Page 70 of The Omega's Unexpected Bounty
For most of my life, I fought my biology, and when I gave in, life became better. I whispered my revelation as best I could, and he smiled. We had different parts and duties. I don’t think he understood exactly what was going on, but I did my best. I told him about the cramps which grew underneath my stomach, and the back pain traveled down to my tailbone. Then I followed on how with every contraction my muscles seized. He nodded in understanding, and I thought he was adorable in his ignorance.
He smiled and told me how it all made sense. I raised my eyebrows on what I was sure was my sweaty face, “How do you know all this?” His hands gripped mine tighter, and he smiled, “A king’s son has a busy life, and I’ve been attending to a volatile kingdom. My free time is limited, and I’ve used it to studied delivery techniques.”
Okay, maybe he’s not so ignorant.“I didn’t know you did that,” I whispered.
His smile was faint as if I amused him, but nothing was condescending, “Because you didn’t observe doesn’t mean I don’t do it. I’ve been doing my best to protect you…” He stayed quiet, and I knew his thought; ‘Despite my best efforts,thishappened.’
My back muscles clenched again as did other things while my channel grew wet with slick. I learned my lesson to not fight it. “You couldn’t have known–” Another stab pierced my stomach, and I let the pain pass before I continued. “You can only make reasonable plans. If you didn’t do what you did…” My voice trailed off. I would’ve been dead; it wasn’t something to voice. Mentally I didn’t want a damper on ‘The Moment.’ My,ourson was coming soon. He didn’t need to arrive in a world of sadness. Physically just laying down while my son was trying to get out was traumatic enough. Another contraction came, and it was faster than before.
“It’s coming,” he said.
I let out a shaky laugh. “You think?”
He knew I meant nothing bad and picked up a square purple-black solid block, and a slot opened in the armrest as soon as he touched it, and he slid it in. “Extra power,” he explained. As if in response, the leg rest lengthened and then split into two planks for my legs. Soft intelligent putty formed around my ankles. With no movement on my part, I leaned back while the cushion underneath my back pushed forward. Nanites I couldn’t see dissolved my clothing as if it were fine sand. Once done my legs spread up in the air with my genitalia and back-end exposed to the cool air. I stared at the monitor orb that was recording this and I’m sure he smelled the dusty scent of my concern. Intellectually I knew it was needed. The time stamp would provewhenthis baby was born. Balo wasn’t the enemy we thought he was, but his mate was just as close to delivering as me.
In that, we were the same. Everything else was different. Balo’s mate would see the beauty of an Omega doing his duties for the grandeur of the Volardi race. Another Femeni in a long line, giving the Volardi their ‘heart’ and future. Me? I felt like I over-ate and had to use the restroom. Thanks to my implant, I didn’t need to, but it still reminded me of that time. The deep instinctual need to push a baby out was too close to something else.
Even with the fear, I knew what I had to do. Go with instinct. It served me well out on the plains, and it would do it here. Something within, be it common sense or Omega instinct told me what to do even if it wasn’t sharing with my intellectual side. Waves of gooseflesh and pain sloshed through my body which I suppose was appropriate on an ocean planet.
Graden stared down with deep purple eyes. The same ones that looked at me with such love back in the cabin, outdoors in the dojo and other places. I bit my lip and fought a tear only for a moment before it crawled down my cheek. This experience improved my life, but it was because of him. He would always protect me – I was still capable – but I couldn’t deny the man his instinct. The Volardi made the galaxy safer, but it was still a dangerous place. Having someone devote his life to my well-being didn’t seem so bad.
As if he sensed my ending thoughts he whispered. “Push.”
The old muscle memory of using the restroom returned while a bundle of contractions and weight moved down. Waves crested through my body while others were ebbs of discomfort. The only consistent action was my son traveling down.
“Again,” whispered Graden. “You’re almost there.”
I was, and I knew it like my own name. There wasn’t anything truer in the universe. I couldn’t see from my position, but they say an Omega knows his own body. Even the chair was smart enough to understand what stage we were at since the legs spread further apart while my ass went higher. Maybe Graden did something, or I moved it. This body wasn’t exactly mine anymore. I was just a biological machine, and right now it had one job – to deliver our son.
I felt more slick pool from below while my throbbing, burning cheeks spread out. Without conscious effort, I continued to flex while more of our son slowly exited. From the pressure, it had to be his head.
At least I hope so. If that’s my baby’s feet…
The intentionally calm and stoic face of Graden softened into a slight smile. He cupped both hands under me while something – hopefully shoulders – pushed out. I mumbled a quick thanks if that was it, anything else was easy. The only thing more painful would be twins.
Oh, let’s not think about that right now.
More of my son left, and I think it was his legs and then feet. As if the universe gave me only so much ability, I collapsed on the chair even if I was technically laying down already. A quick mental check told me nobody else was in me and yet I frowned. After three months, it became normal even if I didn’t think so at the time. Now I was… empty without him.
A loud cry filled the hallway and there wrapped in a silver blanket was our son. Red skin as if mildly sunburned with splotches of white. His eyes were closed tight, and his mouth opened. His cries continued until I winced at the noise, but it was something I gladly endured. It meant he was healthy and strong.Those are lungs he can use under the ocean.
The medical orb that attended me went over to my son, and I exhaled softly when it hummed and did nothing more except bathe our child in purple beams. Within a few seconds, it cleaned him of goo and slick. Graden’s eyes misted, and he smiled with a goofy grin. “Dara and healthy.” They were the middle sex and still the most common but treasured – especially by us.
The chair’s back pushed up, and Graden handed me our son. We both stared at the lumpy crying boy while tears fell down on his head. I almost moved and then remembered we were on a water planet.He’d get used to salty water soon enough.In my peripheral vision, Graden looked toward the cell, and there was my Pa with wide blue-green eyes. He swallowed several times while tears went down his face. I can only guess what he thought. Twenty years ago, this resulted in a very different life for him. Our child was a new beginning, and maybe it could be for him.
I wanted to hand him his grandson, but he just had a traumatizing experience.Still, there’s something I can do.
I whispered my question to Graden amid our baby’s cries. He said nothing for a few seconds and then smiled as he nodded his agreement.
“Don’t worry Pa. You can hold him soon enough.”
He shook his head quickly, and his voice cracked when he spoke. “What’s his name?”
Graden leaned in, and I whispered before he nodded his agreement. Past him, I stared at a man that was a monster and now saved me from one. I took in a deep breath and spoke. “Nathan. Named after his grandpa and my dad.”
He stayed quiet, but his wide-eyed shiny expression was enough. Soon we’d get out, but one question out of several came to my mind. Is Nathan, the son of a king or the nephew of one?
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