Chapter Twenty-Two

Zhang

I finally felt well enough to go to one of Shane's competitions, and after visiting the healer again, I was glad to know everything was going as it should. Attending the event was a big treat, probably our last travel together before the baby came.

I don't know what I'd pictured, but nothing prepared me for the size of the crowd or the size of the venue. And seeing Shane's image everywhere made me feel a little weird. I had been with him to a whole bunch of his gyms, and unlike his home base where he was well-known but seen often, the other facilities always greeted him like a celebrity, but not like this one. He took me to my front-row seat and left me with James because he had to go get ready to compete.

Seeing his body every day, I had a great appreciation for it and everything about it, but on stage, he knew just how to show all those gorgeous muscles to advantage. He had Chad with him down there somewhere, and I knew it was a little tough for his dad to back off, so I told him how much I appreciated him keeping me company while his son was competing. I also got him to explain a lot about what was going on. Not only did I want to learn, but my father-in-law was anxious to have a part in the event, even if Chad was working with Shane on the floor. I was stuffing my face with popcorn when my mate left a group he was talking to and came over to find me.

He climbed the railing to get even with me and pulled me in for a big kiss. The crowd cheered and I opened my eyes to see us on the big screen. I was embarrassed because unlike my alpha, I was anything but a public figure. But then his kiss had its usual effect and I melted into his arms. When he ended the kiss, he took my hand and held it in the air. "This is my omega, my fated mate, and we are having a baby!"

The cheers became roars.

I waved with my free hand, laughing and smiling. No longer quite as shy when my baby was being mentioned. Shane moved to swing back to the floor just as the first contraction hit. Hard. I doubled up and stared in horror at the flooring beneath my feet as a puddle formed.

"Son, hold up," James hollered after Shane. "You're going to have a baby."

"I know," he said. "I just announced it to everyone in the arena."

"No, you're going to have a baby right now."

Shane froze with one foot on the ground. "Now?"

"Well," James said, "very soon. I think you need to get him to the hospital right now."

"But the baby isn't due for a couple of weeks."

"You know how unpredictable mixed shifters can be?" James said. "We need to go."

"What is going on?" Now Chad had arrived. "You are supposed to be on stage."

"Make my excuses," Shane said.

"They're having the baby," his father reiterated. "And family comes first." Shane had told me how driven his dad had always been. Now he was saying family first? That was a shock for sure. But a good one. And then I didn't have any more time to think about it because things began to happen fast. Both in terms of contractions and in terms of my mate taking me to the hospital.