Chapter Twenty-Three

King

"Papa King, Papa King!" I'd gotten used to the name, but when our son Joseph used that tone, I knew someone was in trouble.

"What is it? Is someone hurt?" I crouched to meet him at eye level and planted my hands on his shoulders. Four years old was small.

"Daddy Ryan peed his pants!"

That got a couple of chuckles from the others, until I shot them my most dangerous look over my shoulder.

Aziz's mate Jack stood, knocking his chair over. "Joseph, is Daddy Ryan okay?" Jack handed Bella to Aziz and walked in my direction. "Is he hurting?"

"Why would he be hurting?" I picked up Joseph and asked him to show us the way.

"Because Ryan didn't pee his pants, King. Your mate's water broke."

"Fuck," I murmured.

"Language, Papa," Joseph admonished me. We went outside and found Ryan holding onto the edge of the picnic table, an art project in front of him. The children were busy coloring, folding, and pasting things but my lion felt it now—my mate was in pain. Not a ton, which was why I wasn't alerted—but some.

"Ryan?" I asked, putting Joseph down with the others.

"My water broke. I didn't pee," Ryan said. Joseph shrugged. Probably all the same to him. "Joseph took off, screaming that I peed before I could stop him."

"It's going to be okay," Jack said. "Let's get you inside. I sprinted inside and told Pop-Tart and the others the news. They cheered for us, wishing us the best. We got Ryan inside and Jack examined him in our room. "Okay, Ryan. You're progressing really fast. First birds are usually pretty quick."

"What do I do? How can I help?" I asked, feeling downright worthless. Ryan would be doing all the work.

"Stay with me," my mate begged, holding out his hand. "I'm scared, King. We have six kids, but this is a first for me."

I sat beside him where he lay on the bed and held his hand while wave after wave of pain hit him. I was helpless to stop it. Perfectly pathetic.

After Ryan was undressed, Jack spread out blankets on the floor and encouraged Ryan to get on his hands and knees. He examined him again and told us that the baby was coming—now.

"I need to push," Ryan called out, rocking back and forth on his knees to deal with the pain.

"Then you push. Your body knows what to do, Ryan. Let it." Jack encouraged him while I rubbed his lower back. Jack showed me how. Aziz had one hell of a mate, just like I did.

Ryan screamed as he pushed once and then again. Jack nudged me. "King, come back here. Deliver your babe. You can do it."

I moved next to Jack and saw the baby's head crowning. "You're almost there, omega mine. Let's bring this babe into the world."

Ryan cried out and bore down, bending at his hips. Our baby's head came out and then, with one more push, Ryan collapsed as the baby exited his body.

"There they are," Jack cooed. "King, I'm going to get Ryan on his back, and we'll place the babe on his chest. These first bonding moments are important."

We laid our baby on Ryan's chest. He was dripping with sweat, and his breaths were shallow.

"You did it, omega mine. You did it." I stroked his hair while he inspected our young. "It's a boy, King. A healthy, strong boy."

I nodded. "Yes. What will you name him, mate?"

"Prince," he said. "Because his father is a king."