Alpha's Strength: An MM Mpreg Romance (Northern Pines Den Book 3) by Susi Hawke (2)

I blinked at him, realizing that he was actually speaking to me through our bond.                            

“How are we doing this, Diego? Is this a mate thing or a cat thing?”

Diego yawned, his large fangs glinting in the sunlight. “Alpha, I am hungry. I am worried, and I am likely to bite you if you do not quit staring at me like that. Of course this is because we are bonded. Didn't anyone ever tell you that fated-mates can speak like this while in animal form?”

“No, they did not. But it is good to know, it gives us an advantage.”

“Indeed. Now, chop chop. Let's get these cubs to safety.”

I walked around to the back of the group of betas, and nodded to Bobby and Konrad to take their places. Once we had our group firmly surrounded, we set off through the trees.

Although I lived on the opposite side of the den from my cousin, taking the route through the woods was only about a half-hour walk for the betas in human form. The cubs were too big to be carried, so we were stuck with having to let them walk.

We almost made it there without incident. We were probably about five minutes away when Diego suddenly raced around to the front and halted our progress. We all stopped and waited to see what he wanted, when I heard a twig snap from about two hundred yards to our left.

Diego stood there like a statue, frozen in place except for a twitching ear and the tail that swung from side to side like a pendulum. A picture of a compass rose flashed in my head with red x's at the N, E, and W points. He flashed me images of how he imagined getting the betas through.

I flashed an image of us kissing back to him. I hated having any omega involved like this, especially my mate, but I had to admit that he was probably the best guy we had to get us through this alive.

My mind raced as I quickly shifted and quietly walked over to Konrad's side. Bobby shifted and came over to join us. Motioning Tim over, I explained in a voice barely over a whisper so that no other shifters outside of our immediate vicinity would hear. My mate stood watch while I explained.

“Diego picked up on hostiles to the North, East, and West of us. Here's what we're going to do. Tim, you are going to get everyone the rest of the way to the manor, as quietly as possible while the rest of us distract the rogues. We will be noisy to let them hear us. While they're focused on us, Tim's group can slip past. Bobby, you'll go East. Konrad, you take the guy on the North. I'm going ahead of our human group to the West. Tim, once I have my guy distracted, you slip past us. This will be the most dangerous, especially with the cubs present. But Diego will be there to help me, you just need to get  to safety. Everyone good with this plan?”

My guys nodded and we all shifted back. Diego went swiftly up a tree. I could see flashes of his tawny hide, but otherwise, he was practically invisible. Diego moved so silently that I wouldn't even know he was there if I hadn't seen him go up there.

Once we were all ready, Bobby, Konrad and I all clomped off into the woods. I looked back over my shoulder to see Tim guiding the remaining betas forward. They were all watching their steps and walking carefully but quickly.

Moving quickly now, I headed west toward my prey. I could smell wolf now, and the rancid smell old alcohol seeping through his pores along with stale cigarette smoke. I didn't make it past another tree before a flurry of five shots from an semi-automatic rifle blasted around me. Nothing hit me directly, but I could smell burning fur where a passing round had singed my the hair on my side.

The next thing I heard was the unmistakable sound of the empty clip being removed and a new clip being clicked into place. I zigzagged around the trees as I ran toward my attacker. Jules had told me that a moving target is harder to hit, hopefully he was right.

I was close enough now to smell the gunpowder as another round of five bullets flew past me. A chunk of tree bark exploded next to my head as a bullet connected with it. Whew! That was too close! I was relieved that I didn't smell death or injury behind me as I charged forward.

The guy was pulling out the used clip and reaching for the next one when I rushed at him. In his human form, he was no threat to me without that human weapon. With one swipe of my claws, his throat was slit with blood spraying out in an arc.

I stood transfixed as the blood sprayed out in sickening blasts of red. With each heartbeat, the bursts of blood lessened slightly. It was something like GUSH GUSh GUsh Gush gush gus gu g....until he gave a final gurgle as his heart stopped and the remaining blood just leaked out of his mangled throat into a puddle around him.

My bear wasn't bothered by the violence, but I was trembling inside. I smelled my mate's distinctive spice blend and looked up to see him watching from above. He leaped down in a graceful bound, landing on all four paws in front of me. Gingerly stepping around the dead wolf shifter, Diego kicked the used gun to the side as he skirted around the body and came to my side.

He did the thing again where he rubbed his cheeks against mine, pushing his weight into it along with a burst of affection and peace. My heart melted when I realized that he was using his omega pheromones to comfort me. He knew through our bond that I hadn't liked taking a life. If it hadn't been necessary to protect our betas, ourselves, and our den, I doubt I could have done it.

I heard more gunshots to the right and again behind us to the east. With a quick rub of my snout into his neck, I let Diego go. He bounded off to the north while I headed east. I heard the betas as they moved past my position, relieved to know that they were almost to safety.

I made it to where Bobby was facing off with a wolf to the east, this one had dropped his gun and shifted. A silly mistake when facing off with a bear. Even though Bobby was a beta bear, he was still a stronger animal than the alpha wolf. Shit, that's just basic biology. Any idiot should know that much.

He had the wolf pinned under a claw, looking over at me expectantly as I approached. I shifted, stepping forward and looking down at the wolf. Deciding a live prisoner was better than a dead rogue, I shook my head. “Hold him in place, I'll get word to Mikael for him to send patrolmen to take custody of this shithead. Can you keep him in check for a few?”

Bobby snarled at me indignantly. I held my palms up and smirked. “Sorry, just thought I should at least be polite enough to ask. Okay. Hold him, help will be here soon. I need to check on Konrad first.” His eyes implored me to hurry as he looked toward the east where the other gunshots had been heard.

Shifting back, I took off in a lumbering run. The bursts of gunfire were still going off when I approached. I came up from the side, across the clearing from where he was faced off with a charging Konrad. The guy looked back and forth wildly, as though not sure which way to shoot.

He leveled his gun at me, and pulled the trigger. I dodged to the left just fast enough that the bullet got my shoulder, rather than anything vital. A tawny blur came from overhead as my mate jumped down behind the shooter. Before he could turn, Diego had his fangs piercing smoothly through the wolf shifter's skull.

Diego gave a shake of his head, snapping the neck of the already dead rogue. Pulling his fangs free, Diego ran over to sniff my wound. It hurt like hell, but I could walk. I chuffed at him, and jerked my head back toward the manor. After giving me a long lick with a sweep of his rough tongue against my muzzle, Diego let me lead him back to the safety of the manor.

We stopped at the edge of the woods on the side of my cousin's yard with plans to shift back. Mikael was waiting for us, he stood in the doorway of his office that overlooked this part of his property. As soon as he saw my injury, Mik took off at a fast clip walking over my way.

The betas were all safely there. I saw them being led into the manor by a pair of alphas dressed in camouflage gear.  I shifted, pressing against the bullet hole in my shoulder. It was bleeding lightly, but I was able to stay upright. I was slowly walking toward the manner but felt a little more dizzy with each step. I was about to call out to Mikael for help when I noticed my mate.

Diego was standing there with his tail straight up and his head tilted to the side. His eyes had a far off look, as if he were again trying to listen to something. All at once, he took off in a tawny blur, racing across the lawn towards my cousin. I turned to see what the hell he was doing right as he pounced on Mikael, taking the Alpha all the way to the ground.

A split second later, a bullet whizzed over them and lodged into the wall of the manor. If Mikael had been standing, it would have gone through his heart. Diego rolled off him then, landing on all four paws and letting out a loud roar. He stalked proudly over to the open door of Mikael's office and sat beside it, tail twitching, in an open invitation for us to get our asses inside.

Everyone still outside rushed into the manor, with Mikael and I bringing up the rear. Mikael had jumped up and rushed over to give me a hand. Leaning on him, we were able to get me to the safety of the house.

Mikael stopped outside his office door, and looked at Diego silently with a look of profound respect for a long moment. He turned to me and said: “Hurry, Stefan. I want to get the doc looking at that wound.” Then he looked at Diego and nodded to him with a smile before walking inside.

I reached out to my mate who was tall enough in his cat form to reach my waist in this human form. I ran the hand from my uninjured arm along his head, stroking his ears as I whispered: “Thank you, Kitten. But don't ever scare me like that again. I couldn't live with myself if you had been killed.”

Diego pulled back and shifted into his human form. “What was I supposed to do, alpha? Maybe just let your cousin die when I could stop it? Or, let you get killed by the idiot with the gun? No, I am sorry. I cannot sit idly by when my mate and the people in my family are at risk. Your family is my family now, mi oso. I will protect my own when I can. Now, when you go inside to find the doctor can you just ask Tim on your way by if he still has my clothes? I'd rather not go into this lovely manor with my cock and balls swinging in the breeze.”

