Page 18 of Omega Dragon Manny (Shifters For Hire #3)
CLARK
I never understood chaos theory until experiencing a photoshoot with three one-year-olds in matching corduroy rompers.
One was always tugging at another, causing tears or frowns or fists just as the camera shutter snapped.
Jack was one of the best photographers in the state, and he specialized in children’s lifestyle photos.
And as an old friend from high school, we felt confident he could wrangle our brood into submission.
With lights blazing, softbox shadows darted in every direction as toy-wielding assistants cowered behind adorable backdrops.
Rory tripped on his millionth escape toward the front door at the same time that Colby shrieked because Betsy yanked the stuffed dragon from his grip with a mischievous gleam in her eyes.
Each of the babies had identical stuffed dragons that they carried everywhere they went, but it never failed that they wanted to have the one that their sibling was holding, and drama was quick to follow every snatch and grab.
“You’re a saint, man.” I swooped Rory off the ground and dropped him back in place for the next shot. “I don’t know how you do this day in and day out.”
“I’ve only got them for an hour at a time. You’re the one taking them home.” Jack adjusted his lens and nodded toward Beau. “And going back for more. I think you’re the saint.”
Beside me, Beau’s laugh came out in a breathy huff.
His taut belly bounced and made him look like he was hiding a beach ball under his dragon-print tee.
The fact that my mate was literally days—hours—minutes, maybe—away from delivering our next bundles of joy had done nothing to slow him down.
If anything, Beau was more buoyant than ever, as if he was trying to soak up enough life to last through the looming sleepless months.
“He said I can have as many as I want as long as he doesn’t have to do the potty training.
” Beau plucked Colby off his sister and attempted to get them both in line.
“But he doesn’t know I’m an expert at it. ”
“You’ve been doing it for more than twenty years. I hope you’re an expert at using the potty.” I kept a straight face while prying Betsy’s tiny fist from my hair.
“Ha, ha.” Beau rolled his eyes, but I didn’t miss his indulgent smile.
“I’ll have you know that I once trained two-year-old twins and three-year-old triplets from the same family in a matter of a week.
” He grinned and chuckled to himself as he relived that memory.
“It was a messy week, but by the end of it, each one of those pups was able to spend the whole day in underpants with very few accidents. I should have definitely gotten some kind of medal for that.”
“I’ve got some steel for you at ho—” Before I could get my dirty joke out, Beau sucked in a breath and his eyes went wide.
“What’s wrong?” I stepped to his side and slipped my hand below his belly to hold it up. “Are you okay?”
“Not sure.” Beau leaned forward, holding his breath. “Are we done yet?”
I took his hand and squeezed it. “We can be.” We managed to get all the individual shots, at least a dozen viable sibling shots, and a few family shots that I knew were gonna look great covering the hallway wall. That was good enough for their first-year photo shoot. “You good?”
He inhaled deeply and shook his head. “Don’t panic but my water just broke.”
“What?” I swallowed hard, making sure I heard him right. “Now?”
His voice wavered, but he remained calm. “Yes, and it’s fine. We just need to get to the birthing center.”
There was a beat of total silence as I let those words settle over me. And then, all hell broke loose, and the studio erupted with action.
Jack watched me run around collecting our things and children before putting down his camera and placing his hand on my biceps. “I’ll watch the babies, Clark. You take care of Beau.”
“What?” I had two of the three babies in my arms, ready to get them strapped into their carriers. “Are you sure?”
“Of course.” He reached for Colby and put him back in the play area with Rory. “I don’t have any other clients tonight, and they’re easy. Just go get their brothers or sisters out and don’t worry about us.”
I turned to Beau to get his opinion on the matter.
He just nodded as he curled forward, holding his belly. “Thank you, Jack. We’ll be back as soon as we can.”
“Yeah, okay.” I checked the diaper bag to make sure we had plenty of snacks and diapers in there. “Call me if you need anything.”
“Will do.”
