9
David
Iwas makingbreakfast when it happened. A high, sharp cry of pain that nearly made me drop the frying pan. Quickly shutting off the heat and shoving the half-cooked eggs to the side, I rushed to the bedroom. All I could think of was the pain in my mate’svoice.
Niko was halfway on the bed - it looked like he’d been in the middle of getting up when the pain hit. Immediately I knew what was happening. I hurried to his side and helped him to his feet. In the months that we’d been back in Indigo Mountain, his belly had swollen considerably. In the past few weeks, it had been difficult for him toevenwalk.
“Are you alright?” Iasked.
He shook his head, gritting his teeth. I knew Niko wasn’t a pushover and his pain threshold was quite high - if he was saying he was in pain, there must have been alotof it. My heart achedforhim.
“Is it the baby?” Iasked.
This time he nodded with his eyes shut. “It hurts,David.”
“I know, honey,” I murmured. “I’ll get you to the hospitalrightnow.”
“No,” he said sharply. Confused, I waited for him to continue. It was clear that he was in so much pain that even speaking was difficult. Finally he pulled himself together and said in a weak voice, “IwantKen.”
I realized Niko wanted the familiarity and warmth of a close friend during his childbirth rather than a cold and clinical hospital visit. I nodded. “I’ll call himrightnow.”
Grabbing my cell in one hand, I grasped Niko’s hand with the other. He squeezed it hard along with thecontractions.
“Hello?” Ken’s voice came on theotherline.
“Niko’s in labor,” I saidquickly.
Without a moment’s hesitation, Ken said, “I’m on my way.” Then he hung up thephone.
“He’s coming, honey,” ItoldNiko.
He squeezed my hand a bit harder. “I want everyone elsehere,too.”
“It’s going to be crowded,” Iwarnedhim.
“I don’t care,” he muttered. “I want my baby to be born surrounded by the rest of our friends and family. It’s importanttome.”
He knew what he wanted and I couldn’t argue with that. Maybe having other omegas who’d experienced childbirth would be reassuring for him, too. I called up everybody and invited them over. Ken and Wesley were the first ones to arrive. Professional as always, Ken quickly set up his equipment and talked Niko through the steps. Wesley hung by Niko’s side as well, ready for any questions hemighthave.
“Did it hurt this much for you?” Niko asked Wesleybreathlessly.
“It does hurt,” Wesley admitted. “But once it’s over, you won’t even thinkaboutit.”
As they spoke, Ken pulled me totheside.
“David,” he began in a tone that instantly put me on guard. “Niko is healthy and I’m sure the baby will befine,but- “
“But what?” Igrowled.
He looked at me seriously. “Niko’s age is a concern. He’s older than any of the other omegas I’ve been with through births. And since this is his first birth, it might be more painful for him thanusual.”
Taking in this information, I frowned. I’d never considered Niko’s age as a factor before. It was true we didn’t have the same opportunity for raising children as the rest of our friends, but why did that mean my mate had to suffer? He’d already been through so much. It just wasn’t fair to him. I went to his side and strokedhishair.
“If there’s anything you need, tell me right away,”Isaid.
“I will,” Niko promised. He saw the expression on my face and frowned. “What’swrong?”
I sighed heavily. “Ken said you might experience more pain than normalbecause- “