I laughed, even though it hurt to move and I felt like I was about to fall over. Only my mate would joke about nudity after this shit-show of a morning.

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Eight

 

Diego

 

I was still keeping an ear trained for further attacks when Taylor appeared in the doorway. He held out my clothes with a tear-stained face. “Thank you, Diego! I cannot imagine losing my Mikael. It was amazing what you did. I saw it from the window, and nearly passed out when I realized why you'd pounced on my mate.”

Pulling on the shorts, I reached for the tank top that he still held. “Please do not worry about it, Taylor. Stefan's family is my family now too. I was pleased to do what I could to prevent injury.” I took the shoes he held and stepped into them quickly.

“Now, if you do not mind would you take me to my mate? I need to know that he is okay.” I walked briskly into the large office of the Alpha. He stood behind a large desk, tapping quickly into his phone while a beta stood in front of him talking into another phone.

Mikael looked up as I walked inside. “Diego. Thank you for saving my life,” he smiled at me appreciatively. Then with a roll of his shoulder, he chuckled and said: “But maybe next time, give me some warning so I can roll with it better? That cat of yours has a lot of power.”

Taylor rushed past me and went over to wrap his arms around his mate. “Don't joke, Mik. That was the scariest fucking thing that I've ever seen.”

Mikael reached a hand out and cupped the omega's cheek tenderly. “I'm so sorry that you had to be frightened like that, solnyshko. Thank the goddess that Diego was here, yeah? It just wasn't my time yet.”

The beta finished his called and stepped forward. “Hello, you must be Stefan's mate, yes? I am Peter, the beta captain and second-in-command here. While these two lovebirds fuss over each other, let me take you to your mate.”

I smiled with relief. “Thank you, Peter. That would be wonderful.” I reached a hand out to him. “I am Diego, it is a pleasure to meet you.”

Glancing back at the Alpha and his mate, I saw that Mik had lifted Taylor up by his armpits and was kissing the fuck out of him. I choked back a giggle at the sight of the huge Alpha holding his tiny mate up like a ragdoll.  I turned back to Peter. “Let's give them some privacy, Peter. Please, take me to Stefan.”

 

 

 

* * * * *

 

 

 

We sat around a large table that easily would seat thirty, enjoying a fine dinner with the Alpha family. Stefan was feeling much better after his afternoon with the doctor and the blood transfusion he'd had after having the bullet removed. With our fast healing shifter blood, Stefan would probably be completely healed in another day or two since it was a lighter wound and no vital organs, bones, or nerves were involved.

I looked up as Mikael spoke. “We still don't know the details of the attack, the techs are still retrieving the video surveillance. Thank the goddess for battery backup, or we would have lost the feed when the power went out.”

Stefan asked: “Did we have any casualties? I can't imagine that we didn't. And how many are injured?”

Mikael looked pained as he answered. “We lost seventeen people today, that we know of at this moment anyway. The injuries are still being tallied. Luckily we shifters heal faster than humans, or the fatalities would be much higher I am sure. Our little community will be in mourning for some time to come, I imagine.” He shook his head. “There are still nearly seventy of us to house and feed in the meantime. We have room here on the estate for all of our citizens, if everyone doubles up here in the manor and the single betas and alphas stay out in the barracks.”

At my confused look, Stefan explained. “We have a dormitory style building that was built to house the single shifters that work for the den as patrolmen. The married ones usually live off site with their families. We've never used it much, except for the alphas and occasional betas who wanted to leave their parents' house when they came of age. But with this rogue war, we are finally making use of it with our increased number of security people that were drafted into service.”

Taylor added with a proud smirk: “The fact that all the buildings on this property have power and security is all thanks to a certain adorable wolfie in the mix that pushed these old fogies to join the twenty-first century and go solar. Otherwise, we would all be sitting here screwed without power.”

I looked at Mikael and asked: “Will the humans become involved? I am certain they must be aware of the power outage. And the explosions and gunfire certainly had to have been heard.”

Mikael nodded. “Yes, but we have shifter friends in high places. They will help make sure that our community secrets remain ours. It will just be thought of as another assault by a hate group or terrorists.”

Taylor added: “I think we should push the hate group angle. Your community here is isolated and worships what the humans would consider an obscure goddess. Hell, to them we're probably some weird cult or something. And since it really was a hate crime, when you consider the reasons that your sister is at war with you, it's an easy enough lie to sell. It'll be all over social media within the hour if one of us were to post something along those lines.”

Mikael smiled gently at his mate. “This is true, and I agree that we do need a reasonable explanation. I just hate to give Yvonne the publicity, or to let her think she is winning here.”

Peter spoke quietly. “Forgive me, Alpha. But at the moment, she is winning. We are sitting ducks here, yes? She knows our homes, she knows our people, and she knows our ways. Yet, we know nothing of hers. We have no way to retaliate for this assault, and she is well aware of that fact. I believe that we should do as Taylor suggests. Let the humans believe that we are being targeted by a hate group. If Yvonne or any of her followers are stupid enough to gloat online about it, this might help lead us to her.”

Taylor nodded. “And I hate to say this, but what ever happened to that guy you brought back from the mountain a few months ago? The one that used to be one of her hired guns? We need to talk to him more. Maybe he can help.”

Peter nodded in agreement. “Tommy is staying at a B&B in town and working for them as a maintenance man while we decide what to do with him. I believe that you may very well have a point, Taylor.”

Mikael wiped his mouth with the fine linen napkin that we each had by our plates. “Excellent. See to that, Peter. Have him report here as soon as possible now that we know the rogues have left the immediate area. And Taylor? Come with us to my office and show us more of this social media business that you mentioned.”

Stefan leaned back in his chair. “Do you want my assistance, Mik? I can run patrol if needed.”

Mikael shook his head. “No. You have been through enough today, cousin. Take your mate up to your room and get some rest. Diego did a lot for us today, and here he is a newly pregnant omega. You two take a couple days to yourself while we figure out what happened, and get the numbers for the damage to our people and our property.”

Taylor gasped with surprise and looked at me with a big smile. “You're pregnant? Wow! I'm so happy for you! See? This is what sucks about being a wolf around here. These guys smell everything and always know the news before me.”

Everyone chuckled and I replied: “That is okay, Taylor. I can smell and hear more than they can. Just let me know if you ever need my help to make their noses look substandard, okay?”

Taylor beamed. “Oh, I'm totally going to take you up on that one! I mean, Stefan and I would never have been caught jerking off together for our cumshot contest the day Mikael and I discovered we're mates if I'd been able to smell or hear him coming.”

I sat up straight and whipped my head to look at my mate. Stefan was beet red and slinking down in his chair. “It's not quite as bad as it sounds, Kitten. I can explain. Besides, Taylor is my best friend. It was just a little fun contest between friends.”

“No. This is not an appropriate activity between friends. And this is also not an amusing anecdote for the dinner table, alpha.” I glared at him through narrowed eyes while I fought my cat for dominance. He wanted to come to the surface and claw the eyes out of anyone who had seen our mate in such a private moment. Thankfully, I was able to maintain control.

I noticed Mikael watching me with a knowing look in his eyes. There was a slight tension in his shoulders as he watched me push my cat back. Once I did, he smiled at me with complete understanding.

“I agree with you, Diego. But have no fear. Those days are over. And I believe that they are perhaps best not remembered, hmm?” He looked pointedly at his mate who was blushing with embarrassment. I had a feeling that Taylor was rarely ashamed of himself, so it did a lot to make me relax when I saw that in him.

Excusing myself, I stood and turned to Stefan. “Come, alpha. You need to rest, and we need to have a private conversation.” I turned and left the dining room, hiding my smile when I heard Stefan scrambling to get up and follow me.

 

 

 

 

Chapter Nine

 

Stefan

 

I was still getting teased by Mikael seven weeks later about that little dinner table fiasco after Taylor's innocent remark. He had no idea how possessive cat shifters were, and how much that little story would piss off Diego. Although, to be fair, it would piss me off if it were the other way around.

Seeing Diego's reaction made me realize all over again how lucky I was that my cousin hadn't eviscerated me when he'd found Taylor and me jerking off together out by the gazebo. I honestly don't remember why we thought measuring our cumshot distance was a good idea, but I definitely regretted it now.

Even if he wasn't a super jealous cat, Diego was a newly mated, pregnant omega. He really didn't need to be hearing shit like that on our first night having dinner with my family. Ugh. We'd smoothed it over and I'd been forgiven, but I still felt badly. Although, I had to admit that our make-up sex that night had almost made it all worthwhile.

