Page 17 of The Alpha Grizzly’s Mate (Omegas of the Shifter Mafia #8)
Levi
“Daddy Levi!” Avril, our youngest cub, barged into my office right in the middle of a meeting with my betas. Her reddish pigtails bounced as she ran over and tugged on my shirt. “It’s time.”
“Avril, I’m in a meeting, sweetheart. Can we talk later?”
She put her hands on her hips. Her face reddened as she puffed out her cheeks. “No. Papa said you have to come now. He said kick your shins if I need to. Papa Colson needs help.”
I stood at the level of seriousness in my little one’s tone. “Where is he? What’s wrong?”
She started away, of course knowing I would follow. “Papa said the baby is coming.”
My little cinnamon bear cub really should’ve led with that.
“Betas, we will continue this later.” I didn’t wait around for their reply, nor did I wait for Avril to lead the way. I picked her up and held her against my side, quickening my steps. “Where is Papa?” I asked her.
Sure, I could guess, but my girl was smart.
“He’s in the bathroom. On the floor. Making this sound.” She made something between a moan and a grunt.
“Why is he in the bathroom?” I took the steps two at a time, making sure not to jostle our daughter too much.
“He was brushing his teeth after tuna sandwiches.”
Ah, yes, our lunch.
“Okay. Where are your brothers and sister?”
“With Aunt Patty and Papa.”
At least Colson wasn’t alone. I pushed the door to our suite open and put Avril down. “Aunt Patty?” I called out, not knowing if my mate would be able to answer me if he was in pain.
“We’re in here.”
I walked into the bathroom to see Aunt Patty helping Colson up and supporting him. “Here, mate. Let me help you. Did we call the healer?”
Aunt Patty nodded. “Jacob is on his way. He just delivered another baby. Two minutes. That was his ETA.”
“Good. Colson, where do you want to go?”
“The bed.”
“Do you know how far apart the contractions are?”
Colson nodded. “One minute, mate, and my water broke. It all happened so fast.”
“You’re doing great. Here we go.”
I laid him on the bed but, immediately, he rolled over to his hands and knees. “Patty, can you take the kids, please? I think this is going to happen any second.”
As soon as Patty wrangled our children out of the room, Colson turned to me. “Take my pants off. This baby is coming out. Now.”
Colson fisted the comforter and he cried out as I pulled off his pants. His channel had already widened. He leaned back, dipping his hips lower and let out a sound I could only describe as primal. His wolf was working through him, as he should.
“I’m here, alpha.” Jacob walked in and washed his hands as my mate pushed.
“I can see the head,” I said, kneading Colson’s lower back and hips. It was the only thing I could think of that might help my mate get through this anguish.
“There they are,” Jacob said, sidling up next to me. “Okay, Colson. You’re going to feel a ring of fire, and that’s your cue to push harder. Just a few more, and you will welcome your cub into the world.”
“Pup or cub,” Colson corrected, making both of us chuckle.
“Our baby. Let’s welcome our baby.”
“Better,” Colson said, but the last of the word came out with a loud yell. I watched in complete awe as my mate pushed out the head of our baby.
“One more push. One big one. Everything you have left.” Jacob was a good healer, but I hadn’t realized what a great coach he was.
Colson laid his face on the bed, breathing heavily. “Levi, I can’t. I can’t do this.”
I rushed to Colson’s head and turned him to face me. “Colson, you can. You’re already the best papa on the planet, and all you need to do is push one more time. You can do this. You’re the strongest, bravest omega in the universe.”
“You really think I can?” Colson heaved.
“I do. Now push our baby out.”
My mate grabbed my hand, squeezed it so hard I saw stars, and bore down.
“There he is!” Jacob said, and shortly after I heard a cry. “Alpha, come get your son.”
I was torn between getting our son and staying with my omega.
Colson must’ve sensed my hesitation. “Alpha, go get our pup. I’m okay. I’m okay. I did it.”
“Okay. Thank you, omega. You’ve given me the best gift.” I kissed my omega’s forehead and went to get our baby. He was rooting around for a feeding and making tiny grunting sounds.
“He’s a beauty, alpha.” Jacob handed me the swaddled cub and I immediately brought him up to see Colson. I held him there while he delivered the placenta and while Jacon cleaned him up. Once he was laying on his back on our bed, all settled and comfy, I handed him our son.
“He’s perfect,” I whispered.
Colson cried and situated our son to his chest for his first feeding. “He is. Oh…we didn’t decide on a name.”
“You pick. You did all the work.”
As our son filled his belly, we snuggled together. Jacob left after a while, and the room fell silent, all except the gulps of our son. “How about Seth? Good, strong name. He might be alpha someday.”
“He might. I like Seth. It’s decided.”
Aunt Patty brought in the kids after a while, and they each took turns holding him. We already had a clan of cubs of our own, and now we had another one. I was the luckiest damned male alive.
At least something good came from Raphael’s shenanigans. Hunting him down had inadvertently given me a chance to find my fated mate.