Page 23

23

BOAZ

Even though I'd been Alpha for months, we hadn’t had time for an official ceremony. Keane harped on about it, saying the pack should get together to celebrate, but I explained that wasn’t our way. Or it hadn’t been Alpha’s… former Alpha’s way.

“But you’re Alpha now. You can start your own traditions.”

I thought about it, and while Alpha had never drawn attention to himself, as mafia we did enjoy ceremony, so perhaps it was time to mesh the two customs.

“You should stamp your personality on the pack.” That was Maynard’s offhand remark as he was on his way out to “a job.”

“Do we call you Alpha all the time?” Riggs asked. “Even when you’re at home?”

“Yes.” Lake grinned. “Or he’ll kick your ass.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Only call our brother Alpha if he’s pissed with you.” Ezra chuckled.

I sighed. My brothers would never stop jerking me around, but if I needed them, they’d be beside, in front, and behind me.

But I’d been busy, weighed down with paperwork, but also I’d refused to be desk bound, so I spent hours each day visiting pack families whether they lived in a tiny apartment or a mansion.

The pack owned a lot of businesses, and while I hadn’t visited each one, I had contacted the managers and gone over the spreadsheets. My brothers told me I had underlings for that and the pack needed an Alpha who didn’t appear haggard with bags under his eyes and his clothes hanging loose on his thinner-than-usual frame.

If I were to have a formal introduction to the pack, I hoped we could pair it with the opening of the daycare at headquarters, but we were still waiting for planning permission. Keane insisted we weren’t allowed to bribe anyone at City Hall to speed the process, because we couldn’t cut corners with regards to children’s safety.

“Fine, I give up.”

We were having a family dinner at my brothers’ home, where I had lived before mating. They’d put together a meal which Maynard said was passable, and the rest of us tossed crudités at his head. None of them hit him because he had super speedy shifter reflexes. Maynard and Rhodes’s dog, Momo, turned his nose up at the vegetables on the floor.

“Give up on what?” Riggs sipped a glass of wine. “Being a nice person?”

Everyone laughed and banged the table with their fists. My family was so tiresome.

“We’ll celebrate.” Keane’s due date was a few weeks away, and while I would have preferred to wait until after the baby was born, Rhodes suggested getting it done before.

“You’ll be exhausted in those first few weeks post-birth.”

“Okay. Next Friday night.”

There were no medals to pin on my chest, no head to crown. I did have a head, but there were no crowns in the pack. Keane suggested serving cocktails and nibbles. He and I would circulate, introducing ourselves to pack members we hadn’t met, and I’d give a short speech.

“Very short.” He gave me a look. “No one wants to listen to a long one. Trust me.”

That was fine by me. I hated talking in front of large groups of people, though my family disagreed, saying I’d been telling them what to do since birth. So rude!

And now here we were. Headquarters was festooned with decorations, and waiters circled with drinks and tiny bites of food Keane said were nibbles.

My mate was dressed in a dark green paternity suit that matched the color of his eyes. Being very pregnant, he couldn’t stand for long, which was perfect for getting away from groups of pack members who wanted to talk forever about my failings. Not everyone was enamored with what I’d achieved so far.

Keane tucked his arm in mine as we made our way around the room. But he winced and was breathing deeply and stumbling.

I took him aside. “I can have someone drive you home. You should be in bed.”

“No, I’m fine, but there’s not much space in my belly, and it’s uncomfortable for both the baby and me.”

But every few minutes he gripped my arm, and his labored breathing worried me. He’d produce a wan smile, and we continued our rounds of the function room.

“I know that look.” An elderly omega I hadn’t met gazed at Keane’s bump.

“End-of-pregnancy kicks in the ribs.” My mate nodded. I knew my mate well enough, and he was masking his pain.

“No.” He touched Keane’s arm. “You’re in labor, dear.”

“Labor?” My voice echoed across the room, and everyone turned toward us.

My brothers assembled behind Keane.

“What are you doing?” I hissed.