“Okay, Mik.” I looked across the desk at my cousin. “The power has been back on for weeks. The buildings have been repaired. How long do you plan to keep our people all living here with you? This has to be wearing on everyone.”

Mikael sighed. “I know. I understand that our people are not the most social and would prefer to have their privacy. I just feel that this is our best option for now. I can protect and guard one estate far better than a small village of homes spread out through the trees. Everyone will just have to make due and appreciate the hospitable protection they are receiving in my home.”

I nodded with understanding. Of the seventeen deaths we'd had the day of the attack, three of the victims had been cubs. We also had several orphaned cubs and young adults that were being adopted by other den families.

Peter and his mate, Walt, had adopted a family of three cubs. Their parents had been fated-mates, which explained their larger family. Most of our pairs were only able to have one cub. Infertility was an issue for us among non-fated matings. Once Walt had seen the infant girl, and the twin five-year boys, their fate had been settled.

A couple of teen omegas, and one that was in his early twenties, would be staying here in the manor permanently without their parents alive to protect them. The only other orphaned beta youth and one alpha girl had already found families to take them in. It would be a rough transition, but our people would handle it. Many of the old school, uptight members of our community still had soft hearts, especially for the young ones who needed their care and protection.

Peter spoke from up from where he sat at my left. His eyes held a rare spark of excitement as he read a message on his tablet. “Young Frankie has a few leads for us. He followed the electronic trail from the messages and numbers that were in the phone that Tommy gave us after the incident on the mountain. He has a list of possible locations for safe houses. He just emailed me the reports.”

Mikael and I both sat up and looked at the beta. “Seriously? We need to get those checked out. Send me out with a team, Mik. I can handle it.”

My cousin looked at me. “Let me look over the information first, Stefan. I am not comfortable sending you on a mission with a pregnant mate. Especially with your little cat. That one would sneak out a drain pipe if necessary to follow you. None of us want that, no matter how capable his cat is, yes?”

I nodded reluctantly. Diego was over halfway through his three month gestation period, and already sported an adorable baby bump. My little kitten was pregnant with a jaguar cub. I didn't mind that it wasn't a bear, there was always next time if we wanted to try for one. I was excited about having another little cat shifter in the family anyway.

“Jules would kick my ass if his pregnant cousin got hurt following me on a mission, so you have a point. He already freaked out about how involved Diego was the day of the attack, even though his help definitely saved both of our lives.”

Mikael nodded his agreement. “Exactly. We all are grateful to your mate for his bravery. But I understand how Jules felt when he heard about it later. He was upset enough that he wasn't here at the time to assist, but he almost lost it when he heard about all that Diego did.”

I rolled my eyes. “That dude probably would have taken all the rogues out, not just the two that we got. What happened with the prisoner that day? I never asked.”

Mikael's face shuttered. “Perhaps that is best not discussed. Let's just say that Jules and I were unsuccessfully able to interrogate him and that he will not be assaulting any other people in the future.”

With a gulp, I nodded. “Okay, then. Forget I asked. So, let's go over these reports that your little hacker just sent Peter and start making plans.”

The rest of the day was spent making war plans. The addresses were all located within an hour's drive from here. Jules had arrived by the end of the first hour, and he'd immediately taken charge of planning the missions.

 

 

* * * * *

 

 

 

It was nearing midnight when I dragged myself into our suite. Diego looked up with a smile from where he was curled up naked in the center of our bed with a book. He tossed the book carelessly to the floor and flung himself at me as soon as I stripped and had climbed into bed.

“I've missed you all day,” he pouted at me with an adorable little whine. After he'd crawled over on top of me and given me a kiss, he sat up and straddled my hips with a more serious expression. “I heard from Taylor that you have leads on the rogues? And I know that my primo was here, he came to check on me before he got tied up with you guys in the Alpha's office. Do you have plans in place to retaliate? They need to die.”

I smiled and stroked his baby bump. “So bloodthirsty, Kitten. Is this a cat thing or a Latin thing? I'm never quite sure with you and your cousin.”

Diego looked thoughtfully at me. “Perhaps a bit of both? All I know is that these people came here to our home and attacked us. Some of our people died and many were wounded. For this, they must pay. It must be known that our community is not to be trifled with, or we will just have more problems like this in the future.” He shrugged. “It is the way of things, is it not? Live by the sword, die by sword.”

I grinned as I rubbed his belly, listening to him begin to purr. “My goodness. My kitten is a bloodthirsty philosopher, huh? And did you really just quote the human's Bible? How do you know all these things, Kitten?”

He looked at me with a smirk and a quirked brow. “Stefan. I had a classical education at the best schools. I can quote all of the major religious tomes, and many of the more important classical writings. Should I tell you that I could read many classic works in the original Greek or Latin if I so desired? Or is it too much for you if your bloodthirsty mate is also smart as fuck?”

I chuckled and rolled us over so that I was kneeling over him, caging him between my braced forearms. “I sincerely doubt that the word fuck was used in those fancy rich kid schools that you attended, Kitten.”

He gazed up at me haughtily. “Please. You have no idea how profane the mouths of a bunch of kids away from home can be. Especially when we all lived in a dormitory with only a resident adviser to oversee us. However, if you object to the word, perhaps you would prefer the act?”

I leaned down and brushed my lips over his. “Is that your way of telling me that you're horny, Kitten?”

“As if I really need to tell you that, mi oso.” He smirked and winked at me. With a groan, I leaned down to kiss him again as I rolled us to our sides. Diego giggled into my mouth as his tongue swept in between my lips. His hands and legs were already rubbing all over me as my ever moving mate writhed against me.

My hands smoothed their way down his sides to cup his ass, pulling him snugly against me. His baby bump wasn't so large yet that we still didn't fit closely together. I broke the kiss to nibble his ear, I loved the way it made him purr when I bit into that soft fleshy lobe.

Diego was already beginning to purr as I rained a row of kisses down his neck. His hands were gripping my chest as he scraped his teeth along my alpha-gland and over my clavicle. He pinched my nipples while I swept two fingers between his crease to where the slick was already leaking from his hole.

He pushed me over to my back and crawled on top of me, his hands and tongue never stopped moving as we turned. I squeezed the perky globe of his round ass with one hand, while I worked his hole with three fingers of the other.

“Fuck, Kitten.” I moaned. “This is going to be fast tonight, I can already feel your vibrobutt going in there.”

His purr increased and he nipped at my nipple with his sharp little teeth. He looked up at me, his whiskey brown eye color was just a frame now that ringed around  his fully blown lust filled pupils. Rocking back on my fingers, Diego kept up his onslaught of licks, nips and kisses.

My nipples were so sensitive after nearly two months of his constant nipple play. My mate loved my chest almost as much as he loved my cock. And my knot. And my tongue. He was pretty much a fan of my entire body, in fact, just as I was of his.

He scooted back just enough so that our cocks were rubbing together, our leaking precum providing a little slide to our friction. With a low moan, Diego lifted up and grabbed my dick. He pointed it toward his hole, looking at me with those eyes filled with desire.

I pulled my fingers out and allowed him to push down on my cock instead. He sat up and grabbed for my hands. Holding my hands out to the side, he pushed against them as he bounced up and down on top of me. I jerked my hips up to meet him each time he lowered, until we had a fast and steady rhythm going.

We weren't going to last long, we were both too far gone for that. Diego stopped moving and pulled his knees up to his chest. “Spin me,” he panted. With a grin, I released his hands and gripped his hips to turn him around facing away from me.

Lowering his legs, he bent forward with his knees on either side of me and hugged my knees around his head while he rocked back and forth. Having my dick at this angle helped me to last a little longer. I held his hips and thrust up while he took what he needed from me.

My knot was already thickening, but not fully engorged. I sat up and pulled him back against my chest. Turning, I let our legs hang over the edge of the bed and planted my feet on the floor. I placed a hand in the center of his chest, holding him firm while I stroked his turgid length with the other. With each upstroke, I rubbed my thumb roughly over the leaking slit of his tip.

My knot was swelling quickly now. Rather than hard thrusting, my hips were doing an erratic series of jerks as that vibrating tunnel tightened around my cock. I came with a shout, filling his ass with my seed. Diego came like a geyser, shooting blasts of cum all over our legs and my hand.

I leaned over and lightly bit into the scar of his claim-bite. “I love you, Kitten. That was amazing. Shall we try and get into bed now without me crushing you or you breaking my knot?”

Diego grinned. “I love you too. And, you should probably get the light first if you hope to actually sleep tonight.”

With a grin, I turned slightly and reached behind me to pull back our bedding. After I stretched over to the nightstand and clicked off the lamp, I leaned back onto the bed. Using my legs, I got us lying down properly and on our sides with him spooned up against my chest. I pulled the covers up over us and kissed the nape of his neck, taking a moment to enjoy his spicy scent.

