Page 8

Chapter 8

Freya

Another contraction rips through me. The pain is like nothing I’ve ever felt before. I grip Zane’s hand, probably crushing his fingers.

“Breathe with me,” Zane says, his chest pressed against my back, embracing me. “In through your nose, out through your mouth.”

I try to follow his rhythm, but everything hurts.

His purring vibrates through my body, the sound oddly soothing. I didn’t know alphas could purr like that. Not in a way it feels so calming.

I groan. “I need something to stop the pain.”

“It’s too late, Freya,” the nurse says. “Your baby will be here before it works.”

I whimper as another contraction hits me.

Zane wraps his arms around me, purring into my hair. I slump back against him, tired. “I think your purring is doing the job.”

The pain subsides, and I breathe again.

“I hoped it would work.”His breath is warm against my ear.

With my body relaxing between contractions, I pat my swollen belly. “Listen here, little one. It’s time to evacuate the premises. Your lease is up. Mommy needs her body back. But be gentle. I don’t want stitches.”

Zane chuckles behind me, the sound rumbling through his chest.

“Oh my god, wait until I tell Harlow about this. She’ll never believe a sexy firefighter alpha rescued me and is now purring me through my labor.” I fumble for my phone on the side table. “I need a picture of you. For proof.”

“Now?” His eyebrows shoot up.

“Yes now! Before I look more wrecked and redder faced from pushing this baby out.”

He obliges, leaning in close. His stubble jaw brushes my temple, and I shiver. I snap a quick selfie of me with him. A reminder to me that this happened.

The clock on the wall reads eleven in the morning. Poor guy must be exhausted after fighting fires all night, yet here he is, holding me like I’m his.

The thought makes my heart flutter.

“You must be so tired,” I whisper. “I can tell the hospital you need to go home to sleep.”

“I’m fine.”

“Argh!” I grit my teeth. “Not again.” Another contraction builds and I brace myself, gripping his forearms.

His purring intensifies as I pant through the pain.

Less than ten minutes later, the nurse disappears between my legs, checking my progress. “Good! You’re fully dilated, Freya. When I tell you, I need you to give me a big push.”

I look behind me at Zane, panic rising. He squeezes my hand. “You’ve got this. And I’m here for you.”

The nurse beams at Zane. “Would you like to watch your child being born?”

“Oh my god. What?” I hiss.

His face pales.

“All alphas love watching their children come into the world,” she adds.

I grip his hand tighter. “This one doesn’t want to see me down there. I need him here.”

The nurse winks. “Don’t be shy, lovely. I’m sure he’s seen you like this many times before.”

No! He hasn’t! I want to shout out, but I can’t.

My cheeks burn.

I can’t tell her we just met tonight, and he doesn’t need a front row view of my lady parts. Not unless I was wearing something nice, a little sexy. And certainly not when my vagina is stretched enough to take three thick cocks at once.

“Love to.” Zane shuffles off the bed and moves to stand beside the nurse as another contraction builds.

Fuck!

My eyes are focused on his, watching his face as he gets his first (and hopefully last) view of me at ten centimeters dilated.

This is not how I imagined meeting a hot alpha.

“Stop looking at me down there!” I grunt through clenched teeth.

And then he fucking smirks.

But as the contraction hits full force, I need to bear down with everything I’ve got, praying I don’t embarrass myself further by losing control of my other bodily functions.

My life just keeps getting better and better.

“We can see hair!” the nurse announces.

I peek at Zane. His cocky smirk is gone, replaced by a greenish tint, and I hope he might faint.

But I lose that thought quickly when another contraction rips through me.

“Push!” the nurse insists.

I push hard, sweat dripping down my temples.

“Wonderful, Freya, we have shoulders. Just one more push...”

My pussy burns, and it feels like I’m swimming in hell.

I scream as I push with everything I have left.

And just when I think I can’t push anymore, a sharp cry pierces the air. My heart stops, and tears sting my eyes.

The sound is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard.

“Congratulations! You have a beautiful baby boy!” The nurse places a squirming bundle on my chest. My vision blurs as I stare down at his perfect little face. Dark wisps of hair peek out from under the blanket, his tiny pink lips pursed in concentration.

Tears stream down my cheeks as I trace his features with trembling fingers. “Oh. Hi baby,” I whisper. “I’m your mommy.”

Movement catches my eye, and I look up to find Zane beside me, tears tracking down his stubble cheeks. He reaches out, gently stroking the baby’s cheek with one finger.

“We need to weigh and measure him,” the nurse says after only five minutes of holding him. “But first. Alpha, would you remove your shirt? Perfect time for bonding.”

“What?” I blink at her.

“Skin-to-skin contact is essential for bonding with your baby.”

Zane’s throat bobs as he swallows. He doesn’t remove his shirt but opens it wide, letting me see his body and the scars I knew he was hiding. I’m not bothered one bit about those and considering my pussy just took the battering of its life, it still pulses at seeing his muscular chest.

The nurse takes my baby, laying him on Zane’s broad chest. Zane cradles him so carefully, like he’s made of glass.

A whine slips from my mouth at the sight of my tiny son against his muscled torso.

“Have you decided on a name?” the nurse asks, pen poised over the paperwork.

“We’re still thinking about it,” I murmur, unable to take my eyes off them.

She nods and writes “Baby Stone” on the form before stepping out.

“What are we going to do?” I ask softly once we’re alone. “This baby needs an alpha on his birth certificate before they’ll let me take him out of here.”

“My name is already on the form. I added it earlier.”

