Chapter Eight
Rafe
"Whose fucking idea was it to do this the natural way?" Colby snarled at me, his blue eyes glittering with pain.
"That would be you, baby," I reminded him, trying not to wince as he bore down with another contraction, his hand nearly crushing the bones in mine. "Are you sure you don't want the epidural? Doc said it wasn't too late, you know."
"No. Fucking. Drugs." Colby growled. "I'm not taking any chances this time."
"Baby, we've been over this. Leia being blind isn't your fault," I reminded him for at least the millionth time in nine months. "Doc is positive the drugs won't hurt the baby." In addition to hating the fact that my Omega was hurting so much, I felt really stupid referring to the new pup asthe baby,but Colby had been determined not to pick names or even learn the gender before he delivered. He'd insisted it was bad luck.
Another contraction tore through Colby's body and he ratcheted down on my hand again, this time making me grunt in pain. Before we could continue our conversation, a sharp knock came at the door.
"Come," I called out, relieved when it opened to admit Doc.
"How are you doing, son?" he asked in his trademark gentle tone as he lifted the light sheet that was covering Colby's abdomen.
"Hurts," Colby grunted out.
"I know," Doc said soothingly, "but you're just about there."
I forced myself not to wince when he tugged on the Omega opening and it gave beneath his touch. After all, it was nothing compared to his first delivery when Doc had literally sliced him open and lifted his insides out in front of me to save my mate and our baby.
"Alpha? You okay?" Colby's voice was rough with pain.
"Yeah, baby," I assured him, dashing tears from my eyes. "Sorry. I'm fine."
"He's doing great, Rafe," Doc assured me, correctly guessing what I was remembering. "This is a by-the-books delivery."
I nodded and laid my hand on my Omega's cheek. "I love you."
Colby's eyes softened and he turned his face, pressing a kiss to my palm. "I love you, too, Rafe."
"Well," Doc said with a grin, "as much as I hate to break up this love fest, I have someone here who wants to meet you."
"What?" Colby's eyes widened and his jaw dropped as we both stared at the tiny black puppy that Doc held cupped in his hands. "Already?"
Doc laughed, laying it carefully on Colby's chest and guiding one of his hands to hold him in place. "I can put him back, if you want?"
"Him?" Colby echoed, biting down on his bottom lip as tears filled his eyes. "Alpha, we have a son."
"We sure do," I agreed in awed amazement as the tiny bundle of fur on Colby's chest began to root for his nipple, not waiting to be cleaned off to start suckling voraciously. "And it looks like he's hungry."
Colby chuckled and then winced. "Puppy teeth are sharp," he explained to keep me from worrying.
Finished bandaging Colby's abdomen, Doc laughed and crossed to take a damp towel from the warmer. "He should shift soon." He wrapped the pup up, cleaning the birthing residue from the shiny black fur and then drying him before returning him to his carrier's chest, where he promptly latched onto the other nipple. "In the meantime, there's no harm in giving him a bottle, instead."
Colby shook his head emphatically. "No. He's fine." He ran his fingers over the soft fur and his eyes widened dramatically. "Rafe, look!"
Bending forward, I saw the tiniest outline of a silver heart at the base of his neck. I exhaled softly. "It's a mirror image of Leia's birthmark."
"Just on the other side," Colby murmured, reaching for my hand. He squeezed my fingers and I winced. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, fine," I lied.
Doc laughed and reached for my hand, prodding and twisting my fingers. "Minor fractures," he announced. "Nothing serious." In a flash he had my fingers braced on what looked like tongue depressors and wrapped with flexible tape. "They'll heal in no time."
Colby dropped his eyes guiltily. "Sorry, Alpha."
