Page 19 of Aliens Snared My Heart (Awakened Womb #3)

19 / Paz

Being pregnant was the most beautiful feeling in the world—and at the same time, the most fucking annoying.

I couldn’t bend over. I could barely move or sit down. I relied on Kur’tok, my friends, and the villagers for absolutely everything. Not that they minded. All of them—especially Kur’tok—jumped at the opportunity to help my pregnant ass. It was nice being doted on, I had to admit. But I also missed being able to grab a fallen object from the floor all by myself.

Like right now.

The stupid potato threw itself from my basket. I swear it was on purpose. I glared at the damned thing rolling around on the floor. I was supposed to meet Jaeyoung in his den to help cook tonight’s meal, but now I was trapped in a life-or-death struggle with a freaking potato.

Okay, maybe it wasn’t that serious. But seeing as “bring potatoes to his place” was my only task, I was already failing miserably.

The worst part was that Kur’tok had left five minutes ago to fetch some onion-type things from the communal garden, so I was stuck struggling alone. It was embarrassing.

I sighed, staring at the stubborn tuber at my feet. It was barely visible over the huge swell of my belly, but I sure as hell wasn’t letting it escape.

“Listen,” I said in a low, scolding voice. “If you’d just stayed in the basket, we could’ve avoided this whole mess. But no, you had to go and fling yourself onto the floor. Happy now? Are you satisfied with your decisions, you dumbass potato?”

The potato remained silent. In shame.

“Now, I’m gonna bend over really slow,” I warned it. “You’re not gonna move. You’re gonna stay still so I can grab you and put you back in the fucking basket. Okay?”

Levi snorted loudly from the doorway. He stood there with a grin. “Wow. Is that how they taught you to talk in diplomacy school? So eloquent.”

I shifted my glare from the potato to my ex-captain. “Instead of standing there, why don’t you help a pregnant guy out? Huh?”

Levi crossed the room, bent down, and picked up the problematic potato with ease. He examined it as if it were alive and purposely bothering me. “Paz, I’m worried about you,” he said in mock concern. “You’re berating innocent potatoes.”

“Just put the stupid thing in the basket, okay?”

He grinned. “Now you sound like Kur’tok.”

Before I bit his head off like Kur’tok would have done, he plopped the offending potato into my basket. I sighed, feeling bad for snapping at him.

“Thanks,” I said. “Sorry. Being pregnant—”

“Sucks and is annoying, I know,” Levi supplied, unusually sympathetic. He glanced at my overly large belly. “You look ready to burst.”

“Like the hull of a crashed ship?” I teased.

Levi made a sour face. “Watch it, or I’ll throw all your potatoes on the floor.”

“You wouldn’t dare mess with a pregnant man’s potatoes.”

“Try me.”

“What are you two arguing about in here?” Kur’tok grumbled.

He strode into the den with Zat’tor at his side. The two had become good buddies since Kur’tok’s return to the village. The big, buff Maeleons were like two peas in a pod.

“Nothing,” I said angelically.

Kur’tok planted a gruff kiss on my head. “You’d better not be. We have things to do.”

Zat’tor proudly showed off the basket full of pink onions. “Look, Levi! We had a surplus.”

Levi melted whenever Zat’tor spoke to him. He instantly forgot about his dark potato schemes. “Oh, they look amazing, Zat’tor.” He sighed wistfully. “You’re so good at picking onions.”

I snorted. He’d praise his filum for anything. But now that I had one of my own, I understood the sentiment. Our sexy, strong alien mates could do no wrong in our eyes.

Kur’tok placed a large, warm hand on my upper back. “How do you feel?”

“Bloated and huge,” I admitted, flashing him a smile. “But otherwise, great.”

He grunted, then reached for my basket with his tentacles. “Let me carry that for you.”

I yanked it out of his reach. “No way! This is my task, and I intend on fulfilling it.”

Kur’tok scowl-pouted. He always wanted to do everything for me, to ensure I was 100% comfortable at all times. It was super sweet, but sometimes a guy wanted to do something.

“Fine,” he conceded. “Then let’s go before your frail flesh-bag arms get tired.”

Our group headed over to Jaeyoung and Linn’ar’s den, where the pair had prepared quite a bit of food. How they managed to do that while two younglings ran around causing mayhem, I hadn’t a clue. Dai’zee—Levi and Zat’tor’s daughter—tried to grab a spatula from the counter, while Kii’ran did everything in their power to shove a carrot up their nose.

Since Jaeyoung and Linn’ar were busy and didn’t notice, Kur’tok intervened. He gently pried the carrot away from their face and tossed the now-soiled carrot out the door. He picked up Kii’ran, who looked tiny in his massive, buff arms.

