by Nika Lucas
I then have to chase after Caleb.
It’s not something you see every day, two wolves running through the suburbs of Portland. I’m sure we’re a sight, one wolf so pregnant he can barely run.
But run we do, and I realize Caleb is right, this is faster than driving, even in his state.
But we just have to make it.
CHAPTER 22 – CALEB
The hospital is in shock as two wolves charge in through the emergency doors, slipping on the clean white tiles and throwing snow and ice everywhere as we shake it out of our coats.
Trey is far more in a panic than I am, even though I’m the one wolf-waddling with a baby. Poor thing, I’ve never seen a wolf so wide-eyed and lost. He forgets to shift to a man and runs up to the nurse.
Unfortunately, he has so much snow on his paws he loses control and goes sliding across the floor and straight into the front desk.
Our doctor is human but understands shifter anatomy. He’s used to our kind. But these nurses, they don’t quite know what to think of wolves running around.
I shift, scaring the poor woman half to death. She squeals, and I fear she’s going to pass out. They probably don’t get a lot of nude men charging in, whether as a wolf or a man.
“I’m Caleb,” I say, “I called a little while ago. I think I’m about to have a baby.”
She gets some measure of control again, and goes all professional, though she still has an embarrassed and startled flush to her cheeks. “Has your water broke?”
“No, but I’ve got contractions happening.”
The nurse looks next to me at the large wolf, at Trey, who sits impatiently by my side, his eyes large as saucers.
“Trey,” I say, “Shift.”
He looks up at me and blinks, as though he hadn’t realized, and then suddenly there’s two naked men standing in the ER. Only then do I catch the eye of those in the waiting room, staring in startled horror at our bare backsides. There’s not a shifter among them.
The nurse catches my look and says, “I’ll get you both a robe.”
* * *
It is exactly six hours later to the minute that I am lying in a hospital bed, sore, exhausted, and plastered with sweat, but holding our new pup. He’s not a pup at the moment though, he’s a beautiful boy with dark hair, and eyes that look just like his father’s. Well, Trey’s, that is. The pup nuzzles against my chest, searching for a nipple. I wince as he clamps down.
Trey stands next to me, looking as much a patient as I do in his matching hospital gown. His grin warms my heart. I can see his pride in his new son… our new son.
Mack is in the waiting room, waiting to see our new expanded family. He’s the only one from the pack who is here, the only one brave enough to face the snowstorm, and more importantly, bring Trey some clothes.
“He’s got your eyes,” I say.
“Yeah, but look, he’s got your mouth and nose.”
I look down at our little guy, still a little messy from his birth. “We did it,” I say, “Can you believe it?”
“You did it,” Trey replies, “You did the hard part. I had it easy.”
“I know.” I roll my eyes, to make sure he realizes that yes, I do know. “But it was worth it. Are you ready for the next stage?”
“Sharing you?” he asks, and then laughs. “I am. I’m totally ready for this, for a family. Are you?”
I stroke my baby’s forehead. When I brush his fingers, the tiny things wrap around my pinky. “Like I have a choice.”
He frowns, so I add hurriedly, “Yes, a hundred times, yes. It’s all I’ve ever wanted, and all I thought I could never have.”
The nurse pushes in and asks, “So you guys settle on a name yet?”
“Yes,” Trey says, “Aaron.”
“Aaron,” the nurse says, writing it down.
“I guess it’s official,” I say. We’d talked about it before, and I look down at our son, making sure in my mind’s eye that the name fits, now that he’s here.
“Are you two ready for a visitor? There’s another man who’ been waiting for hours out there to see you three.”
A few minutes later, Mack comes bustling in. He passes Trey some clothing, so the rest of the world won’t have to stare at that fine piece of alpha ass, and heads directly toward me.
“Well done, Cal,” he says, “He’s beautiful.”
He leans in and carefully hugs me, so as not to crowd the baby.
He spends the next few minutes cooing and talking to little Aaron, as though the rest of us aren’t there.
Finally, he turns to Trey. “Do not break his heart,” he orders.
There’s a challenge here, between two alphas, and suddenly the tension is so thick you can cut it with a knife.
Trey pounces, and it catches Mack off guard as he’s pulled into Trey’s embrace. It’s a very friendly hug.
“Um, thanks,” Mack says, “But I’m trying to lecture you about your future. Your gown is a little too revealing.”
“And I needed to set you straight on the size of my cock, you asshole.”
They both laugh as I roll my eyes.
* * *
We head home the following day. Trey’s got us all taken care of, a baby seat properly installed in the back. As we make the short trip across town to his house, Trey says, “So I’ve been thinking. Now that we’re starting a family, what do you think about taking it to the next step?”
“I’m not ready to have another yet,” I say, “Let me get used to this one. Besides, the doctor says no sex for a while.”
“Not what I’m talking about,” he says with a grin, “But that does sound like fun.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You know, the next step. Making the family official. Let’s get married.”
“Why, Trey, are you proposing?”
“Maybe. Yes, if you want to. No, if you don’t because then I’m just being hypothetical. Like a what-if.”
“No.”
“Ah.” Trey’s face falls, and I keep from smiling.
“Not until you get me a ring. And you call this a proposal? No way. I want something romantic. This does not count as romantic. You will not propose to me in a car.”
Then he does smile, and I see his mind go to work. Knowing Trey, he’ll do it in a song. Regardless, I can’t wait to see what he comes up with.
Where I’ve been broken for so long, I think that now I can begin to accept that maybe I’m not as broken as I thought I was. This alpha loves me, and because of him, I can begin to love myself. I can see my scars and not hate who I am, I can purge the self-loathing that a past relationship did to me.
When I look at Trey, I see only an alpha that wants the best for me, that wants to build a family. He’s going to watch over the two of us with love and fill our lives with music.
When I told him this is what I wanted, I meant it. That baby in the backseat won’t be our last child. Even though I’m still worn out from childbirth, I’m eager to once more have the connection that only two lovers can, to be together as only fated mates can. And soon, this fated mate will have an alpha husband.
# # #
THE END
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OMEGA OUTFOXED
Yukio:
I thought I had everything. I'm a member of the world's most popular all omega shifter male vocal group. I have both fame and wealth, and one of the most desirable men in the word. This is all I've ever wanted. Or so I thought.
I'm a fox shifter in a pack of wolves. I can have anyone I desire. But how will I ever know if I'm loved for whom I truly am? Will I ever meet someone to will take away my unbearable loneliness?
And since I'm an omega shifter, how long will it be before someone claims me?
Alex:
I never needed a p
ack. Hell, I'm better off without one. I'm an alpha fox shifter, and I'm happy to find one-night stands in bars. I only believe in myself. I don't believe in fated mates. I don't believe in love.
That is... until I detect his scent. Until I meet Yukio. I have to have him. I have to possess him, even if he makes me question everything I've built my life around.
But what if, to possess this omega, I must destroy him in the process?
What will happen to their lives when they learn that Yukio is carrying Alex's baby?
Omega Outfoxed is a "knotty" M/M Omegaverse Shifter Mpreg Romance with male pregnancy, no cheating, and a HEA.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nika Lucas is an M/M mpreg shifter writer in the Pacific Northwest. She may or may not be a kitsune, because she still only has one tail. Once she was attacked by a bear, but they were able to work out their differences which took place whilst sharing a bottle of red wine. He was actually pretty cool, and they had a few things in common. He promised to call, but she doesn't think he's really going to.
Despite being a fox shifter, she attempts periodically to live as an herbivore. Her karaoke obsession tends to make most of her friends uncomfortable, as she usually insists on duets or serenading guys with long hair.