Chapter Thirty-Two
Their first few days back in Briar Wood were lost in a whirlwind of eating, sleeping, and struggling to acclimatize two traumatized little boys to their new home.
Of all of them, Michael was handling it the best. He took to parenting like a duck to water, giving the boys what they needed most: stability and routine. Max did his best to follow the omega’s example, slotting in with the routine he’d created and doing his part.
Ryan had taken to him quickly and was treating him like they were old friends, following him around asking questions about anything and everything. Eliot, on the other hand, acted like Max was a predator. Every time he came into the room, the little omega would go very still and hide his face.
It was hard for Max, reminded strongly of his fear of his own father and his temper. He never wanted Ryan or Eliot to feel that way about him.
But the more time Max spent around them, and the more attention he got from Ryan, the less scared Eliot seemed to be. Still, he knew he had his work cut out for him to make a real connection with the young omega.
Other than their first night, when no one had got much sleep, Ryan had settled well into his room and slept through most nights after a bedtime story. Eliot was another story entirely.
After an especially bad night, where Michael was up with him four times, Max stopped him before he could get out of bed for the fifth time.
“Let me.”
The omega hesitated.
“He won’t settle for you,” his mate said doubtfully.
“You running yourself into the ground every night isn’t going to do him any good either. Let me try, at least. If I can’t settle him, I’ll bring him into bed with us.”
They’d been trying not to do that, knowing they’d have a newborn in their room within a matter of weeks, but if that was what it took to get Michael and Eliot a good night’s sleep, they’d manage it.
“Okay,” Michael said, settling back into bed with a yawn. “Call if you need me.”
Max padded out into the corridor and to the room next to theirs. The door was open, and he could see Eliot’s crib clearly. The toddler was standing up, clinging to the side, big tear tracks visible down both his cheeks.
“Hey, buddy,” Max said softly, moving inside. “Did you have a bad dream?”
Wide-eyed, Eliot stared up at him then sat down abruptly, going quiet.
“Shh,” Max murmured, reaching down to cup the little omega’s cheek, using his thumb to wipe away a tear. “It’s okay, you’re safe.”
Eliot whined fearfully but didn’t pull away from his touch. Progress, of a sort. He didn’t look anywhere near settling back to sleep.
“Come on, up you get,” Max encouraged, reaching down and lifting him into his arms.
Eliot went stiff, his whine becoming a whimper.
“Shh,” Max said again, resting the omega against his hip and pacing toward the window. He opened the blinds a little, enough to let some moonlight in. “Maybe you’re not a fan of the dark, huh?”
The toddler was still stiff and tense in his arms and very, very quiet. Max remembered being like that, remembered thinking that if he was still enough, quiet enough, his father wouldn’t notice him. But Max wasn’t his father, and he was determined Eliot would never feel that way around him or Michael.
Max shifted him a little closer, laying one hand across Eliot’s back, and started humming a lullaby he remembered his mother singing.
Gradually, Eliot relaxed, his body slowly sinking, inch by inch, to rest against Max. One little hand came up, grabbing tight to Max’s shirt.
He kept humming, rocking Eliot back and forth gently. Eventually, the omega’s head settled against his chest, his breathing evened out, and Max realized he was asleep. Time passed and he stayed by the window, unwilling to put Eliot back to bed just yet. It was nice to finally know the little omega felt safe in his arms.
Only once he was certain Eliot was in a deep sleep did he carry him back over to the crib, easing him to lie down and covering him with a soft blanket. Eliot sighed and turned his head, and Max held his breath. But he didn’t wake again.
Max stayed there another few minutes, just watching the toddler sleep, then he padded back to bed, climbing in next to Michael.
The omega turned to him, yawning sleepily.
“He okay?”
“Fast asleep.”
The smile on Michael’s face sent a spark of warmth through him.
“You’re a natural.”
Eliot didn’t wake again until morning, and Max felt they’d made a breakthrough, at last.
It was over a month after they brought Eliot and Ryan home that Max finally felt they were truly getting a handle on things. Both kids were in a routine, mostly sleeping through the night but usually waking early and spending the rest of the morning in their bed.
He could see Michael was getting less and less comfortable as his pregnancy advanced. Until one night, shortly after he fell asleep, he was woken by Michael shaking his shoulder.
“Huh?” he asked, sitting up to peer over at his mate.
Michael looked a little flushed, one hand pressed against his belly.
“It’s time.”
He blinked at the omega.
“Time for what?” Had he forgotten something? Hadn’t they just gone to sleep? “What time is it?”
“It’s one a.m. And time to meet our son.”
Oh. Oh.
He went from sleepy to wide awake in seconds. “What do you need?”
“Griffin, Damien, Noah. It’s going to be pretty quick, I think.”
Max didn’t like the anxious look in his mate’s eyes. Leaning over, he kissed his cheek.
“Third time’s a charm.”
He climbed out of bed and grabbed his phone, calling Griffin. He had no intention of leaving his mate alone, even for a minute, unless he had to.
When he turned back to the bed, Michael was focused on his breathing, hugging a pillow.
“What do you need, love?”
“This to be over?”
“Would some tea help?”
If looks could kill, the glare Michael sent his way would have knocked him dead.
“Okay, no tea,” he conceded. “Maybe a back massage?”
Michael nodded, groaning as he leaned forward. Max climbed onto the bed behind him, reaching down to press his hands against the omega’s lower back. His groans of pain became moans of relief as Max worked on the tight muscles. He could feel the wave of contractions around Michael’s stomach.
