Page 43 of Guarding the Runaway Omega

“Are you ready to hold your daughter?” She offered Terri to Jasper.

“Oh, yes, please.” Jasper broke into a grin.

Asha placed their daughter in Jasper’s outstretched arms and Hawk positioned himself behind Jasper so he could support them both and gaze past Jasper’s shoulder at the most beautiful baby in the world.

“Look, Hawk.” Jasper pet the tuft of black hair on the top of her head. “She has your hair.”

“I’m so proud of you, baby. Thank you for going through all that to bring her into the world.”

Jasper smiled down at Terri as he continued to stroke her head. “I’d do anything for her.”

Hawk tried not to notice Asha working on Jasper’s abdomen as she took care of the afterbirth, along with stitching Jasper up. Instead, he kept his attention on his mate and daughter, but he couldn’t help but wonder how calm Jasper was about everything.

Angry squeaks and cries came from Terri and without pausing with her needle, Asha commented, “I think your daughter might be hungry.”

“Oh, yeah.” Jasper held Terri to his nipple, and she latched on greedily. He hissed, then chuckled. “Elam wasn’t kidding.”

Hawk furrowed his brow. “Kidding about what?”

“How strange this feels. But he told me I’d get used to it.”

As Hawk observed Terri work away at Jasper, he wasn’t so sure. “I guess he should know.”

Wow. Hard to believe any of this is happening.

Asha straightened then gently placed a towel-covered ice pack on Jasper’s belly. “I have some painkillers for you over here on the nightstand. You’re going to start really feeling that in a moment.” She patted his leg. “The doctor will be here in about an hour and he’ll do another check on Terri, plus get her official weight.” She regarded their nursing daughter. “Give or take an ounce.” Asha winked. “But for now, I’ll take my leave so you can all bond as a family.”

They both gave her their profuse thanks, but as soon as she crossed the threshold of the bedroom, Hawk’s only interest was his mate and baby. He helped Jasper shift their daughter so she could nurse on the other side and he stared as if in a trance as her pulls became less vigorous, then slowed to nothing. Her lips parted and she released Jasper’s nipple as she fell into slumber.

An uncharacteristic wave of helplessness washed over Hawk. “Do you know what to do with her?”

Jasper peered up at him. “Do?”

“Um, I don’t know. How can you tell what she’s asking for when she cries?”

Jasper’s grin lit up his face. “It’s usually only one of a few things like food, diaper or wanting to be held—but we’ll figure it out.”

“I don’t know how good I’ll be at this.”

“You’re already the best.”

Hawk frowned. “That doesn’t make any sense. You must be delirious from giving birth.”

Jasper cuddled their baby closer and reclined all the way against Hawk. “I’m sure I’m delirious, but that’s beside the point.” He locked eyes with Hawk. “You know how I can tell? By the way you risked everything to save me, the way you hold me, the way you look at me every day and by how you’re looking at her now. I never experienced such a complete love before, didn’t know it existed. But now that you’re in my life? Now I understand.” He gazed back down at their daughter. “And she will too.”

Hawk’s life had been through several drastic changes in the past six months. Everything he’d come to know and rely on had been turned upside down. And while he now realized he was—and had always been—an Alpha, that didn’t supersede his role as a mate.

Or father.

“I love you, Jasper. More than you’ll ever know.”

Jasper smiled up at him. “I love you too, Hawk.

The helplessness that had gripped him only moments before morphed into a sense of peace and contentment. He was finally where he was meant to be, and it had nothing to do with pack membership or dynamics. All that truly mattered was an adorable, sweet and feisty omega who he’d stumbled across in the woods and their beautiful, newborn daughter.

They were his home.

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