Oh, my sweet Bug was hurting.
I opened the door, pulled him into my arms, and led him to the living room, where he promptly curled up on my lap—awkward with his pregnant belly.
I was there for him though. I’d hold him until his mates arrived and he wanted them instead. Then I’d go with him to the birthing center, because he’d asked me to be there.
Except when Linden, Brendan, Alonzo, and Zane arrived, Ryan didn’t want to go to them.
There wasn’t as much hurt in their eyes, as resignation.
They’d expected their mate to cling to me—his cousin—rather than seek comfort with them. They gave me a speech about how Ryan’s therapist had told them that it would likely be like this.
But they shouldn’t have needed to have that discussion. They wanted him to go to them. And… I did too. Seeking comfort in his mates was what Ryan needed to do.
It hurt, but it was selfish of me to try to remain his person. He had four other wonderful men in his life who loved him.
It was time to cut the cord. I could still be there for Ryan, but his mates needed him too. I was occupying a space in their relationship that should have been filled by them.
Even as I murmured soothing words to Ryan, I knew that it would be one of the last times I could allow myself to be his protector and safe space.
I would always be there for him, but so would his mates. He had to learn to go to them.
I clung tight as Ryan slept fitfully in my arms, resting as much as he could around the contractions.
I would miss this, but the time had come and it needed to happen.
∞∞∞
It was sometime before dawn, and soft snores filled Ryan’s room at the birthing center. However, his weren’t among them.
I cracked my eyes open and saw him staring down at his newborn, lit by the glow of a bedside lamp. He brushed a lock of hair from the baby’s forehead.
“Raphael,” he whispered.
“Like an angel,” I replied, also whispering so that I didn’t wake his mates.
He turned, a surprised expression on his face. I got up and walked over.
“Hey,” he murmured, “I didn’t mean to wake you.”
I kissed his forehead. “I’m going to head out.”
“But it’s still dark.”
“Exactly.”
He cocked his head to one side and gave me a confused look.
I sat at the edge of the bed and squeezed his leg. “It’s a new day for you, Bug. You, your son, and your mates deserve to start it as a single family unit. I’ll always be here, you know that. But for this morning at least…” I paused. “This morning is about the next chapter in your life. You’ve found yourself some good men, and I shouldn’t intrude any longer.”
I laughed as he frowned.
“I’ll call you later,” I said. “Let me know when you’re all back home and I’ll bring over some pizza. You know I’ll need some snuggle time with my Mini-Bug, and that’ll give you all a chance to eat.”
“We have a nanny…” he protested.
I pressed a finger to his lips. “And you have me, you’ll always have me. But I have to take on a new role now: the fun uncle who sometimes cuddles Papa.”
“Uncle?”
