Page 24 of Genj
I had a lot of support as well. Vawn was by my side, as he always had been. And my mate was on his way. He’d left during a race weekend to come here for our baby. For me. I could do this.
Another tug on my belly brought me out of my head. Vawn stared down at me with a teary grin. “It’s time. Your baby is coming.”
I tried to glance past the screen, to get a first glimpse of my baby. Instead, I could only hear the angry wail of a newborn. What was wrong with my baby? I glanced up at Vawn to see his reaction. Yet, his expression hadn’t changed. Was everything okay?
“It’s a boy,” Vawn whispered.
The screen disappeared, and the doctor placed my tiny baby on my chest. “He’s just fine.”
Red, wet, and wiggly, my baby calmed down immediately when we were chest to chest. I reached up, my arms still wired, to hold him.
I had a baby. I had a little boy. He was alive and in my arms. I was a father. Finally.
Chapter Fifteen
Genj
A boy. I had a little boy. And my mate was okay. I recited that over and over in my head, like a mantra, as Ojo drove me to the medical center. After picking me up at the spaceport, he’d told me the news, but I don’t think I fully comprehended the sudden huge change in my life. Not until I was able to see Utahn and my baby boy for myself. I hadn’t seen my omega as often as I’d hoped during his pregnancy, so the fact I now had a family seemed like a foreign concept.
As soon as we reached the medical center, I leaped out of the hovercar without waiting for Ojo to park. I raced into the building and up to the postnatal ward on the third floor.
Yet, I couldn’t go any farther, stopped by the large metal security doors. They kept the babies safe behind them, denied unwanted visitors, those who weren’t any relation to them.
I reached over to the comm system to get buzzed in but paused. Would I be a good dad? I’d always been awkward around kids, and I was super clumsy. How was I going to be of any help to my mate?
The door in front of me opened. I jumped back before it hit me in the face.
“Genj! You’re here!” Vawn hooked his arm through mine and dragged me through the doorway, not letting my doubts fester. “Come meet your son.”
“My son.” Those two words echoed in my head as we walked down the corridor, past room after room of newborn babies. I was now responsible for another life.
At the end of the hallway, Vawn stopped, only one door in front of us. “I know you’re scared. I can see it on your face. But Utahn and your new baby need you right now.”
I took a deep breath and nodded. My brother knew me well. “Thank you for being with him when I couldn’t.”
He slapped my back. “Ut’s my best friend. I would do anything for him. But, it’s your time to take over now. They need you, not me.”
With a gulp, I took a step into the room. Then another. And there in front of me was my family. Utahn sat up in the bed with our son pressed to his chest, feeding him.
My mate smiled softly. “Hi.”
As I smiled in return, I couldn’t help the tears forming in the corners of my eyes. Such a beautiful sight. One I wanted to remember for the rest of my life. “How are you doing?”
“Good. Tired, but good.” His eyebrows knit together for a moment. “What happened at the race? Why are you here already?”
I walked over to the bed and kissed Utahn on his forehead. “Doesn’t matter. What matters is I’m here.”
He reached up toward me with his free hand and pulled me down for a soft kiss. “Well, I’m glad you are here.”
With a shaky hand, I reached out and ran my palm across our son’s hat-covered head. “He’s so little. Is he okay?”
Utahn nodded. “Yeah. The nurses are in here often checking on him because he was premature, but they say he can stay with me, that he’s big enough and all his organs are functioning properly.”
“I’m sorry I wasn’t here when he was born. Or during more of your pregnancy.” Guilt ate away at me. I needed to figure out a way to be two places at once. I needed to fly, but I also needed to be a good mate and father.
Utahn took my hand and ran his thumb along the back of it. “You’re here now.”
“Is there anything you need me to do?” I should have offered my help right away instead of standing there like a fool. What was I thinking?