“Your body’s working hard.”
“Uh-huh. It’s a pity I have to be in it while all this is going on,” Michael joked.
As the contractions eased, Max pulled Michael back to rest against his chest, kissing the back of his neck.
“Are we there yet?”
“You tell me.”
“Not yet,” the omega conceded. “But not far off.”
“Are you comfortable here?”
“Yeah, can you check on the kids?”
“Sure, be back in a minute.”
He went into the corridor, slipping into each of the rooms in turn. Ryan was fast asleep, sprawled on his belly. But when he checked on Eliot, he found the toddler awake, lying on his back, watching him as he peered down.
“Hi, little man. You should be fast asleep right now.”
He laid a hand on Eliot’s belly and rubbed his hand up and down, hoping to soothe him back to sleep. He marveled at how, only weeks previously, the little omega had tensed at his touch and hadn’t wanted the alpha anywhere near him. And now one of Eliot’s favorite places to be was in his arms.
“That’s it,” he encouraged when Eliot’s eyes started to droop closed. “Sweet dreams, little one.”
When he returned to their room, the cavalry had arrived.
“I’ll man the kitchen,” Noah said, slipping from the room. “And keep an eye on the boys.”
“Thanks, Noah,” Michael called after him.
“They’re asleep,” Max told the omega. “But Eliot’s a little restless.”
“They’re in good hands,” the omega promised, closing the door.
Max returned to the bed to sit next to Michael as Griffin turned on the bedside lamps and turned off the main lights.
“Don’t we need the lights?” Michael wondered.
“We’re shifters,” Damien said, amused. “And dark and quiet is the best environment to birth a baby.”
“With Ryan and Eliot, there were bright lights and doctors and all sorts of stuff…”
“That’s why I’m here,” Damien said. “But I’m not anticipating trouble. You’re full term, with two successful births under your belt, and I can hear your little one’s heartbeat, loud and clear. You’re ready, he’s ready. Just relax and let it happen.”
Damien’s words were prophetic and, not an hour later, Michael was ready to deliver their baby while lying back in Max’s arms. The omega was gripping both of Max’s hands through the pushes while Max murmured words of encouragement.
“That’s it, Michael. You’re almost there,” he said.
“I can see the head,” Damien called. “Do you want to feel it?”
The beta took Michael’s hand in his and guided it down between his legs. Michael let out an exclamation of surprise.
“See,” Max told his tired mate. “A few more pushes and you’ll be holding him in your arms.”
Michael nodded, grabbing hold of Max’s hand again.
“This baby is mine. Ours. And no one is taking him away from me. Ever.” He glanced back at Max, tears in his eyes.
“Never,” Max promised fiercely. “Never again.”
“I can do this,” the omega added, facing forward with determination. “We can do this.”
Griffin had stepped out of the room leaving them alone with Damien for the last stage, as Michael had wanted. He and Noah were nearby if help was needed.
The baby’s first cry was the nicest sound Max had ever heard. He swallowed a lump in his throat, hugging Michael tightly.
“Look what we did,” he told the omega. “You and me. All your hard work.”
Michael let out a sob, reaching for the baby even as Damien passed him into his hands.
“Skin to skin,” the beta encouraged. “Let him feel you.”
Max helped the omega set the baby against his chest, covering them both with a soft towel. His mate was cooing to their newborn, not taking his eyes off him.
“You did great,” he whispered, leaning in to get a closer look. He was mesmerized when he found their son staring right back at him.
“Hi there, Ben,” he said, reaching for the baby’s hand. Ben grabbed hold of a finger, the strength of his grip surprising Max.
“He’s stronger than he looks.”
“He takes after his papa,” Michael agreed, cuddling the baby.
They stayed right there, Griffin and Noah coming in to visit them. Griffin took Ben while Max helped Michael clean up and change his clothes before settling him back into bed with their newborn. By that time, it was early morning and almost time for the boys to get up.
“Would you like to introduce them to their new brother?” Max asked, not wanting to rush the omega into anything.
“Yeah, I’d like that,” Michael said softly.
Max went to see if they were up. Ryan met him in the corridor, rubbing his eyes sleepily.
“Come help me get Eliot up,” he told him. “Your dad and I have a surprise for you.”
“Yay!” Ryan grabbed his hand and dragged him into Eliot’s room.
“El, time to wake up!” the little alpha called.
Eliot was already awake, sitting up in his crib. When he saw them, he pulled himself up and held out his arms. Max swooped him up.
“Good morning, sweetheart.”
“Hiya,” Eliot said, smiling.
“There’s a surprise, El,” Ryan said, tugging on Max’s hand with excitement.
Max led them both back to the main bedroom, pushing open the door. The beaming smile on Michael’s face was worth every moment of struggle they’d gone through as he brought Ryan and Eliot up to their bed.
“Morning,” Michael said to them, tired but happy. “Meet your little brother, Ben.”
Ryan gasped as Max lifted him up onto the bed to sit next to Michael. He set Eliot down next to him before stretching out beside the omega.
“Here,” Michael said. “You hold him.”
And he lifted Ben into Max’s arms, curling against his side as Eliot and Ryan pushed closer.
Max stared down at his son, feeling such a rush of love and happiness for the warm bundle in his arms. It was a perfect moment, their family all together, safe and happy. Sure, their pasts had been difficult roads to walk and they all carried the scars, but the future was bright and full of hope.
Ben yawned at them, his eyes drifting closed, and Max hoped he’d dream sweet dreams.