Page 42 of Guarding the Runaway Omega

“Yeah. This is it.”

Hawk entered the bedroom with his heart in his throat. Jasper was suffering through so much to have their baby that Hawk vowed he’d never ask him for another. He didn’t know how Jasper could stand the unrelenting labor pains. As it was, Hawk could barely stand to watch him go through it.

As Hawk approached the bed with soft steps, he clamped his lips shut so he wouldn’t cry out. An opening the size of an orange was where Jasper’s navel had once been. Or rather, Jasper’s navel was as wide as an orange. Either way, the sight was a startling one and he didn’t want to upset Jasper by displaying any shock. Elam sidled up to him.

“That’s perfectly normal, it was the same with me.”

Hawk regarded him and nodded, thankful that someone else had already gone through what Jasper was facing. To also know how Elam had birthed his child in the cold woods and under extreme duress, reminded Hawk how fortunate they were that Jasper could have their baby in a warm, comfortable bed.

They had so much to be grateful for.

“Oh…oh gods!”

Jasper raised his head, grimacing through what had to be an excruciating contraction. Hawk rushed to Jasper’s side and helped support him as he bore down. Hawk glanced Asha’s way, checking her reaction. She caught his eye.

“Almost, Hawk. Keep doing what you’re doing by keeping him upright and don’t fret over this little nick I have to make to get this baby’s head out.”

Nick?

Hawk braced his body against Jasper so his mate could rest against him and watched in morbid fascination as Asha made a small incision at the bottom of Jasper’s navel. He winced, waiting for Jasper to cry out from the pain, but Jasper didn’t seem to notice.

Asha kept massaging the edges of the opening and the scent of one of the many herbal mixtures she regularly used to rub on Jasper’s skin reached his nostrils. She gave him a smile.

“I’ll show you how to make this one too.”

Hawk had learned so many remedies and natural medicines from her that he’d been able to add to the ones he already knew from his mother and grandmother.

A low moan from Jasper built in intensity and he bared his teeth as he bore down again.

“That’s it, Jasper,” Asha encouraged. “Your baby is almost here, one more good push and—”

Hawk gasped as a tiny person slid from Jasper’s abdomen in one swift whoosh, Asha’s deft hands catching their now squalling baby.

Our little girl.

Jasper went limp in his arms and Hawk cradled him close, swiping his sweat-dampened hair back from his forehead. His brow creased at the sound of his baby’s cry and he gazed up at Hawk from half-open eyes.

“Which Terry did we have?”

Hawk grinned down at his perfect, amazing mate. “We have a girl Terri.”

Jasper gave him a feeble smile. “Sophie has a new BFF.”

Elam’s chuckle drew Hawk’s attention. “Sophie will love her. I can tell her two daddies already do.” Elam regarded Hawk. “Congratulations to you both. I’ll leave you to enjoy your new daughter.”

Jasper reached out to Elam and Elam took his hand. “Thanks for staying the night and talking me through this, for being here when she was born.”

“Call me anytime you have questions or just need to talk, okay?”

“I will. Thanks, Elam.”

Hawk extended his hand to Elam. “We really appreciate it. Tell Nic I probably won’t be by until a little later.”

Elam shook his head before letting go. “I’ll tell Nic you won’t be by at all, under my orders.”

Hawk arched his eyebrows. “Good luck with that.” He grinned. “But thanks.”

As soon as Elam left the room, Jasper turned his head toward Asha and they both watched in quiet wonder as she wiped down a squirming, crying Terri, then wrapped her in a blanket.