm. There’s no way I can get him to the hospital in time.”
The line fell silent. “Oh. Shit. Okay. Hold on.” I heard a thump, then hurried footsteps. “Mom. Mom, wake up. Kace needs you. Nevin’s having a baby.”
“When?” I heard her mumble, still half-asleep.
“Now!” I insisted.
“Now!” Xan said.
“Let me talk to him.” Xan must’ve handed the phone over, because a moment later, her voice came on the line, still groggy but more awake. “Kace? Is everything okay? Where is he?”
“He’s in bed. His water broke. He said he’s having contractions. I don’t know what to do,” I said, the sentences strung together on a line. “What do I do? We’re in the middle of a freaking blizzard! I can’t get him to the hospital.”
“I’m coming. I’ll be there soon,” she promised. “Hang tight. In the meantime, fill a bucket with hot water and gather as many towels and old blankets as you can find. Kace, I know you’re freaking out but we’re delivering a baby tonight, sweetheart, so I need you to take a deep breath and be strong for Nevin, okay?”
“Okay,” I uttered, my throat thick. “Thank you.”
“Kace!” cried Nevin from the bedroom, and I thrust my phone into my pocket and ran to be with my mate.
Mom arrived, having traversed the snowstorm in wolf form, about fifteen minutes later and immediately stepped into her role as Alpha, barking orders.
Together, we guided Nevin through labor on prayers that the birth was normal and there was no complications.
Thankfully, we got our wish.
Zechariah Lane Howell was born at half-past two in the morning, beautiful as anything I’d ever seen before, with thick dark hair and blue eyes and a wail on him that could shatter glass.
Holding baby Zee in my arms, still covered in blood and screaming like a little lamb as Mom cut the umbilical cord, I felt my heart nearly stop. He was perfect. Utterly perfect.
On the bed, Nevin began to sob. Mom took the baby to clean him up so I could comfort my Omega and move him out of the mess. Nevin clung to me, tears on his lashes.
“Shh, it’s okay. Everything’s okay. You did so good, baby. I’m so proud of you,” I whispered, kissing him atop his sweat-damp curls.
Mom brought the infant over, swaddled in a blanket, and Nevin gasped softly. He held out his arms, a little shaky, and Mom placed our newborn son right where he belonged. My heart squeezed, and Mom began to clean up the mess, leaving us alone.
“He’s beautiful, isn’t he, Nev?” I murmured. “Our little Zechariah.”
Nevin stroked his fingers through Zee’s hair, kissing the baby again and again. “He’s so perfect,” he whispered, sounding awestruck.
Bianca jumped up on the edge of the bed with a soft, “Mwrooow?” and sniffed at the air. Nevin leaned over and offered the baby to her. She flicked an ear and gently sniffed Zechariah’s hair. Her blue eyes were inquisitive and curious as ever.
“They’re gonna be fast friends, I just know it,” Nevin said with a smile. Then he looked at me. “You know… I wouldn’t mind having another in a year or two.”
I laughed. “Babe, you just gave birth. We’re in for sleepless nights and dirty diapers from here on out. Let’s give it a couple of months, alright? I love you.”
He beamed tiredly up at me. “I love you too, Kace. Forever and always.”
Howling Hearts
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I hope you enjoyed reading this book as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Thank you so much and happy reading!
Continue reading for a sneak-peak at the first chapter of sassy Xan’s story, Claiming Xan.