Chapter 29 #2
“You can judge us when you actually have an omega,” Doc said dryly. Remington sulked.
Doc rubbed his hands over Ottis’ swollen belly, his pulse skipping at the heartbeat in there. These days, their baby wasn’t kicking as much; there was hardly any space left to move around. He scooped Ottis into his arms. “C’mon, let’s get to the Circle.”
The Circles of each flight were carved into different places in their ancestral homes. Some flights had theirs in a connected cave; some had theirs underground. Doc’s flight had their Circle in the middle of the mansion, in a high-ceilinged atrium encircled by three levels of rooms.
The Circle itself was carved into dark rock, worn smooth over the centuries.
It wasn’t just one circle, either. The Circle was actually a series of nine concentric circles, with Roman numerals marking the outermost circle like a clock.
Drawings and Latin words filled the spaces between the other circles, each of them as familiar to Doc as the back of his hand.
He set Ottis on his feet just outside the Circle, both of them barefoot. “Remember, keep one foot on your circle at all times. We’ll be holding hands, and we’ll do three laps around the Circle for the bonding to take.”
Ottis nodded. “I feel like I’m signing my life away.”
Then he groaned and added, “Why do I always say the worst things?!”
Doc laughed. “You haven’t tried to end our contract yet.”
“I guess I haven’t.” Ottis chewed his lip thoughtfully. “I like the idea of it going on forever.”
“Me too.”
By now, their friends and family had gathered around to watch the ceremony.
“Would you like a pickup line background song?” Hijinks offered, flipping through his little pink book. He found a page and perked up. Before Doc could stop him, Hijinks broke into song.
“Marry me, carry me
On your big alpha dick
It’s so veiny, it’s amazing
Your thick love stick
From this day onward
I will be your cum receptacle
You will fondle me with your jizz tentacle
Our love juices will make us one.”
The chords of the song echoed through the atrium, ringing in the stunned silence. Hijinks bowed.
Ottis buried his face in his hands. “We can’t tell this to the grandkids.”
“We’ll leave out this part,” Doc said with a huff. “Thanks, Jinks. Here, let’s get started.”
Ottis made a face and rubbed his belly, stepping gamely up to the Circle with Doc. Doc took the outermost circle, and Ottis moved into position on the next-largest circle.
Doc held his breath, looking at Ottis. “Ready?”
“Yeah.” Ottis gulped and nodded.
Doc raised his voice and announced, “Once for luck.”
His voice was sonorous in the atrium; the flames danced in their wall sconces.
They began walking. Doc held Ottis’ small hand, his heart thundering with every step they took.
After receiving the scars from the kraken, after all the people who had rejected him as a mate, Doc hadn’t foreseen this in his future. He had given up hope, resigned to living by himself in his lair.
And yet here Ottis was, limping along next to him, a little smile playing on his lips.
Ottis, who brightened his days with the most unexpected lines, who had shared his pup with Doc and was carrying Doc’s baby.
Ottis had a limp but he held his head high; he had left behind the terrors of his past to entrust Doc with his future.
“I really love you, you know,” Doc murmured, quiet enough that he was barely audible.
Ottis beamed. “I know. I’ve been blessed by Mother Moon.”
“And you have blessed me.”
Ottis’ blush sent warmth all the way to Doc’s toes.
They took each step together—smaller to accommodate Ottis’ shorter legs and pregnancy—and it felt as though everyone was watching them with bated breath.
The moment they completed the first lap, a light breeze picked up around them, and the circles glowed a faint blue.
Ottis tensed, holding his belly.
“Sweetheart?”
Ottis frowned. “Almost felt like... a contraction.”
A hushed gasp spread through the atrium. Doc narrowed his eyes. “You’re not due yet. And even if you were early, the chances of that happening...”
“Are not zero,” Ottis finished with another small gasp.
“... Fuck,” Doc whispered. “Do you want to keep going, or stop the ceremony?”
Ottis hesitated. He looked at the glowing circles, and at everyone gathered around. “Let’s keep going.”
“Alright.” Doc squeezed his hand. He raised his voice again and announced, “Twice as a promise.”
These words of ritual raised the hair on his skin. More so when Ottis lifted his chin and kept walking, one foot in front of the other, toes feeling for the grooves of his circle.
Two steps in, Ottis shuddered again, his hand squeezing tight around Doc’s. “Another contraction.”
“Fuck,” Doc muttered. “I don’t want to speed this up more than we should. Don’t want to make a mistake.”
“I’m fine,” Ottis grumbled. “We’ll just keep going. I’m just telling you about the contractions as they happen.”
“You’re doing good,” Doc said, lifting Ottis’ hand to press a kiss to his knuckles. Ottis smiled.
Halfway through the second lap, Ottis paused, clutching his belly. “Fuck. I think my water just broke.”
