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So Bruiser announced, “Twice as a promise.”

They began the second lap, their hands clasped tightly together.

For a moment, Uriel looked into Bruiser’s eyes. It was incredible that they were doing this, the two of them, after the number of times Uriel had clashed with Bruiser, after they had yelled and fumed and sniped at each other. But Bruiser was also the alpha who had stuck by Uriel; he’d proven himself with the way he welcomed Uriel and Cassie into his life, the way he had built Uriel a nest and walked with Uriel through every step of his pregnancy.

It only intensified the feeling of rightness.

Then another contraction rocked through Uriel, and he snapped back to the urgency of their situation.

“We might have to move faster,” Uriel said.

“Fuck,” Bruiser muttered.

“That’s how we know it’s going to be an amazing ceremony,” Hunner said, blowing his nose. “Everyone starts swearing.”

Another contraction rolled in. Uriel stifled his gasp. “Come on, hurry!”

“I’m hurrying!” Bruiser said, watching Uriel’s feet. “Don’t forget to step on your circle.”

“I haven’t forgotten,” Uriel grumbled.

They took larger steps, making it to the end of the second lap just as Uriel went into another contraction.

“Sweetheart!” Bruiser squeaked.

“I’m fine,” Uriel panted, clutching his belly. “Just one more lap.”

“Okay,” Bruiser said shakily, staring at him. Then he straightened his shoulders and raised his voice. “Three times for a future well-told.”

The contractions were coming faster now. Two steps into their third lap, Uriel’s water broke.

“You jinxed us,” Uriel hissed.

Bruiser glanced at him, wide-eyed. “Did something happen?”

“My water broke!”

Panic flashed through Bruiser’s face. They were too deep into the bonding ceremony, and the only way out was forward. Uriel gritted his teeth, taking one determined step after another.

Bruiser kept checking Uriel’s hips. “Do you need to take off your pants?”

“I’m not planning on birthing in the Circle!”

Even as he said that, Uriel could feel their baby moving through his body. He took a larger step, then promptly regretted it when it felt as though their child might slide out of him.

He stuffed his free hand into his asscrack, all dignity forgotten.

Bruiser was staring at him with such huge eyes that Uriel thought the alpha’s eyes might fall out of his head.

“Walk!” Uriel snapped.

“I’m walking!” Bruiser said. Even then, he craned his neck to make sure Uriel was setting his foot down in the right places.

Ten steps from the finish line, the baby began to crown. In Uriel’s pants.

Uriel made a choked sound, waddling bow-legged and trying not to squish their baby. “Fuck! Oh gods, crap, damn it!”

“Words to welcome a baby,” Hunner said sagely.