E very single person I’ve talked to this week has gasped—jaw gaping and everything—when they’ve taken one look at my dropping belly. So when my ever-stoic mate’s composure finally slips tonight after dinner, fear creasing his forehead, I sigh, flinging my legs in the air in an attempt to heave myself up off the couch.

After two tries and an added grunt from my core, Noah bursts into laughter. “Can I please help you?”

I groan, plopping back into the couch cushions. This only heightens Noah’s giggles. Flinging my arms up for him to grab, I can’t help but laugh with him. “Not if you tell me I look like I’m about to pop. I’m already aware.”

Gripping my arms by my elbows, Noah struggles to heave me off the couch nearly as much as I did; slipping on the fuzzy rug beneath us, he topples over me, catching himself on the couch cushions behind my head with a sharp inhale. Nose to nose, we burst out laughing at the same time.

“Noah, I think I’m glued to the couch. I don’t think I can make it to bed tonight. Maybe not even tomorrow night. Actually, I might just have to give birth right here.”

My mate’s eyes widen in horror.

With that, I’m hoisted to my feet in one smooth motion, Noah’s beefy limbs doing the work for both of us. “Don’t even joke with me like that, little Omega-Alpha. Not even when you’re my grumpy little Alpha.”

I let out a slow, shaky laugh, running my hands over our baby until I cup the base of my belly. Noah’s eyes follow my touch, his brows furrowing even deeper than when I was plastered to the couch.

I sigh, turning away from him. “Don’t—”

“Aliya.” Noah’s soft, serious tone halts me in place. “I’ve delegated out my workload for the week.”

“What? But what about—”

“Yas and Dave will handle it. That pup has completely dropped, and my wolf is about ready to kill me for leaving your side for a single minute.”

Nerves spike my core. I drop my gaze to my feet. Except I can’t see my feet, my pelvis sends shooting pain up my spine with every breath, and I’m about ready to have a breakdown thinking about mustering the energy to give birth soon, let alone this week.

But before I can spiral into fear, Noah swoops over my shoulder, cupping my cheeks in his palms. “I’m sorry I decided that without you. But I want to spend as much time as possible with you before Ari arrives. I can feel how strained your poor body is, and how petrified you are, and—” Noah’s voice catches, flipping my heart. The second his expression contorts into sadness, emotions steal my breath.

I cup his cheeks in my palms too. “Oh, my sweet Alpha—”

“You’re so brave. But you’re not alone, Aliya. You’ve got this, okay?”

There’s no way I can keep my lips from wobbling now. Stooping over my belly to drop my forehead against Noah’s chest, I breathe through the pounding ache in my back as fears crawl out from somewhere deep in my core. “Are you sure I can do this?”

As if he knew where I was hurting, Noah’s thumbs settle on my lower back, massaging out my pain. I heave out a tremendous sigh, and Noah’s deep chuckle hums through my forehead. My eyelids flutter shut even before he speaks.

“You can. You will. But for tonight, you’re going to bed.”

“I can’t argue with that,” I mutter, my eyelids drooping as I shuffle down the hall. Noah’s bright giggles behind me tempt me to smile, even as my forehead warps through another hard Braxton Hicks contraction.

Like clockwork, Ari stirs, straining like my belly is too tight for the poor pup. Even as I soothe them, softly stroking my belly as I stretch to spit my toothpaste into the bathroom sink, they’re just as active as ever.

Not even Noah’s gentle touch over my stretched skin can calm them as we lie in bed.

Wolf eyes catch the light, shining back at me in the cozy darkness of our bedroom.

“Can’t sleep tonight, either?” Noah whispers.

Settling my palm over his, I draw his hand far lower on my belly. We’re face to face in the darkness, but the reflection in Noah’s eyes shift as our baby’s back adjusts against his palm, their head sending a sharp pain through my pelvis.

“Oh, sweetheart...” Noah sighs. “Ari is absolutely huge.”

I let out a sleepy giggle. “Don’t remind me.”