With one arm under his head and the other resting over him so that my hand could cover the baby bump, I fell asleep peacefully with my mate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Ten

 

Diego

 

I lifted my ankles into the stirrups on the table. Now that I could see them better, I was amazed by how swollen they were. Seriously, how did they get so swollen?

The woman doctor, a beta called Dr. Dean, was waiting with the gel glop they used each time I had an ultrasound. This was my third one now. She believed in doing one during each month of pregnancy to make sure that the cub was okay.

After the cold goop was rubbed over my huge belly, she ran the wand over it. Stefan was watching the screen intently. He loved these monthly visits where we got to hear a louder version of the heartbeat that we could both already hear thanks to our shifter hearing. There was just something special about hearing it come through the speaker on the machine.

As soon as the cub came into view, Stefan's face lit up. There he was, our little cub. I'd already scented that I carried a male cub, but Stefan hadn't yet. I knew his bear nose would pick it up any day now. He didn't need to scent the gender though, when the cub turned and his little ding-dong was right there on full view. I was amused as Stefan's eyes bugged out with excitement.

He looked at me to point it out, then shook his head. “You already scented it, didn't you?”

I nodded with a little reluctance. It wasn't always fun knowing things like this before my mate because my olfactory senses were stronger. Stefan just grinned and shook his head. My easygoing mate didn't care, he was just happy.

“I would've smelled it soon myself, but you really could have told me, Kitten. It would be just as much of a surprise if you told me or I saw it here.”

“True. But this way, I got to watch you discover it instead of being told.” I reached for his hand to hold while Dr. Dean took measurements and tapped the buttons on her little machine. 

Stefan tilted his head curiously. “I don't really care, but can you already scent his designation too? I'm honestly just curious as to whether you can tell. It doesn't matter to me what he will be.”

Nodding, I told him. “Our son is an alpha. And yes, I could scent that at the same time that I scented his gender.”

“How long have you known?” He asked me with obvious interest.

“For about a week or so, I suppose. I woke up one day and just knew. Now that you know, we can start buying boy stuff for him. And pick a name! He needs a good, strong alpha name.”

Stefan grinned happily. “Yes, let's get busy on buying boy stuff and picking a name. I'm so excited,” he leaned over and kissed my cheek.

Dr. Dean smiled at us and held out a picture she'd printed from the ultrasound. “Here you go, gentlemen. A keepsake of your little alpha. Now, Diego, we need to talk. I'm a concerned about your water retention. I want you to cut back on your sodium. No salty foods, no red meat. You need to drink at least eight glasses of water daily, and get more protein into your diet. I would suggest dairy, rice, and beans. Oh, and it goes without saying, but zero caffeine intake.”

I glared at her as she cleaned the goop from my belly. “No red meat? Doctor, I am a Jaguar! I cannot go without red meat!”

Stefan chuckled. “Chillax, Kitten. The baby is due in two weeks. You can give up meat for two weeks. I'll even do it with you.”

Dr. Dean nodded patiently. “I'm sorry, hon, but this is the only way. You have preeclampsia, or toxemia if you prefer. Either name works. I didn't want to worry you, but your swollen hands and feet got my attention. Your blood pressure is high, and the urine test proved my suspicions. If we don't treat this, given the fast gestation time of us shifters, you will be in full eclampsia by the end of the week.”

With Stefan's help, I sat up to talk. I hated lying back and feeling weak when I needed to speak like an adult. “What is this eclampsia? Will it hurt my cub?”

I tensely studied her body language and watched her face as she spoke. “Eclampsia can hurt you, Diego. It can cause seizures, blood clotting issues, kidney and liver failure, not to mention the high blood pressure can cause future heart problems. It's just not something I want to see happen with you. As for your cub, the preeclampsia can cause him to get less oxygen and nutrients. If things aren't improved by the end of the week, I will have to do a c-section. He will be big enough by the weekend for me to do it. Technically, he's big enough now if it were more urgent.”

Stefan asked: “Are you sure it's not best to just do it now then, doctor? I don't want Diego to be hurt or our cub. What would cause this anyway?”

Dr. Dean looked at us both with a patient smile. “I know this is a serious and scary thing to hear, but right now daddy and cub are doing fine. This is manageable, guys. It could run in his family? It usually comes up with younger omegas and older omegas, for some reason the mid-range ones aren't as affected. It's hard to say what caused it, but that doesn't matter. What matters is that you have it, and we need to monitor it. I really want to give your cub a few more days in the womb if we can swing it.”

I bit my lip and asked the next question that I was afraid to ask. “Will I be able to have more cubs? Does this put me at risk to have it again in my future pregnancies?”

She smiled kindly. “Yes and yes. But now that we know you are prone to it, and will likely have an increased risk for it in later pregnancies, we will be more vigilant. Next time, I'll know to limit your sodium intake earlier and keep an eye on the protein levels in your kidneys. It's okay, you just have to manage it. I measured your cub. He's a little on the small side, which is to be expected with this condition. He's not too small though, and will be just fine.”

Stefan looked pale and was biting into his lip hard enough to leave a mark as he listened to Dr. Dean. I bit back a sigh. I knew that my protective alpha was going to put me on lock-down now.

I asked the doctor another question. “Do I need to stay in bed now? Or can I still be normal?”

She smiled with a glance of understanding at my mate. “No, hon. Actually, walking around will be good for you. Keep moving, drink lots of water, and limit that sodium intake. Now, here's what I need you to watch out for over the next few days. If you get dizzy, blurred vision, nausea, cramping, or even a bad headache, I want to see you immediately. And I want to see you Friday either way.”

“For the surgery?” I asked.

“Not necessarily,” she responded. “If you're doing better, I'll put it off a few days longer. If you're still in the same place you are right now, I'll be doing the c-section then. And remember, call me at once if any of those symptoms I mentioned occur.”

Stefan nodded, counting the symptoms off on his fingers. “Dizziness, blurred vision, nausea, cramping, headaches, got it. I already have you on speed dial, so I'll call you day or night if he shows any of those symptoms. Thanks, doc.”

Dr. Dean smiled gently, and reached out to pat my hand. “Diego, try not to stress. That's not good for you or the baby. I know this was all scary to hear, but you will be okay. And so will that little alpha cub of yours. By this time next week, you could be holding him in your arms instead of having him push on your bladder.”

She stopped and held up a finger. “That's the other symptom! I'm glad I thought of it. If you find yourself not urinating as often, or not putting out as much when you do go, that's another sign that you need to see me.”

With one last pat of my hand, she stood. “I'm going to let you get dressed now. I will put you on the schedule for 9:00 Friday morning.”

“Thanks, doc. We'll be here,” Stefan said firmly, his hand resting on my shoulder.

After the doctor left, I stoically got dressed with Stefan's help. “Do you want to talk yet?” He asked me softly.

I shook my head. “I need to get to our room first. I do not wish for our friends and family to see me in a weak moment.”

Stefan grinned at me. “Fine, Kitten. But I'm carrying your bratty ass up the stairs.”

“Seriously? Did you not hear the doctor clearly state that walking is good for my condition?” I asked him with a smirk.

“Yes, and that's fine. But right now, I need to hold you in my arms and pretend that I can protect you from anything by sheer alpha strength.”

I reached out to touch his face. “Oh, mi oso. You are so much stronger than you think you are, trust me on that.”

He shook his head. “No, Kitten. You're my strength. If I'm strong, it's because I have you there at my side encouraging me. You're a force of nature. I am stronger just being with you.”

Smiling, I held out my arms. “Perfect answer. You may carry my fat ass upstairs now.” He lifted me smoothly, and I wrapped my arms around his thick neck. “Yes, my alpha. You are big and strong. But, I quite like being called the quiet strength that encourages you. 

 

 

 

* * * * *

 

 

 

As we laid in our bed, I finally gave in to my tears while my strong mate held me in his arms and let me cry it out. “I will give up red meat forever if it m-means that our c-cub will be healthy,” I cried.

Stefan just stroked my back in small circles. “I don't think that's necessary, Kitten. Just for a week, two at the most. You're young, you're strong, and you're healthy. These are all good points in your favor. We just have to watch your blood pressure, right? It'll be okay, Kitten. You'll see.”

I nuzzled into his neck, sniffing that alpha-gland. “Thank you, alpha. Thank you for helping me through this. I cannot imagine if I had to do this alone.”

Stefan kissed the top of my head. “Hey, you're my mate. You don't get the luxury of being alone now. You're stuck with me, remember?”

I giggled softly into his neck. “I like it when I'm stuck on you. But then, that's what got us into this mess.”

