THIRD PERSON POV

The air was electric, a tense sort of suspense hanging above every head in the Pack House as they anxiously anticipated the birth of a new soul. The shiny, new tether that would soon connect the newborn to the rest of their family was almost palpable, and everyone’s fingertips tingled with anticipation.

Well, everyone except for Rayson, who was currently in the middle of a mental breakdown as he fought to get past Tank’s wide and entirely impassive frame.

“Let me go, you fucking asshole!” The Alpha bellowed, veins in his temples bulging as he thrashed against the thick arm that restrained him to the wall.

“I’m very sorry, sir, but I cannot do that at the moment.” Tank replied respectfully, the meaning of his namesake more than clear as his arm didn’t even budge a millimeter despite the fact that the person fighting against him was of Alpha blood.

The restraint really was necessary after the large male flashed his canines at Benji when the medic gave the slightest mention of needing to start an IV on Danny. The Alpha wouldn’t accept it, his inner wolf flaring and instincts immediately pushing back at the mere thought of someone harming his incredibly vulnerable and heavily pregnant mate, even if it was technically for his own good. 

Rayson’s explosive anger flared the moment that he had to be forcefully dragged away from his mate’s side. It left the man in a frenzied state, unable to use logic amid the stress of primal urges that left him with nothing but false delusions of danger and a borderline delusional preoccupation with Danny’s comfort.  

“Please… please just let me go.” Rayson’s voice cracked, emotion bubbling up between them as he begged, straining his neck in an attempt to see his mate’s infirmary bed around the warrior’s obstructive frame. “I need to fluff his pillows, they’re getting flat again! And his neck pillow is in the wrong fucking direction! And I need to buy him those cute bunny slippers he’s been asking about! And…”

“It’s okay, Tank. I’m all finished.” Benji’s voice rang out, and Ray almost collapsed with relief as the warrior finally released him from that infuriating hold. 

The Alpha tripped over his own feet on his sprint back to his mate’s side, and Tank slid a chair underneath the man before he could fall to his knees beside his Omega. 

“Bunny.” The Alpha breathed, burying his face into his mate’s hair to scent him while simultaneously pressing his hands against any exposed skin he could reach as if to verify that his mate was still there. “That horrible man took me away from you. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to. I would never leave you. I love you so much. Do you forgive me? Please say you forgive me. Are you in pain?” He rambled, tone frantic and oozing with concern as his inner Alpha wolf - Knox - wore a hole in his brain with his anxious pacing.

Danny winced through another gnarly contraction, the pain coming on a lot quicker now that he was almost fully dilated as well as the fact that he was still in human form - a choice that they’d made after reviewing Danny’s higher risk for complications due to his older age as well as the development of high blood pressure throughout his pregnancy. 

However, just after the contraction passed, Danny giggled at his husband, reaching out the arm without the IV in it to gently massage his mate’s blonde strands.

“I’ll be just fine, Alpha.” He soothed, using his title in an effort to calm his mate’s nerves, “I’ve been through this before when you knocked me up with the triplets, did you forget that?” Danny giggled some more, leaning over to nuzzle into Ray’s neck. Rayson immediately nuzzled back, rubbing his cheek against Danny's jaw to instill his scent there before interlacing their fingers and squeezing tight.

Danny had been through this process before, but this time Ray was acting much more delirious with worry than on the first go-around. Now he was a loose cannon, triggered by a single hair and made volatile as he struggled with the concept that his mate was in the higher risk category.

“I could never forget.” Rayson grumbled with finality, grip on his mate’s hand loosening the slightest bit as he was distracted by the flashback of the night that he bred his perfect little power bottom and stuffed him full of his knot. 

Danny noticed the effectiveness of his strategy and pushed it further as he smiled wide, brushing his thumb over the rough skin of his mate’s knuckles. 

“... Good. I don’t ever want you to forget my red garter belt. Remember, the one that you liked to bite at right before you shoved your fingers -”

“DAD! Really?!”

“Oh, oopsie. Forgot you all were here for a sec!” Danny laughed, attempting to pull his face out of his mate’s neck to address his children and their mates who sat on the far side of the large room, only to be dragged right back in by a needy Ray. 

