The birth. I can’t believe it’s finally happening.
Before I know it, I’m in Carson’s car, and we’re speeding to the hospital, weaving through traffic. I know I’m in good hands with him. Good arms, really. His arms are thick with muscles and strong, and I can smell him. He smells good. Comforting, almost. I feel safe in his arms.
This isn’t going to do anything to help my crush. He swooped in like my savior and, well, saved me.
We arrive at the hospital and he carries me inside. I’m aware of bright lights, white walls, and people in blue uniforms. They whisk me away to a room, where I’m laid down on a hospital bed. Staff members hover around me, preparing goodness knows what. I’m not in control of this anymore.
“C-Carson,” I say, wondering where he went. I feel safe with him around, and I don’t want to be alone here.
“I’m right here,” he says. He’s wearing his suit, and I see his dark form coming towards me. His facial expression is full of concern for my well-being, but he also seems happy. Happy that he can be here for Hunter’s birth.
I’m happy too. It feels right. I don’t know why, but it feels right.
He takes my hand, holding it tightly, letting me squeeze as the pulses of pain wash over me. I don’t let go. With his other hand, he brushes the hair, damp with sweat, out of my face.
I whimper as the pain grows worse. But I get instant relief in a wash—they must have just shot me with painkillers. They have high quality anesthetics here, I think. I’ve never experienced anything like this.
I hear nurses talking to me, but I can’t really listen. It’s like all my mental energy is co-opted to helping deliver the baby.
I start to push in time with the pulses of pain. My body just does it naturally. I don’t even know what I’m doing.
My legs are spread slightly, to help the doctors better read the red line. I reach down and draw my hand back in surprise; the line has split and fear finally trickles into me.
I turn to look at Carson. His face looks so calm.
If he’s calm, it must be okay. This must all be okay.
As if reading my mind, Carson soothingly whispers, “It’s gonna be okay, Harley. It’s gonna be fine.”
I keep pushing, letting my body do its work, holding on to Carson’s hand. More than anything, I want Hunter to be safe and healthy. That’s all I want. All I want in the world…
6
Carson
I can’t believe what’s happening. I was wondering how Harley was doing, and I was waiting for him to contact me, hoping he would. And now he contacts me when his baby is about to be born. And I’m in the hospital with him, like I’m the kid’s father, holding Harley’s hand as he goes through one of the most difficult experiences of his life.
And you know what? I don’t mind one bit.
This feels right. It’s like I’m meant to be here. The hospital is cold, clinical. The staff is great, but Harley’s scared. I can tell. I can smell it on him, and I can see it on his face. He’s in pain, and he’s worried.
I wish I could take all that away from him. I wish I could make him feel better. All I can do is help comfort him, knowing that he will feel better eventually.
I’ve never actually been at a baby’s birth. I’ve always wanted to be, because I’ve always wanted to be a father. But I’ve never had this experience.
I was just sitting at home when Harley called, thankfully, otherwise I might not have been able to help. He doesn’t have any family in the area, or friends, as far as I know.
I’m so, so, glad I gave him my number that day.
His eyes are squeezed shut, but he’s working hard. I’m not clear on how omega births work, being an alpha, but I’m learning now. The opening under his belly is wide and red and angry-looking, and I don’t want to look further because I don’t know what I’ll see.
But I can’t help myself. The opening is wide enough that I can see Hunter’s head just peeking out, shining and nearly hairless.
“He’s crowning,” says one of the nurses.
Harley squeezes my hand, and I can tell he’s a bit relieved. I feel so connected to him right now. It’s an incredibly deep connection to have with someone you barely know, but I’m present at one of the most important moments of his life.
“You’re doing great, hon,” says one of the nurses. “He’s almost out.”
Harley smiles tentatively. He’s exhausted and drenched in sweat, his cheeks flushed, but he knows the end is near.
Finally, the baby slides out, and the doctor cuts the umbilical cord. One of the nurses takes the baby and swaddles him, and then hands him to Harley. It all happens so quickly that I can’t believe it happened at all. But in the end, Harley’s holding a newborn in his arms.
Tears start trickling down his face, and he blinks them away, a grin breaking out. He looks like he’s dead tired, but this is one of the happiest moments of his life. I’m silent. I want to let him and the child have their moment together.
One of the nurses smiles at me. “You’re a lucky man,” she says.
My cheeks flush. “Oh, he’s not—” I start, but she’s turned away.
It hadn’t even occurred to me that it would look like we were together until now. But I don’t mind. It feels right, in that inexplicable way it did earlier. And it doesn’t feel like I’m betraying Lars either. I’ve never heard of something like this happening.
Whatever this is.
“Hey,” says Harley, his voice raspy. “You wanna hold him?”
“Me?” I blink, caught by surprise. He wants me to hold the baby?
But I can’t say no. I gingerly take the swaddled baby and hold him close to me. He’s incredibly small, barely bigger than my hand. And he looks so delicate, his skin red and paper thin, and his eyes tightly shut. His features are perfectly formed, like he’s been molded from porcelain. I can’t believe that this is what a baby is like. Hell, this is what we all were like, when we were born. The most perfect, delicate bundles of potential.
