“Can't help it.” I threw up my hands. “Looking after your pregnant mate is instinct and love. It’s hardwired inside me.”
“Well, rewire it for an hour or two.” He grabbed his jacket. “We're going to be late.”
During the drive to the lodge, Indigo pointed out how different the land looked now that it was autumn. But his pleasure at studying the orange leaves vanished as he rubbed his lower back.
“You looking forward to meeting the other expectant parents?” I was trying to distract him.
“Yeah. It'll be nice to talk to other people going through this.” He glanced at me. “Though I'm guessing I'll be the only human.”
When we arrived at the lodge's community room, five other couples were sitting on mats in a large circle. All eyes turned to us as we entered. There was a mixture of curiosity and surprise that still sometimes greeted Indigo months after we mated.
Judy bounded over to us. She had the energy of someone half her age.
“Riven! And this must be Indigo. Welcome.” She hugged my mate. “We're so pleased you've joined us.”
“Thank you for having us.” Indigo gave Judy a shy smile
“Come, sit.” She guided us to a mat. “We were just about to begin.”
I helped Indigo to the floor. At almost full-term, it was hard for him to get down, and I’d brought cushions. The shifter omegas would have no problem squatting and bending. We definitely should have organized this class earlier.
“For our newcomers,” Judy began, “this class focuses on preparation for birth within shifter traditions. We cover practical techniques and the cultural aspects that you may wish to incorporate.”
“Cultural aspects?” my mate mouthed at me.
“Judy will explain.” I wasn’t a hundred percent certain what she was talking about because traditions varied from family to family.
“Today we're discussing the final-month preparations.” Judy moved to the center of the circle. “As you all know, the nesting instinct becomes quite strong in thisphase. Many couples find the den-building ritual helps channel this energy.”
Indigo had read about dens because he always had his nose in a shifter book.
“Mark, perhaps you could demonstrate the basic den configuration? You and Eric created a lovely one for your last cub.”
A burly alpha male stood, guiding his pregnant mate to a pile of blankets, pillows, and furs in the corner of the room. He arranged them in a circular pattern.
“The den should be enclosed with multiple layers for comfort.” Judy plumped the cushions in Mark’s den. “Traditionally, it's built in the quietest part of your home, away from pack activity.”
“We built ours in the walk-in closet,” Eric offered. “Lined it with cedar boughs for scent marking.”
Indigo tapped out a note on his phone.
“Next, we'll practice breathing techniques for labor,” Judy continued. “These help the omega remain calm and allow the alpha to support their mate through delivery.”
Another couple demonstrated according to Judy’s instructions. The breathing pattern started with loud pants, but ended in a melodic howl. Everyone joined in, even my mate, though he was off-key.
“This tonal range,” Judy explained, “helps stimulate the hormonal response and signals to the pack that birth is imminent, calling for support.”
Judy went around the circle getting each pair to practice individually. When it was our turn, Indigo breathed and howled. He was no longer off-keybut majestic. Goosebumps crawled over my skin, and everyone clapped.
Judy spoke about pushing techniques. “Again, howling may help. Draw on your beast’s strength to help bring your baby into the world.”
I jumped in and explained my mate would be having a C-section.
“That brings us to our next topic: delivery options. While most shifter births happen naturally, there are situations where medical intervention is preferred.”
The class continued with discussions of birth plans, pain management, both traditional herbs and modern medicine, and the role of pack members during and after delivery.
During a break, one of the omegas approached us with his mate. “It's wonderful you're here. My cousin married a human, but they moved away from pack territory and that was a shame. They and their children are missing out on so much.”
