19
Dante
“You thinkthat’s enough stuffed animals, dad?” I asked, half sighing and half grinning as I watched my alpha-father place another comically large teddy-bear into the crib corner. We were making final adjustments to the nursery, since the baby was due any day now. Gabe’s belly was uncomfortably swollen - well, uncomfortable to him, at least. To me, he just lookedplainsexy.
“You can never have too many,” my dad said with a smile, his eyes crinkling. “Right,Gabriel?”
“Well… Maybe move that one aside so you can actually see the sheets in the crib,”Gabesaid.
My dad frowned, embarrassed, and moved the bear aside to one of the seats beneath the window. “Right.”
“Unlike Dante, I do actually like the stuffed animals, though,” Gabe admitted. “I really like this one inparticular.”
He picked up a black dragon plush with faded fabric. I gasped. Instantly, I recognized it as a toy from mychildhood.
“Dad, is that…?” I asked, going toGabe’sside.
“Yes. That was yours, when you were a young boy,” my dadanswered.
“Is it supposed to look like your dragon form?” Gabeasked.
“Good eye,” dad said. “His other dad had it specially made for Dante when he was achild.”
My throat tightened. My omega-father had commissioned that plush for me, ages ago. Gabriel handed it to me. “Dad… Where did you evenfindthis?”
“Oh, I was just going through your childhood things to see if we could repurpose anything for your baby,” he said. “Do youlikeit?”
“Of course!” I said, wiping a tear from my eye. “It’s just turning me into a damnemotionalmess.”
Gabe laughed and nudged me. “I’m the one who’s supposed to be hormonal,notyou.”
“I can’t help myself. My dad’s over here trying to makemecry.”
“Sorry.” Dad chuckled. “Here, let me get your mind off that. I have something for the twoofyou.”
“For us?” Gabe asked. My dad approached him and gestured for him to hold outhishand.
I raised a brow. “Is it another giantteddybear?”
“No, but I have plenty more of those if youdowant one,” dad replied. “Dante, you too. Hold outyourhand.”
Curiously, I extended my palm and placed it next to Gabriel’s outstretched hand so our pinky fingers were touching. My dad reached into his pocket, then placed the object in our hands. It was a crystallized pure white ravenfeather.
“Oh, it’s beautiful!”Gabrielsaid.
“Do you know what it stands for?” I askedmymate.
“No… I thought it was just pretty.” He laughed. “What doesitmean?”
“It’s a symbol of union,” dad explained. “It’s just an old tradition in Cinderhollow. The white raven feather represents how rare it is for two fated mates to find each other, and it’s crystallized to symbolize the unbreakable bond betweenthosetwo.”
Gabriel made a tiny whimper and he looked like he was about to burst into tears. I put my arm around him and kissed his head. “C’mon,don’tcry.”
He groaned. “I can’t help it. I’m a hormonal pregnantomega!”
I clapped him gently on the back. “It’s okay. Do you need anything, by the way? You’ve been standing up for awhilenow.”
Gabriel’s six months of pregnancy were over and he was due any day now. Any longer and I would start worrying about the baby, but as Dr. Lynden told us at a check up, the baby would be ready when it wasready.