“Hey, are you calling our son a mess?” Stefan demanded playfully.

“No, not our son. Never him. Just this stupid pregnancy. I'm fat and swollen and my fingers look like little wieners. Look at them!” I held up my swollen fingers to show him, but I realized his chest was shaking because he was laughing.

Swatting his chest, I said: “Really? You're about to be a father and your snickering at the word wiener? Would it be better if I said hot dog?”

“Not now,” he gasped, still laughing. “Now I'm just picturing your fingers as a bunch of little dicks.”

“Hmm. Maybe I'll just shove them up your butt then and see what you think of it.” I said with a huff.

Stefan moved my hand down to cup his half swollen cock. “See? That's really not as much of a turn off as you'd think.”

“Really? But you're an alpha!” I said with surprise, never having honestly thought of doing anything like that to my mate.

He shrugged. “So? I'm still a man. I'm only twenty-five, I'm young enough to try new things.”

“But you don't make slick like I do, alpha.” I said thoughtfully, not trying to argue as much as I was trying to figure out where he was going with this whole thing.

“That's when we get creative. Humans have a fake slick they use. But in our case, we could just borrow some of yours.”

I pulled back, tears and worries forgotten now that he had me intrigued with this new idea. “Have you ever done anything like that with anyone else?” I asked suddenly.

“No fucking way, Kitten. That's always been an exit only. I'm just willing to make an exception for you. But, we should probably wait until after the baby comes, right?”

“Are you kidding? Fuck that. You have me so curious now, even my cat is paying attention.” I stopped for a second, then demanded: “Strip us. We need to be naked.”

Stefan chuckled and sat up in the bed. “Damn. I make one little joke and now I'm going to get plowed?”

I nodded, licking my lips as I imagined plunging my cock in between his round butt cheeks. He reached over and pulled my shirt off, tossing it to the floor behind me. His was the next to go, before he stood and shimmied out of his pants.

Neither of us bothered with underwear, most shifters didn't, unless wearing clothes that required containment. Once he was naked, Stefan reached for the waistband of my loose fitting athletic shorts. I hated wearing clothes now, and only wore the lightest things when I needed to leave our suite.

After he yanked my shorts off, Stefan spun them around the tip of his finger, his arm stretched out high above his head. I giggled at the image of my big, beefy alpha standing there butt naked spinning my clothes from his finger while his other hand rested on his hip. Add in the thick erection that was pushing up over his stomach in that familiar curve, and it was definitely a picture to remember.

I patted the bed next to me as he sent my shorts flying. With an animalistic grin that betrayed more of his inner bear than any other expression I'd seen, he sauntered slowly over to the bed.

“How do you want me, Kitten?” He asked in a husky whisper.

I gave him the slow once over and licked my lips. “I'm not as flexible as you are at the moment, mi oso. Why don't you get on your hands and knees in front of me, so that I can give you a taste of what it feels like, hmm? But first, help me sit up.”

Stefan took my hand, so that I could grip it to get into a seated position. “Are you comfortable, Kitten?”  I nodded my agreement. Without another word, Stefan got up on the bed and got on his hands and knees in front of me, with his beautiful ass right there within reach.

Reverently, I reached out and ran my hands over that bubble butt. It was firm beneath my hands as I squeezed and rubbed it. Being me, my next move was to taste. Holding each cheek wide apart, I leaned forward and buried my face in his crease.

I nuzzled at his little virgin pucker, then slowly ran my tongue over it. The musky, earthen flavor wasn't unpleasant. In fact, I kind of liked how it tasted a bit like the way he smelled. Flicking my tongue against the pucker, I heard him begin to moan a little. Braver now, I pushed my tongue inside that rim, forcing the tight ring of muscle to let me play.

I reached between his thighs and fondled his balls, rolling them in my palm while I sucked against his hole. Moving my hand, I stroked his shaft in time with my tongue that I was slowly gliding in and out of his hole.

“Fuck, Kitten...don't stop. That's amazing,” he moaned as he rocked back against my face.

I raked my fingernails lightly across his sac, and slapped his ass with my other hand. His hole loosened even more, and I was able to really work it with my tongue. Thrusting my stiffened tongue in and out, I tongue-fucked him until he was gasping and pleading for more.

I couldn't reach my ass in this position, so I stopped and said: “I need a hand, mi oso. Reach between my legs and scoop some of my slick.”

Stefan twisted around and stretched his hand between my legs to where the slick was leaking so much that it was forming a puddle beneath me on the bed. He looked at me expectantly, his chest heaving with excitement.

I commanded him with a raised brow and my best resting bitch face: “Coat my cock now, alpha. Make it good and slick so that I do not hurt you.”

He rubbed my swollen cock in steady strokes, coating it with my slick. “Good. Now help me stand up.”

Stefan grinned and helped me to my feet. I looked up at him imperiously. “You are much too tall, mi oso. Bend over the edge of the bed for me with your legs spread. I wish to fuck that hole now.”

His eyes lit up at my demanding voice and dirty command. He bent over the side of our bed with his legs bent and knees apart. Stepping between his thighs, I was happy to see that I was just tall enough that my belly would rub over his cheeks but not impede our fun.

“Reach back now and guide me into your tight little hole, alpha. You know that even if it was magnetic and I had a metal hand, I couldn't find my dick right now with this big belly full of your cub.”

I smiled as he eagerly reached back for my cock. It turned him on so much when I joked or commented about how he'd bred me with his seed or how I was filled with his cub. Silly alphas, so proprietorial.

Once he'd lined me up with his hole and I felt my head bump against the ring of his entrance, he moved his hand away.

“Take a deep breath, and push back as you breathe out.”

“You mean push back, like I'm fucking myself on you? Or push with the muscle, like I'm trying to fart or something else in that neighborhood?”

I snorted at his description. “The second one, and don't make me laugh right now. I want this to be good for you.”

“Trust me, Kitten. It got good the second you licked me there. Holy shit. We're definitely doing that again. Okay, are you ready for me to do that breathing thingie?”

I shook my head and grinned. “Yes, alpha. Do the breathing thingie.”

He took a deep breath, and when I saw him exhale, I pushed the tip of my cock into the tight ring. He gasped, and not in a good way, so I took a moment to stroke his back. “It get's better, Stefan. Just bear with me.”

“Okay,” he gasped and took another breath. On the exhale, I pushed in a little more. We kept it up until I was fully seated inside his ass. I could feel his pain and a hint of pleasure through our bond.

Scratching my fingernails over his ass just light enough to tease, I said: “Relax, alpha. Just breathe and accept the feeling of fullness. I will not move until you are ready. And be glad that I am long enough but much less girthy than you are, mi oso. Also, I have no knot.”

He groaned out a laugh, relaxing almost immediately. Once I felt that, I began to slowly move. Biting my lip, I focused through our bond until I felt the tip of my cock rub against that little magic button that I knew would make him see stars.

“Lift your leg and move it for me, alpha.” He helped as I guided one of his legs up onto the bed and pushed his hips slightly to the side to give me a better angle, and then I was able to hit that prostate perfectly on my next thrust.

“Fuck, yeah!” Stefan shouted, rocking back against me. Gripping his hip with one hand and the raised thigh with the other to hold my balance, I began to fuck him harder.

“Alpha, you've been holding out on me,” I panted as I thrust fast and deep into his snug channel. “This tight fucking ass of yours feels so good around my cock! It's like being squeezed by a tight velvet fist, right?”

Stefan grunted out a laugh. “Not quite how I'd describe it when I'm balls deep inside of you, Kitten. But say it however you want, just don't stop!”

“Grab your cock,” I commanded him in a panting gasp, smiling as he reached for it as instructed. “Stroke it for me, alpha.” I kept thrusting, my ass flexing with each pump of my hips. I was pleased to see him stroking himself in rhythm with me.

“Squeeze your knot.” I watched him grab his knot and give it a squeeze. He moaned loudly when I slammed into him harder while he squeezed. “Are you close, mi oso? Do you want me to fucking fill your ass with my hot creamy cum?”

“Fuuuuuck,” he groaned, stroking his cock fast and hard now. “Do it, Kitten! Come in my ass.”

With three fast jerks of my hips, I fought to stay upright as I shot my load inside of my alpha. His ass tightened all at once, milking the dregs of my release out of my cock as he blew his own load all over our blankets.

He laid there panting as I pulled out and leaned over him uncomfortably. I pressed my forehead into his lower back as I caught my breath.

“You okay, Kitten?” Stefan asked between pants. 

“Yeah, just...give me a minute. I'm afraid to move or I might fall down. That was fucking intense.”

His head popped up and he looked back at me over his shoulder. “You aren't dizzy are you? The doctor said...”

