Page 21 of The Bear, the Eagle, and their Wombat Omega (Omegas of Animals: SD #14)

Steve

Nesting was wild. I always knew it was a thing, but I didn’t really understand how strong the pull was to get everything right for my clutch.

Was it a clutch? I should have asked my mate, but I hadn’t thought about it. I took out my phone and typed it in the search bar. Huh. Apparently, I was having an aerie .

Go me.

Laying eggs wasn’t something I thought was even possible. I was a wombat. Wombats came with pouches. That’s sort of how that worked. But there was no denying this was a nest and that eggs were coming and, based on the size of my belly, pretty soon.

I spent hours just looking at my nest. If I’d been asked to draw the perfect nest even two weeks ago, I’d have had no idea. But when the time came, everything fell into place, and now I took it in with wonder.

“I’m gonna go grab some ice cream,” I told the nest, because for some reason, I kept talking to it like it was an actual person.

My nest heard all about what I wanted to eat, when I needed to use the restroom, what time my mates were coming home, and what I was thinking as far as my businesses went. If the nest ever grew lips…oh, the secrets it could tell.

When I left San Diego to come here and start a new business and live with my mates, I’d been worried about what would happen with my old business. I had worked so hard to build it up.

I told Zevo about it one day, while I was there, getting snacks, snacks that my pregnancy demanded, and he suggested I sell the business instead of closing it down.

It was something I hadn’t considered before.

The only thing I’d known for sure was that I couldn’t stay away from my mates much longer. It was too hard on all of us.

There was something wonderful about knowing my “baby” was going to keep flourishing.

The person who bought it had been at the charity event just as everything had been falling apart.

He was a friend of Zevo’s mate and had been nice, helping out as best he could.

He’d seen firsthand how stressful it could be.

If they still wanted it after that, they were the right person.

I wasn’t starting anything new right now, obviously. I had more important things to worry about, like eating the pint of mint-chocolate-chip ice cream I’d sent my mates to buy early that morning.

I pulled it out of the freezer and set it on the counter while I dug around for the ice cream scoop, then I laughed at myself. There weren’t going to be any leftovers. Why pretend? My favorite spoon in hand, a few minutes later, I was back at the nest, eating away.

As predicted, I ate every last spoonful, something I regretted a half hour later, as my stomach began to cramp.

I called my mates at their work. “I ate too much ice cream. My body hates me.”

I was whiny. That’s all there was to it. I figured growing our family gave me the right because it was either that or be very disappointed in myself.

“We’re on our way,” Bruno said.

“You don’t need to come home. I just wanted to vent.”

“Nope, we’re on our way with a huge bottle of Tums,” Arkyn insisted.

By the time they walked in the door, I’d figured out that Tums weren’t what I needed.

It was egg time.

“You’re having eggs now?” Bruno’s jaw dropped.

“Yeah, Bruno, I’m laying our eggs now. Help me get undressed, alphas.”

Once rid of my clothing, I circled the nest, unable to walk any farther than that. My wombat refused to even go toward the kitchen. Round and round and round I went, stopping only as the pain got too severe.

If I’d had my smartwatch on, I’d probably have broken a record for my number of steps.

And then it was time.

The midwife had told me I would know. I’d thought she was full of garbage. But she wasn’t. One minute, I was circling, wondering if labor would ever be over, the next, I knew it was time to push.

My alphas helped me into my nest, and I squatted. Bruno stood behind me, Arkyn in front, holding my forearm as I held his, and they made sure I was steady as it came time to push.

It hurt. Oh gods, did it hurt. And there were a couple of times, if I could’ve turned back and stopped, I would’ve. But that wasn’t how birth happened.

Finally, after screams that probably woke the entire county and nearly blacking out, my first egg came out. Then my second, five minutes later.

Arkyn tried to school his face. He really did. But something was wrong.

“Help me out of the nest,” I cried, and Bruno pulled me out so I could get a better look.

“Wait, this is what you’re upset about?” I pointed to our two eggs.

“There’s something wrong with them.” Arkyn’s voice quivered. Poor guy.

But also, it was hilarious.

I started to crack up.

“They’re square.” He reached as if to touch one and pulled his hand back.

“Of course they’re square. I’m a wombat.”

“There is no such thing as square eggs!” Bruno said.

For two such intelligent mates, they really were clueless.

“You don’t know anything about our mate’s animal, do you? Quick, go read ‘Unusual Facts About the Wombat,’ please.” It would take them straight to the fact that they are the animal that eliminates in the form of squares.

He took out his phone, and I saw the second he read it.

“Your eggs are square. I get it now.”

I would’ve teased him more, but the cramping began again. Only this time, it was different, and a soreness crept along my entire abdomen.

“Crap. There’s one more.”

Bruno tried to help me into the nest, but I slapped his arm away.

“No, no, no. We need to go on the bed or on the floor. Just…I need to lie down.”

“Arkyn, is that okay?” Bruno just bypassed me and went straight to our mate to ask. I was so confused.

“Why are you asking me? I’m not the one giving birth.”

“Can eggs come out that way?” Bruno asked.

“This isn’t an egg. It’s not an egg.” If it was, my abdomen wouldn’t be feeling like it was about to be torn open.

And that must have been enough because they put some cushions on the floor for me when I yelled the bed was far. Anything but right beside my nest was too far at that point.

I settled down just as the rip tore through me. My pouch was open. Unlike a kangaroo’s, it opened at the bottom. From the angle they were at, they probably didn’t even see it. But they didn’t need to. Only our young did.

“Hold my hands, mates, please.” I didn’t want them to be tempted to help our little one get to their destination. If I held on to them, and they held on to me, that was for the best.

The burning came again, and it was time to push. It was so different from the eggs, not only in the pain level but also because there was no final exit and feeling of relief. It was like the real work began once they came out.

Our little one, in wombat form, slowly worked his way up to the pouch and inside, as my mates and I watched in wonder.

“Do you have to lie down this entire time?” Bruno asked.

“No, just wait.” And, sure enough, a few minutes later, my pouch had sealed back up, where it would stay until it was time for our baby to come out again.

“Let’s get you showered,” Arkyn said.

“No, I can’t leave the eggs.”

“Don’t worry. We’ll take care of you, mate.” Bruno kissed my cheek.

“We’ll take care of you.” This time, the kiss was from Arkyn.

“I know you will, mates. I know you will.”