A hard thrum of agony went through me, making me wail. The contractions were worse than I imagined they would be, and I didn’t think I’d be having them so soon. I’d barely been pregnant for a month. I thought I’d have more time to prepare--more time to experiencebeingpregnant, of having morning sickness, and food cravings…
But as another swell of pain made me hiss, I thought maybe it was better this way, to get it over with quickly. It was already clear this wasn’t a normal pregnancy. This was some kind of cosmic, magical pregnancy, in which all four of my mates were involved.
And that’s why I need Noro here so badly.
A sharp cramp made me cry out and arch my back against the ground. I couldn’t believe this was happening here and now. I was giving birth in the gryphon’s territory, right in front of all of them. If I wasn’t in so much pain, I might have been embarrassed or humiliated.
But even in my agony, I recognized the awe and curiosity in their eyes. None of them seemed to want to listen to Blaze anymore. For the first time in their lives, they were seeing not just an omega, but an omega givingbirth.They were excited. Elated.
I realized suddenly that they wanted to support me, not bring me down. This was just as thrilling for them as it was for everyone else.
“Why aren’t you doing anything?” Blaze demanded of his pride. His voice was tinged with desperation.
Blaze’s voice was like an annoying fly in the background. Nobody replied to him.
“Go, Noro,” Blaze ordered hoarsely. “Go and catch him now while he’s weak. Make sure nobody--”
“Wait!”
I couldn’t turn my head to look beyond the crowd, but I knew that voice. A wave of relief hit me.
“Bastian?” I asked breathlessly.
The three of them came into view--Bastian, Torin, and the still-brainwashed Neil. I had to say, I really preferred him this way.
“Sorry,” Bastian said, panting, “we’re here now.”
Torin gasped. “Holy shit. Is Matheson having his baby right now?”
But everyone had turned to Bastian with a similar awe in their gazes. The musky, undeniable scent ofomegaand thick cloud of post-heat still clung to him.
“Bastian,” Tholan said, approaching him. “It’s true. You’re…”
“An omega,” Bastian announced proudly with a huge smile. “Yes.”
Torin put his arm around Bastian, beaming. “And if, uh, all goes well, then we’re expecting.”
“What?” Blaze roared.
His brain seemed to have short-circuited with all that was going on. He pushed passed Noro and scented the air around Bastian. I noticed Torin scowl at Blaze and hold Bastian--his mate--further from him, putting his body in between them protectively.
But even Blaze and all his anger couldn’t deny the omega scent wafting from Bastian. It was no trick, or magic, or spell. It was real.
Blaze quickly turned to Noro. “Change of plans,” he hissed. “An omega gryphon is much better than a wolf. Capture Bastian. Now.”
Something snapped behind Noro’s eyes. The light inside them flared, like a roaring flame, and he let out an indignant cry.
“No!”
He swatted Blaze hard across the face, sending the king stumbling to the side. Immediately some of the pride intervened, forming a ring around Blaze and keeping him away from Noro and the rest of us.
I smiled, despite the pain. When I reached out to Noro’s mind now, the barrier was completely gone. I knew I’d had some part in tearing down the wall with my own magic, but hearing Blaze order him to attack his own brother was the final straw.
Noro flared his wings defiantly and leapt over to me, then shifted into human form.
“Matheson,” he said, gasping. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay,” I said weakly. “I’m glad you finally broke the spell.”
