Page 27 of Feral, Part Two (Wolfscorge #2)
Kael
Walking between the pool house and our Omegas’ main den has been nerve-racking, mostly because I’m not allowed in either room.
I keep trying to calm my instincts and my rage at being left outside and unable to hold any precious bundles when they’re glaring at my face, but it’s getting harder with every moment.
Malik seems to be suffering as well and the one time he tried to check on Slate, the poor Omega twisted around and buried himself under a blanket.
He's close now, but I’m trying not to overwhelm him.
I check the clock above the front door, making a mental note.
I’ve been stepping into the pool house every thirty minutes, reacting to the pull in my chest, but then he hisses before curling back up into a little ball again.
As adorable as that is, I don’t want to get bit.
Again.
Blowing out a heavy breath, I slide off the couch and move toward our Omegas’ main den.
Five minutes there and then I’ll head toward the pool house.
Malik catches my eye and follows me with a tray of food, gesturing back to the kitchen table as he falls in line beside me.
“There’s something for Slate. Seeing that you got bit, I’ll leave you to try to feed him. ”
I chuckle, both of us finding Preston shifted back to his human form and curled up in Thane's lap like the most precious thing in the world. The sight of them together—my cousin holding our Omega and the two tiny fox pups—is everything.
"Thank fuck you're here, I need to pee," Thane says the moment he sees me, relief clear in his voice.
I laugh at his bluntness. "When did he shift back?”
“Twenty minutes ago? The pups finished eating, so I guess it was time. Nathan mentioned that they’ll kind of exist in either state that feels most comfortable for the next few weeks.
” Thane runs his fingers through Preston’s hair, the happiness in his smile mirroring what I feel.
Our Omega’s skin is flushed red, his forehead damp with sweat but he looks so goddamn happy and that’s all that matters.
“I'm going to check on Slate, but Malik brought food."
Thane groans at the mention of food, probably because he hasn't eaten anything substantial since Preston went into labor.
Malik crawls into the den with a tray of sandwiches and what looks like soup, moving carefully to avoid disturbing the delicate scene.
He hesitates as Thane shifts forward, Malik bowing his head in complete submission.
“You’re good, Leek. I think whatever protective, animalistic bullshit was going on was just during the actual labor part.”
Malik snorts. “So, you’re not going to kill me? Fantastic.”
Preston stirs at the disturbance, blinking sleepily before looking at all of us. When he gives us a tired smile, I sigh with relief, glad that we’ve moved past the protective stage.
Thane hands Preston over to Malik with practiced ease, the transfer smooth despite the tiny fox pups still nestled in Preston's arms. The babies curl up tight against their Omega fathers, instinctively seeking warmth and comfort.
They're so small, so perfect, that it takes my breath away every time I look at them.
Thane stands up to stretch, his joints popping audibly after hours of sitting in the same position. "How is Slate?"
"He was still sleeping about thirty minutes ago, but I really don't like him out there alone," I admit. The separation has been eating at me, knowing that our other Omega is isolated just when he needs pack support the most. "I was going to try and coax him inside and possibly get him into one of the other dens. If that doesn’t work, I’ll probably just stay out there. "
"Work your charm.”
I nod, feeling the weight of responsibility on my shoulders.
Slate's trust doesn't come easily, and I don't want to do anything that might damage the progress we've made.
But I also can't stand the thought of him going into labor alone, without any support or comfort.
Even if I have to stand at the edge of that room, I will be there.
Thane steps out toward the bathroom, and I bend down into the den where Preston is now alert and watching me with those beautiful gray-blue eyes.
"How you doing, princess?"
"I love them so much," Preston says softly, his voice full of wonder as he looks down at his babies.
A smile takes over my face as I watch him nudge them with his nose, his animalistic instincts still at an all-time high. "You gave birth to beautiful babies," I tell him. "Let me go get your Omega before he has his babies all alone and then I want to hear the names you chose, okay?"
I press a small kiss to Preston's forehead, breathing in his familiar scent mixed with the new ones now added to the den. Then I move down the hall toward the living room, planning to head out to the pool house and convince Slate to come inside where he belongs.
The smile falls from my lips as a sharp pang full of fear explodes in my chest, mixed with pain and confusion that definitely isn't mine. I frown, pausing in the hallway as the sensation intensifies. Something is wrong. Very wrong.
