by Nina Markov
His pregnancy had started to show, so his Alphas had bought him new clothes. Now, he was in his room, in front of the mirror, trying to gather up his courage to go downstairs. Everyone was there, waiting for him, and he felt like he was going to die under so much pressure. When Valj knocked on the door and stepped into the room, he ran into his arms. Of course, the Alpha had sensed his emotions and, probably, read most of his thoughts.
“It’s going to be great. You have nothing to worry about.”
“What if they hate me?”
“Are you kidding me? Have you looked in the mirror?”
Darian sighed. He was wearing the typical clothes worn by Omegas on Alpha Tyron – light trousers and a long robe that almost reached his ankles. Trav had decided blue was a good color for him, and Darian couldn’t find a reason to argue with that. It worked well with his blue eyes, blond hair, and pale skin. It was the strangest thing, because he knew that he looked good in his new clothes, he knew that he was handsome and that he came from a rich family on Karma Minor, yet his confidence was nowhere to be found.
“You’ve been cooped up with us for too long,” Valj said. “Some of the guests have brought their own Omegas, so maybe this is your chance to make new friends. Come on. If you want, I’ll stay by your side all the time.”
At the mention of other Omegas, Darian perked up. It would be nice to talk to people who were like him. Maybe they could give him advice and tell him what he might expect in the next few months of pregnancy.
He allowed Valj to walk him downstairs. And it was a good thing, because when he saw how many people were waiting for him in the grand living room, he felt the strong urge to run back and hide. Valj had a strong grip on his arm, so he pushed him forward. Darian took a deep breath and forced himself to smile. He got this. He saw Trav and Kron in the small crowd, and his smile reached his blue eyes, too.
All these people had come for him. As he moved through the crowd, he met them one by one, and they were all smiles and laughter. Little by little, Darian relaxed. Valj introduced him to his mother, who was the only member of his family. Darian already knew what had happened to his twin brother, and some years ago, his father had died too, in an honorable way and in battle. Kron’s brothers and sisters were next, along with his parents. His father was an Alpha who had an Omega of his own, and he’d never agreed to share him with anyone. The Omega had given him three sons and two daughters. From Trav’s side, Darian met not only his four brothers and Alpha and Omega fathers, but also three cousins who had come to congratulate him on the baby. His oldest brother, Varg, had brought his Omega, and the other Alpha he was sharing him with was there, too. Darian looked at the young man, and a chill ran up his spine. He was standing behind his Alphas, Varg and Jarin, looking lost and scared. He didn’t even dare raise his eyes from the ground, and that broke Darian’s heart a little. It was obvious that Trav’s brother and his mate had just taken him from somewhere in the Hoda System, and the young Omega hadn’t yet accepted his fate.
“Can I talk to him?” he asked Valj.
Valj hesitated for a second, taking his time to probe the two Alphas’ thoughts. After all, the Omega belonged to them, so they had every right to forbid him from talking to anyone at the party, including other Omegas.
“I think it’s fine. Just a couple of words, okay? They brought him here in hopes that he’d see other Omegas with their Alphas, happy and prosperous, and that would make him accept them more easily. His training isn’t over, so tread carefully.”
“Okay.”
Darian asked for permission with a short glance at Varg and Jarin, and when Varg nodded, he stepped closer to the Omega.
“Thank you for coming,” he said, unsure of how he was supposed to start a conversation with a stranger. “Are you enjoying the party?”
“I suppose.”
Darian heard the sadness and anger he once felt toward Trav, Kron, and Valj when he’d been first brought to Alpha Tyron. He saw himself in the man before him. He was taller than him, his skin darker, and his eyes as dark as a moonless night. His hair was naturally blue, and it reached his shoulders. He wondered where he was from.
“What’s your name?”
The man sighed, as if talking to him was torture. Darian knew that he didn’t want to be there, and he was probably wondering when he would finally be left alone.
“Thoren.”
