Page 24 of Shifting Years (Whispering Hills #5)

Stabbing pain pierced through me like a knife. This wasn't just delivery pain. Something was wrong.

Penny rushed over, nostrils flaring. Her grip tightened around my hand, pulse steady. She inhaled again, deeper this time, then whispered to Mary, "He's afraid the baby won't make it."

"Get him indoors, don't you think?" shouted Mary to several Omegas.

"No!" A bed was fine, but shifters delivered in the woods. Distant leaves rustled and it was the closest thing I had.

"At least get another blanket," Mary snapped. She tossed out commands while Omegas scrambled, arranged pillows, and fetched water. She'd make a better pack leader than most Alphas.

My hand flew to my stomach, trying anything to deal with the internal twisting motion. Mary let out another melodic howl. "Sheriff's not coming."

"Neither is the pack leader," I said through gritted teeth.

Her sneer mirrored mine as other Omegas hurried with pillows, blankets, and drinking water.

Penny squeezed my hand tight. She's 'good people' and kept me company when All in the Family and Combat!

weren't enough. I got along with her Alpha —perhaps too well—since I was a missing piece she didn't fill, but I didn't have the right parts as Mary teased.

Penny's hands rested over her heart, and she mumbled so low that even my shifter ears couldn't make out the words. Did she whisper a prayer, a spell, or a plea to the universe? I'd take anything.

"This town needs a permanent doc, but we don't have one," said Mary.

I didn't see a solution. An Alpha doctor shouldn't touch an Omega not his own. An Omega could help with deliveries, but they could never treat an Alpha if mated. Vampires would be too attracted to the blood. Humans might work, but they couldn't know about the paranormal.

"You got me , Mike." Mary turned to Penny silently asking for her okay and she quickly nodded.

I mirrored her breathing while wondering about other Omegas. Usually, it was just mates and sometimes someone with delivery experience. Most didn't have a crowd around them.

I guess on some level they felt sorry for me, even if they had their own sorrow.

Some came to a town known for drawing soulmates, but they didn't arrive at the same time.

Others got tired of waiting and found someone 'decent enough', while the man or woman of their dreams appeared years later.

A few lonely souls waited, staring at the empty road and hoping the next truck, car, or hitchhiker was their missing love.

Pressure grew along my spine, and my insides twisted. The pack knelt, heads bowed. A mourning song rose, a slow, pulsing howl—like an unbroken heartbeat. I let my breathing sync to their melody, grounding me, easing the weight inside me.

Thinking about how to do it didn't help, but my stomach flexing turned instinctual. There was a desperation to see my child, but he didn't move. Did my little pup sense something? One day, I'll have to reveal the father.

My baby thinks he's unwanted! That must be it.

My shaky hand rested on my hard, rubbery stomach. Little angel, you are loved. Absolutely adored. One day I'll tell you about your father, but you're still wanted. Please, little one. Come and meet your real father, where it counts. The one who went to Vietnam to protect you.

I know what the paper said, but I couldn't believe it. Magic worked on belief, and I had to think of my love still being alive.

Still nothing.

"Okay," said Mary while she held my legs high. "You're an Omega, Mike. This is what you were made to do. Todd isn't around, but at least you met him. Men and women wait for their soulmate or they miss them. You have yours, so do something for him and your child."

She was gruffer than Penny but absolutely correct. I'm gay and finding another man to love was nearly impossible. We could even have a kid together. The only one who could deny us that life was me, if I didn't step up.

Imagination took over and Todd appeared in my mind with a crisp military uniform.

I wasn't for the war, but my man looked so hot and masculine while dressed.

Imagination changed it into green, sweaty fatigues.

My body increased the slick, either from his muscles under the camo fabric or my upcoming duty.

I kept my tone playful, lightly pressing my stomach. "Out."

The wolves' song surged—higher, faster, vibrating through my bones. The pain stayed. But the fear? That faded. I bore down, muscles clenching, and instinct took over. Not to stop the pain, but to survive it.

Sunlight blurred. I reached out toward nothing, to a ghost, toward the Alpha who should be here. Only the wind kissed my palm.

After a few final pushes, I collapsed back onto the grass. Shouldn't I hear crying?

Penny reached under me with wide eyes and Mary pulled a pocketknife from behind and cut the umbilical cord.

"What are you doing?" I screamed.

"Relax," said Mary. "I mean it. You're going to stress her out."

Her…

Her?

"W-What? Don't males have males?" I asked.

"Usually, but you feel like arguing?" With a smile, Mary presented my daughter with clenched fists and a beautiful howl-cry, but no second father.

***

"I haven't seen your kids in town, have I?" said Kim.

"Well, they aren't kids anymore," I said with a breathy sigh. Raising them was a wonderful experience, but the days of holding them in my arms passed decades ago.

"Are they here?"

"No," I said. "Whispering Hills is a curse to some. Finding your soulmate is magical, but too many wolves wait for The One. Sometimes their Other never arrives."

"Never?" whispered Kim.

"If I didn't take Mike's acid tab, I wouldn't have found Whispering Hills," said Todd. My man stared at the punk Omega. "You had a thought of coming here because of Jack. Is it possible you might have ignored that feeling?"

Kim's far-off look hinted he might not have followed the pull.

"Some wolves pick a path, without knowing, and I had one to make," said Todd. "Would I have everything my father wanted for himself or be hated?"

***