The Alphas burst through the tree line, not bothering to shift back. Their massive forms streaked across the lawn, Jamie's dark fur a blur beside Jayden's grey. The front door, thankfully, had been left unlocked. They slammed it open, their powerful paws thudding on the hardwood as they tore through the living room, following the sharp, escalating wave of agony that pulsed from Katy through their bond.
The first sound they registered was Katy's choked cries, echoing from upstairs. Their heads snapped towards the staircase. In a flash, they bounded up the steps, two powerful, desperate wolves.
They found her in the bathroom, crumpled in the tub, her face ashen and streaked with tears, clutching her swollen belly as another fierce contraction wracked her. The air in the small room was thick with her pain and fear, a scent that sent their protective instincts into a frenzy.
Without a moment's hesitation, Jamie was the first to reach the tub. With surprising gentleness for his size, he nudged his large head against her arm, a soft, worried whine escaping his throat. Jayden, already shifting back into his human form, was pulling a thick towel from the rack. His muscles knotted and reformed as he dropped to his knees beside the tub, his golden eyes wide with fear and determination.
"Katy, love, we're here," Jayden murmured, his voice strained with urgency. He gently helped her sit up as much as possible, his hands brushing over her slick skin. Jamie, still in wolf form, pressed his body against the tub, offering a steady anchor.
"It's... it's coming," Katy gasped out between clenched teeth, tears blurring her vision. "Too soon!"
Jayden quickly wrapped the towel around her, pulling her against his chest as carefully as he could. "Jamie call Dr Lang he commanded, his voice sharp with Alpha authority. Jamie, understanding the urgency, let out a swift bark and vanished from the bathroom, already transforming as he raced out the front door.
Jayden then scooped Katy into his arms, ignoring her wet body against his skin. She was heavier now, her belly a massive, precious burden, but he held her securely. "I've got you, my love," he whispered, pressing a kiss to her damp forehead. "We're going to get you through this." He began carrying her carefully towards the bedroom, knowing they couldn't risk waiting for the doctor outside. This birth was happening now, and it was happening at home.
Jayden carried Katy into the bedroom and gently placed her in the center of the large bed. She immediately curled onto her side, her knees drawn up, a low moan escaping her lips as another wave of pain clenched her. The moment he set her down, the sheer helplessness of their situation crashed over both twins.
Jayden and Jamie watched, completely hopeless and scared, their Alpha instincts screaming at them to fix this, to protect her, yet utterly powerless against the force of nature unfolding before them. Katy was no longer just moaning; she was fatigued, her face pale and glistening with sweat, her features contorted as she started letting out blood-curdling screams with each tightening contraction. The sounds tore through them, a primal agony that resonated deep within their wolf souls.
Jayden moved to her head, trying to soothe her, brushing damp strands of hair from her face, murmuring reassurances she likely couldn't even hear over her own pain. Jamie, who had just rushed back into the room, his wolf no longer a blur but his human form solid and urgent, his eyes wide and panicked as he saw the raw torment on Katy's face.
"She's on the way!" Jamie panted, his chest heaving from his sprint and the raw fear thrumming through the mate bond. He moved to the foot of the bed, clenching his fists, desperate for a way to help. The faint scent of blood was in the air, intensifying their terror. This was not how it was supposed to happen.
Katy screamed again, louder this time, her body arching. Jayden immediately gripped her hand, pressing it to his lips, his gaze locked on hers. "Just breathe, love, just breathe," he coached, though his own voice was shaking. Jamie, seeing Katy's desperation, quickly moved to her other side, taking her other hand. They both looked at her, their powerful Alpha presences now entirely focused on lending her every ounce of their strength, their fear momentarily overshadowed by the fierce need to support their mate.
Another ferocious contraction hit, making Katy gasp and writhe on the bed. Her body trembled uncontrollably, and her voice was hoarse from screaming. "I can't do this!" she sobbed, the words choked out amidst the pain, tears streaming down her temples and into her hair. The raw despair in her voice ripped through their very beings.
"You can, Katy!" Jayden immediately countered, his voice raw with emotion but firm, mirroring the strength he knew she possessed. He leaned closer, pressing his forehead against hers, trying to pour every ounce of his power and belief into her through their bond. "You are the strongest woman I know. Our son needs you. You can do this!"
Jamie, gripping her other hand so tightly his knuckles were white, added, his voice a low growl of conviction, "You were born for this, my love. We are with you. Every single breath, every single push, we are right here. Don't give up. Not on him, not on us."
Their combined words, laced with fierce love and unwavering faith, cut through Katy's haze of pain. The sheer intensity of their belief in her, amplified by the mate bond, was a powerful, if temporary, anchor in her storm of agony.
