by Emma Knox
“That’s the truth.” I got back-up to my knees. “We’re individuals, after all.”
“Yeah. And that’s why there’s no reason why I can’t say William is better off dead. Probably happier there to.”
“Let him rot!” I shouted.
“Anyways, I want to know, you might’ve told me before, but how did you find out that I knew William?”
Arden wiped his eyes whilst staring at me. “The picture. The paly picture of you and him in your waiting room. It’s what triggered off my emotional blackout and sent me hurling to the woods. It completely freaked me out.”
“Well I can put it right.”
Arden looked to Trevor as if he doubted that.
“I’ll burn that picture. Get rid of it. And show you that I’d rather erase him from my memory once and for all. I just need to know that you’ll find that acceptable as a sorry gift?”
“It’s a start, I suppose.”
“Perfect! I’ll do that right now!” Trevor left the room in a hurry.
Leaving only me and Arden to converse freely. I struggled to get up: still recovering from the backlash of those wolves who wanted to finish me off. They were a handful. Arden fell back into his weepy state, but didn’t cry. He just held his head inside and then ran his fingers through his hair before sitting up and looking solemnly lost.
I slowly approached him. And waited for the invitation to console without feeling like I was intruding on his personal space. Arden took a minute. Didn’t say anything, but I knew what he was trying to convey. I sat next to him and put both my arms around him, drawing him-in, and breathing the scent that excited me even in the midst of all this horror.
“I’m so glad to be holding you again, Arden. I’ve been wanting to do that this entire time. I won’t ask if you’re ok. I know you aren’t. But I want you to know that I’m here and I’m not going anywhere.” I squeeze tighter. “William might’ve done you damage. But if he was alive and I knew what he did to you, I would kill him! Transform into my alter and tear him to dust particles. He got away with so much, Arden.”
Arden got up after I said that…and so did I. I waited to embrace him again. But love took over me and I couldn’t wait.
“I would’ve killed him.” The next time I said it I was angrier. “I would’ve killed him!”
“I believe you, Samson.”
I hugged him.
“Your whole persona reeks of pure anger.”
“Yeah, but…it’s not the kind that goes around abusing. It’s for you. Loving you and hearing what he put you through. The miscarriage…” I looked at my little life that was growing within his stomach. “How he could inflict that sort of pain on life? A new born existence?”
“I know. I know.” He sighed profoundly.
“Your feelings haven’t changed, have they? Do you still feel the same for me?” I couldn’t disguise the worry as I tried to make him look me in the eyes by holding up his chin.
“Of course, I do.” His voice nearly broke so I let his chin fall. “Nothing about my feelings for you has changed, Samson. It’s still there. All of it. Not able to go away. Having to contend with the fact that even if things turned out worse, I would still be in love with you.”
My whole face screamed relief. “And…do you still want to be my mate?”
Arden jumped into my arms — which he slung around to the back of my neck. I wondered how it must look, two fellows in this embrace. I wouldn’t care about their thoughts as I held him and lifted him from the ground briefly. Arden agreed to be my mate. It would be official this time. There was no doubt. No more hesitation from the anchor that was holding him back.
He had managed to unleash it all and raised it from the depth of the water. And we had covered a common ground and could walk-on together: knowing that it was all out in the open.
But I hated William and cursed him when Arden was still struggling to let those words escape from him. “I want you as my mate, Samson.”
Our embrace had long ended. So, he hugged me again and I felt the baby bump press against my own middle.
“You’re sure?”
“Absolutely. At least you now know it all. The reason why I didn’t want to get so close to you in the beginning.”
“Yeah. It makes perfect sense.”
“It does. The idea of attracting another William was not going to happen to me again. I had to make sure. To go through the motions of who you really were. And you’ve turned out better than I expected. The care you’ve shown me is amazing. The fact that I can feel your care… I feel it’s too good to be true.”
I got down to my knees. “Well, this little one here is too good to be true.” I raised his black cotton t-shirt and glared at his baby bump before puckering my lips and giving his stomach a nice belter. Then I pressed my ears and listened.
“Can you hear anything?”
“Not much. Just I love you.” I got to my feet. “How sweet of him to say that.”
“Well, it’s obviously true. The little guy wouldn’t have said that otherwise.”
“Yep. And now, I would like to officially make you my mate. But that would mean you giving me that neck of yours and allowing me to mark my territory once and for all.”
“You’d have to ask me nicely. What with everything that’s just happened.”
“What…do you mean like getting upon one knee and asking for your permission to bite your neck?”
“I think that might suffice. Why don’t you give it a try and see if it works?”
“I’m going to do it.”
“Go for it.”
“Ok.” I got down on one knee and gripped his hand as if I wanted to put a ring on it.
“Can I…bite that succulent neck of yours? If it’s not too much trouble of course.”
Arden playfully thought about it. “Hmm.”
