Chapter Sixteen
Lochlan
"If no one else needs anything, I'm going to head to lunch," Lochlan said, holding his stomach. He was due any day and didn't remember getting this large with Pax, but then Grayson was an impressive size. Taller than Bryan by far.
The omegas all shook their heads, and Lochlan turned to leave when he felt a clenching low in his stomach. He'd been experiencing random contractions for about a week, playing them down so Grayson wouldn't demand he stop working. The new trial had begun, and while Lochlan couldn't be the Omega Relations Officer for the entire trial. It had just started and would take months. But he could make sure they were all comfortable to start.
"Mr. Varner, are you okay?" one of the omegas asked, coming to his side.
"I think so, I've been having contractions and—ow!" Lochlan bent over as a stronger contraction hit him harder than all the rest.
The omegas circled around him. Most of them had given birth and seemed to know exactly what Lochlan needed.
They didn't panic or even sound worried in the slightest. Like he was there for them on a level none of the other scientists could be, they were there for Lochlan, the perfect group of people to be with when he went into labor.
When Grayson arrived, he found Lochlan on a couch surrounded by omegas with a pillow under his head and feet, getting a hand massage.
"There you are, I think I am going into labor," Lochlan said as Grayson rushed forward to help him up.
Lochlan felt the floor give way and found himself being carried out of the research wing as if he was a new groom being carried over the threshold.
Paramedics waited in the doorway, likely called by either the omegas in the trial or Grayson himself and helped Lochlan up on a stretcher.
During the ambulance ride over, Grayson held Lochlan's hand, talking him through the worst contractions and reminding him of his breathing exercises. He called the handful of people that would need to know about his labor, Lucy, and Pax, their bodyguards and Hazel.
They were ready for them at the hospital as well. A team of nurses got him dressed and prepped as their doctor spoke with them both about the next steps.
It felt like seconds passed before Lochlan found himself laying on his back, looking up at the bright surgical lights while Grayson explained to him what was happening. He talked Lochlan through the incisions. He couldn't feel them of course but could feel Grayson's hand squeezing his, keeping him from being afraid or anxious.
Grayson's mouth opened in shock a moment before a wail filled the room.
"Is that?"
"Our son," Grayson said, beaming.
The screaming bundle of perfection was placed on Lochlan's bare chest as they were allowed to become accustomed to each other in a new way. Lochlan already knew what it was like to know his child while he was inside of him, but this would be a different sort of relationship, one that he could share more easily with his true mate.
Lochlan had offered, weeks prior, to name their son Coran when he came, but Grayson had gracefully declined the offer. In his words, Coran held a special place, but he could not become their future. They'd decided on a name that held no familial connections.
"Hello, Bradley," Lochlan said, kissing the baby's head. "Welcome to our family."
***
Hours later, Lochlan's room was full to the brim with visitors. He expected a nurse to come in and push everyone out at any moment and suspected it was only Grayson's money that had kept it from happening already.
Lucy, Will, and Hazel cooed over Bradley as Henry congratulated Grayson.
The door opened and though Lochlan fully expected a nurse, one of Grayson's bodyguards came in instead. He approached Grayson, whispering something in his ear before leaving.
"What is it?" Lochlan asked.
"Nothing, my love," Grayson replied. Except, moments before, he had given Henry a meaningful look that told Lochlan they were planning something.
"Not even I believe that," Hazel replied.
"Good thing we don't need you to," Henry retorted sounding so much like a sibling it made Lochlan smile and wonder when Pax and Bradley would begin talking to each other like that.
"So sorry to butt into your important alpha business," Lucy quipped. These days, she was full of sarcastic one-liners, and Lochlan loved seeing her personality coming out.
Grayson sighed heavily. "These mouthy omegas," he joked to Henry. The four omegas in the room shot him daggers with their eyes, and he lifted his hands in mock surrender. "All joking aside, it is about Zain. I was curious about where he'd gone when he ran from your apartment and was doing some digging. There is a club downtown that his ex-boyfriend was a bouncer at. The more my investigators dug around, the more I became concerned. There is a new designer party drug that the kids are taking, and I wanted a sample to do a chemical profile."
"Did you call the police?" Will asked.
"Of course, they know everything I know. You see, there really is nothing to tell yet. You know, I appreciate all this equality, but maybe you omegas should give trust a chance," Grayson said sarcastically.
Lochlan reached for him, and he was there, brushing his lips against Lochlan's. "Careful," Lochlan whispered. "I may be full of stitches, but I can give you some if you keep that up," he joked playfully.
Grayson's rumbled laugh was his reply.
The door opened again, and this time, it was the nurse who made quick work of ordering everyone but Grayson out of the room.
Grayson crawled into bed, bringing Lochlan and his son under his arm. "We should sleep now, mate. You know what they say about newborns."
Lochlan remembered the sleepless nights. Somehow, he knew that with Grayson by his side, having a newborn would be a breeze.
The End
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