Chapter Four: It's Time...
As the days and weeks wore on, Kate and Lily were moving into the final stages of their pregnancies. As their due date (predicted by Eve) approached, Humphrey and Garth took steps to make sure they wouldn't miss the time of birth. Humphrey had recruited Salty, Shakey and Mooch to watch over Kate while he was out hunting, and to come and get him if she started going into labor. And, at Humphrey's suggestion, Garth had enlisted Marcel and Paddy to perform the same service for himself and Lily.
As the sun set over Jasper Park, Humphrey returned to the den with the spoils of his hunt. Thanking his Omega friends for watching over his mate, Humphrey made his way to the back of the den, where Kate was lying. By now, Kate's stomach had swollen greatly, to the point where she could barely get up off her side.
"Hey, honey." Smiled Humphrey, as he dumped the chunk of caribou at her paws. "How are you doing today?"
"How am I doing?" Kate repeated testily. "How am I doing? How am I doing?!"
Humphrey grimaced. Another mood swing. Kate was once again going to prove, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that she was Eve's daughter.
"How do you think I'm doing?" Snarled Kate, indicating her enlarged stomach. "Look at me! I used to be one of the most fit, well-built Alphas in the pack, until you came along. Now I'm a fat, disgusting blob, who can barely even stand up! You did this to me. I hate you, I hate you, I HATE YOU!"
"No, you don't." Said Humphrey, as he gingerly approached her. "You love me."
"What makes you think that?" Snorted Kate.
"I can see it in your eyes." Humphrey cooed. "They always get that little sparkle whenever they look into mine. That's how I know you love me, like I love you."
Kate's eyes started sparkling with tears.
"Oh Humphrey, I'm so sorry!" She wailed. "I was so horrible to you just now, and you din't even get upset! I don't deserve a sweet, kind, understanding mate like you."
"Sure you do." Soothed Humphrey. It's me who doesn't deserve all this. A beautiful mate, kids on the way... I am one lucky wolf!"
"And so am I." Sniffed Kate, taking a bite out the caribou.
Meanwhile, Garth returned to his den with food for Lily. Seeing off Marcel and Paddy, he saw his mate curled up in the back of the den, looking truly despondant.
"Lily?" Asked Garth, concerned. "What's wrong?"
"Don't look at me." Sniffed Lily. "I'm hideous."
"No, you're not." Said Garth kindly.
"Yes I am." Lily sighed. "I look like a giant, four-legged marshmallow."
"As far as I'm concerned, you've never looked more beautiful." Smiled Garth.
"Really?" Croaked Lily.
"Really." Said Garth. "Why, you're practically glowing!"
"You mean that?" Smiled Lily.
"I love you, Lily." Garth declared. "You'll always be beautiful to me, no matter what."
"Thanks." Purred Lily, rubbing her nose against his. "I needed that."
The next morning, things went the same as they usually had in the past week: Humphrey and Garth left to hunt, with their "minders" watching over Kate and Lily.
Kate was lying down, while Salty, Shakey and Mooch were playing an over-the-top game of catch with a pine cone.
"Yes!" Whooped Salty, catching the cone on his snout. "Ten points!"
Kate rolled her eyes. She had nothing against Humphrey's friends; After all, they had the same kind of fun-loving personality that Kate adored about Humphrey, but the three of them together was a classic example of "too much of a good thing." Just as she was about to ask them to keep it down, she felt an immense pain in her stomach.
"Oooh!" She grunted.
"What?" Asked Salty. "That was a perfectly legal catch."
"It's not that." Groaned Kate. "I think the pups are coming"
"Now?" Asked Mooch nervously. "Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy..."
"Shakey, you're the fastest." Declared Salty. "Go get Humphrey!"
"You got it!" Said Shakey, racing out of the den as fast as he could. Finding him wasn't too difficult, as Humphrey had decided to start hunting in an area as close to the den as possible, making it easier to find him. Shakey found Humphrey prowling towards a lone caribou.
