Page 92 of Destined Paranormals: Volume One

“Yes. His water broke, so definitely for today. Maybe tonight, if at all possible?”

I smiled at Monroe’s side of the conversation. We both already knew that Alpha Forest and Aspen had volunteered to watch Mason and Mae for us for as long as we felt we needed in order to welcome our daughter into the world.

I refocused on Mae as a contraction hit me. It was fairly strong, and I rubbed my stomach as it knotted up on me. I took a few deep breaths as Mae dipped her spoon into the yogurt and then into the bowl of dry cereal. She had fallen in love with the round oat cereal, and Monroe was only too happy to let her have them whenever she wished. We would often find little round pieces of cereal all over the house as she carried a small bowl around with her.

“Yes, their bags are packed and ready. Thank you so much, Aspen.” Monroe touched my shoulder, and I looked up at him as he set Mason down on the floor. Our little guy came directly to me and reached for me. I reached for him, wondering just how this was going to work.

“No, Mason. Sit in your chair,” Monroe said.

Mason looked up at his brother, immediately crossing his arms in a pout.

“Mason, can you sit in your chair for me? I’m not feeling very good this morning, and my tummy hurts,” I told him.

He seemed to think about it for a moment before he dropped his arms and sighed. “Fine.” He huffed as he rounded the table and sat in his chair. When fruit, yogurt, and waffles suddenly appeared in front of him, Mason’s eyes widened, and his little fit was completely forgotten. Mason immediately took the yogurt, dumped it on the waffles, and then poured the fresh fruit on top. I chuckled. He wasn’t actually my blood, but that was my boy right there. I absolutely loved waffles like that, and after he’d seen me eat mine like that the first time, that was the only way he’d eat them from now on.

“I still don’t get that combination, but if the two of you like it…” Monroe said as he bent down to kiss me. I turned my head, catching him before he made it to my cheek. There was a knock on the door, and Monroe pulled away. A contraction hit just then, and I nodded as Monroe stood.

“That’s probably Aspen. I guess Canyon and Thomas were visiting for some reason.”

“Probably because they knew what was going to happen with me this morning. Go let him in.” I took a deep breath and pushed on my side, hoping the newest contraction would relent soon. “I’ll watch these two, and then they can go stay with Aspen for a few days,” I said. That caught Mason’s attention.

“Aspen? Really?”

“Yep,” I said. “But you have to eat your breakfast first.”

Mason nodded and started eating again. Monroe gave my shoulder a pat before he went to the door. My contraction eased, and I was able to take a deep breath. I could feel a burning pain where my omega line was, and I knew that since my water had already broken, my omega line had opened in a hurry. When I heard voices returning, I was surprised that it wasn’t Aspen’s that I heard.

“I’ve been told that I’m needed this morning,” Dr. King said as he came into the house beside Monroe. I looked at my mate, and he shook his head.

Dr. King chuckled. “I was told by Master Edison that I’d be needed.” Dr. King looked over at the children and smiled. “Will they be attending the birth?”

“No,” I said, possibly a bit too quickly.

Monroe shook his head. “No, Aspen is on his way.”

“Knock-knock!”

“Aspen!” Mason shouted. He dropped his fork before he slid off his chair and took off toward one of his favorite people. Honestly, I was almost certain it was Rene more than Aspen, but Rene spent a lot of time at his son’s house. Rene had spent a long time as alpha mate of the pack, and when Alpha Forest took over for his father, well, Rene still liked to help out as much as he could in an unofficial capacity. Aspen didn’t seem to mind at all.

“Well, now. It seems that reinforcements have arrived,” Dr. King said. “Should we get the new daddy somewhere comfortable?”

“Yes, please,” Monroe said. “Did you want me to carry you, Oscar?”

I rolled my eyes just as Aspen entered the dining room area with Mason on his hip. I myself looked ridiculous with Mason on my hip, but I was a wolf omega and a smaller one at only five foot eight. Aspen was a bear shifter, and he was so much taller and more muscular than I was.

“I am sure I can walk,” I told everyone.

“Or, you could simply be teleported there?” Dr. King suggested.

“Before you do that,” Aspen interrupted. “Bags? And did you wish for me to take him to his morning school?”

“Bags are there,” Monroe said, pointing to the pair of bags that were on the floor by the counter. “As for school, that is your call. If that’s what you wish, then yes. If you want him to have some time off, we aren’t going to be upset.”

“All right, then,” Aspen said.

I glanced at Maelie, who was still working on eating her breakfast. The little sweetheart didn’t know what was going on at all. I stood carefully and leaned down to kiss her cheek.

“Love you, munchkin. Daddy will see you in a few days,” I told her. She looked up at me with a spoonful of yogurt. I stood, grabbed my stomach as another contraction hit, and looked to Aspen. “Maybe let her finish breakfast?”