“Fuck,” Doc said.
“I think you jinxed yourself,” someone whispered.
Ottis groaned. “We’ll keep going.”
Doc breathed a sigh when they finished the second lap, and a stronger gust of wind picked up.
“Three times for a future well-told,” he announced, feeling the tingle of magic in his body. More quietly, he said to Ottis, “Last round.”
Ottis squeezed his hand, and they began the third lap.
The moment they took another step, Ottis gripped his hand tight. “I think... I think the pup’s coming.”
“Fuck,” Doc said, echoed by a few people.
“Do you think I can... hold it in?” Ottis blurted. “Like if I... shove my hand up my ass?”
Doc sighed. “You... could try. I can’t say I ever thought this would happen at my own bonding ceremony.”
Someone snickered. Ottis shoved his hand down the back of his pants, walking unsteadily on his circle. Doc had to guide him so he placed his foot down on the carved groove; Ottis’ attention was split between walking and their pup.
“I’m recording this on video,” Hijinks whispered loudly.
“Oh gods,” Doc muttered.
Five steps in, Ottis shuddered again, clutching Doc’s hand. “Pup’s coming. Fuck.”
Doc panicked a little. “Okay, get your pants off. Slide them down to your ankles, and step out of them.”
Luckily, it was a loose pair of pants. Ottis wriggled it off and stepped out of it, taking care to put his foot back on his circle. He made a face, though. They still had half the Circle to go.
“You can do it, sweetheart,” Doc said, kissing Ottis’ hand. “Just a few more steps, and we can get this birth going the normal way.”
Of course, Ottis’ body decided to push right then.
Ottis yelped. “I don’t think I can stop it!”
“Keep walking.” Doc leaned in, shoving his other hand between Ottis’ legs in case he had to catch the baby. “I feel like we’re in a fucking three-legged race.”
“This is a crazy bonding ceremony,” Ottis whined.
“I’m going to win the internet,” Hijinks said behind his phone. “Just among the Buttler Bros, not to worry.”
Doc kept guiding Ottis forward. Then he felt the wet crown of their baby’s head, and his heart almost beat out of his chest.
“What the fuck,” Ottis muttered. “What the fuck, what the fuck.”
He was walking unsteadily now, trying not to squish their child, at the same time trying to keep his feet on the Circle.
“You’re doing great,” Doc said, glancing at the Circle. “Just a little more to go.”
Ottis clung to Doc’s hand like it was a lifeline.
More of their baby emerged. Doc took another step, and another, glad for all the crazy things he had juggled as a doctor that made it possible for him to do this with a calm mind.
He was single-handedly guiding Ottis, supporting their baby, and keeping his own feet on the Circle too.
They made it to the end of the third lap. With a sigh of relief, Doc pulled Ottis to a stop.
All the circles glowed a bright blue, and some of the magic from Doc’s body surged into Ottis through their joined hands.
He felt... a little weaker. But that was part of the bonding ceremony; he was giving Ottis half his lifespan, so they could grow old together.
Ottis shivered, his eyes glowing gold for a moment. “Mates now,” he whispered.
“Mates,” Doc murmured.
They had all of three seconds to look into each other’s eyes.
Then Ottis cried out, going into another contraction. The rest of their baby slid out of him, and Doc had to support Ottis with one arm so he didn’t fall over. He caught their baby with his other arm, carefully cradling him.
“Hey,” Doc murmured. “Look at Franklin.”
Ottis looked immediately, reaching out for their baby. “Oh, he’s beautiful.”
He began licking their son clean; not Doc’s first instinct, but it was a wolf thing. Doc hugged them both loosely to give Ottis space, and also to move him somewhere more comfortable.
It was only when they’d gotten settled on a couch that Doc let himself admire Ottis and their newborn son. His heart swelled at the sight; Doc leaned in and pressed kisses all over Ottis’ face. “So proud of you, sweetheart.”
Ottis beamed, turning to show Doc their baby. Franklin was wailing. Around them, the wolves were howling their welcome. “He’s all blotchy and pink now, but he’ll look fine soon.”
Doc carefully took Franklin into his arms. He had held several newborns, but never his own. His heart skipped a beat as he cradled Franklin close, dropping a gentle kiss on his forehead. Maybe he cried a little.
When he looked up, he found Ottis smiling warmly.
“I’m glad you’re comfortable with us,” Ottis murmured, brushing his fingers over Doc’s bare face. “You’re amazing. And you were amazing back there, keeping me together when I was going nuts.”
Doc grinned, stealing a kiss off Ottis’ lips. “That’s what mates are for, right?”
“Of course,” Ottis said. “And to listen to all my terrible lines for the rest of my life.”
To be honest, Doc couldn’t think of anything better.