“We don’t put food up our nose,” he instructed gently. Whenever he spoke to kids, his voice softened. It was freaking adorable.

Kii’ran blinked, then reached for the potatoes in my basket. I gave them the offending potato from earlier. Their green face lit up as they gnawed on it.

“Our little secret,” I whispered with a grin.

“Hey. We’re back with the rest of the ingredients,” Levi announced. “Are you two ready?”

“Bring them here,” Jaeyoung ordered, stirring the pot in front of him. Linn’ar daintily wiped the sweat off his forehead like a nurse assisting a doctor—which was mostly true. “You can cut up the potatoes and onions. Just make sure the kids don’t try to steal your knife. They’re bored out of their minds.”

Just as he spoke, Dai’zee managed to snatch a wooden spatula off the counter. Her dad Zat’tor darted forward like lightning, grabbing the spatula away from her before it was used for any mischief. She opened her mouth to complain before Zat’tor scooped her up and tickled her, making her burst into laughter.

“How about I cut up the veggies, and everyone else babysits outside?” Levi suggested.

Jaeyoung’s stirring paused. He slowly glanced over his shoulder, arching a brow at his ex-captain. Before he could open his mouth, Levi rolled his eyes.

“Guys, I’m a grown-ass man with a kid, I am fully capable of helping in the kitchen,” he complained.

“I’m sure you are,” Jaeyoung said. “But you’re holding the knife backwards.”

Levi frowned, then noticed his mistake and flipped it around.

We silently prayed for Levi, then left him to his duties and slipped outside the den. The air smelled fresh and sweet. Every day, the scent got stronger, and easier to notice. I even heard quiet whispers on the wind, coming from nobody in particular, yet my gut said they belonged to the flowers and plants surrounding us. I felt like I was becoming part of the planet itself. Was it because Kur’tok had impregnated me and changed my DNA?

“So, Paz,” Zat’tor said in his deep voice, “do you feel ready for a youngling of your own?”

I shook off the sudden whimsical feeling, then faced him. He wrestled the two kids playfully, letting them dangle off his arms like a pair of monkeys.

“Yeah,” I said confidently. “Honestly, I’ve felt ready since I saw Dai’zee.”

Zat’tor’s eyes shone with pride. “You seemed ready,” he agreed. “You just hadn’t found your filum yet.”

Kur’tok’s feelers wriggled. He was embarrassed and flustered. “Right. Because I was out in the wilds, acting like a fool.”

I nudged him lightheartedly. “Hey, we all have our moments.”

The corner of his lip curled into a smirk. “I’m glad that particular moment is over.”

He leaned down to kiss my temple. His touch felt unusually soft and tender. I shuddered with happiness. Contentment spread over my body like warm sunshine.

The only way today could get better was if I finally gave birth.

The long outdoor table for tonight’s feast was full. A spread of fruit appetizers was laid out before us as we waited for the main course. Except for the cooks, the whole village was present—even Assistant 23, who’d been shy and squirrelly since joining us. He squeezed onto the bench beside me, careful to leave a few inches for my comfort. He yelped quietly when a big purple Maeleon plopped into the seat on his other side. Turning to me, Assistant 23 cleared his throat.

“Y-you got big fast, huh?” he said.

I reached for an orange squash from the center. “Yup. Maeleon-on-human pregnancies are super quick. Don’t ask me why, ‘cause I’m not a scientist. I just talk to people.”

Kur’tok noticed my reach and grabbed the squash, placing it on my plate. He cut it into little pieces while I chatted away.

“Oh, thanks, Kur’tok—anyway, as I was saying, I’m due any day now,” I continued.

Assistant 23 turned his face shield towards my swollen belly. He hadn’t removed his hazmat outfit, despite our best persuasive efforts. But there was no point in pressuring him. Let him do whatever made him comfortable. He’d come around eventually.

“And you’re... going to... push it out of you?” Assistant 23 asked.

I took a bite of squash. It tasted sweet and sour, like a gummy candy. “Seeing as I can’t teleport it out of my body, yeah.”

I couldn’t see Assistant 23’s face, but I imagined that he looked both fascinated and terrified.

“By the way, Assistant 23 is kind of a mouthful,” I said through another bite of squash. “Do you have a different name you’d rather be called?”

He paused. “No.” Another pause. “Um... Not right now, anyway.”

I shrugged casually. It was no big deal to me what name he went by.

“Okay. Hey, why haven’t you started eating yet?” I asked. Come to think of it, I hadn’t seen him eat in the two weeks he’d been in the village. Had he been taking food and eating it in private so nobody could see beneath his suit?