Katy let out a guttural cry that wasn't quite a scream, more a primal roar of effort. Her body was seized by another contraction, the most powerful yet, and with it came an undeniable, overwhelming urge. Her eyes, wide and unfocused, darted between Jamie and Jayden.
"I need to push!" she shrieked, the words forced out through clenched teeth, her body already bearing down instinctively. The raw intensity in her voice left no room for doubt. There was no time to wait, no time for Dr. Lang. Their baby was coming, right now.
Jayden's face went white, but his Alpha instincts immediately kicked in. "Okay, okay, love! Jamie, get some towels! Anything clean!" he barked, his voice sharp with urgency and a newfound focus. He quickly moved to the foot of the bed, his gaze dropping to Katy's lower body, trying to remember every single detail from the vague parenting books they'd skimmed. Jamie, galvanized by Jayden's command, was already scrambling, tearing through dresser drawers in a desperate search for anything useful.
Jamie rushed back into the room, his arms laden with towels and clean sheets he'd managed to grab. He dropped the things he found beside Jayden , then quickly went to
Katy's side, his free hand immediately grasping hers. "You can do it, Katy! Breathe with me, love," he urged, his voice firm and steady, even as his own wolf roared with anxiety.
Jayden, meanwhile, with a grim determination etched on his face, quickly opened Katy's legs, pushing her knees gently apart. His eyes widened slightly at the sight – the baby was crowning. A small, dark head was visible, a tangible sign of their imminent son. He instinctively pushed the hastily gathered clean clothing down to cover the sheets beneath her.
"Katy, push!" Jayden commanded, his voice sharp with the need for immediate action, all fear now channeled into urgent focus. He knelt, positioning himself, ready to catch their child. The air in the room, thick with Katy's pain and their desperation, was now charged with the electric tension of the impending birth.
Katy, drawing on every ounce of strength she possessed and fueled by the fierce belief radiating from her mates, bore down with a raw, guttural cry. Her entire body strained, muscles clenching in an all-consuming effort.
Jayden watched intently, his own breath hitched, as a little more of their son's head emerged. "That's it, love! I can see him!" he exclaimed, his voice cracking with a mixture of terror and overwhelming awe. He reached out a trembling hand, ready to support the fragile crown.
Jamie, gripping Katy's hand, felt the immense power of her push. His eyes were wide, fixed on Jayden and the incredible sight. "Keep going, Katy! You're doing amazing!" he urged, his voice thick with emotion, his wolf practically vibrating with protective pride and anticipation.
The progress, though small, was monumental. The first push worked. Their son was truly on his way, and Jamie and Jayden, despite their fear, were consumed by the miracle unfolding before them.
Katy gasped, her body momentarily spent from the immense effort, but the overwhelming urge to push returned with the next contraction, even stronger than before. She let out a primal scream, bearing down with everything she had.
"His head! "It's out!" Jayden roared, his voice hoarse with shock and exhilaration. His hands, though trembling, carefully guided the tiny head, ensuring no tearing. He could see the dark hair, a perfect miniature version of his own and Jamie's.
Jamie's grip on Katy's hand tightened, his eyes locked on her face. "You're doing it, Katy! "Just a little more, love!" he chanted, tears welling in his own eyes, a mix of terror and profound wonder. He leaned in, pressing a kiss to her damp temple.
With another fierce, agonizing push from Katy, the baby's shoulders followed, then the rest of his tiny, slippery body slid into Jayden's waiting hands.
A new sound filled the room – not a cry of pain, but the fragile, powerful wail of a newborn baby.
Jayden, looking utterly stunned and reverent, carefully lifted their son, turning him gently. He was small, covered in a thin layer of vernix, but incredibly vibrant.
"It's our boy, Katy!" Jayden whispered, his voice choked with emotion, holding the tiny, squalling bundle up for her to see.
Jamie let go of Katy's hand, scrambling to look. His gaze fell upon the tiny, perfectly formed creature, and a choked sob escaped him. The raw, beautiful sound of their son's first cries filled the room, erasing all fear, all pain, replaced by an overwhelming tide of pure, unadulterated love.
Katy, despite being utterly tired, sweaty, and ready to pass out, found a surge of primal instinct. Her arms, trembling with exertion, reached out for her son. Jayden, his face still etched with awe, carefully placed the slippery, crying bundle onto her chest.
The moment her son's warm, tiny body made contact with hers, a profound, undeniable connection solidified. All the agony of the past hour, the fear, the doubt, melted away,
replaced by an overwhelming tidal wave of love. She buried her face in his soft, squalling head, inhaling his newborn scent, tears of pure joy streaming down her face. Jamie, quickly beside her, leaned over, his hand gently stroking their son's back, a guttural purr rumbling in his chest.
