Chapter Twenty-Three

Raven

Peeling potatoes wasn’t my favorite thing in the world before joining this team of vigilantes as they sometimes referred to themselves. But the other omegas and I called them heroes.

They didn’t have to save us. They chose to. They were all smart, capable, and strong alphas in their own ways, and they chose to dedicate their lives to saving those unable to help themselves.

Heroes, for sure.

But now, looking down at my enormous belly, I realized the simple things were the best ones. Peeling potatoes for a cowboy casserole supper to feed a massive number of omegas and alphas and all the children we took care of was good work. Our work here would reverberate through their generations. And especially mine.

I watched my hunk of a bear waltz in, taking up most of the doorway with his massive frame. His gaze scanned the large kitchen and dining area, landing on me. The instant smile on his face warmed my chest. Goddess, how did I get so damned lucky?

“I thought you were supposed to be resting, love?” He leaned down to place a kiss on my temple.

“I am. See?” I moved my legs. My feet were propped up, which made it awkward to turn to the side for peeling the potatoes, but omegas made things like this work. We had to.

“I see that. Can I take over? I’m done for the day, and I’ve missed you.”

This big bear was so kind and sweet to me. I didn’t know alphas could be this way before him. “Yes, please.”

Of course, Sutton peeled twice as fast as me, and the brown strips were only peel and not half the potato like mine. He was good at everything. “I need a refill,” I said and attempted to stand.

“I’ll get it,” he said.

I rubbed his shoulder as I stood. “I am capable of getting myself a glass of water, alpha.”

I’d walked a few penguin-like steps toward the water dispenser when I felt a splash around my ankles. At first, I thought I’d tipped my glass and spilled the little water in my glass but when I looked, it was still there in the bottom.

“Raven.” Sutton was at my side in seconds. All other motion in the kitchen stopped, and Jack rushed over as well.

“Raven, your water just broke. Your baby is coming…”

I let out a embarrassingly loud moan as a vise grip of pain locked in around my lower back, getting tighter by the second. Sutton wrapped his arms around me, supporting me.

Jack took my hands in his. “Raven, your babe is coming right now. Let’s get you to your room. Sutton, why don’t you help him into the shower while I grab some things.”

Sutton helped me rinse off, but the pressure and pain in my lower back came in a dizzying rhythm while I went through the motions.

Goddess, I was about to have this baby. Today.

“What about the family dinner?” I said as Jack walked in. He had a stack of blankets and a bag of something. “We have to get all the food ready for tonight.”

Hammer came up with the idea to have all the alphas and omegas and children together, once a week, so we could bond. We were all on the same team. In different ways, of course, but on the same team.

Team: Stop Abusing Omegas .

Jack put the blankets on the bed and came over to lay some of them out on the floor. We’d talked about all of this. Having the baby. The water breaking. The contractions. How I wanted things to go. All of it.

But being in the thick of having a child, well, no amount of planning could’ve prepped me for this.

“Your jackal knows that to do,” Sutton whispered. “Let him take over for you.”

I reached deep within my consciousness and communed with my jackal. He took over part of me and had me get on my hands and knees.

“That’s it. A natural position for giving birth,” Jack said. He moved behind me. “You’re fully dilated, Raven. Are you ready to push?”

Great pressure made me lower my hips with need to push. Jack was right. “Yes,” my jackal spoke through me. “I’m ready.”

I couldn’t remember what happened in between. Sutton encouraged me and rubbed my back. I thought so, at least. I knew there was pushing and pain and a burning sensation like I’d never experienced, but all of that disappeared the second I heard my babe crying. “I want them,” I said, collapsing onto my side. “I want him.”

Sutton came over, holding out little one close to his chest and handed him over. “Here he is, Raven. You did so well. You did so damned well, omega mine.”

“Is he okay?” I frantically checked toes and fingers, making sure he was well. I’d had some dreams of late that my past transgressions would transmute to our child.

That all dissipated when I saw our perfect son.

“We didn’t even decide on a name,” I laughed, cradling him to my chest. He settled as soon as his skin touched mine.

“Whatever you want to name him, Raven. I’m just…” Sutton’s eyes filled with tears. “I’m just so glad you and our son as well.”

“We talked about Nixon,” I said.

“Nixon is perfect.”