“We are, but I’m still right!
“Whatever you say, Little Omega,” I grinned.
“Do—” Seb’s voice broke on a piercing scream as he bent over, clasping his stomach. I rushed toward him, wrapping my arms around him.
“What is it?! What is it, my love?” But I already knew what it was.
“The babies. They’re coming. Go tell… yournakedfriend… to put some clothes on and warm up some water.” Seb’s voice came out strained, and his body shook with pain. Without thinking, I lifted him into my arms and cradled him against my chest as I carried him inside the cabin.
“Hal! Hal!” I yelled. “Better put some clothes on, buddy!”
Chapter 23
Sebastian
Gus carried me inside the small cabin in his strong arms, and while the scent of my alpha was comforting, I was still terrified. When I realized I needed Gus with me for the birth, I hadn’t taken into account that I wouldn’t have my doctor there with me, or the comfort of my own bed. All I had thought about was getting to Gus, and I would never regret finding him. Just his presence alone was enough for me to feel settled, even with two babies coming. I could deal with a less comfortable bed and questionable towels, as long as I had my alpha.
“Hal, can you pull the covers down on my bed? I think we’ll need them for the babies,” Gus asked, walking further into the warm cabin.
I knew it!
“Sothisis Hal?” I questioned and even managed a glare as I was still smushed against Gus’ chest. I’d thought Gus had called Hal’s name outside, but with the return of the heavy rain and myface hidden against his chest, it hadn’t been completely obvious if he’d called outheyorHal.
Gus just sighed but ignored my question. I was allowed to be petty. Hal was a handsome man and had apparently slept naked with my Gus in the same cabin for years. At least I was the one with a bite mark on my ass. Hopefully, it would show when I gave birth. You could never truly mark your man enough, and I needed this Hal person to see I truly belonged to Gus, and that he’d better back off.
“Is a bucket of water enough?” Hal asked, placing a metal bucket into their fireplace.
Their cabin was small and simple, the only warmth in the room coming from the tiny fireplace.
“Maybe? I don’t know.” Gus looked at me questioningly, his eyes pooling with worry. His instinct to care for me had truly taken over, and protectiveness poured from his large body.
“We’ll start with one,” I said, hoping it would be enough. Another wave of pain hit, and I whimpered against Gus’ chest. “Please,” I pleaded, my eyes screwed shut in pain. I needed to lie down.
Gus seemed to understand my need, walking to his bed and gently placing me on the worn mattress. The pain subsided a few seconds later, giving me a brief pause before another wave hit.
“I need towels,” I ordered, needing everything ready before the pain returned. “Fabric, preferably clean linen, to wrap the babies in. Cold and warm water. A knife to cut them free of me.” Gus paled at that, then started to look a little green. “For the umbilical cords,” I assured him, and he nodded. The pain started again, so I breathed out the last and most important part, “And a green root for me to gnaw on.”
“Yeah,” Hal drawled. “We don’t really have towels or green roots here. Guess you’ll have to just use our bed covers and work your way through the pain. Or chew on Gus’ thumb.”
“What?!” I shrieked in horror. “You don’t have green roots?!” They were used for pain relief, as biting into them numbed the body and helped omegas give birth with less pain and more focus.
“Check the saddle!” Gus demanded, his hands clasped around mine, urging me to settle on the bed. I gave in and lay back, focusing on my breathing.
Hal returned a moment later, my sack of supplies in hand. “There were some in the bag. They smell awful. Here.” He handed me a green root with obvious disgust, and I hurried to grab it like a famished animal. “I’ll just put your horse away in the stables with Lord Willoughby’s and give her some fresh hay. The weather’s dreadful outside.”
“Thank you,” I gritted through another wave of pain.
“Let’s get you out of your wet clothes,” Gus suggested, his hands gentle as he stripped me down.
Gus stripped out of his clothes too, his own having been drenched in rainwater as well. He kneeled next to the bed and placed his duvet over me, shielding me from view and offering me some warmth.
“How long does it normally take before you need to push?” Gus asked.
“It differs,” I panted, a new wave rolling over me. “C-could be hours.”
“Hours?!” Hal exclaimed, like he was the one in pain here. He’d just returned and stood in the doorway, soaked through, looking slightly defeated. “So I guess I won’t be getting any more sleep? That’s just great!”
“It might be sooner,” I said, scowling at Hal as I led Gus’ hand under the covers. “Feel how stretched I am.”
