I didn’t wriggle as he lifted me into his arms and ran for the staircase. I felt dazed. Unlike my alpha, I wasn’t anxious. Weirdly, I didn’t feel worried at all. I was supernaturally focused, like I knew exactly what I had to do.
When we reached the bedroom, Viol placed me in the den we’d created. Pillows, blankets, and plush toys surrounded me. Wordlessly, I circled three times and curled on the floor. I restedmy chin on top of Wolfy, who was the most comforting plushie of all.
Viol looked like he was about to explode.
“Should I call for help? Should I get somebody?” he asked.
I wagged my tail, then shook my head.
Viol frowned. “You’re not talking. Why aren’t you talking? Is that normal?”
I licked Viol’s face to reassure him. He sighed as he continued to radiate stress.
“Six fucking times and I’m still not used to this,” he muttered, pushing his hair back.
When a knock came at the door, Viol leapt out of his skin. He ran and threw it open. Taylor, Rorik, and a sleepy-looking Alaric stood there holding a variety of items—a bowl of water, clean towels, and what appeared to be a bottle of wine.
“What’re you guys doing here?” Viol asked.
Alaric snorted as he pointed to Viol’s leather boots. “Well, you woke up half the household thumping your way upstairs a few minutes ago, so we assumed there was a commotion.”
“Poppy’s due. We put two and two together,” Taylor finished, then handed Viol the wine. “Here.”
“Poppy can’t drink this!” Viol exclaimed in a frenzy.
Rorik flashed a wry grin as he patted Viol on the shoulder. “It’s foryou, my friend. To ease your nerves.”
Alaric and Taylor stifled laughs behind him.
“I can’t fucking drink while my mate’s in labor,” Viol ranted, waving the wine bottle around. “Just—get in here, will you? All three of you. Hurry up!”
My friends walked calmly inside and sat beside my nest. My tail wagged upon their arrival.
“You okay, wolf?” Alaric asked. “Blink twice if that purple oaf’s hysterics are stressing you out.”
“I amnothysterical,” Viol shrieked.
Amused, I shook my head. As much as I loved spending time with my mate, I was glad my omega friends had arrived for moral support, too. Besides, if anyone was comforted by their arrival, it was probably Viol. They were the ones who had experience giving birth, after all.
“Oh, stop teasing the man, Alaric,” Taylor chided his fellow feline. “You know he’s only anxious because he cares.”
Viol pouted grumpily in the background. After a moment, he joined the omegas sitting by the nest, still clutching the unopened wine bottle like a baby soother. I wagged my tail even harder when Viol joined me.
But my tail went still as a wave of pain seized my midsection. I whined as I breathed through it. Expecting the pain didn’t make it easier to bear. But the temporary suffering would be worth it. I was the one responsible for bringing our baby into this world, and I wouldn’t let them down.
“Focus on the rhythm of your breathing,” Rorik suggested.
I couldn’t reply or even nod, but I tried his advice. It did help to concentrate on a single task.
The discomfort made me restless. I got up, circled three times, and sat down again only to retain the same fidgety energy. The egg was on the move; it poked and prodded me from awkward angles, making every position feel uncomfortable.
“Is this normal?” Viol asked the omegas under his breath.
“Pretty much,” Alaric confirmed.
Taylor and Rorik joined in with affirming nods.
When Viol didn’t look satisfied with that answer, Alaric rolled his eyes. “What, you think it’scomfortableto push an egg out of your ass?”
