Chapter 27

BRYCE

Two weeks later…

The pregnancy of a fully-healthy male Omega only lasted a month. I’d known a few other Omegas who’d gotten pregnant and saw it with my own eyes. But seeing it didn’t prepare me for experiencing it myself.

Every day, my belly grew another inch. My stomach bulged so much that all of the definition I once had was gone, replaced by a small boulder resting comfortably underneath my chest.

All of the soreness that came from lugging around my child was too much for me to handle. I was a bit embarrassed about it, being a man that couldn’t stand up for long periods. I had all of the support I needed though. Cade and the rest of his gang were in charge of the bar. Uriah was able to take some time off now that his major case had been solved.

Now I had to deal with the biggest part of my pregnancy.

I thought it was unimaginable that my body could stretch as much as it could to accommodate a child. But there was a child on the way from where Uriah had planted his seed. Now had come the time to deliver it.

I needed all of my focus. Unfortunately for me, my brother was doing everything he could to take that focus away.

“You need anything? How about some water? A towel, maybe?”

“Cade—”

I cut myself off and grunted when another involuntary contraction made my body tighten up.

I was soaking wet with sweat on the bed. All of my muscles were tight. Just when I thought I had a chance to breathe, another contraction would interrupt me.

“What is it?” Cade said. “What do you need?”

“Cade… P-please…”

“What? What do you want, bro? Anything you need.”

“Go…”

“Go…”

“Away…”

“Go away? Where’s that?”

Uriah put a hand on my brother’s shoulder. My boyfriend had a big smile on his face despite how much agony I was going through.

“I think he’s telling you to step away,” Uriah said.

“What?” Cade exclaimed. “But I’m here for my brother. I’m trying to help.”

“You’re not helping,” I gasped.

“But—”

“Cade… Please…”

I said it with the last breath in my lungs, hoping that he would understand.

“It’s all right,” Uriah said. “I’m here for Bryce. Don’t worry. Everything will be fine.”

The look of disappointment would’ve made me laugh if I wasn’t so distracted.

“All right,” he sighed. “If there’s anything he needs, I’ll be in the waiting room.”

“I’ll take it from here,” Uriah replied.

My brother stepped out of the delivery room but it wasn’t much of a relief. I cried out as another contraction made my body tense.

Uriah reached out and took my hand in his. He didn’t say anything. He just looked into my eyes and smiled at me. The kind of look every Omega dreamed of seeing from an Alpha. The look that told me he truly was the man I was meant to be with.

“You’re doing just fine, Bryce,” the doctor said. “The baby looks healthy. They’re almost out. Just keep pushing.”

I was so distracted by everything going on that I didn’t have much time to do the exercises and stretches I knew I needed to do. With only a month to prepare, my pregnancy was more demanding on me than anything I’d ever done in my life.

I squeezed my hand tight around Uriah’s and shut my eyes tight with another hard push.

“There you go,” the doctor said. “You’re doing great. Just keep going. Just like that.”

I could almost feel my child on the verge. My body was stretched to its limit. But I knew I was close. I kept pushing with all of my strength. If it was the last thing I did, I would give this baby the freedom it wanted.

“Come on,” Uriah whispered. “Push.”

I peeked my eyes open just enough to see the focus on Uriah’s face. With that kind of confidence looking back at me, I felt like I could do anything.

“Almost there, Bryce,” the doctor announced. “Keep going.”

I yelled out and pushed with the last ounce of strength left in me. My body stretched apart more than I imagined a male body could until suddenly I felt something come out of me.

My vision was blurry. Sweat dripped down my brow. I was light-headed. But through it all, I could hear something. The loud cries of what sounded like a child.

The wailing only increased in strength. I blinked my eyes to clear my vision then looked up toward the doctor who stood between my legs. A small child writhed in his arms. Covered in red, the baby had its mouth wide open as its screams echoed through the delivery room.

“Congratulations,” she said. “It’s a boy.”

“A boy…” I sighed.

“A boy…” Uriah repeated me.

The doctor slowly placed the small squirming child into Uriah’s hands and he immediately started to quiet down.

“Our child,” Uriah whispered.

He marveled at the tiny baby then slowly placed him into my arms. I sat up straight and cradled him. His eyes were shut tight. His mouth was open. He moved a little bit but he was so quiet suddenly. The kind of peace I saw on his face brought the same peace in my chest.

“He’s beautiful,” I said.

I closed my eyes as a sudden rush of emotions washed over me. I still managed to feel embarrassed about the tears leaking from the corners of my eyes. But it wasn’t enough to stop me from smiling.

“Our baby,” I said.

I looked up at Uriah.

The Alpha was always as proud as always. So tough. So strong. So intimidating. A man who was handsome and inspiring. But now, he was none of that. He was just the other father to my child.

And tears leaked from his own eyes as he smiled down at me.

“I love you,” Uriah whispered.

“I love you, too.”

He leaned forward and pecked me on the lips. Another wave of relief washed over me once again. I’d never felt a peace like I did now.

The doors to the delivery room suddenly burst open.

“Where is he? They just told me!”

Cade stood there like he’d appeared out of thin air.

“Sir, you’re not supposed to be in here if the patient asks you to leave,” the doctor said to my brother.

“It’s all right,” I said with a laugh. “He’s family.”

Cade calmed down as soon as he laid eyes on the child in my arms. He walked up to the bed slowly, his eyes wide with wonder.

“Is that…”

“A boy,” I responded. “A beautiful, baby boy.”

Cade looked up at Uriah and patted him on the shoulder.

“Congratulations,” Cade said.

“Thank you,” Uriah responded.

We all stared at my child while I held him gently in my arms.

All of the most important people in my life were here with me. The kind of happiness in my heart was like nothing I could describe. I was the luckiest man in all of Snow Falls. And nothing could change the way I felt.