“Shh!” I interrupted. “It's not that. It's that I can't flop down after that intense orgasm because there's a basketball sticking out of my gut.”

He chuckled and carefully turned and reached for me. Somehow he managed to flip over and pull me up to nestle in beside him. Rubbing my back, Stefan spoke softly. “This isn't ideal, I'd rather be in bed snuggling, but I don't think either of us can move just yet.”

I totally agreed. “If I was a gentleman, or a beta, I'd go get a cloth and help you clean up after plowing you like that. I'm just too used to us being knotted together, I suppose. Plus, my legs are rubber right now.”

Stefan snorted out a laugh. “You don't need to be a gentleman, and I'm definitely glad that you're not a beta. I like your slick little knot receptacle. Don't sweat it, Kitten. Just give me a couple minutes and I'll get us comfortable.”

“Well, can I least apologize that you're laying in the wet spot because you made room for me?” I looked over at him with a grin.

Grinning right back, Stefan said: “Am I? I didn't notice. All I noticed was that I feel fucking great and I've got my sexy omega here next to me all pregged up with our cub and looking sexy.”

I rolled my eyes, too tired to even pretend to swat at him for that one. Instead, I yawned and let myself drift off into a nap. At some point I felt myself being moved around to lie on my pillow and my mate's arms coming around me. I smiled in my sleep but didn't bother opening my eyes. I was tired, dammit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Eleven

 

Stefan

 

I looked at my little omega, so swollen and tired. We'd done everything the doctor had suggested this week, but his fingers, wrists, and ankles were still just so swollen. Taylor and his cousin, Walt, had been checking in on him regularly and walking the halls with Diego to help him exercise. I'd finally talked to Mikael yesterday and taken a break from my duties to the den for now.

Mikael agreed that my only duty was to my mate. I looked over at the clock. Twenty minutes left before his appointment. I was actually a little concerned, because he was so tired today. I could barely get him to rouse when I'd tried to wake him. Deciding to go with my gut, I called Dr. Dean.

“Oh, Stefan! Get him here now, carry him if you must. Extreme fatigue is another symptom. How long has this been going on?” The concern in her voice had my bear pacing with alarm just under the surface of my skin.

“This is new. Today is the first time I've seen it.”

“Okay, well, I'm going to tell you now that I feel strongly that we will be taking the baby this morning by c-section. Just get him down here as fast as you can, I'll be waiting. Then we'll see about letting you guys meet your baby today.”

I turned off the phone right as there was a knock on our door. I opened it to find Jules and his mates there, but no cubs. At my harried look of confusion, Colin spoke up quietly. “Our cubs are being babysat by their uncle in the Alpha suite. Jules' spidey sense is going off the chart today for his primo. Is Diego okay?”

I looked at him for several seconds, unable to move or speak. When he reached out to touch my arm, I took a breath and shook my head as I began to babble with a rising panic. “Did he tell you about the toxemia? Because he has it. Toxemia, I mean. Or preeclampsia. Apparently both names are good, but the condition isn't? I just talked to the doctor. He needs to be there. But he's here. Why are we here? I mean, I need to get him downstairs now. Jules, he won't wake up for me! He's too drowsy. The doctor wants to do an emergency c-section she thinks. I mean, she doesn't know yet. She has to see him first. But he's here. Not there. You know?”

Jules pushed around me with a tight, anxious expression on his face and strode right over to the bed. He picked Diego up, blanket and all, and headed back to where I still stood, stunned and confused. He jerked his chin to Sean. “Get him dressed and downstairs to the doctor's clinic. Diego and I will meet him there. Colin, would you come with me please?”

They left and I was still standing in place. Sean stepped forward and smacked me lightly across my cheek. Then he smacked my opposite cheek with the back of the same hand. He did it a few times until I was blinking and jerking away in confusion.

I looked over at the empty bed and started to dart out into the hall. Sean blocked my exit by extending his arm in front of me like a toll booth gate. He shook his head with a wry grin. “Sorry, dude. Nudity might be the norm for us shifters, but in the fancy Alpha manor? I'm pretty sure that you should be dressed. Especially since you're the Alpha Heir right now, and the clinic is in the public part of the manor.”

“Clothes. I need clothes.” I stated blankly, turning to our dresser in a fog. I yanked open a drawer and pulled out a pair of black sweatpants and a green tank top. After I'd jerked them on, I shoved my feet into the sneakers that Sean handed me.

I ran downstairs with Sean at my side. Mikael was standing outside the clinic waiting area. He stopped me and gave me a hug, squeezing me tight and releasing a cloud of calming Alpha juju over me.

He spoke softly into my ear. “Calm down, cousin. I know that this is some scary ass shit that you're dealing with right now. But you can't be there for Diego if you're freaking out, you know? You're stronger than you give yourself credit for, Stefan. Channel that and go deal with whatever is about to happen in there. The goddess won't abandon you and your mate, or your cub. I have every faith that things will work out.”

Mikael released me, and I stood tall. Remembering similar words from my kitten about my inner strength, I smiled a bit more confidently at my cousin. “Thanks, Mik. And thanks for being here.”

He nodded quietly. “I wouldn't be anywhere else. I'll be right here in the waiting area with Diego's family.”

I nodded back, and gave him a clasp on the shoulder. “Thanks for that. Now excuse me, I need to go and see about my mate.”

My cousin smiled proudly as I walked into the inner office area. I closed the door behind me. Dr. Dean was in the middle of examining a sleepy Diego while Jules stood there holding his hand.

She smiled at me as she took his blood pressure. “Well good morning, alpha! Jules here was just telling me that you've had a bit of new daddy panic going on today?”

I smirked at Jules and said with an embarrassed chuckle. “Yeah, I kinda froze when I got off the phone with you.”

Dr. Dean nodded with a knowing smile. “As soon as I hung up, I realized that I'd made the mistake of talking about meeting your baby to an alpha who is becoming a father for the first time. You poor guys never handle that very well. I'll try to remember that in the future, but I'm sorry I threw you off balance today.”

I nodded. “It's okay, doc. Do you know anything yet?”

She smiled gently. “Yes, I feel that we need to move forward with the c-section. I'm not even going to bother with the ultrasound, I want to get right to it. Now, while we don't need to be quite as sterile as the humans, I do have some standards.”

I looked at her curiously. She continued, looking at both me and Jules. “Both of you can stay in the room if that's what Stefan wants, since he's the mate. I'll be doing it next door in my surgical area. You'll both need to stop at the sink outside and scrub your hands. There is a stack of paper gowns there, put one on over your clothing. That's my only requirement. Well, actually, there's one more. I need you to stay by Diego's shoulders throughout the procedure. If I get a hint of you going alpha on me when you smell his blood from my scalpel cutting into his skin, I will kick you out so fast that your head will spin. Got it?”

I nodded and turned to Jules as Dr. Dean bustled out of the room. “I'd like it if you'd come with us. You can help me not go alpha on her when she cuts in. That could be a problem, now that I think about it. My bear will probably be pissed.”

Jules grinned. “Don't worry. I'll knock your ass out if you even think about trying get all alphadouche in there.”

I smirked. “I'll do the same for you. I mean, he is your family. It's possible you might also have an issue.”

Jules shook his head. “No, I won't. Too many years in war-zones will teach you to control your animal. I had to learn it early, my cat is jealous, possessive and protective as fuck. But we both know that I'm in charge.”

I grinned. “Oh, so that jealous, possessive and protective trait is a cat thing?”

Jules chuckled. “Ah, so my little primo has that too? Well, take what this little omega has and multiply it by five since I'm an alpha. So, yeah. I had to teach my cat to heel at a young age so that my human half didn't have to pay the consequences later.”

Dr. Dean came back in then, pushing a gurney. She passed me a paper gown. “Here. Unless you want me wheeling your naked mate past everyone out there in all his glory, you can put this on him.”

I looked down at my mate and realized all of a sudden that I hadn't dressed him this morning. Oh, shit. He was going to fucking kill me when he found out later. Jules was grinning at me with a fully understanding smirk. I just ignored him and pulled the blanket back so that I could put the gown on him.

Dr. Dean said: “Don't bother tying it in back. Just cover the important bits and move him onto the gurney for me.”

I nodded and did as she'd directed. She began pushing him toward the door. “Do as I said, wash and gown up before you come join us next door. Oh, and if I were you? I'd ask one of your friends to get these blankets back to your room and maybe grab some clothes for Diego to wear later.”

Jules chuckled and slapped me on the back before turning to grab the blankets that he'd carried Diego down here in. “Go start washing your hands, I'll ask one of my mates to handle this little errand for you.”

A few minutes later, I entered the surgical room with clean hands and a paper gown on over my clothes. Diego was lying there with a weird divider blocking his lower half from view once I sat down on a wheeled stool by his shoulder.