It was in this intensely private, raw moment of first contact that the bedroom door burst open. Dr. Lang stood there, a look of shocked relief on her face, having clearly sprinted from her car. She took in the scene: Katy, exhausted but beaming, with a newborn on her chest, and the two Alpha males, wide-eyed and stunned, looking utterly unlike their usual composed selves.
"Well, it seems I'm a little late to the party!" Dr. Lang said with a half-chuckle, half-gasp, moving quickly into the room. Her professional demeanor immediately took over. "Let me examine and finish up with Katy," she instructed gently but firmly. She glanced at the overwhelmed twins. "Go get her some water while you wait. It shouldn't take long ."
Jayden and Jamie, startled by her sudden presence, nodded numbly, their eyes still glued to Katy and their son. They moved as if in a daze, stumbling slightly out of the room to follow the doctor's orders, leaving Katy to her first tender moments with their miraculously arrived baby, finally under professional care.
Jayden: The Unimaginable Miracle
Jayden walked mechanically towards the kitchen, the simple task of getting water feeling impossibly complex. His mind was a maelstrom of raw emotion, replaying the last frantic hour. Katy's screams, the visceral, gut-wrenching sound of his mate in unimaginable pain. He had felt utterly useless, his Alpha strength impotent against the forces of nature. The terror had been absolute, a cold knot in his stomach that told him he was losing her, losing them.
And then, his son.
The sight of that tiny head, the delicate shoulders, the slick, perfect body sliding into his trembling hands… it was the most profound, humbling, terrifying, and utterly beautiful moment of his life. He'd held him, their pup, the living proof of their bond, of his love for Katy, for Jamie. The little cry, so fragile yet so powerful, had shattered everything he thought he knew about fear and replaced it with a boundless, almost painful joy.
He looked at Jamie, who was fumbling with the faucet, his brother's eyes mirroring the same stunned awe. We did this, brother. The silent communication passed between them, a shared understanding of the miracle they had just witnessed, delivered with their own hands. Their mate, so strong, so brave, had brought their son into the world.
A fierce, possessive growl rumbled in his chest, deep inside where only his wolf could feel it. This was his family. His mate, his brother, his son. He would protect them with every fiber of his being. His father's words, his rejection of Katy and the circumstances, felt distant, insignificant. This was real. This was what mattered.
He gripped the glass of water, his hand still shaking slightly. He couldn't wait to get back to that room, to see Katy holding their son, to finally, truly embrace the new reality that had just burst into their lives. The fear was still a hum, a low thrumming of awareness, but it was now dwarfed by the overwhelming, triumphant roar of love and paternal instinct.
Jamie: The Miracle
Jamie's head was still reeling. Just moments ago, Katy had been screaming, a sound that had ripped his soul apart. He'd been terrified, useless, watching his mate in agony. Then, in a blur of primal instinct and sheer force of will from Katy, their son was there. Born. Here. In their bedroom.
And then Dr. Lang. Her voice, calm and professional, cutting through the chaos like a sharp blade. The sudden command to get water had jolted him out of the daze of pure awe. He'd stumbled out, Jayden right behind him, their minds still replaying the miracle they'd just witnessed.
Now, standing in the kitchen, filling a glass with water, his hands were still shaking. He could feel the residual thrum of the mate bond, no longer fear and pain, but a deep, vibrating exhaustion from Katy, overlaid with a new, profound sense of peace and overwhelming love. And from their son… a tiny, feisty new pulse, a vibrant, demanding presence that had just entered their world.
Our son. The words echoed in his mind, feeling more real now than ever before. He'd seen him, held him for a fleeting moment as Jayden passed him to Katy. So small, yet so utterly perfect. A tiny wolf pup, even if he didn't look like one yet. A part of him and Jayden, born from Katy.
He remembered Katy's joke about the baby not liking what they were doing to his mommy, followed by those frantic kicks. He chuckled softly to himself. This kid was going to be trouble, a spirited handful. Just like his mom. And just like them.
A fierce, protective warmth spread through his chest, solidifying the instinctive urge he'd felt the moment he'd seen their son's head crowning. This little life, his and Jayden's and Katy's. He would protect them fiercely, from everything, from everyone. His father's rejection of Katy, the secrets they had to keep – none of it mattered compared to the miracle now resting on Katy's chest.
He grabbed an extra glass and filled it too. Jayden looked at him, his own eyes still wide with the same mixture of awe and exhaustion. A silent understanding passed between them. They were fathers. They had done this. Together. And their lives would never, ever be the same. He couldn't wait to get back in there, to see them both, to hold his mate and their son.