"Humphrey!" Called Shakey, scaring away the caribou. "It's time!"
Without another word, Humphrey raced towards the den. He entered to find Kate gasping in pain, the moment of birth almost upon her.
"I'm here, Kate." Said Humphrey, holding out this paw for his mate to put her's on. "Everything's gonna be okay."
Kate smiled weakly.
"Unless something goes wrong." Humphrey said suddenly. "Like if one, I dunno, gets stuck, or they all try to come out at the same time, or..." Kate pressed her paw down hard on Humphrey's. "Shutting up now." He winced.
After what seemed to be an eternity of unceasing agony (For Humphrey as well as Kate, for her paw was pressing down on his harder and harder) It was over, and there were two little balls of fluff on the den floor. Humphrey leaned down on his good paw, inspecting the new arrivals.
"Are they okay?" Kate asked weakly.
"Yeah." Smiled Humphrey. "Everything present and correct."
Salty and Shakey gave Humphrey their congratulations, while Mooch simply burst into tears.
"Wow. Just... wow." Smiled Humphrey, as the sightless pups started drinking their mother's milk. "I'm a daddy."
Meanwhile, Lily was lounging in the den, in danger of falling asleep, due more to listening to Marcel's golfing anecdotes then physical tiredness.
"So then, I banked the ball off the tree, through the log, and into the hole." Droned Marcel. "Thus gaining my fourth birdie of the game!"
"Er, begging your pardon, sir." Interupted Paddy. "But I believe it was actually the third birdie of that particular game."
"No it wasn't." Snapped Marcel.
"Yes, it was." Retorted Paddy.
"Uhhh!" Cried out Lily, overcome by the same pain Kate had felt.
"You see?" Nodded Marcel. "She agrees with me."
"Aagh!" Lily Screamed.
"Actually sir, I think the pups are coming." Declared Paddy.
"Well, don't just stand there." Said Marcel. "Go and get monsieur Garth. I will look after mademoiselle Lily in the meantime."
"Yes, sir!" Saluted Paddy, leaving the den and taking to the air. From that height, he was easily able to spot Garth.
"Master Garth!" He called. "Miss Lily is having her pups right now!"
"Now?" Garth called back. "Then let's go! No way I'm missing the birth of my pups!"
Running back to the den as fast as his paws could carry him, Garth arrived to find his mate still in her birth throes.
"Hey, beautiful." Garth smiled. "How's it going?"
"How's it going?" Lily repeated angrily, her normally sweet demeanour waylaid by the ordeal. "I'M IN AGONY! THAT'S HOW IT'S GOING!"
Shrinking back slightly, Garth then leaned forward and licked Lily's cheek.
"I'm scared." Sobbed Lily, her anger subsiding. "What if something happens to our pups?"
"It's okay." Garth said soothingly. "Garthy's here."
Another seeming eternity of unceasing agony later, and Lily had produced her own litter of pups. There were two, just like Kate's; Small and sightless, they nuzzled up to their mother for warmth and sustenance. The two proud parents looked at their offspring with love and joy. Marcel and Paddy turned to each other and shook wings, congratulating themselves for a job well done, before quietly excusing themselves.
"You know something?" Garth asked.
"What?" Lily asked back.
"I graduated top of my class in Alpha school." Garth boasted. "I was the best hunter, the best tracker, the best everything. All that makes me pretty proud, but it's nothing compared to the pride I'm feeling right now."
"They're beautiful." Lily sighed.
"Just like you." Smiled Garth, nuzzling her.
"And you." Giggled Lily, returning the nuzzle.
That night, both wolf couples slept curled around their pups, giving them warmth and protection. The newborns slept, completely unaware that their birth was possibly the greatest thing ever to happen to their parents. For truly, there is nothing more beautiful or wonderous then the birth of new life.
To Be Continued...
(Alpha and Omega and all associated characters are the property of Lionsgate Entertainment.)
