He shrugged. “Natural omega tenderness, Iguess.”
“No, it’s nothing to do with being an omega,” I said. “It has everything to do with how sweet and nurturingyouare,Charlie.”
He blushed, then put a bite of venison in his mouth inembarrassment.
“He’s the best daddy ever!” Caseyexclaimed.
“Cut it out, you two,” Charliemumbled.
“No!” Caseycried.
“Nope,” Isaid.
Charlie sighed and raised an eyebrow with a smile. “How did I get stuck with such an amazing, loving familyagain?”
“Because you deserve it,” I toldhim.
He smiled, warm and genuine. And I knew that he finally understood that hediddeserveit.
* * *
About a weekbefore the baby was due, the guys all came over for a surprise baby shower. Casey and I invited them during a hunt so that Charlie wouldn’t findout.
Poor Charlie was completely house-bound by this point. His belly had swollen to the point where it was difficult for him to move. I basically had to run and do everything for him, but I didn’t mind. With every day that we got closer to having another pup, the more fiercely protective I felt of him. He was my mate, and I was willing to drop everything and tend tohim.
Me and the guys - plus Casey - were all gathered outside. Charlie had a craving for “chicken fingers, but with duck instead”, so Casey and I left the house to go buy those for him. But now we all stood, gifts and food in hand, outside thedoor.
“Remember, don’t yellsurpriseor anything like that,” I told them. “We don’t want to scarehim.”
They allnodded.
“How close is he again? If I recall, he’s quite close to his delivery time,” Kensaid.
“He’s due in about a week,” I told him. “I know he’s healthy, but would you mind taking a look at him, just incase?”
Ken smiled gently. “Ofcourse.”
I sighed in relief. It was times like this where I was so grateful to have a doctor as a closefriend.
I knocked on the door briefly to announce my presence, then stepped inside. Charlie was curled up on the couch with a blanket over his knees and a huge hot chocolate in his hands. He smiled when he saw me. “Hi, Flint. Did you get my duck-chickenfingers?”
“Of course, babe,” I said. “And I got something else for you,too.”
He blinked curiously, then gasped as I stepped aside and revealed my friends. They all gathered inside, their arms full of packagedgifts.
“What is all this?” Charlie asked, his eyeswide.
“What kinda pregnancy would it be without a baby shower?” Jericho said with a huge grin. He immediately plopped down next to Charlie on the couch and thrust his gift towards him. “Here, open mine first. It’s the bestone.”
“You wish,” Tyson said, taking Charlie’s otherside.
“Alright, alright, one of you move so I can sit next to my mate,” Igrowled.
Tyson - being the youngest - scooted over to make room for me. The rest of my friends sat around the coffeetable.
“You guys,” Charlie murmured, his eyes brimming with tears. “You shouldn’thave.”
“C’mon now, don’t cry,” Jericho said. “This is a funoccasion.”
