Page 33 of Claimed By the Bookstore Alpha
My mate never left my side except to make a mad dash for ice chips. He held my hand through contractions and walked with me through the halls when I needed to move. He was my anchor when the pain threatened to overwhelm me.
"I can't do this," I gasped during one particularly strong contraction. "It's too much." A C-section sounded pretty good right now.
"Yes, you can." Flynn's fierce voice was a wake up call. "You can do anything and I know you can do this.”
I looked into his eyes and saw the faith he had in me and my ability to bring our child safely into the world. It gave me strength as though he’d shared some of his own.
When it was time to push, a surge of primal energy that came from somewhere deep inside me flooded my body. Flynn held my hand and put his other arm around me, and Dr. Bauer coached me through each push.
"I can see the head," she announced. "One more big push, Clark."
I bore down with everything I had, feeling like my body was splitting apart and coming together all at once. Then suddenly, there was a rush of relief and the most beautiful sound I'd ever heard. Our baby cried, their first one ever.
"It's a girl," Dr. Bauer said, lifting a tiny, perfect baby into view. "A beautiful, healthy baby girl."
I burst into tears, overwhelmed by the sight of our daughter. She was small but she waved her little fists, maybe protesting the bright lights. Dr. Bauer didn’t bother cleaning her up but placed her on my chest because I needed to bond with my little girl.
"Hello, my love.” I studied her tiny face. "We've so glad you’re here.”
Flynn leaned over us both, his eyes bright with tears. "She's a little darling.”
Our daughter settled against my chest, her cries quieting as she listened to my voice. She was a perfect blend of both of us with Flynn's dark hair and what looked like my eyes. Ten tiny fingers, ten tiny toes, and the most serious expression I'd seen on a newborn.
"What should we call her?" Flynn asked as he stroked one finger along her cheek.
We'd discussed names throughout the pregnancy but never settled on anything definitive. Looking at her now, though, one name felt absolutely right.
"I think she's a Naya."
Flynn grinned. “Naya Tolliver. I love it."
Dr. Bauer finished the post-delivery procedures while my mate held Naya, both of them looking completely enchanted with each other. Watching him bond with our daughter made my heart too big for my chest.
“There were no complications or tears, and Naya's vitals are all fine. You did beautifully, Clark."
“Her scent..." Flynn paused "There's something there that suggests she may carry the shifter gene."
I didn't care either way and neither did my mate. Shifter or human, we’d love and protect Naya no matter what.
When we were settled in our recovery room, and Naya was sleeping in the bassinet beside my bed, Flynn refused to move more than arm's reach away from either of us.
"I can't believe she's here.” I watched her tiny chest rise and fall.
"She's going to be loved by so many people." My mate adjusted her blanket. “Alpha and the pack, Mrs. Lewis and everyone from the store, your friend Miranda, Martin and everyone.”
"She's going to grow up thinking it's completely normal to have a shifter for a father and a children's book author for a papa." I smiled at the thought. "Our little family."
"The best kind."
Naya stirred in her sleep, making a small sound that had both Flynn and me alert. But she settled again with one tiny fist curled near her face.
She was going to have her alpha dad wrapped around her finger and I was fine with that.
My mate’s voice was filled with wonder. "I never imagined I could feel this… for our child. The love is overwhelming.”
"Wait until she starts walking and talking. She'll probably have strong opinions about how you organize the bookstore."
He laughed. "I can't wait."