“R-right.” Assistant 23 grunted softly and reached for a few fruits from the center. The big purple Maeleon beside him noticed him struggling and tossed a pile of food onto his plate. “O-oh. Um, thank you...”

Was it my imagination, or did Assistant 23 seem a bit flustered when the Maeleon flashed him a smile?

“Hey, Paz!” Levi sat across from me with a grin.

Jaeyoung and Linn’ar joined him, with Zat’tor and the kids close behind. It was nice to have everybody together.

“Hope you and the baby are hungry,” Levi went on. “I cut up so many potatoes. And before anyone asks, no , there wasn’t a single knife injury involved.”

“Shockingly,” Jaeyoung teased.

“Oh, shut up, doc.”

When the scent of hearty veggie stew floated over to my nose, I nearly moaned in anticipation. As if he wasn’t talented enough, Jaeyoung had become quite an amazing cook.

“Let me get it for you,” Kur’tok offered. “Make it a big portion. Paz and the baby deserve it.”

Jaeyoung dished out a huge bowl, and Kur’tok was proud to deliver it to me. His red eyes gleamed with love. Above all, he adored taking care of me. If I wasn’t starving, I would’ve given him a big sloppy kiss on the mouth.

“Ugh, I can’t wait anymore,” I complained. “I’m digging in.”

Just as I grabbed my spoon and thrust it into the thick stew, a sharp pain seared along my abdomen. I hissed, dropping the spoon and clutching my sides.

Kur’tok frowned. “What’s wrong?”

Fucking hell. Why did I have to start labor right before dinner?

I sighed in frustration. “Baby’s coming.”

“What?” Kur’tok roared. He nearly slapped half the food off the table as he bolted to his feet, his tail lashing and his feelers bursting with panicked colors.

Jaeyoung placed his spoon on the table with a small sigh, then stood up. “I suppose eating can wait. Let’s get you back to your den, Paz.”

Meanwhile, Levi gulped down a mouthful of stew. He made no effort to get up. “Do you guys need me, or...? No? Okay, cool.”

The den was quiet. Kur’tok kneeled beside me while I clutched his hand, squeezing it with all my puny human might. On my other side, Jaeyoung set up his healing supplies. He was calm and collected, which made me feel better. Nothing had ever gone wrong during a delivery, but it was heartening to know my doctor was prepared.

“This sucks,” I grumbled. “I wanted to eat stew, dammit.”

Jaeyoung gave me a wry smile. “I’ll make you stew later, after you give birth. How does that sound?”

I sighed like a diva. “I guess that’s okay.”

To tell the truth, I was a bit anxious about the whole thing. I’d never been pregnant before, obviously, and nobody had ever prepared me for it. The only experience I had was watching Levi and Jaeyoung go through it, but seeing it happen to somebody else only helped so much.

I took a deep breath and kneaded Kur’tok’s hand. Having something to play with distracted me from my nerves.

Kur’tok wouldn’t say it out loud, but he was nervous, too. Probably more nervous than me. He hadn’t believed me at first when I told him humans could get pregnant by Maeleons; I wouldn’t be surprised if he still harbored some unease about it.

“Hey,” I said, smiling up at him. “I’ll be okay.”

He huffed, his tail flicking behind him. “You will. You have to be.”

“From what I’ve witnessed and experienced, it’s a relatively easy process,” Jaeyoung told him as he rearranged medicines and utensils. “Neither I nor Levi had complications.”

“But Paz is small. And I’m so...”

“Gigantic?” I offered.

Kur’tok pouted. “Yes.”

“I’ll be fine, big guy. Don’t sweat it.”

“Hmph.” Kur’tok sidled closer until he was practically on top of me. His overprotective nature was so fucking cute.

Then a sudden throb of pain swamped me. I clenched my teeth, biting back a cry for a second before the overwhelming agony made me wail. My hand clamped down on Kur’tok’s as my entire body went rigid.

“What’s going on? You said there were no complications!” Kur’tok snapped at Jaeyoung.

Jaeyoung wasn’t fazed by his outburst. “Humans almost always experience pain during childbirth. Pain is normal.”

“I don’t care,” Kur’tok growled, his voice thick with sympathy. “Make it stop!”

“ You can make it stop, Kur’tok,” Jaeyoung said firmly. “Use your feelers.”

Kur’tok’s eyes widened into red pinpricks as realization dawned on him. I’d nearly forgotten about them, too. During Levi’s and Jaeyoung’s deliveries, their Maeleon partners had helped them by attaching their feelers and dividing the pain.

Kur’tok didn’t hesitate. His feelers swam towards me. He’d never touched me with them before, but I had no time to wonder how it would feel. It happened fast. I gasped soundlessly as his feelers burrowed into my skin in a weird, ethereal motion. It was surreal and dreamlike.

