Page 172 of Omega's Flight
"Raleigh?"
"Yes?"
He could hear the satisfaction in the other shifter's voice. "Are you in labor?"
Raleigh let out a soft breath. "I am. There's time, but we should go home soon."
Cas got down on one knee, his hand still on Raleigh's belly as is slowly relaxed down to its usual shape. "Why are we here? For that matter, why were we moving tonight of all nights?"
Raleigh laughed. "Help me up, would you?" He held out his hands and groaned as Cas stood and pulled him to his feet. "I keep thinking I'll gain less weight with the next one, but by this point, I'm massive."
Cas ignored this attempt to avoid the topic. "I'm going to call Abel to come get us."
Raleigh put his hands on Cas's shoulders. "It's fine. We have time." He grinned and slipped in under one of Cas's arms. "Besides, if we take our time, they'll have everything put away for us before we ever get there."
Cas laughed, and even though he was worried about the baby coming and more than a little annoyed that Raleigh hadn't told him, it was hard to stay angry with his omega. "I knew I loved you for a reason, you devious genius." He kiss Raleigh, a little harder perhaps than he'd meant to but Raleigh— after his first twitch of surprise—met him with equal ferocity.
"I wish we could run as wolves together tonight," Raleigh whispered against Cas's lips when the kiss broke. "I'm sorry, I should have told you. I'm just... in a mood, I guess."
Cas sighed and took his hands and they stood together for a moment, the moonlight pouring down over them like silver mist. "I know this can't be easy, not after Isaac. And I'm probably jumpy because it's my first." He took a breath and decided to be completely honest. "And I think I'm a little resentful because you're the one who knows what you're doing and I'm realizing that I expected to be the confident one, being the alpha."
He felt Raleigh's fingers tighten on his.
"Thank you for telling me that," Raleigh said gravely. "If it helps, you hide it well." He stepped closer, until his belly pressed against Cas's. "I'm sorry if I made you feel left out."
"Not left out. Never that." Cas let go of his fingers and raised his hands to cup Raleigh's face. "And it's not you I resent."
"Oh?" Raleigh tipped his head to one side and stared at him, frowning. "Then who? It's not the baby's fault."
"No, not the baby either." Damn. Well, he'd decided on honesty, right? "I think it's Degan."
Raleigh burst out laughing and threw his arms around Cas. "You are the best, funniest alpha I've ever met and I love you. Take me home so we can have this baby."
"Sure." A thought occurred to Cas. "You don't...expect me to carry you there, do you?"
"What would you say if I did?" Raleigh asked, still giggling madly at his side. He took Cas's arm and started them walking in the direction of the house.
"I'd say, 'Abel, can you come pick us up?'" Cas told him, which only made Raleigh laugh harder.
"I'm glad I found you," Raleigh said. "And glad you were happy to have me."
"I believe Quin was glad to have me off his hands," Cas said meditatively. "Are you sure you don't want Abel to come with the truck?"
"There's still time, I think." Raleigh swayed against him and leaned his cheek on Cas's shoulder for a step. "I'll let you know if anything changes."
"That would be good." Still, his heart was racing with anticipation and with fear. "Don't try to protect me, okay?"
Raleigh paused a moment, then took a long step to catch up with Cas. "I didn't think I was." He stumbled into Cas's side. "Oh, sorry!"
Cas grabbed for him and carefully set him on his feet. "Are you certain the truck isn't a good idea?"
He waited as patiently as he could while Raleigh thought about it, and felt a wave of relief wash over him when Raleigh said, "Maybe." Then the omega grimaced. "Yeah, okay. You were right this time, alpha." But he waved a finger at Cas and laughed. "Don't let it go to your head."
"I'll try not to." Cas stole a kiss and put his arm around Raleigh's waist while he called Abel. "Besides, you'd just sick the omega pack on me anyway, and no alpha wants that."
"Damn right," Raleigh said, and grunted. "Tell him to hurry?"
Adrenaline sang in Cas's veins. "Abel?" he said when his brother answered. "Can you come get us? The baby's coming."
