Chapter Twenty-One
Evander
I knew my job. I’d read about it, watched videos, even practiced at the birthing classes we’d taken only two weeks before. And even without all that, an alpha grew up knowing their role. Be there. Be strong. Reassure the omega. Do. Not. Freak. Out.
It sounded easier than it turned out to be. I’d figured if my father did it and his father and all the other alphas, it must come naturally.
But nothing prepared me for seeing my omega in pain.
Every inch of me wanted to make it stop.
To take on the pain myself. We’d had a birth plan and had spent hours putting the bag together with his laboring outfit, postpartum clothes, all the little gadgets and devices that would help him feel better.
Snacks for us both, little straws of hydration powders that somehow made water better than water.
Instead, here we were, going from a regular appointment to the birthing room. And my omega, after just a comment or two of dismay, was handling everything like a champ, while I was ready to jump out the window.
Things were moving awfully fast, and I just wanted it to slow down, maybe to stop.
We’d thought we had a month more to get ready, but here we were.
Hudson labored on, his face tightening with each contraction, and then, out of nowhere, I knew what to do.
All the tricks and tips and techniques were very well and good, but I couldn’t stop this.
Our baby was on the way, and my omega was doing it alone.
He’d counted on me to help him, and what was I doing? Everything fell into place.
The healer told him to push.
I sat on the edge of the bed and took his hand. “You’ve got this, omega. Our little girl will be here in no time.”
“It’s hard,” he said from deep inside a contraction that had his whole body rigid except his belly that rippled ominously. “So hard.”
“But so worth it,” I soothed, squeezing his hand. “You’ve already done most of the work, and the baby is on her way. She’s going to be adorable, isn’t she?”
He nodded, doubling up. “Y-yes. So cute.”
“Push,” the midwife said. “Focus. Help him out, alpha.”
“Come on, omega. Put everything into it. Our daughter is ready to join us.”
He rose off the bed again, letting out a groan and squeezing his face into a grimace. “Ohhhh.”
“I can see the top of the head,” the midwife said.
Our daughter was right there, ready for us to meet her. “You’re doing great, Hudson. She’s almost here.”
He fell back, panting, but he didn’t get much rest because less than a minute later, the next contraction rolled in, and my omega was right back to pushing. But this time, he pushed her right out and into the waiting hands of the midwife.
Except…when the midwife held up the baby, I saw why. “Omega, I think the ultrasound lied. That little person has a very respectable set of boy parts.”
“Not Wendi, then?” He lay back, holding out grabby hands. “Is he well?”
“He’s fine.” She brought him and laid him on Hudson’s chest. “He just managed to hide his bits from us before. Shy. But he’s got all his fingers and toes, is breathing well, and after you have a moment together, we’ll have nurse clean him up and get him presentable. Do you have a boy name picked out?”
“Theo.” We hadn’t known what we were expecting for most of the pregnancy, so we’d picked both. “I think it suits him, don’t you, Hudson?”
He was stroking the fine hair on the baby’s head. “Yes. He’s a Theo for sure. Do you like your name, little one?”
“Did he answer you?” the nurse asked.
“No, but my wolf says he likes it.” Hudson cuddled the baby until they took him away for his cleanup and whatever else they did with tiny shifters. “Bring him right back?”
“We will.” The midwife looked up his body from where she remained at the foot of the bed. “But we have things to finish up here too.”
They were still working when the baby was ready, so I got my first chance to hold my son.
“Support his head,” the nurse warned while passing him into my waiting arms. “Here’s your father, little one.”
My hands shook as I accepted him but then brought him against my body and sat down in the chair by the window. “Look, Son. It’s beautiful out there, isn’t it? Not a perfect world, but there’s a whole lot to love about it.”
“Alpha, bring him back?” Hudson reached out. “I miss him.”
“We’re coming, aren’t we, Theo? Let’s go cuddle with your omega daddy.”
The nurse and midwife finished their work and left us alone in the room, just us and our surprise son. Not that we’d had long to think he was a girl, but it had me thinking that maybe there was one of those out there in the universe for us, too.
Just not right away.