“Where are you from, if you don’t mind me asking?”
He bit the inside of his lip and hesitated. When he answered, his voice was just as cold and distant as before.
“It doesn’t matter. Far from here.”
Darian knew when he wasn’t welcome. He was making the Omega feel uncomfortable, and that was the last thing he wanted. Gently, he touched his arm and whispered before walking away:
“Hang in there. It gets better. And, if you ask me... well, it’s not that bad.”
Thoren shot him an annoyed glance but didn’t say anything. Darian mingled with the crowd and went looking for his Alphas before the Omega decided to murder him with a look. Great! Now he felt sad, too. He knew exactly what Thoren was going through, and he would have loved to help him somehow, to show him how to make the transition easier. But Thoren didn’t want anyone’s help. He probably wanted to go back home, and nothing more.
Kron wrapped an arm around his shoulders, and Valj pushed a glass of nectar into his hand. It was good for the baby, but it was also delicious. After meeting so many people and smiling until his jaw hurt, Darian was both hungry and thirsty. They all sat at the table, and the servants brought the food.
They dined, drank, and laughed, then danced a bit. Before the evening was over, Trav stood up and made a toast. Everyone cheered, and when he sat back down, he looked into Darian’s eyes and told him he had a surprise for him.
“What is it?”
“After the baby is born, how about we visit your family on Karma Minor? I’m sure your parents would love to see their grandson.”
Darian was speechless. He’d forgotten how to breathe, and he felt like his heart was about to burst. Valj took his hand into his underneath the table, and that calmed him down.
“This is... Yes! I’d love that! I miss my family so much. Thank you!”
“Like I keep saying, anything for you, puppy.”
After another minute, Darian realized Trav had said “grandson”.
“How do you know it’s a boy? Can you... err... smell that too?”
Trav laughed. “I can’t. But a man is allowed to dream, is he not?”
CHAPTER TEN
Darian
The day had come, and Darian had hoped he’d be ready, but he wasn’t. The doctor had established the date and time of the C-section a month before, and he’d had more than enough time to prepare, but he still felt like he was too young and inexperienced to become a father. With three strong Alphas to support him and the baby, he shouldn’t have worried. Yet, he did. He’d barely slept the night before, which didn’t help either. On the way to the medical facility, Trav and Valj held his hands and showered him with compliments and reassuring words. Kron was still keeping his distance.
Since he’d found out the Omega was pregnant, Kron had stayed away, mostly, which broke Darian’s heart. Instead of getting used to his new scent, the Alpha had gotten more and more affected by it. It was as if the sight of the pregnant Omega awoke something inside him, something dark and feral. Without being able to control it, Kron was in danger of shifting into a beast at any moment, and if that happened, he didn’t know how it could end... Maybe he’d rip Trav and Valj to shreds, so he’d have the Omega and the baby for himself. In truth, Darian was stressed because of him, too. Who knew how he’d react when the baby came? Would he be just as wildly possessive as he was now?
They arrived at the medical facility, and Darian allowed Trav and Valj to support his weight and escort him to the operating theater. He felt huge. He was huge. They already knew that the baby wa
s a boy, but whether he was an Alpha, a Beta, or an Omega they’d find out later, in the baby’s first years of life. Seeing how his belly had grown the size of a house, though, Trav kept saying that the boy could only be an Alpha. Darian didn’t argue with that. He was probably right. It was strange, but he had this special connection with the unborn being inside him, and he tended to agree with Trav. The little bean wasn’t so little, and it did feel like he had the strong and stubborn personality of a true Alpha. The way he kicked Darian’s ribs every night was a pretty significant clue.
He was on auto-pilot. He didn’t even know how he’d gotten on the operating table, and now the Tyronian doctor was saying something. It was supposed to sound reassuring, but Darian couldn’t focus. He looked up and saw Trav, Kron, and Valj behind the glass window, and when they all smiled and waved at him, he smiled back. He felt weak and confused, then realized the anesthetic the doctor had given him was working. Soon, he was out, his body relaxing and his mind finally letting go of all the stress and exhaustion he’d accumulated in the past few months.