I can’t believe Hunter is here. I can’t believe he’s a person who’s going to have a life of his own.
I snap out of my philosophical moment and hand the baby back to Harley, who’s blinking back tears as he takes his child back. I watch him look at the baby lovingly, almost a little jealous. I wish I was part of that family. It’s obvious how much love there is.
After letting Harley bond with Hunter a bit more, they take him to do whatever medical things a baby needs after being born. I step outside for a moment. I feel almost impatient, like I want to be a part of the action. But why?
When I examine my impulse, I realize it’s because I want to help care for Harley. I don’t know why that is. Is it just because he’s a new omega father, alone in the world and recovering from an abusive relationship? That would make sense, but it seems like there’s more to it.
A knock on the door of the waiting room startles me, and I look up to see a nurse smiling at me. “Mr. Fleur?” she asks. “Come on in.”
I don’t know why I’m being summoned, but I follow her to another room, where Harley and Hunter are snuggled together. My heart melts upon seeing them.
“Harley and Hunter are ready to be discharged now,” says the nurse. “So if you want to head on home…”
Harley smiles at me. He looks exhausted, but happy. As he should be. His eyes are shining with a love so intense I can only imagine what it feels like.
“You don’t need to take me home,” he says quickly. “The hospital has a shuttle, apparently—”
“No,” I say firmly, cutting him off. “There’s no way I’m letting you go home alone. Go ahead and get ready, and I’ll take you back to your place in my car.”
Harley blushes slightly, but he nods, accepting my offer. Good. I don’t want him navigating transportation in the state he’s in, alone with a newborn. And I want to help out as much as I can—maybe pick up some groceries and other supplies. I have no idea how much he’s been able to prepare.
It’s a little strange to be thrust into a… fatherly role, but I like it.
Harley’s mostly silent on the car ride back. He can’t do anything but stare at Hunter, and I can’t do anything but stare at him. Hunter seems like a quiet kid—he didn’t cry much at the hospital beyond his first scream of life, and now he’s sound asleep. But I suppose that’s how babies are. I realize I don’t know the first thing about babies.
“Do you have everything you need?” I ask, breaking the silence. “I’d be happy to run out and get groceries, anything you might want…”
He looks up at me and smiles, and my heart tingles with a novel feeling. I love how soft his face his, how gentle his expression is, how he’s holding Hunter with the utmost care and protectiveness. I have an urge to scoop both of them up into my arms, protecting them from the world.
That’s… a little odd, but I’m not going to question it too much.
“I’m good,” he says. “My coworkers have been super helpful, actually, and they’ve gotten me what I’ll need for the first week.”
“Oh, good,” I say, surprised. I hadn’t realize Harley had found a job, much less made friends and built up something of a support system.
“Yeah, they’re good people,” he continues. “I’m really lucky to have found them.”
“So what’s the job?” I ask, intrigued. I have to admit to myself that part of the reason I want to know is because I want to make sure it’s something good for Harley, something stable, where he’ll be safe and happy.
“It’s nothing too exciting, just some admin stuff at an antiques store,” he says. “I like it well enough, though, and I’m grateful for the opportunity. They said I can bring Hunter to the store to watch him, and there’s an elderly lady there who said she can watch him sometimes too.”
“Huh,” I say, the cogs turning in my brain. I can’t help but think of the store in the Paisley which is supposedly a front for the gang, but there’s dozens of antiques stores in Stell. And that one didn’t sell antiques, exactly, just all kinds of random stuff. “Where’s the store?” I ask, curiosity getting the better of me.
“The Paisley,” he says. “It’s a nice neighborhood. Seems kind of run down, but it’s full of good people.”
An alarm bell goes off in my head.
“Really, it’s quite safe,” says Harley, misinterpreting the expression of surprise on my face. “They said the bad parts are on the other end of the neighborhood. And it’s close to the station…”
But I’m only half-listening. I have a horrible feeling that this is the same shop. How in the world did Harley get this job?
I have to stay calm so I can find out more information. “Oh, no, no,” I say. “I’m sure it’s fine. How did you get the job?”
“Well, one of the first people I met in the hostel was this guy named Morty, who said he was looking for someone for the store, and he wanted to give me a chance since I obviously needed it,” says Harley, rattling off his tale, completely unaware of how much danger he’s in.
My heart is pounding, so hard that I’m surprised Harley can’t see or hear it. But he isn’t a shifter; he doesn’t have those fine-tuned senses.
“That’s… good,” I say, though my brain is racing. I can’t believe it is the same shop, with that damn Morty.
“And Morty’s grandmother Marie has been so kind to me,” gushes Harley, “giving me all this stuff for the baby and furniture so I don’t have a bare house… They’ve both honestly been such a big help.”
“That’s great,” I say, though my voice is dull. But Harley doesn’t seem to notice, as tired as he is.
