Page 42 of Labor of Love

“You look good together.” His cheeks heating, Shiloh hurried from the room.I’ll be telling him he’s handsome next. Get a grip.But his soul felt a flicker of hope that things in his life might finally improve as he found the closest bathroom.

4

You look good together.Corbyn smiled as his new mate hurried away – Shiloh only looked back twice before disappearing down the hallway.He’s going to be super protective for a while until he can trust me.Corbyn hated that Shiloh had clearly been through so much. His casual reference about the original Nora, his strong determination that the new Nora was a child he would never give up. Corbyn wondered about the other half of the genetics in sweet Nora’s body – not that he could see anything obvious.I’m sure I don’t need to know.

Corbyn lived an entitled lifestyle, but that didn’t mean he’d ignored what happened in the darker underbelly of a society where omegas were often seen as nothing more than baby making machines. In theory, omegas were meant to be cherished and looked after by their parents until a mate came along. Even then that alpha would be checked, verified, and some parents even asked for references before the alpha could get a date with his new mate.

Matings were a time of celebration for everyone concerned, with gifts exchanged and the alpha warned, usually repeatedly, what might happen if harm came to the omega.It looks likewe’ve skipped a few steps, little one,Corbyn thought, brushing a gentle finger down Nora’s nose.That doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate because we can.Corbyn wasn’t sure Shiloh had anyone else in his life to celebrate with them, but that didn’t matter.

Speaking of celebration, Corbyn felt his phone vibrate against his leg. Taking care not to dislodge Nora, he fished it out, expecting to see his mother’s name on the screen, but it was Jordan.

“What’s up,” Corbyn said, keeping his voice low as he answered the call.

“That’s something I should be asking you.” Corbyn winced. Jordan wasn’t being quiet. “What the hell, bro? I sent you into a facility, thinking you could spread some of the Stone millions on a project doing some genuine good for Omega Rescues, and you turn around and buy the place? Why?”

“Because you were misinformed.” Keeping his voice low, Corbyn explained about the policies requiring a rescue omega to sign away the rights to their child, and the differences between accommodations offered traditional omegas accompanied by an alpha, and what Shiloh’s room looked like.

“They were threatening him,” he hissed. “The baby’s head was crowning, and some pushy nurse was still trying to get him to sign away the rights to his child. Peters blatantly told me that the omega is then kicked out of the place within hours of giving birth. No support, just some lame assistance package, which turned out to be a night in a cheap motel and a food voucher. That was it. I’ve never been so disgusted in my life.”

“Shit.” Jordan whistled. “I’m guessing I know where those babies are going, too. Murphy was going over the last company audit for that place. You know what he’s like. He wants to check we’re not throwing money away. But there have been large sums of money being paid to the facility for no apparent reason. I’ll gethim to check the dates, but I’m almost certain those payments started appearing soon after the facility took over the Omega Rescue contract.”

“Peters pretty much came out and said if it was legal to sell babies the facility would make a fortune. The rescue omegas weren’t given a choice at all. I know it’s law, but the facility absolutely refused to let an omega leave the facility with their own baby, unless an alpha was present. Because Shiloh refused to sign, he wasn’t given any pain relief. Hell, he didn’t even have a blanket to cover his nakedness, and his room was as bare as he was.”

“I’m sure you made sure his situation improved rapidly. Did the child deliver successfully?”

“A little girl.” Corbyn looked down to see the baby had her eyes open. “We’re calling her Nora. She’s beautiful.”

“We’re? Are you taking things a little bit too far?” Jordan sounded curious more than anything else, and Corbyn realized that with all the changes he wanted to make for Shiloh, and to the facility, he’d ignored one key item of importance.

“Tell mom to get out the big roasting pan and fix all the trimmings, because we’re celebrating,” he said firmly, as he smiled at the little girl. “Shiloh is my mate, and Nora is our new daughter. Congratulations. You just became an Uncle.”

There was a moment of stunned silence, and then Corbyn had to pull the phone away from his ear as Jordan whooped loudly. “That is the best news I’ve heard today. Huge congratulations to you both, but I can’t believe you’re leaving me to break the news to Mom. You know she’s going to want to bop your ears for you when she finds out she wasn’t told first.”

“I’ll make sure I’m holding the baby.” Corbyn chuckled. “I’m sure that will be all the diversion me and Shiloh will need. But speaking of the celebration, can you ask mom to make it tomorrow night? We’re going to check out of here shortly. I justwant to make sure Shiloh and Nora are both fit for travel, and then…” He broke off as Nora started to wail.

“Correction. Feed Nora, then get them checked out. We’ll be at my place tonight. I don’t want Shiloh to get overwhelmed and he likely needs to sleep. But we’ll come over to the family house tomorrow. Later.” Clicking off the call, he threw his phone on the bed as Shiloh came running in, half dressed, his hair still dripping.

“I heard crying. Is Nora all right?”

“I’m sure she’s an alpha,” Corbyn said, still grinning widely. “She’s just letting us know she wants to be fed. Did you want me to arrange a bottle, or…?” He tried not to look at Shiloh’s chest. His mate’s nipples were very prominent and red, but the rest of Shiloh was so very thin.

“I don’t know if I can feed her myself.” Shiloh covered his chest with his arm and looked ready to cry. Corbyn hated to see it. “I’ve… my milk has come in so many times and never been used, and it was so painful, and yet now… what if it doesn’t work anymore?”

“Clearly, I don’t know about these things,” Corbyn said gently, getting up and putting Miss Nora onto his shoulder as he went over and closed the door to their room. “My mom always said that the body is an amazing tool, and can do amazing things if we allow it. Pop up onto the bed, and we’ll get Nora comfortable in your arms, and let nature take its course, shall we?”

“You promise you’ll run and get a bottle immediately if this doesn’t work?” Shiloh asked, climbing onto the bed. “I don’t want her distressed. It’s not her fault that I…”

“No negative self-talk.” Corbyn made sure to soften his tone. “Everything that has ever happened to either one of us in our life before has brought us to this point. I’m just so glad that we’rein this together. Now take this demanding little one, and try to relax.”

Corbyn could see the relaxing part was going to be the issue. Taking a chance, seeing as Shiloh was sitting in the middle of the bed, he climbed up behind him, his legs spread on either side of Shiloh’s butt. “Lean back on me slightly,” he urged. “Match your breathing with mine. Then point Miss Nora’s mouth in the general direction and…”

Trying to keep his own breathing even, Corbyn watched as Shiloh did as he suggested. It only took a moment. Miss Nora was a natural and Shiloh’s look of joy when she started sucking was beautiful. “She did it,” Shiloh said, flicking a quick glance over his shoulder. “Oh, but that feels weird.”

“If it’s painful…?”

“No. Just a weird feeling. I never dreamed… I never believed… thank you for making this possible.”

Wiping the tears from Shiloh’s cheeks with his thumb, Corbyn felt something warm settle deep inside of him. He didn’t have a feeding kink, like he knew a few of his alpha friends enjoyed, but he couldn’t deny that providing the safety and comfort to their mate while Shiloh tended to their child was deeply satisfying for both alpha and wolf.

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