Dr. Dean and an assistant had his gown lifted over his belly, and a light sheet covering him from the hips down. They were painting his belly with some weird scented orange colored concoction and prepping for the procedure. Jules came in a few moments later. He came and took the stool on the opposite side of the table.

After giving us both a severe look that warned us both that she'd been serious with her rule, Dr. Dean picked up her scalpel. Seconds later, the smell of Diego's blood filled the room. I clenched my teeth and breathed slowly through my mouth. Pushing back on my raging inner bear, I sternly told him to back down. Our mate was safe. Our cub would be safe. This was necessary for our family.

Reluctantly, my bear backed down and I held onto my human side with an iron will. Jules reached over and patted my shoulder. I looked back to see him nodding at me with respect. I jerked my chin at him in recognition before looking down at Diego.

He was still drowsy, gazing up at me with sleepy eyes. I ran a hand through his shoulder length, silky black hair. It was seldom down like this outside of our bed, and was only that way now because he'd been too tired to sit up and put it up in the little man-bun he was fond of wearing it in when he was around other people.

Diego blinked at me, his sleepy eyes clouded with pain. He whispered: “You will remember the name?”

Leaning over, I kissed his forehead. “Yeah, Kitten. I know our son's name. Don't worry. Try to stay awake now, he's almost here.”

“It hurts. Feels weird too, like they're pulling my guts out.”

Jules chuckled. “That's pretty much what's happening right now, primo.”

Diego turned his head to see his cousin. His face lit up when he saw the older man sitting there. “Hi, Jules. Thanks for coming, primo.”

Jules leaned over and kissed his forehead the same as I had. Well, maybe not quite as tenderly. But affectionately, for sure. “I wouldn't be anywhere else, primo.”

There was a squalling sound then and I looked up to realize that it was coming from a baby. Our baby. Diego and I both looked at him, then at each other, then back at him. Our son was here. Our little Antonio. Dr. Dean laid him across Diego's chest, watching to make sure that I was helping to hold him since Diego was still pretty much half asleep.

The assistant bustled out of the room for a minute, then came back with another beta in tow. This one came over and began to lift Tony, but I stopped him with a hand to his wrist. “What are you doing, beta?”

The young beta smiled nervously. “It's my job to record his weight and length, clean him up, and get him clothed and diapered.”

“Oh, okay. I'm sorry.”

The beta shook his head. “No, it's okay, alpha. I get it.”

Jules smothered a smile at my display of protective alpha mode. Dr. Dean just shot me an approving smile while she worked at putting my mate back together. At least, that's what I assumed she was probably doing back there.

The other assistant was standing there handing her tools and taking away bloody bits of...well..I didn't really want to know. I stroked Diego's hand, and brushed his hair back with the other. His eyes kept watching the door, he had woken up a lot now that he had a cub to protect. I imagined that my kitten's protective streak was going to be on the level of ridiculous at first, especially with the hormones floating through his system from the pregnancy. 

The young beta came scurrying back in, with Tony wrapped up like a burrito in a fresh white blanket with pink and blue stripes around the border. Diego's face lit up and he reached out with both hands for our cub.

“Antonio!” He said with a normal voice, smiling happily as the beta settled our son on his chest. Diego looked up at his primo. “Jules, meet Antonio, you newest little primo to protect.”

Jules smiled down at our son, his eyes filled with tears. “He's beautiful, Diego. It's too bad that your padre is such an ass that he will not be meeting his grandson. But that's okay, I will love him enough for both of us. Plus, he has my three cubs to grow up with now. We will be one big happy family.”

Diego smiled down at Tony. “Yeah, look at us. We moved up to the bear den to start building a new branch of our family.”

Jules chuckled. The beta assistant was standing there patiently waiting to speak to us. I looked at him expectantly. “Sorry, alpha. I just wanted to tell you the baby's stats. He was 7 pounds, eleven ounces and 20 inches long.”

“Thank you, beta. I appreciate you waiting to tell us.”

He nodded sweetly before scurrying away. Dr. Dean looked up at me. “Thanks, alpha. Neil there was orphaned in the attack a few months ago. I've taken him in to apprentice as a nurse for me. He's had a hard go of it, you know?”

I winced, glad that I'd been kind to the kid. “How old his he?”

“Neil? He's nineteen. Old enough to not be adopted, but young enough to need guidance. So, I took him under my wing.”

“That's good of you, doc. That's how we need to be around here, whether in times of crisis or not. Just looking out for each other, you know? That warms my heart. Plus, you're teaching him a worthy career.” I smiled gratefully as I spoke.

Dr. Dean stood and removed her gloves, throwing them into the bag of medical waste the beta assistant was holding. She stretched and came around to admire the cub while the beta finished cleaning up the area. Neil came back in, and between the two of them, things were cleaned up quickly.

The divider came down to show Diego covered chastely with a blanket. Dr. Dean patted his leg. “Let's get you off this gurney. There's a reclining glider over in the corner where you can bond with little Antonio comfortably without pulling your stitches while the medicine I gave you wears off. Once you regain feeling, you can go back to your own suite.”

“Medicine?” I asked curiously. I hadn't seen her give him any medicine.

“Yes, I gave Diego a shot to numb everything from the waist down so it wouldn't hurt while I operated.” Turning her attention to Diego, she continued. “Now, I want to see you every day for the next five days. Don't worry, I'll come to you. In the meantime, I have a few things I want you to do.”

Diego and I both nodded, waiting to hear her speak. Jules pulled out a phone and started tapping on it. At my glance, he shrugged. “I figure I'll just write it down in case you forget something later.”

I nodded gratefully and turned back to the doctor. “First, I need you to get up and move around as soon as you regain feeling. Every hour, I want you up walking around for at least ten minutes. Second, I need you to shift. Twice a day minimum. Hold it for a at least five minutes. Your cat will help you heal faster. He needs to smell your cub too, so make sure he gets access to Antonio. Third, even though you'll heal fast as a shifter, you did just have major abdominal surgery. No stupid stunts like bending, lifting, or anything else that makes you twinge with pain. And no sex! No sex until I tell you it's okay. Now, let's get you into the glider and I'll help you get Antonio latched on to your nipple so he can begin to nurse.”

Jules stood up then. “I'm going to go tell everyone the good news and give you guys a little privacy. We'll disperse until you're released to your room, just text me when we can come see the baby. We're staying here for a few days anyway.”

I looked at him and realized suddenly that there was another reason besides this birth for his presence and for his entire family to be here too. Mikael was finally about to launch his first offensive strike, I realized. Good for him.

Speaking of Mikael, as Jules stepped out, my cousin popped his head in while I carried Diego and his armful of Antonio over to the glider. “Is it okay to come in?”

Dr. Dean held the door open wider as I nodded and lowered Diego into the chair. “I'm going to go check on something, I'll be right back to help with the nursing.” She ducked out as Mikael came all the way into the room.

“Welcome, Mik. You're just in time to meet my son.” I said proudly, squatting down beside my family. “Alpha, this is Antonio.”

Mikael came over and leaned over us, looking down at my son affectionately. “Hello, little alpha. I cannot wait to watch you grow up!” He grinned at us both and explained. “I've never seen a cat shifter cub. I bet he's going to be pretty damned adorable. And a handful too, I will wager. Serves you right, Stefan, for all the stress you've given me over the years.”

Diego held his chin up regally. “Of course, he will be. He is a Jaguar.”

Mik and I both cracked up at my arrogant little omega with the tender heart and courageous spirit. Mikael only stayed long enough to see the baby. He ducked out when doc came back so that we could have privacy for the first feeding.

Once we were alone, she shut the door. I took the baby while Diego lowered his gown to the waist. I wondered how his flat, firm little muscular chest was going to feed our alpha cub, but I'd been assured it would be fine. Apparently, the size of his pecs had zero to do with it.

I watched, enthralled, as Dr. Dean helped him latch Antonio to his nipple. When Tony started suckling, and the scent of Diego's milk filled the air around them? Wow. It was the most precious thing that I'd ever seen.

Dr. Dean slipped out after showing Diego a few tricks and promising to be on hand if he had any questions. After that, we sat there quietly and watched our son nurse. It was possibly the most intimate thing I'd ever experienced, and I watched it with tears flowing freely. Diego looked so regal, yet so nurturing. It took my breath away.

 

 

* * * * *

 

 

I watched as Diego shifted into his cat form in the middle of our room. It wouldn't work for any of us bears to shift indoors, we were much too large. Diego though? His sleek cat wasn't much longer than our loveseat or taller than my waist. As we'd discussed before he shifted, I held Tony in my lap on the cushioned loveseat that sat in our rarely used sitting area.

