It wasn’t until delivery day that I discovered he was actually Ron’s dad. And that he had a waitlist six months long but squeezed us in because my mate, at some point, had said something to his son that had them reconciling. I never asked what it was, but the details didn’t matter. It was just another reminder of the amazing alpha who had somehow picked me.
“So, what would you like to do now? Grab a car home, or are you up for the walk?”
“Hmm.” I considered. “We could stop for dinner on the way, and then maybe have some dessert when we get home.”
“Those tarts are calling to you.”
I leaned in close, lowering my voice so no one on the street would hear and whispered, “I was thinking you might be my dessert.”
The first time I heard him growl, I didn’t believe that was what it was. The second was when I already knew he was a bear, and it was interesting. This time, however, it was one of the sexiest things I’d ever heard. I wanted to skip dinner altogether and head straight for dessert, but my mate insisted we had to nourish me first. Silly mate, always looking out for what was best for me and our cub.
And by silly, I meant best. Mate. Ever.
Chapter Seventeen
Sothea
Something was wrong with my mate. Maybe not wrong, but off. I could feel it in my gut.
Ten more minutes, and this tattoo was complete.
Shit. I couldn’t wait ten more minutes.
“Greta,” I called out. Bunny Foo-Foo meowed at me for raising my voice. “Sorry, little one.”
“Yeah?” my sister-in-law called out.
“I’m almost finished with this, but can you call Altan?”
She came into my area, holding her phone. “What do you need me to tell him?”
“Ask him if he’s okay.” I bit my lip, needing to watch what I said in front of my human client. “I had a weird…instinct.”
“Gotcha.”
She disappeared into the back room and returned a few minutes later, pale. “He says he’s fine, but also that his back hurts, and it’s so bad he can’t sit down.”
Greta took over the client and while I wanted all my clients to love their tats, I didn’t have time to wait and see if he did. I rushed home to find Altan hunched over the sink, bracing his hands along the edge.
“Omega mine. Did your water break?”
He nodded. “A few minutes ago. In the bathroom. I thought I’d peed on myself. I’m going so frequently that I thought… I’m sorry, but I couldn’t clean it up.”
“It doesn’t matter. I’m calling the healer.”
I stood behind my mate, rubbing his back and getting moans of appreciation in return while the phone rang. I explained the situation and the healer instructed us to go right to the birthing center. “Let me grab your bag, and it’s time to go.”
Altan’s eyes widened in the mirror. “Right now?”
I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Yes. Your water has broken. Your contractions are coming on strong. We’re ready to have our baby. Well, you. You’re having our baby. I’m just here and absolutely helpless.”
He closed his eyes and inhaled and exhaled slowly, calming himself. “Okay. Bag. Car. Birthing Center. Baby. Easy peasy. We planned for this.”
I didn’t know about the easy part, but I nodded anyway. Not the time to argue with an omega about to give birth. I had to pick my battles.
“Two seconds.”
I was back with him, bag in hand, and helped him to the car, waddling the whole way. At the birthing center, the staff had me assist him in taking his clothes off and putting one of those sterile gowns on.
