Page 28 of Reeling for His Omega

And so much love. When I left home, brokenhearted and alone, I’d been determined to do the best I could with my life. I had a vague hope of a mate or partner, a job where I could make a decent living. And that would be enough.

But it didn’t have to be. Fate had other plans for me and for Eryx. Now, I had the best mate, a baby on the way, and a business that I loved too.

And gifts! A mountain of gifts piled on all the seats in the front row. I could barely make any of it out through tears of happiness and gratitude.

“Were you really surprised?” Plumber Jamie had been on the shower committee.

“Completely. How did you all keep it a secret?”

They told me all about it, speaking over one another, and the laughter rose to the high ceiling of the auditorium. After the baby came, this one was getting a mural…of today.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Eryx

I’d noticed some things over the past week. Joaquin was out of breath. Simple tasks made him have to stop and rest his hand on his back.

He said his hips were aching. Every night now.

Naps grew longer. Nesting was an everyday thing.

We’d worked together to make meals for the freezer and put things in place so that our first weeks with our little one would be as peaceful as possible. Maybe an impossible word with a newborn, peace, but I would try.

It was the least I could do. My mate was carrying and growing our child inside him. And he would go through the painful labor to bring him into this world. On top of that, as if that wasn’t enough, he would feed our child directly from his body.

And here I was…my addition to the process was like a snap of the fingers.

It made me feel useless. I’d never tell my omega that, but I would try my best to support as best I could. Other alphas in town had given me advice. Other omegas had talked to Joaquin. We’d gathered all the information and made the preparations.

“Eryx.” My name on my mate’s lips drew my attention from my worrying.

“I’m here,” I said from the kitchen where I inspected the freezer, considering adding more meals.

“It’s time.” He said the words so calmly. It’s time. I’m awake. It’s four o’clock. I turned to look at him and realized his tone was the only thing calm about him. His pants were soaked with what I assumed meant his water broke. His face was pale. Hands were shaking. Eyes wide with fear. The scent of all of it nearly knocked me over.

“Joaquin…” Nothing. “Omega mine.” His gaze snapped to me and we held it for a moment. “Let’s get you into the shower and then get our bags and go to the birthing center. We planned for this. We’ve gone over the plan. I swear everything is going to be okay.”

“Help me, alpha. I know the plan but right now I can’t move.”

Sweet omega. I reached him in seconds and we went through the motions. I never stopped talking to him while he stayed silent. That was his way. His silence spoke volumes to me and always had.

And who could blame him. He was in the process of bringing a life into this world through his body. I’d be screaming.

With Joaquin dressed, I started the car and helped him in before running, sprinting, back to the house and gathered all of our things. We had the bags packed for weeks.

It was all going to plan…until it wasn’t.

“You have to stop,” he said and I pressed on the brakes, reacting to the sheer terror in his voice. “This baby isn’t waiting for the birthing center. He’s coming. Now.”

“We’re…” On a road right in front of the thrift store. Only a block from the theater. I checked the time. It was still closed. For a few hours. “Two minutes, omega. I swear it.”

“I…the movies? You’re taking me to the movies?”

I got out and rushed to his side. His contractions were coming every minute, and we barely made it into the back door when the first urge to push swallowed him. He cried out and got on his knees.

We had provisions. Joaquin’s naps had become so necessary that we’d put a cot and lots of blankets and pillows in the back office about a month ago, and thank the goddess, I hadn’t removed them.

Our baby was about to be born in this place we built together.