Page 21 of Elusive Alpha
“I felt something happen through the bond. Did you…your water broke.”
“It did. I’m going to clean up while you get the bags and call the healer. We have time to make it to the birthing center. We have time.” That last line was to convince myself more than anyone.
Rook stood inside the bathroom while I quickly showered and changed into more pajamas. There was no reason to put on regular clothes since I would be taking them off soon.
I was toweling off when the first contraction hit. I thought I was prepared for the pain, but one of those had me questioning everything.
The ride to the birthing center was a blur of pain and breathing. Thank goodness Rook had insisted on birthing classes because that breathing was coming in handy as the contractions got more and more painful.
By the time we arrived, they were only a minute apart.
“How far apart?” Jingie asked once we got inside. I could barely walk, having to lean on Rook for support.
Rook answered all their questions and we were preregistered. I was in a room and surrounded by soft tones and soothing music in no time.
An exam later and it was almost time. I was fully dilated and ready to push. My bear confirmed we would soon greet our babies.
“I’m right here, mate. You can do this. You’re the strongest omega I know.”
I moved around the room. Lay on the bed. Bent over the bed. Swayed my hips, anything to find a position. My bear urged me to squat and so I did. He knew what to do. He wouldn’t encourage me to do anything that would hurt me or our cub. Neither would Rook or the healer, but my bear new best.
Rook got on the floor with me, encouraging me with his words and his presence.
A few pushes and a great deal of pain later, and one twin was born. A girl. Our next baby girl came with over a dozen more pushes but then, as I heard both of their cries, I knew it was all worth it.
The pain.
The worry.
“You did it, omega,” Rook said, kissing my forehead while the healer cleaned up our girls.
After everyone was cleaned up and settled, both of my babies were put into my arms as I lay on the bed. We named one Frankie, after Franklin, and one of them Maggie. Magda would say it was after her, but we really just liked the name. And, of course, she decided she was their godmother, and who were we to argue when they so clearly adored her.
Both of them were gorgeous and looked just like my alpha.
We were a family.
Chapter Twenty-One
Rook
My imagination had nothing on the reality of having twin baby girls. They were the cutest little ones ever, with dimples in their cheeks and smiles that made everyone who met them their admirers. I’d not had great luck making friends with the locals in the nearby town before my mate and the babies arrived, but now? I couldn’t walk down the street without being greeted, having someone ask about the family if they weren’t with me and come running up to smile at the little ones if they were.
Idris had a way with people, and, unlike me, not just in business. Part of my loneliness had been due to my inability to turn off my business persona, something I never noticed until my omega pointed it out to me. Yes, I’d ached for a mate and a family, but I’d also lacked community. Even though I’d been the boss in my company, I’d always felt close to my people, at least those I had occasion to speak with during the business day. And those I never met, like Idris, were still family and still to be given fair wages and benefits and good treatment.
When I moved to the mountain, I’d been so hopeful at first, but when I went into the stores, people were cool and polite. They treated me like the stranger I was.
Idris had saved me in so many ways. Every day, I saw more of them, and with the twins a few months old, it was time I showed him my gratitude. We’d spoken many times about his dreams of being in business for himself, but we’d been very focused since we discovered he was pregnant. On his health, getting to know one another, and of course on the babies.
Traditionally, if someone was going to be a stay-at-home dad, in the shifter world, it was expected to be the omega, butthis alpha had already achieved his career goals, and a certain omega was ready to start on his.
“It’s going to cost a fortune to start up,” he protested. “If we want to do it right.” Frankie fussed in his arms, and he bounced her, shushing her softly.
“We will do it right, and we have the funds available.” Our funds. There is no I in mate.
“I’d want to build near here, and staffing locally might be tough.”
“Start with those who were laid off with you, and go from there. Not one person who worked for me was anything but a superstar.” His business would be quite different than mine had been, but they deserved a chance to try if they wanted to. “And offer moving expenses.”