* * *
He woke up and he instantly knew his whole life had changed. He moved his hands and his feet before opening his eyes, and when he felt sure of himself, he tried to sit up. He was sore everywhere. Valj was by his side, and his warm, gentle hand came to rest on Darian’s forehead.
“Shh... Lie back down. You did great, my love. It will pass in a couple of hours, and tomorrow you’ll feel like new. The medical field on Alpha Tyron is much more evolved than on the other planets in the system, so you won’t have to feel like this for long. Rest.”
“Where is he? The baby! I want to see him.”
“Here he is...” Kron stepped into the room, holding the tiny bundle of joy. “He’s perfect.”
Darian blinked in surprise. Was this real? Was this really happening, or was he still asleep, dreaming? Kron was holding the baby?!
“How...”
The Alpha came closer, leaned forward, and placed the baby into Darian’s awaiting arms before sitting down on the edge of the bed.
“I would never hurt you or our son,” Kron said. “The moment I saw him, my beast calmed down. Your scent has come back to normal, so I guess that helps, too. And he... He smells amazing.” He sniffed the baby’s head as if to prove his point. “I promise to protect you both with my life.”
“Thank you.” Darian smiled up at him, and Kron kissed him on the forehead. “Where is Trav?”
“Oh, he thought you’d be hungry, and he went home to bring food. He doesn’t trust the food they serve here,” Valj said.
“They don’t have our cook,” Kron laughed.
Half an hour later, Trav was pushing a food cart into the room, all filled with plates and bowls. It was weird to see him like that. Darian thought he’d be the last person in the world to bring him food, but here they were! As he was feeding the baby at his temporarily enlarged breast, Trav was tempting him with food from at least three planets in the Hoda System. He couldn’t complain, really. Life was good. He was holding his first baby, the warmth of his little body making his heart grow with love and pride, and his three Alphas were there, taking care of him, telling him how much they loved him, and... frankly, already making plans for the next baby.
Life was good, and Darian D’Arq was truly happy.
* * *
Kron
He hadn’t wanted to leave his Omega’s side, but he’d had to. Before the baby was born, the three of them had agreed that Kron should be the one to organize the surprise party, since they couldn’t be sure if he’d be able to be around Darian and the baby. Trav and Valj had to be there, and if there was even the slightest chance that Kron couldn’t because of his shifter nature, then he could still help by making sure everything was perfect when the Omega and their bundle of joy came home.
Three days had passed, and if Kron was a good judge of his own abilities to plan a party, everything did look and feel perfect. Darian’s parents had arrived from Karma Minor in the morning, along with a few close friends of his, and they were all settled in their rooms. The maids and servants had cleaned the whole house and put on the decorations, and the cook had outdone himself. Now that everything was ready, all Kron had to do was entertain the guests until Trav and Valj arrived with Darian and their baby. He wouldn’t have admitted it for the world, but he was feeling jittery and excited. He’d never been so nervous in his life! Before Darian, no one would have expected him to be the one to organize parties and entertain guests. Things had changed. Now, Trav was making sure Darian ate well, while Valj was the moral and emotional support. Kron had to contribute, too, and if that meant throwing him a surprise party and being nice to his family and friends, then he was totally up for it. He still felt bad for not having been able to spend much time with the Omega in the past few months. This was his chance to make amends. If he had known how his gene enhancements were going to affect him, he’d have thought twice about going for the shapeshifter ones.
When Darian and the baby arrived, no one shouted “surprise!”. The decorations outside had given the party away. Still, the Omega hadn’t expected to see his parents and friends, and he broke down in tears. The Alphas had promised him they’d all visit Karma Minor after the baby was born, but never in his life could he have imagined that they’d go as far as to bring them to him. He hugged his mom and dad, then showed them the baby.