Berlin groaned, leaning back in his chair while bouncing a sleepy Hale up and down on his lap. He sat next to Osias who was currently trying to keep up his ‘dangerous’ look as much as he could with Cassius napping in a baby sling across his chest. Next to them sat Corey and Jax, Jax of which was sitting a little awkwardly in his chair - as if he didn’t want his ass to touch it. His legs were propped up in his mate’s lap as Corey apologetically massaged the still-twitching muscles. 

And then - finally - there was Tyrus, who was busy crunching loudly on a bag of hot Cheetos while his light brown - almost amber - eyes followed Daffodil’s every move.

“Daff, how’s the fetal heart rate looking?” Benji inquired as he double-checked all of his supplies, knowing that at any moment it would be time for Danny to push.

“Bae good!” Daff replied, yellow waves of hair a little disheveled and giant eyes wide as he popped his head up from monitoring the contraction patterns. Catching sight of Tyrus when he looked up, the Fae gave a small bout of tinkling laughter, hands stimming a little from the renewed excitement he experienced every time he saw his boyfriend’s handsome face. 

The fresh lime in Tyrus’ back pocket practically burned a hole in his pants, and the dominant male found himself smiling back goofily at the thought of giving his perfect mate the treat after a long day of helping Benji.

Danny fell into another contraction - face screwing up and breaths being forced out between pursed lips - and Daffi’s head snapped back down, completely dedicated to his duty after the momentary pause. After all, Daffodil loved Danny and Rayson so deeply that it hurt his fragile heart sometimes, and he felt a fierce sort of dedication to helping ensure that this birth went off without a hitch.

“Alright.” Benji breathed out, strands of pink hair flying off of his forehead as he nodded resolutely and reached under the end of the bed to set up the stirrups, “I think that it’s time for you to push, Mr. Cahill.” He instructed, settling Danny’s feet gently on either side as the small man shuddered through yet another contraction.

Rayson actually whimpered at Benji’s words, fluffing his mate’s pillows ferociously with one hand while maintaining skin-to-skin contact with the other. The Alpha had never wished he could take all of the pain away from his mate more than right at this moment.

“Are you comfortable, bunny? I can get you more pillows! Yeah, you need more pillows. Blankets, too. Oh, and maybe a stuffed animal? Yeah, I’ll be right back, I’m just gonna -” Ray was shoved back down into his seat by Corey’s large palm on his shoulder as he attempted to rise, the younger Alpha’s face as impassive as ever as he forced his father to stay seated.

“Ray. Knox. listen to me.” Danny ordered after flashing Corey a smile of gratitude, the small male’s soft voice calling to the deepest parts of his Alpha’s being, “I’m perfectly comfortable right now. All I need is you. Please stay with me.” He assured.

Rayson nodded with an audible gulp, fingers shaking as he clasped both of his hands around one of Danny’s slender ones before bringing them to his lips to bestow a trembling kiss to his fingertips.

“I’ll stay with you always, bunny. I’m sorry I’m being like this I just… I love you. I love you so much, and I- I- can’t stand the idea of you… of you…” He choked, throat closing up with terror at the mere thought of anything bad happening to his bunny. 

Danny smiled, reaching up with his other hand to press it against Ray’s stubbly cheek, one that hadn’t been shaved in days due to his preoccupation with his mate’s well-being. The Alpha leaned into the touch, closing his eyes and sucking in a deep, shuddering breath. 

“I’m going to be fine, babe. Benji knows what he’s doing. Now, the faster you let him help me, the faster we meet our little one.” He urged, knowing Ray could never resist a statement such as that. 

Just as expected, the Alpha hesitated, as if still struggling with the concept of leaving Danny’s well-being in the hands of another, but eventually nodded after a few moments.

“Okay. Yeah, okay.” He repeated, trying to convince himself.

“Alright, your monitor shows that you’re going into another contraction soon. So, on the count of three, I need you to push as hard as you can, okay?” Benji instructed from his spot, now seated in the perfect position to catch the baby at the end of the bed. 

“O-okay!” Danny replied, gritting his teeth as he began to feel the increasing pressure in his groin that signified yet another oncoming contraction. 

“Okay, One… Two… Three!” 

Part 2 in Next Episode