“Fuck, Slate, I’m coming.” I rush outside into the pool house, my heart already hammering with dread before I even see the empty space where Slate should be.
The carefully arranged blankets and pillows are still there, but they're cold, which means he's been gone for a while.
Maybe even as long as thirty minutes when I last checked on him.
"Fuck," I breathe out, panic starting to claw at my throat.
Suddenly, I can feel all of Slate's terror as clearly as if it were my own. The bond between us, which has been growing stronger over the past week, is now wide open and flooding me with his desperation. He's in labor, lost, and absolutely terrified.
And I promised him I would be there.
I rush back into the house, nearly colliding with Thane, who's emerging from the room. "Slate is gone. Stay here just in case he comes back. Why would he leave? I thought…" I trail off, knowing that this isn’t the time to wonder why.
"How the fuck did he get out?" Thane demands, his Alpha instincts immediately shifting into protective mode.
"Through the hole in the fence. It was enough to keep everything else out, but we never planned on one of our Omegas shifting like this. Fuck, I have to fix this shit."
I rush out the front door, feeling through the bond to find out where our Omega is.
The darkness surrounding us makes it almost impossible to see anything, but adrenaline pushes me forward.
The fear and pain he's experiencing is almost overwhelming, transmitted directly into my nervous system like I'm the one going into labor in an unknown location.
The trail leads toward the woods beyond Wolfscorge's perimeter, into wilderness that’s untamed, raging wildlife that feels like it’s keeping me from the most precious person in the entire fucking world.
I can feel him getting weaker through the bond, his strength ebbing as labor progresses without any support. If I don't find him soon, I might lose both him and the babies he's carrying. At the very least, I’ll lose his trust and I can’t bear the idea of him thinking we abandoned him.
I push deeper into the woods, following instinct and the emotional pull of our connection. Every few minutes, waves of Slate's pain and fear wash over me, keeping me oriented toward his location but also making it hard to think clearly.
"Hold on, little Omega," I mutter, knowing he can't hear me but hoping somehow the sentiment reaches him through our bond. "I'm coming. Just hold on."
Branches catch at my clothes and scratch my skin as I push through underbrush, following the faint scent trail that speaks of fear-sweat and desperation.
When I finally find him, my heart nearly stops.
He's tucked under a rocky ledge, his white fox form barely visible.
His breathing is shallow and labored, small whimpers escaping with each exhale.
He looks so small, so vulnerable, curled up alone while his body tries to bring new life into the world.
I rush forward and drop to my knees beside him. "Hey, I got you. I got you."
That's when I hear his voice in my head for the first time, clear as if he'd spoken aloud but coming through what can only be the mind link Nathan mentioned.
"I don't know where I am and I'm so tired."
The exhaustion in his mental voice breaks something in my chest. "I've got you, okay, but you cannot have your babies out here. Can you hold on?"
Slate nods weakly, and I can feel through our connection how much effort even that small movement costs him. He curls closer to me as I carefully pick him up, his fox body lighter than I expected but still awkward to carry safely.
The trip back to the house feels endless. Every few minutes, contractions wrack Slate's small form, and I have to stop moving until they pass.
"Where will you be most comfortable?" I ask as we reach the house.
"Your closet."
The request doesn't surprise me. It's where I found him before, surrounded by my scent. As much as we tell ourselves we don’t need each other, there’s a connection between us that’s almost as strong as his and Preston’s.
I carry him straight there, settling him gently among the hanging clothes before rushing to gather supplies.
I start building up the space with extra blankets and pillows on top of what he already started, trying to create the kind of nest that will make him feel secure.
Thane appears to help, his movements just as hurried as he passes me soft fabrics and adjusts the lighting until it’s a step above complete darkness.
"It's time," Slate whispers, a mix of determination and fear in his mental voice.
I move into the closet with him, taking slow movements so that I don’t startle him.
He’s still on edge, though, but settles the moment I’m close enough for him to lean his head on.
I rest back against the wall and straighten my legs out as I begin running my hands through his fur, offering what comfort I can as his body begins the final stage of labor.
The contractions are coming faster now, each one making his small form tense and shudder.
"I'm right here," I murmur. "You're safe. I've got you. I’m not going anywhere, little Omega.”
His nose brushes against my thigh, a small purr coming from him. “Thank you for coming for me.”
“Always. You’re mine, remember?”