It was good to see his mood elevated to the next level. There were still traces of the past few hours, but Arden getting down onto his knees at my level and then brandishing his neck nakedly for me was both romantic and quite joyful.
“This is for you.”
I saw that neck and I got ready for it. I didn’t pounce upon it. I took my time: edging closer and hearing him purr to make it that more enjoyable for us both.
When I finally could feel my lips upon there, I kissed his flesh softly. I could see his eyes start to close when I started to bite-down with the sound that came from him similar to ssssst as if burning one’s finger and having to cool it off under cold water. I dug my teeth until I was sure that it was inscribed. My teeth had done the work when I withdrew and glared at my artwork.
He stretched his collar for me to see. And I smiled with glee when the bite was now a confirmation of our bond. It was sealed. We were a unit. He was officially mine. And he and the baby would be forever in my custody to protect. I couldn’t be happier as we got to our feet. That was it then. My mark of affection. And to look forward to the birth was what was in store next.
Epilogue
Samson
I wasn’t used to this sort of thing. I mean who could be? Having to wait for that opportune moment when the doctor would tell you that the baby was born. Not only was I nervous, but excited too.
The lead up had been good. With everything that had gone on in Arden’s life, we both expected difficulties and hardships with the pregnancy. But things went pretty a-ok. And he was healthier than me in many ways. The baby was booming inside of him, and there was no talk of the birth having complications.
I made sure he was relaxed at every moment I could spare. There was no time when Arden felt like he was alone in this pregnancy. The compliments would come in the form of Arden was glowing more and more each day. And never was there anything negative to say. He was active and present, so I knew that the little one inside must be having a field day.
The only problem was his eating habits. The guy could eat! And that never died down. And he never got any bigger than the actual size of a protruding stomach that
stuck out. He’d drive a dieting professional crazy. I was glad though. If he wasn’t eating, I would’ve been worried.
The day came though, and it was in the form of, “I think my water broke.”
“You’re joking.”
“No. That’s what happens right? It breaks?”
How can he be so clueless? I laughed to myself.
“I guess so.” I shrugged helplessly. I was an Alpha. I didn’t know much about these things. “I’ll get you to the hospital.” And I sped all the way there in my truck. And carried him into the hospital and watched as they wheeled him away and I bounced on both my feet not knowing what to say or do.
Soon I was joined by Steven and Drake who came rushing into the waiting room to congratulate me as I waited outside the delivery door. Steven came up to me first. “I just heard the news. Isn’t that wonderful! Has everything been ok so far?”
I was a pot of jelly. He’d have to ask me that when this was all over.
“You need to calm down, mate.”
“I’m sure you’d be the same if you were dealing with your first pregnancy.”
Drake gave me the biggest smile. At least this time my clothes were on and Steven wasn’t distracted by the size of my… “Congratulations, Samson!”
I just nodded and whispered a thank you before I started to walk up-and-down outside the surgery.
“I hope I wasn’t like that, doll.”
“Steven. I think you were worse. Let him be. He just needs to walk it off and calm down. We should take a seat and wait for the news.” Drake dragged Steven by the forearm and they sat on the waiting chairs.
“Do they have any decent magazines?” Drake shuffled through a handful of nonsense.
“Any por—”
“No, Steven. It’s a hospital. If you want that sort of literature you need to go to the xxx section of the hospital.”
“They have that?”
“No!” Drake whacked him over the head with a golf magazine. “Think of Samson and Arden please. I beg you?”
“Ok.” But Steven clearly wanted to check for that xxx section. He gave the room a sniff for it.
The next who came was Ethan and Trevor, whom I hadn’t seen for a while. Mr. Clean freak. Loved to garden. And had a short…
“I just want to say about time. I was wondering when you would find yourself the one.”
“Hey…Ethan.”
He broke into a smile. “Congratulations. Have you heard anything?”
“Still waiting.”
Ethan turned and saw Drake and Steven both reading magazines.
“So, Arden…”
“Yep. Arden.”
“Nice.”
And as soon as Ethan said nice, I heard the screams of Arden inside and the footsteps of Drake and Steven who came to join Ethan in their collective chorus of, “Congratulations, Arden and Steven,” as I ran inside to see what all the commotion was about from my mate.
The scream from Arden was the final push that came from delivering our little baby boy. And as soon as they got me in that standard bright blue uniform: I refused the surgical mask, I was taken to see him and the kid that was crying with little fits, but it was sweet music to me.
There, in Arden’s arms, was my little boy. And yes, he was a true looker to gaze upon. Arden looked worse for wear, but he couldn’t help but dote and press his nose against the tinier version of himself. The baby was crying, but the doctor said that it was normal, so nothing to worry about.
They gave us a second to get acquainted with the kid before taking him away to run some tests on the tiny beauty. I came to Arden’s side who spotted me and held the little boy closer to himself. I kissed Arden’s head before rubbing the boy’s skull and nuzzling his forehead with my nose.