“Aww... look at that perfect little face,” his mom cooed. “What’s his name?”
Darian bit the inside of his lip. “We haven’t named him yet. On Alpha Tyron, the tradition is to wait until we can determine whether he’s and Alpha, a Beta, or an Omega so we can give him an appropriate name.”
“Oh.”
He could see the slight disappointment in her eyes, but there was nothing he could do. He would have loved to name his son, but the Tyronian tradition was different and he had to respect it. Fortunately, his parents and friends seemed to understand, and they didn’t press any further.
After Darian put the baby to sleep, they all sat down to eat and catch up. A huge, tall cake was served at the end, and as the servants poured more ale and nectar in the glasses, Trav, Kron, and Valj stood up. At first, the Omega thought they wanted to make a toast, but soon realized their intention was much more ambitions than that. Trav produced a ring out of nowhere, Kron another one, and then Valj too. Darian blinked in confusion. He had no idea what was happening.
“Everyone, thank you for being here on this special day,” Valj started. “We’ve wanted to do this since Darian joined us, and now we are grateful that you’re here to be our witnesses.”
Darian was still lost. Sure, on Karma Minor, this was normal. The Alpha would give the Omega a ring to represent loyalty and commitment, but he knew for a fact that Alpha Tyron had no such tradition. When Trav, Kron, and Valj all knelt before him, his heart started hammering in his chest like crazy, and his stomach filled with butterflies. He couldn’t believe this was happening!
“Darian, I vow that I will love you and protect you for the rest of my life,” Trav said.
“As do I,” added Kron and Valj.
“Do you accept our vows and our gifts, and promise to stay by our side until death takes us?”
His jaw dropped, and he didn’t even care that he looked stupid. With shaking hands, he touched Trav’s cheek, then Kron’s and Valj’s.
“I do,” he whispered.
He’d have liked to say that louder, but it was impossible. He could barely form any words, and his voice was choking. He blinked fast to stop his tears of joy from falling but failed. The Alphas slipped the three rings on his fingers, then hugged him for dear life. He was only glad that now he could hide his face in their shirts, so the guests wouldn’t see him cry.
“I love you,” he said. “I love you so much, and I’m sorry I was such a pain in the beginning.”
“Oh, princess,” Kron laughed. “If you hadn’t been a pain, this moment wouldn’t
feel so sweet and fuzzy.”
“Fuzzy?” Darian giggled.
“Yes. That’s a word I use now.”
EPILOGUE
Little Hared was playing outside with the puppy beasts Kron had brought home a few days ago. The idea was to help him get used to animals, so he’d grow strong, confident, and fearless. He was a little over a year old, and he was already giving signs that he was a true Alpha. Trav, Valj, and Kron had given in and allowed Darian to pick a name for the boy. If he later turned out to be a Beta, Hared was still a good choice. They were all sure by now that he wasn’t an Omega, and even though Alpha Tyron could use some more Omegas so they wouldn’t have to go looking on other planets, the three fathers were secretly happy and proud their son was growing into an Alpha, like them.
Darian was watching Harem from the terrace, a book in hand and a cup of hot nectar before him. He jumped out of his skin when Kron hugged him from behind. He should have gotten used to the shapeshifter sneaking up on him by now, but he hadn’t.
“Come inside,” Kron whispered in his ear.
“I want to make sure he’s fine.”
“He is fine.” He licked the shell of his ear, making Darian close his eyes and moan. “The servants will look after him.”
Kron’s hands were roaming all over his chest now, and Darian simply couldn’t say no. His heat was approaching, he could feel it. And when Kron touched him like that, there was little he could do to fight it. In truth, he didn’t want to fight it. He stood up and allowed Kron to walk him inside and up the stairs, into their shared bedroom. Now they were all sleeping in the same room most nights, and the bed was absolutely huge, made for four people to sleep in it comfortably. Of course, not much sleeping happened when they were all together...