Staring me in the eyes, Noah shuffles closer until we’re belly to belly. Our baby pushes against him, raising his eyebrows, but Noah offloads the most delicious, soothing sweet cinnamon scent I’ve ever smelled, his Omega side showing himself in full force. When Noah decides to also drag his fingers through my hair, I hum in bliss, my eyes lazing shut.

Stroking from root to tip, Noah plays with my hair slower and slower, washing pleasure down my spine until my heart rate is soothed and Ari’s wiggling slows. As my body loosens beneath Noah’s featherlight touches over my eyelids and lips, I finally drift off to sleep.

But when I wake up sore and with a bladder ready to burst, I’m too exhausted to move. Tears flood my eyes the second I open them.

Noah, all instinct, dashes into our bedroom to find me upset, only to have his expression drop into fear alongside me.

I laugh as I swipe at my eyes. “I don’t know why I’m so extra emotional.”

Noah usually smiles along with me. Today, he drifts silently to the edge of our bed, taking my hand in his. “Do you need anything, gorgeous? Other than a bathroom trip.”

I want to keep laughing at myself, but it comes out as an embarrassing whimper. “Sorry.”

Stooping over me, Noah plants a slow, soft kiss on my forehead. My heart bursts with affection as more tears slip down my cheeks without my permission. Thankfully, Noah doesn’t take it too seriously, his voice gentle and soothing as he delicately cleans away my tears. “Do you still feel up for therapy, my sweet Omega? I can call Jenny and cancel it for you.”

“No, I feel like I really need it. I think it’ll help.”

“Okay, good. I’m going to take you soon, after we get you some water and food.”

I sigh. “Okay, thank you. And I’m—”

“Nope. No more sorries.”

I chuckle, expecting Noah to smile alongside me. But as I gaze into my mate’s eyes, his protective wolf stands proud in our bond.

“I told you, Aliya; you’re doing a favor so huge that I could never return something as beautiful and meaningful back to you in my lifetime. Don’t apologize for anything you need to keep you and this baby safe. That includes after you’ve given birth for us and you’ll need as much recovery time as you can get. Not a single second more of this guilt, okay?”

I don’t think I’ve met anyone so sweet. Fresh tears cloud my eyes, but this time, my fear has melted away. Letting out a slow, shaky breath, I nod through a smile. “Okay. I love you.”

My mate’s eyebrows finally soften. “I love you too.”

As Noah drives me to therapy, our hands remain laced over our stirring baby. Ari is as vibrant as ever, pushing against my sore ribs.

My sweet mate has been dragging our birth necessities bag with us everywhere, just in case, but today, the sight of it in the back seat blasts nerves through my chest. Noah counts my deep breaths with me, pointing out the beauty in towering treelines, hawks perched on the mountainside, and fresh signs of winter’s chill around us. By the time he’s helping me hoist myself up the two front steps leading into Jenny’s office building, the part of me that’s determined and ready to give birth to Noah’s baby has taken charge once more.

But Noah stops me in the hallway, just outside the elevators. The second I turn over my shoulder to look him in the eyes, my heart flinches.

Redness swells Noah’s features, his tears ready to spill.

My hand tightens around his. “Oh, Goddess, Noah. What’s wrong?”

He chokes out a sharp, breathy laugh, covering his face from me with an elbow hooked around his eyes. Turning away, Noah forces me to waddle after him a few steps before he whips back around with a wet laugh, grasping both my hands to keep me from walking any further. “S-sorry, I don’t know. I’m just extra emotional too. I’ve never seen someone so strong in my life.”

As Noah’s eyes sweep across my face, I’m unable to grasp how someone so beautiful could cry over me with his whole heart. Our eyes lock, and a tremendous love bursts inside my chest, giving me all the power I need to do this.

Gripping Noah by the collar, I kiss him in the hallway the best I can, struggling to reach his lips over our pup. But Noah meets me halfway, cuddling up to me as close as he can as he stoops over me to ease my stretch. It’s a small gesture, but shines as clear as ever as I release his lips.