My mouth opens wide. “You did?”

He smiles.

I bite my lip. “Would...would it be okay if I called him Stone? After you?”

“Give him my surname?” His voice is rough with emotion.

“No, use it for his first name.”

“Oh.” He sounds almost disappointed.

“Or would you like me to call him Zane?”

A smile spreads across his face. “Stone is perfect.”

I can’t stop staring at my perfect little boy, but anxiety creeps in.

How am I going to do this alone?

I have a home but the bakery’s up in literal smoke, and my savings won’t last forever. And now there’s this tiny human depending on me for everything.

I refuse to beg for my mother’s help.

My lip trembles and I try to blink back tears. Stupid hormones.

“Hey.” Zane’s voice is soft. “What’s wrong?”

“I just... I don’t know how to be a mom. What if I mess everything up?”

“You’ll be perfect.” He shifts Stone to one arm and cups my cheek with his free hand. “You’re already perfect.”

Before I can process what’s happening, he leans in and presses his lips to mine in a gentle kiss. “Well done,” he whispers against my mouth.

I stare at him, my heart racing. No alpha has ever kissed me like that. Like he wanted to do it. Like I’m precious. “What was that for?”

“I don’t know.” His thumb traces my bottom lip.

We gaze at each other, the air thick with possibility.

“I’ve never been kissed for no reason before.”

He tilts his head to one side. “What do you mean?”

“Only during sex.”

The door swings open, and we jump apart. The nurse bustles in, waving papers. “Here’s your account.”

As I scan the numbers, my eyes bulge. “Oh my god. I should’ve had this baby at home.”

Zane chuckles, the sound rumbling through his chest where Stone sleeps peacefully.

“It’s already settled, lovely. This is just for your records.”

“What?” I turn to Zane. “I can pay you back.”

“You can pay me back in cakes and cookies.”

I smile. “Deal.” It looks like I might see him again. “Can I go home now?” I ask the nurse. “I really need my bed.”

“As soon as the doctor signs off on you and the baby.”

I fight to keep my eyes open as Zane drives my car through the late afternoon traffic. Every few seconds, I catch him watching me in the rearview mirror.

“Get some sleep, Freya. We’ll be home soon.”

“I can’t.” My gaze drifts between Zane’s strong profile and my sleeping baby in his car seat. Now I’m glad I kept it ready in the trunk for months.

At my apartment, Zane guides me to the couch while he makes coffee. The kitchen cabinets open and close as he searches.

“Your outlets need covers,” he says. “And these lower cabinets need locks.”

“I’ve already bought them.” I yawn. “Just haven’t installed anything yet. But as Stone is brand new, I doubt he’ll need them installed anytime soon.”

Stone’s cry pierces the air. I lift him to my breast, and he latches on instantly. My eyes drift closed as he feeds.

“Beautiful,” Zane whispers.

I peek at him through heavy lids. He’s watching us with such tenderness my heart aches.

“You need to sleep.” He scoops us both up, my head resting against his chest. Stone still settled against mine. “Which room is yours?”

“Left door.” My words slur with exhaustion.

The mattress dips as he settles me on the nest, then slides in behind me. His legs envelop mine, one arm behind his head, the other draped protectively over Stone and me.

“You can sleep now, Freya,” he purrs. “I’ve got you both.”

“You’re staying?”

“If you’re okay with it, I’ll stay until he’s fed, then I’ll bathe him, change him and place him in his crib. That should give you a few hours before he wakes again.”

My omega hums with contentment, surrounded by his warmth and scent. Stone’s tiny snuffles grow quieter as he drifts off.

“Thank you,” I murmur.

“For what?”

“For being there for me. For being here. For making everything feel right.”

His purring deepens, and I let the rhythmic vibrations lull me under. For the first time in years, I feel completely safe. I shouldn’t. Yes, he’s a fireman, but he could also be an axe murderer. But I doubt it.

I haven’t told him, but I love his scent.

I hope he loves mine too, but alphas like Zane never fall for omegas like me. So, I’ll enjoy the moment for as long as it lasts.

Still, my insecurity doesn’t stop me from nestling deeper into Zane’s warmth. And with Stone’s tiny weight against my chest, my life feels a little like perfect.

I inhale the scent that wraps around me.

Not only my baby’s fresh scent, which makes my heart squeeze, but also Zane’s. He smells like he’s been in a bed of strawberries all day. I inhale, trying to smell the lime and tequila that’s in my omega scent.

Would he stay if we were scent matched?

Or am I fooling myself?

Don’t get used to this , I tell myself. He’s just being kind because he’s a good person. A wonderful alpha who will make some lucky omega so happy someday.

The thought stings more than it should. We’ve known each other for what? Less than twelve hours. Yet it feels like he’s always been here, like this spot behind me was made for him to hold me.

Stone makes a little snuffling sound in his sleep. I trace his tiny features with my finger. His button nose, those long dark lashes, the curve of his cheek. “He’s absolutely perfect. Thank you, Zane,” I whisper again, fighting to keep my eyes open. “For everything. For being such an amazing person.”

His chest rumbles against my back. “Freya...”

“I mean it. Your omega is going to be the luckiest person in the world.” My voice catches. “I hope you find her soon.”

He presses a kiss to my hair, his lips lingering. “Sleep now, little baker.”

The endearment makes my heart flutter. As darkness creeps in around the edges of my vision, I can’t stop the words that slip out.

“I wish I was your omega.”

His arms tighten around me, but sleep pulls me under before I can hear his response.