Chapter Nineteen
Gatlin
Sebastian was fully Bastian today. He knew his daddy had a baby in his belly, and there was some natural animosity. My poor son. He had to share his daddy with me, and now, there was someone else to share his daddy as well.
Those feelings of his were manifesting into a little guy who was testing our boundaries.
“Sebastian, why aren’t you eating your lunch?
” I asked in a whisper voice since Shaw was taking a nap.
My mate had been so tired lately. Keeping up with a little one and being this far along in the pregnancy took its toll on him.
His parents were helping us as much as they could, but they also needed a break.
Between everything else, I’d been working twelve-to fourteen-hour days, trying to get the club where it needed to be before the opening in a few months. Once it was open, I would have more of a regular schedule but in the meantime, we were putting out fires left and right, in the club and at home.
“Why aren’t you eating your lunch?” I asked Bastian whose arms were crossed over his chest while giving me a stink eye I didn’t think little ones could muster.
“I want ice cream.” The gleam in his eye felt predatory. Part of me felt proud, but the other part, the dad part, didn’t like this one bit.
“You can’t have ice cream until tonight and only if you’ve eaten your meat and veggies.”
Shaw made sure he always ate the good stuff first, so this was my son seeing if I would buckle. I would not, for the record.
“I don’t want this. My tummy hurts for ice cream.”
“Your tummy hurts? Well, I think we need to go see the healer and get you some medicine, then. Tummies don’t hurt for ice cream, but sometimes they hurt because of too much ice cream.”
Our stare-off lasted only about ten seconds. I was his father, but in this house, I was also the alpha power. He could test all he wanted but, in the end, there was no challenge.
He ate his meat and veggies without another word.
“I knew you could do it. The wolf in your tummy needs meat to grow big and strong.”
That earned me a mini growl I’d wished I’d gotten on video.
We had cleaned up lunch when I felt a twinge in my chest. Something was happening with my mate, so I picked Sebastian up and rushed to the bedroom. “What is it?” I asked.
“My water just broke.” Shaw’s face was pale, and a sheen of sweat had broken out along his brow.
I put Sebastian on the bed and called Shaw’s parents. They knew the labor would be soon, so they’d rented an apartment in the city on a short-term lease to be near.
“Let’s get you in the shower,” I said, going over to my mate. “We know what to do. We have a plan, right? Everything is going to be okay.”
“What’s wrong with Daddy?” The question from our son got our attention.
Shaw turned to him and spoke. He was always direct with Sebastian. “The baby is coming. Remember what we talked about? Grammy and Pops are coming to pick you up while I have the baby.”
“But I want to stay here with you.”
Another crossing of the arms.
“But Gramps and Pops are gonna need you to be a big boy and help them. They are so excited about a new baby, and they need you to keep them strong and wait patiently.”
While I helped Shaw into the shower, Sebastian came into the bathroom. “Is Daddy gonna be okay?” he asked. His little chin quivered. There were so many changes happening all around him. It must’ve been tough for my cub sometimes.
“Come here.” I opened my arms and he jumped into them. “Daddy is gonna be just fine. He’s going to have your brother or sister just like he had you. He was fine after he had you, right?”
Our son nodded. “Daddy?” he asked, speaking to Shaw.
My omega stuck his head past the shower curtain and smiled even though I could feel the waves of anxiety and fear he had inside him. He was strong for our son. “I’m okay, buddy. I promise. My wolf knows what to do.”
Sebastian looked down at his tummy. “Okay.”
And that was that. Shaw’s parents arrived in minutes and so did the healer I’d texted. And one more person.
Shaw was pacing back and forth, dealing with the contractions that were becoming faster and faster.
Our second cub was coming, and this time, I got to be here for the miracle.