“We’re ready to help Keane give birth.”

“And boil water if needed.”

“Remember, we were present when Luna was born.”

How could I forget Rhodes going into labor in the cinema.

“You’re not in labor, are you?” Surely the process started slowly with a few twinges, but Luna’s birth had been quick.

“Maybe,” my mate panted.

“Think of it this way, Boaz.” Riggs slapped me on the back. “You won’t have to give your speech.”

“Will you stop your little bro fest and pay attention to me?” Keane complained. “I’m about to bring your niece or nephew into the world.”

“Hospital or home?” Thiago tucked his arm in Keane’s, but I elbowed him out of the way. That was my job.

“I won’t make it to either.”

My mind went blank. Where would he go? He couldn’t have the baby with the pack milling about and gawking.

“Your office, Boaz.” Maynard took charge.

“But he can’t have the baby there.”

Keane hissed at me, his cat shining through his eyes. “You may be Alpha, but I say where this baby comes into the world. Your office it is.”

I raised my hand to salute, but Lake yanked it down and glared at me. “What’s wrong with you,” he mouthed.

Maybe I was in shock, but my brothers were taking charge and leading Keane to the elevator, and I had to step up. Or step into the elevator.

Hurry , my wolf urged.

The seven of us squeezed in the elevator, no, eight including Rhodes. I wondered if everyone was going to help or if they’d wait outside my office with champagne and pop the cork when the baby cried.

Keane dug his nails into my palm, groaning and saying, “Here comes another one.”

“Sounds painful.” Ezra elbowed Thiago and told him to shut it.

When we reached the entrance to my office, I steered my mate inside and then went to bar the door.

“Where are you going?” I asked my family.

“In there.” They spoke in unison, but Rhodes put up his hand.

“As I’m the only one who has had a baby, I vote that I come in and the rest of you stay here.”

There were howls and the stomping of feet, reminding me of Luna, but they backed off, muttering that they never had any fun.

I closed the door and the blinds, and Rhodes put the sofa cushions on the floor.

“Huh. I knew that sofa would come in useful someday.”

Keane draped his arms around my neck, his eyes tightly closed and swayed his hips. He rested his head on my chest as another contraction wracked his belly.

“Get rid of these damned clothes.” He frantically yanked off his jacket, ripping buttons and tearing the fabric. “Get them off me.”

Rhodes and I made quick work of undressing him, and I helped my mate lie down. He raised his knees, crying out as the cramps wrapped around him.

“Help me, Boaz. I can’t do this alone.”

I froze at those words, but just as I had taken the former Alpha’s place and met the challenge, now I had to be the best mate to Keane.

I lay beside him and took his hand. “We’re going to breathe together.”

“Fuck breathing. I’m screaming.”

“Screaming it is.”

We yelled together, him drawing blood on my palms as the contractions helped bring our baby into the world.

“Can you see the baby, Rhodes?”

“I see dark hair.”

“Oh my gods, we’ve done it.”

Keane whimpered.

“Ummm, you’ve done it, Kitten. Sorry.”

“Ahhh.”

“Keep pushing, Keane.”

If I bore down like my mate was doing, I might need to rush to the bathroom, so instead, I shouted encouragement. “You’ve got this.”

“The head!” Rhodes was yelling as loud as my mate.

“Did you hear that, Keane? We have a head.”

“Push, Keane. The baby’s almost here.” That was Rhodes, and I took him at his word.

“Almost here, love.” My mate was doing all the work, and I was just repeating what Rhodes said.

“You did it,” Rhodes squealed.

Keane flopped to one side, and I grabbed his chin, thinking he’d passed out. His body reminded me of a rag doll kids played with in movies, but he grinned and held out his arms for our baby.

“A beautiful baby boy.”

Rhodes left the room, and my mate nuzzled our son. He was red and plump and wriggling on Keane’s chest, but his eyes were open, and they were the same color as my mate’s.

“We have to think of a name.”

We hadn't been able to agree on one, but our baby was here, and we had to name him.