Page 319 of As The Shifter World Turns

“Have you chosen a name yet?” I asked Neil. This late in a pregnancy, most parents-to-be had at least narrowed their choices but Martin and Neil were far from making a decision. Each time one of them came up with a name, the other refused to consider it saying they hated it. And if they both liked one, it was Toby who disliked it. Thankfully Charlie didn’t get a vote because his favorite word was “No.”

My friend shrugged and took a sip of his soda. “We have a couple of weeks.”

That sounded more like me than Neil. Not that it mattered. If their baby didn’t have a name for the first few days of their life, they wouldn’t know or care.

The food announced itself with a tantalizing aroma across the room and when both dishes were delivered, we tucked in.

“This is so good.” I twirled the spaghetti around my fork and ate a second mouthful while Neil tasted his risotto.

“Oh Gods.” He leaned forward.

“That good, huh?”

“No.”

“What?” Maybe we could order him something else if he didn’t like the risotto. “Try a bite of mine.”

This time Neil groaned, and his face registered pain. I got the attention of the waiter. Something was wrong with the food and Neil was going to be sick.

“The baby, Daire.” Neil’s little one loved kicking his ribs.Bad timing, little buddy. “I’m having contractions.”

Braxton Hicks. I’d read about those. “Can I get you anything?”

“A birthing suite.”

“What?” That was me.

“What?” That was the waiter.

Neil shoved his chair back. “I want to push.”

No! My beast wasn’t prepared for Neil to give birth and neither was I.

Where was the pacing back and forth, the warm baths, the holding his mate’s hand during contractions? What about the ice chips and favorite music? “But your water hasn’t broken.”

The waiter pointed to the floor and when I glanced under the table, there was a puddle.

“Call Martin.”

I dropped the phone in my spaghetti and when I fished it out and got hold of Neil’s mate, he thought I was joking. But Neil yelling in the background convinced him it was real.

“I’m coming,” he yelled into the phone.

“So’s the baby,” Neil panted.

“We have to get you to the hospital.”

“I have to push,” Neil wailed.

“No time for the hospital.” One of the owners rushed over to the table. The omega. “He’s about to give birth.” Turned out the guy had helped deliver numerous babies. The owners’ apartment was upstairs but Neil wouldn’t make it, so I scooped him up and carried him. Then I sat him on a bed and undressed him.

After that, he was in control. He was on hands and knees and focused on his breathing.

“You need to support your friend,” the owner, whose name was Terrance, told me.

What? I was a pregnant omega who was planning on giving birth in the not too distant future. Nate was the one who was going to support me. What did I know about it? And besides, Martin would be here soon. I hoped.

Terrance nudged me and I kneeled beside the bed and said, “Look at me, Neil.” And when he did, we breathed through the contraction together. “You’ve got this.”

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