A minute later, we had kissed our elder babies goodbye and were on the road to the birthing center to meet our newest babies. While I drove, Beau sent a voice text to let them know we were on our way.
Every few minutes, he’d start to pant as he held my hand, squeezing so hard I thought my bones might fuse. “You’re doing great, Beau.” I pulled his hand up to my mouth and gave it a kiss. “I’m so proud of you.”
“I haven’t done it yet.” He chuckled before sucking in a gasp. “But yeah, I’ve got this.”
I didn’t know if he was trying to psyche me up or himself, but we both dropped our tense shoulders and relaxed. “Yeah, you do.”
As soon as we stumbled into the birthing center, he was immediately put into a wheelchair and we went straight to a delivery room.
After a quick check, we were told Beau was making great progress.
And before I had time to really get into the right mindset, the doula called out to me. “It’s time, Dad.”
I helped Beau get out of his clothes and settled beside his head so he could see me and I could see what was happening. Everything happened quickly, and while I was leaning close to Beau, slowly breathing so he could keep pace with me, the first of our babies was introduced to the world.
A tiny, howling blob of legs and arms appeared and disappeared as the nurse went straight to the scale. “Baby A is out! A girl.”
“A girl? Madeline is here?” Beau barely had a moment to let the moment sink in before the next contraction slammed through him.
Just seconds later, a second baby came out. Smaller but just as loud. The doctor beamed. “Baby B is out. Congratulations, dads! This one is a boy.”
Beau’s face was slack with exhaustion as he tried to catch his breath. “Derek, our sweet baby boy. We have twins.”
The doctor was about to say yes, but something in her face shifted. “Actually…” She ducked down again. “Hold that thought.”
Beau, still flat on the bed, turned to me with fear and disbelief in his eyes. “No way.”
I shrugged. “Sounds like another three-pack.” And sure enough, hidden from the multitude of ultrasounds Beau had during his pregnancy, was a third baby. Another baby girl.
Beau was drenched in sweat and joy as he looked up in pure wonder. “You okay, alpha?”
I smiled, even as tears tracked down my cheeks. “I’m okay, sweet omega. But you’re amazing. Perfect. And so damn strong.”
“We need another girl's name.”
“What about Louise?” She had mentioned a few times how her kids all thought her name was too old-fashioned to use. I kind of liked that about it.
“Madeline, Derek, Louise, Rory, Colby, and Betsy.” He recited our children’s names. “I love it.”
”And I love you, omega mine.” I snuggled in beside him, and we held all three babies. “Thank you for coming into my life. I was all work, no joy before you, and now…now words can’t express how happy I am.”
“I love you, alpha. Thank you for being my home, my family, my flight, my everything.”
If you’re looking for more sweet and sexy shifters from Lorelei & Aria, check out their River’s Edge Shifters.
Sometimes love arrives in the cutest bundle of fur.
Alpha rabbit shifter Jase only plans to stretch his legs when he pulls to the side of the road. When a quick shift turns into a brush with death, he's left in the hands of a young boy who vows to save him by bringing him to a small rescue farm to heal.
Omega human August is tying up loose ends for his grandmother’s estate when a bunny is placed in his care—too bad he doesn’t know a thing about bunnies.
His protective instincts immediately kick into place and he finds himself not only nurturing the small creature back to health, but also growing more and more attached to the farm each day.
August’s life is turned completely upside down when Jase arrives at the farm naked and in need of shelter. He's immediately drawn to the man—the man who has a secret.
Some Bunny to Love is a sweet with knotty heat M/M shifter mpreg romance featuring an adorable bunny, a young boy who saves the day, a human who discovers there is an entire world he never knew about, two men who finally find their place in the world, true fated love, and an adorable little baby.
This is the first book in the River’s Edge Shifters series brought to you by the co-writing team of Lorelei M Hart and Aria Grace and can be read as a stand alone.
If you love knotty fun, true love, and your mpreg with heart, one-click today.