Keaton's Lessons [Brac Village 6] (16 page)
“Okay, calm down. We’ll get through this.” Pa moved closer, wiping the sweaty hair from Ahm’s face. “Try and focus.”
Focus on what? The pain?
Ahm arched his back, his body going rigid as his stomach felt like he was being ripped apart.
“It’s opening up,” Bryce said loudly. “The baby is coming.”
“I’ll go get some blankets.” Pa raced from the room. For such large, lethal bears, they were a bunch of chickens when it came to a man giving birth. Ahm was ready to slam the door on everyone and take care of this on his own.
But he didn’t want Bryce to leave him. “I’m scared.”
“I won’t let anything happen to you, Ahm. We can do this.” The brave words belied the fear in his mate’s eyes. Bryce was just as afraid. Ahm thanked the gods when Carter shimmered in with Dr. Sheehan.
“I want drugs!” Ahm shouted demonically.
Dr. Sheehan moved quickly over to the bed. “Oh my,” he said as he examined Ahm. “Is this common among your people?”
Ahm knew the doctor was talking about the opening. “Hell no. I’ve never encountered this shit before.”
“I’m guessing that all you need to do is push.”
“Guessing!” Ahm said incredulously as the pain once again amplified, threatening to render him unconscious. “You’re
guessing
?”
“You are not the only one who is encountering this for the first time,” the doctor said. “So stop snapping at me and push.”
Ahm grabbed Bryce’s hands and held on for dear life as he pushed. His bear crawled up behind him and cradled Ahm in his lap. “Come on, rainbow drops. You can do this.”
Ahm pushed with all his might as Bryce held on to him. He panted, pushed, panted, and then pushed again. “It’s not working!”
“Yes it is,” Dr. Sheehan said. “Give me one more good push.”
“I love you,” Bryce whispered into his ear as Ahm strangled his mate’s fingers with his own and bore down. All of the sudden Ahm felt the pressure relieved. The immense pain was gone.
“It’s a girl!” Dr. Sheehan announced.
Bryce wrapped his arms tightly around Ahm, placing small butterfly kisses all over the side of his face. “We have a daughter, Ahm.”
Ahm felt a protectiveness so fierce, so overwhelming that he knew he would kill anybody who harmed her or made her cry.
“Have you picked out a name?” Pa asked from the doorway, a bundle of blankets in his arms and a wide grin on his face.
“Ashayla Lakeland,” Bryce announced proudly. “Ahm seems to love that name.”
“It’s a beautiful name,” Pa said. “Befitting such a beautiful girl.”
Ahm watched as Dr. Sheehan examined Ashayla and then handed her off to Pa. “Now let’s examine you,” he said to Ahm. “I’ll be damned—” Dr. Sheehan looked stunned. “Your stomach is healing itself.”
Tired to the point of exhaustion, Ahm could have cared less. But he wasn’t too tired when Pa placed Ashayla next to him. His father-in-law was right. She was simply gorgeous. She had Ahm’s white hair, the strands already long, and her ears were just as pointy as his. But she had Bryce’s light-grey eyes. She looked like an ethereal angel.
Bryce’s large hand came into view, his finger tracing her small face. “Hello, Ashayla Lakeland.” His mate’s voice was tender, soft, and held a trace of joyous laughter.
Ahm touched his nose to his daughter’s, vowing to always protect and love her…just as he had vowed to always protect and love his mate.
THE END
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Lynn Hagen loves writing about the somewhat flawed, but lovable. She also loves a hero who can see past all the rough edges to find the shining diamond of a beautiful heart.
You can find her on any given day curled up with her laptop and a cup of hot java, letting the next set of characters tell their story.
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