Diego stretched slowly, his cat obviously feeling the pain from the surgery they'd had while in human form this morning. He slowly walked over to us in that sensual, feline way that he moved whether in cat or human form.

Smiling at him, I looked into his whiskey brown eyes and said: “Hey, Kitten. Come on over and mark our cub. Just be careful, remember that he's fragile. Don't forget, I know how hard you rub against puny humans.”

Diego snorted and gave a chuffing out sound that ranged somewhere between a purr and a growl. I held my ground with the cat, let my alpha pheromone waves flare out as Diego had told me to do. He'd been very clear that if the cat didn't respect me in this form, he would no longer respect the bear form. I didn't get it, but I didn't need to. All I needed to do was trust my mate enough to do as he'd asked.

The big cat came over and bumped his forehead against mine, purring lightly. I bumped him right back, then turned Tony in my arm so that he could scent him. The big cat sniffed along our baby, purring loudly now. He pawed gently at the blanket, so I went ahead and unwrapped the baby.

The big cat gently rubbed his cheek along the length of our child, and then turned his other cheek and rubbed it along our son as well. Once he was satisfied that he'd marked his scent all over Tony, he hopped up onto the couch beside me, He sat there for a long moment, peacefully purring, before gently shifting back.

He leaned into my side, snuggling in when I put my arm around him. Diego smiled at our son before looking up at me and saying: “We made a beautiful baby, didn't we? I think he's so damned cute.”

I grinned. “Well, I think he's adorable. He looks just like my mate.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Twelve

 

Diego

 

I looked around the faces at the table here in the Alpha quarters, happy to be part of this weird little family of people. I've been lobbying for us to go back to our beautiful house soon, but Stefan wanted to honor Mikael's wishes. The Alpha wanted the entire community to stay on this safe estate until the war was over, so we would.

I understood why it was safer here. I just longed to build a home with our own family. However, the safety of my cub was more important than anything else. Still. I looked forward to the day when we went home with our betas and got our life on track.

Taylor smiled across the table at me, the light bouncing off his newly dyed light purple hair. “How is the cub doing, Diego? He looks like he needs his Uncle Taylor to cuddle him.”

Mikael glared playfully at his omega. “Sorry, solnyshko. If the cub wants anyone, it's going to be his Uncle Mikael.”

Their son, Alec, was happily bouncing on his Alpha father's knee. He was pounding his chubby little fists on the table in front of him and chanting “Dadadadada”. I smiled at Mikael, “Sorry, Alpha. It looks like your hands are pretty full already with your own cub. I'll just keep mine right here.”

Stefan leaned over and kissed the fuzzy little brown curls on the top of Tony's head. “The only one who gets a turn next is his father. Papa has been hogging him again, I think.”

I grinned and stuck out my tongue. “As soon as you go through everything that I did to have a cub, then you can hog them too.”

Stefan leaned closer and murmured against my ear so softly that nobody else could hear, even with their shifter ears. “I had the hard job. I had to live through the vibrobutt, remember?”

Blushing, I bit back a giggle and smacked his chest with the back of my hand. Before I could say anything else, there was a knock at the door. Taylor got up to answer it, and came back with Peter and Jules. My cousin came over and kissed my cheek, then simply plucked my son from my arms without even bothering to ask permission.

He just winked at me as he settled into the chair beside me, snuggling Tony to his chest. Peter took the last empty chair as Jules looked over at Mikael with a sober expression and began to speak.

“It worked, Alpha. Our mission was a success. The help of the wolves over at the lodge was invaluable. We took out every rogue house on the list. Two of them were bases with over a dozen people inside of each one.” He stopped and took a deep breath, inhaling the soothing scent of the baby in his arms while he composed himself.

After a moment, he looked up and continued. “After we scouted each area carefully, there was no doubt that they all were the property of the rogue packs. The stench of the rogues was all over them, even the ones that stood vacant. More than half of the places on the list were unoccupied, but we burned them down anyway. Each one lost is one less place they will have to escape to in the future.”

I asked quietly. “How did you achieve all that in one night, Jules? I still don't understand and none of you were exactly forthcoming with information.”

Jules smiled gently at me. “I apologize, primo. But we cannot speak of missions before they take place, when so much is at stake. Nobody other than myself, Peter, Mikael, and a wolf named Tommy knew the scope of our plans. We didn't even tell Stefan. The entire mission was need to know basis only. My men weren't even told the specifics of the job until we were on the way there.”

Stefan looked at Jules curiously. “Tommy was involved? The former rogue wolf?”

Jules nodded slowly. “This was his chance to prove his loyalty, and he did that. One of the first men to die last night was his former friend, Butch.”

Mikael quirked a brow. “The one who shot me? I shouldn't be so calm when I hear of his demise, but my bear is quite satisfied. How many rogues were taken out?”

Peter looked down at his tablet. “I have a report for you waiting on your desk, Alpha. But I can help with the numbers, I have them here. Jules wasn't at every location, as you know. Jake, Micah, and Daniel from the wolf lodge each led a team that took out a live location while Jules and Tommy led the teams that took the two main hubs. The other six addresses we knew to be uninhabited. We sent teams of three to those spots.”

“The total number of houses hit was eleven. Five were inhabited, and as I said, two were main hubs. The two hubs had a combined total of twenty-seven rogues. The other three places had eleven combined casualties.”

Mikael nodded with approval. “That's thirty-eight. Very good. Did we manage to take any hostages?”

Jules shook his head. “No, sir. But we did confiscate every single electronic item on the premises before burning the houses down.”

Mikael took a deep breath and asked: “Were any humans or innocent shifters hurt in the course of our retaliation?”

Jules shook his head. “No, Alpha. We ran a clean mission, everything went according to plan. And I have another piece of good news for you as well. We may have a lead on tracking your sister.”

Mikael lowered his head with a long sigh. “Very good, Jules. Thank you for what you did last night. I certainly couldn't have done it myself.”

“No problem, Alpha. It was my pleasure to be of service to the den. The sooner we get this war ended, the better. I want for all of our cubs to be safe and for our people to be free to live their lives in their own homes on their own terms.”

Mikael nodded soberly. “That, my friend, is my greatest wish as well.”

 

* * * * *

 

 

“This was a long day, mi oso. It feels so good to be in bed,” I yawned and wiggled against Stefan's chest to get comfortable. I was almost healed already, but we still couldn't have sex. I'd considered a little tongue play tonight, but I was too tired now.

“Shh. Go to sleep, Kitten. Get some rest, that little screamer will be waking us at sunrise again.” He chuckled into my hair. We both knew that he didn't mind getting up for our son at any hour. 

“Do you think this war will actually end soon, alpha? I want to be at home with your lovely betas. Konrad and Bobby will love our cub.”

“You know, they're right here in the manor. All you have to do is find the kitchen and I guarantee that you'll find Konrad.” Stefan wrapped his arm around me, pulling me up against his chest. This was his favorite way to sleep. Mine too. I loved being wrapped in his scent all night while I was protected by his strength.

I yawned. “That's a good idea, alpha. I think I will do that. Tony needs to learn the scents of his people.”

Stefan snorted. “Kitten, the cub is three days old. I'm pretty sure it's a bit early for that, but by all means, take him to smell his people.”

I smiled slowly as I soaked in the affection this man had for me. “I love you, mi oso. Now go to sleep so that we can wake up with a blow job.”

“A...what now? Am I waking up to you sucking my cock, Kitten? Are you over there planning to creep on me in my sleep again? Or do you want me to creep on you instead and lick your dick like a lollipop? Slurp, slurp.” He made loud slurping noises at the end there, while I shook my head and ignored his playfulness.

“Shh. Go to sleep, alpha. You heard me the first time about the bj's. Now let me rest. I'm tired and you're keeping me awake with this sex talk and silliness.”

I fell asleep to the sound of my mate's chuckles, still not really sure at all why he found me funny when I was being serious. Still. He was mine, and I loved him. He's the big, strong alpha who loves me and I'm his hidden strength, standing at his side and watching his back. Forever.

 

Fin

 

 

 

 

 

 

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         Other Books by Susi Hawke  -

 

Omega Stolen: Book 1

Omega Remembered: Book 2

Omega Healed: Book 3

Omega Shared: Book 4

Omega Matured: Book 5

Omega Accepted: Book 6

Omega Grown: Book 7

 

 

Non-Shifter Contemporary Mpreg:

 

Pumpkin Spiced Omega: The Hollydale Omegas - Book 1

Cinnamon Spiced Omega: The Hollydale Omegas - Book 2

Northern Pines Den Series

 

Alpha's Heart: Book 1

 Alpha's Mates: Book 2