But then the agony evaporated. I felt completely fine.

I blinked, taking a few slower gulps of air. What happened? My pain level was at a ten one second, and a zero the next.

I lay there dazed for a couple moments before my brain kicked back to life. I turned to Kur’tok. His eyes were strained and squinted, his jaw was clenched, and he squeezed my hand tighter. He sucked in a low, sharp breath through flared nostrils. Was he taking all my pain?

“You don’t have to do that,” I said, still breathless from the contraction.

He met my gaze, then shook his head stiffly.

“Kur’tok.”

“Let me do this for you, Paz,” he growled. As much as he tried to hide it, I heard the edge of pain in his voice. “After everything you’ve done for me, it’s the least I can do.”

“But—”

“Please.”

His eyes glistened. His love for me shone past the pain.

I thought of a million arguments, then let them go with a sigh. Kur’tok wanted to do this for me. I didn’t want to deny him.

“Fine,” I mumbled. “But if it’s too much for you, give some of it back to me. Okay?”

He smirked. “Don’t worry, flesh-bag. I can take it.”

Well, at least he was confident. The pain didn’t matter to him; as long as I felt better, that was all he cared about.

I blew out a breath. “Okay, Kur’tok. You got me. Just get ready for it to hurt like hell.”

He raised a brow. “What is hell ?”

Before I could answer, his face twisted and his fangs gnashed together. He hissed like a cat, arching his spine and lashing his tail. On the other hand, I felt nothing at all except a gentle pulsing in my lower abdomen, like I was being pushed and pulled by a tide. I glanced down—which was difficult, since my belly was the size of a fucking beach ball—and noticed something out of the ordinary.

A fleshy green-gold tube extended from my hole.

I shuddered. Okay, that was weird, but not as freakish as I expected. After staring at it for a few moments, I got used to it.

Then it started pulsing.

“Uh,” I said, “is it supposed to do that?”

Jaeyoung glanced over nonchalantly. “Yes. I expect the baby will arrive soon.”

A ripple of excitement ran through me. Did it really happen that fast?

I turned to Kur’tok. He grimaced through the pain, but otherwise looked okay.

“How is it?” I asked.

He grunted thickly. “Nothing I can’t handle. You just focus on giving birth.”

I nodded. The faster I got through it, the faster Kur’tok’s agony would be over. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine my sexy alien boyfriend would soak up my contraction pain like a sponge.

I held his hand and pushed in time with the pulses. I craned my neck to see the fleshy tube; it wriggled and twitched like a living thing. I couldn’t believe it was part of me, something my very own body had created—with help from a Maeleon, of course.

A big shudder shot across my skin. At the same time, Kur’tok grunted loudly through clenched teeth. Was the baby close?

“You’re almost there, Paz,” Jaeyoung said, confident and calm. “Keep pushing.”

“You can do it,” Kur’tok encouraged through ragged breaths.

I have to get this baby out of me before Kur’tok passes out from birthing pains, I thought.

With one last push full of determination, I gave it my all.

The tube shivered, then felt empty.

I panted for a few seconds, wiping sweat off my forehead. “Is it over?”

Jaeyoung’s expression was warm and nurturing. He only looked like that when he interacted with kids. He leaned down and did something I couldn’t see—thanks, huge stomach—then sat up with a bundle in his arms.

“Ready to meet your newborn?” he asked.

My heart skipped a beat. Tears welled up in my eyes, and my chest felt full. I took the bundled-up Maeleon baby with shaky arms, pressing them to my chest. How could a baby be so small, yet also bigger than I expected?

“Kur’tok,” I whispered, barely able to talk. “Look.”

He hovered over my shoulder, staring fondly at our child. He was speechless with awe.

Our baby was beautiful, obviously—their scales were deep red-pink, like petunia petals. Tiny nubs on their forehead indicated where horns would grow later.

I heard sniffling. Then a choked sob.

I blinked in surprise, glancing up at Kur’tok. “Are you crying?”

He grunted and wiped his face aggressively. “Yeah. So what?”

I smiled. “Nothing. It’s sweet that you’re emotional.”

He flashed a wide smile back at me. I could tell he was too overjoyed to be cranky.

Kur’tok extended a finger towards our infant, gently tickling the front of their swaddled chest. Their eyes blinked open to reveal pools of shining dark brown—just like mine.

Kur’tok gasped softly, stunned into silence for a few beats. “Our child’s eyes are as beautiful as yours, Paz,” he murmured.

Affection swelled in my chest like a rising sun. I leaned up to kiss him.

Just when I thought it wasn’t possible for our bond to deepen further, I realized I loved my big, buff alien mate even more.