His teeny hands were flailing all over the place. Probably wondering who the hell I was. I kissed him one last time and then gave Arden a peck on his lips before I heard Trevor and Ethan outside asking for permission to see the kid.
I gave a nod to the doctor who let him come inside.
“I thought I’d come in and check on you guys. So…there he is, your little boy, Samson.”
“Yeah. Ain’t he beautiful?”
“Sure is.” Trevor came a little closer to make sure that Arden could see him. “I want to thank you for this, Arden. It means a lot to me. To see that Samson has found an Omega, and at the same time, has a little boy. It’s wonderful.”
“He deserves it.”
“He sure does.” Trevor grabbed the back of my neck and rocked me. “I’m proud of you.”
“And there’s you thinking that I couldn’t do it. I told you I had it in me.”
“I never doubted you for a second.”
“You sort of did.” Arden smiled at me.
“Can I have a word?”
“Sure.” I walked to a corner of the room to speak with Trevor. “What’s up?”
“I just wanted to say that I’m really proud of you. You’ve gone from Mr. I don’t need anybody, to a father with an Omega. That’s some serious growth.”
“Well, Arden has changed my life forever. And I expect it’s going to be a good ride.”
“Do you think you’re ready?”
“I wasn’t ready when I agreed to go to that party for you. And to hear all that stuff about William—”
“That’s the past—”
“It’s also the future for me. An example that I don’t want to follow.”
“You’re nothing like William.”
“I know. But I’ll always have to be treading on my toes to make sure he never gets a whiff of that being the case.”
“You’ll do fine, Samson. I know you will.”
They took the baby away to do some tests, but would bring him back soon. And Arden was able to get some rest. I was touched that Trevor was proud of me. He was always on about me finding a mate. And now that I had, it would mean a change in the atmosphere back at the manor. No more hampering on to the point of suffocation.
I conversed with Steven and Drake outside and their words just made me happy. They kept telling me how he had my eyes: light grey, and Arden’s blond hair. They said he would be prettier than me and Arden by a mile. And that would please me. For the little guy to be better than us both in every aspect when it came to simple physicalities.
Ethan, holding one of his and Trevor’s babies, also offered some pleasing conversation. “What are you going to name him?”
“We haven’t thought about it.”
“Something adventurous, I hope?”
“Not sure. Anything that you can offer would be appreciated.”
“Very funny.”
“What? I’m serious. We could do with some suggestions.”
“Yeah. And my name is Flynn.” Ethan with the sarcasm.
“So, you think Flynn would be a good name?”
Drake and Steven both smile because I’m winding him up. “That’s his father’s name. I was being sarcastic.”
“No way.” I lick my lips with a playfully cheeky smile.
“Ha, ha, ha.” Ethan folds his arms, rocking his baby. “I truly am happy for you though. And whatever you’ll name the little one.”
“We could try, Ethan. What do you think of that?”
Ethan left me to take a seat next to Drake. I thought that would be a great name. Well I didn’t, but then again, I would go with something like Samson Jr., and that would be worse. I’d have to work on the creativity.
Steven asked to go in and see Arden. I figured why not? They were good friends and I should leave them to it. Arden needed his rest, but I was sure he would love to see Steven when we awoke from that slumberless sleep.
“Did I wake you?”
Arden awoke to see Steven sitting in the visitor’s seat. He had a glass of water in his hand and crossed his legs whilst he sipped and rested it on the side table.
“You looked like sleeping beauty. But I figured the best face to see when you awoke was my own. And you have to admit
you won’t get a better gift than that.”
Arden sat up. “Yes. I solely prefer to see the face of Steven. Rather than my own mate, Samson. Where is he, anyways?”
“Outside talking to Drake, Ethan, and Trevor. Well, more Ethan, he’s winding him all the way around the globe. He was asking about baby names.”
“Who?”
“Ethan.”
“Heck. He’s eager.” Arden got more comfortable. “So, on a scale of one-to-ten how did I do in that department?”
“A ten, hunny. Forgive me, but, I’ve already had a look at the downstairs department.”
“Wow, Steven.”
“Well, I had to make sure. And anyways, when he was looking for you he did so in the semi-nude.”
“I meant, in the totality of it all? That question had nothing to do with Samson.”
“Oh.” Steven stuck his foot in it. “I couldn’t be prouder. Is that what you’re looking for me to say?”
“I’m looking for you to be you. And that’s not what you really want to say, is it?”
“No. I had a whole monologue ready to bring to you. Because in the end, our friendship has spanned so long that I actually can’t imagine that we are here now with you mated and a parent.”
“I actually can’t believe it myself. After everything I’ve been through…holding that child in my hand has just given me so much hope and vitality. It’s weird, Steven, but I feel like everything is going to be ok.”
“And that mate of yours, Arden, you couldn’t have found a better guy. You found a true soul mate. And I truly am happy for you.”
Thank You
Emma Knox writes steamy MM and MPreg romances! Each story follows a different couple in each of her books.
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