Page 21

Antoine

We’d chosen the home birth plan, with the healer present, but when Quinn did not get there right away, I began to overthink the whole idea. At the birthing center, there were more tools available to me if I ran into trouble. “Do you think we should go to the center?” I asked “In case something goes wrong?”

West smiled at me. “Quinn will be here in a few minutes, so even if we left now, we’d pass him on the road. How are you doing, omega?”

“Not too bad, so far. Just a little scared.”

“You’ve got this. And if Quinn even suggests we go, we’ll leave immediately, okay?”

We had everything ready as the healer had suggested, and for all his soothing words, West kept going to the window and looking out.

“Any sign of him?” It had been well over a few minutes.

“No, but I’ll call.” He went into the kitchen where he’d left his phone and came back a couple of minutes later. “He had a flat tire, but it’s fixed and he’ll be here in a few minutes. He suggests we get you into that nightshirt you picked out for the birth and then you’ll be more comfortable and ready when the time comes.”

Also, it would give me something to do, I suspected, distracting me for a few minutes. But when I got the shirt on, the pains that had been about five minutes apart changed in intensity, and it was with great relief I heard the car door close outside.

“Alpha, hurry and let him in. I think the baby is coming.” And there was no time for any suggestions about going to the center. “I need to push.”

“No, don’t do that,” he said. “Please hang in there for a minute more. I’ll go get him.” He rushed out the door and came back in, practically shoving Quinn in front of him. “See? He’s here. Now, you can push the baby right out.”

Quinn looked from one of us to the other, laughter twinkling in his eyes. He dealt with this stuff every day, and he had always given me confidence when I had a worry or question. “So, West tells me your water broke? How far apart are the pains?”

He took me into the bedroom for a quick exam and far from being ready to push, he told me it would likely be another few hours and we could all relax. Easy for him to say.

But with his gentle guidance and reassurance, my alpha and I got through the time and even managed to play cards for a while just for the distraction. In fact, I had just laid down a winning gin rummy hand when I learned how strong the pains could be when it was almost time to push.

“Quinn?” I called, and he came out of the kitchen where he’d been making tea. “Could you examine me again?”

“Of course. But judging from your face and the look in your eyes, I almost don’t have to. Let’s get you in position.”

I had planned to use a birthing stool, but when I tried, my legs were too wobbly, and in the end, Sutton was born with me lying on the bed. He came out red and squalling and ready to take on the world. Like his alpha daddy. Quinn laid him on my chest and I fell in love for the second time in my life.