“Yep,” he says cheerfully. “It looks like coming here to Stell in the first place was a fantastic idea.”
“Uh huh,” I say, and I’m saved from having to say anything more because we’ve pulled up to the apartment building.
I help Harley out of the car and make sure he and the baby get up to the apartment safely. I take some more time to help him set some stuff up in the house, and I see that it is indeed full of furniture and other housewares that seem like they could have come from that shop.
This is bad. Very bad. I need to run back to headquarters and tell Lars about this. I have no idea what to do, so maybe he’ll know. I feel like a chicken with its head cut off, my brain running around in circles of anger at the Blacktails and fear for Harley and Hunter.
I make sure they have every single thing they need before leaving, and I make sure I have Harley’s number this time. I tell him he can call me for anything, and I mean it. I’d rather he call me than his Blacktail friends.
As the car zooms down the streets on its way to headquarters, I think about my next steps. It’s even more crucial now than ever to put an end to the Blacktail menace.
Someone I care for is now in the middle of it all.
7
Lars
After a long day, this shower is refreshing. I towel myself off and put a t-shirt on, intending to catch up on the news on my tablet. I’m just settling in on my favorite spot on the couch when the door opens loudly, and Carson walks in with a weird expression on his face.
I sigh, putting the tablet down. “What happened?”
“The craziest thing,” he says, and I can tell he’s itching to talk about it. He kicks his shoes off and sits on the couch next to me. I put my arm around him, since I can tell he needs it.
“Yeah? You wanna talk about it?” I ask, trying to go slow even though I’m insanely curious. Carson isn’t usually this excitable.
“So… you remember Harley, right? That omega I was helping?”
“Yeah?”
“Well, I hadn’t heard from him in a while, and then he calls me today to tell me he’s giving birth and he needs help… so basically I ended up holding his hand while he delivered the baby, and I was there the whole time…”
His eyes are wide, like he still can’t believe it happened.
“What… in the world,” I say, amazed. This is possibly one of the most random things ever to happen to Carson. “So is he okay, now?”
“Yeah, he’ll be fine. But that’s not all. He told me he got a job and has made some friends at work who’ve been very helpful.”
“That’s good news isn’t it?” I ask.
Carson shakes his head. “Get this. He’s working at that Blacktail shop that’s obviously a front.”
“Are you sure?” I ask. My heart rate has increased. If we have another lead in the case…
“Yes, I’m absolutely sure. I asked him and got enough details,” says Carson.
“We need to handle this carefully.” I think about it. If we go too hard, we risk alienating Harley, tipping off the Blacktails, or giving Harley more information than he needs—information that’ll put him in danger or at least make him lose his job.
“Agreed,” says Carson. “Even though I’m tired from helping him, I feel antsy. I want to follow this lead.”
I chuckle. “That’s usually my job. What’s special about this Harley, anyway?”
Carson gives me a look, and I feel a sliver of annoyance mixed with guilt. I don’t want to make him feel bad because I know it’s important for him to take care of others. But on the other hand, I feel jealous that he’s so into this omega, one I’ve never met. I’m an alpha, so I can’t get pregnant. It’s always been a minor point of contention in our relationship, that neither of us can give the other kids. And now that he’s found an omega to be interested in…
“Special?” says Carson. “He’s just a guy I’m helping. And he seriously needs help, especially consider
ing that he’s now involved with the Blacktails.”
“I suppose,” I say, turning over the idea in my head. I’m not usually the most jealous person—the bond Carson and I have is so deep that I’ve never doubted it. But then, nothing’s ever happened to make me doubt it in the first place. This is new for both of us.
There’s a legend among the wolves of Stell—the legend of the fated mates. Some wolves think it’s bullshit, and others don’t. Other types of shifters have their own beliefs around it, too.
I never believed in fated mates until I met Carson. He’s an amazing guy. Seriously amazing. I’m lucky to be spending the rest of my life with him. But fated mates is more than that… it’s a feeling, deep inside, compelling you to be together. It’s like the universe showing you you’re destined to be together.
And the amazing thing is that I never used to think Carson would be the one for me. He takes life a little slower than I do, and is the kind of person who stops to smell the roses. On the other hand, I’m more of a go, go, go person. I didn’t think we’d be compatible when we first met.
But that’s the magic of the fated mates. And that’s what made me believe. As we worked together on missions, I realized that we had something to learn from each other. Being with Carson has made me appreciate life more, and I’ve helped him become more decisive. We’re better because of each other.
And that’s how it should be. But the fated mates legend doesn’t have a provision for when people feel a connection with more than one person.
Well, I guess it does, in a way. In some traditions, like those of the reptile shifters, multiple partners are a lot more common. But I haven’t heard of it happening much among wolves. I don’t know any groups of three or more.
There just isn’t room for a third. I don’t even know how it would work.
“Just… I just worry, you know,” I tell Carson, not able to summon the right words to describe how I’m feeling.
Runaway Omega_Harley Page 5
