Opening my eyes, I breathed out a sigh of relief after having to push all night long. Sweat trickled down my face as we heard the small cry of a baby.
“It’s a girl!” announced the midwife.
My husband, Therman, squeezed my hand, and I smiled, seeing pride and shock in his eyes as he gazed at our little girl. The midwife walked across the room, and I could hear our baby’s little cries as the midwife washed her up and measured her.
My eyes were glued to our little bundle, my heart hurting at her cries. My physical pain and discomfort were forgotten at the moment as we stared at our little baby.
“You did it, honey,” Therman praised, kissing me on the forehead.
The midwife laid the baby on my chest, and my heart swelled with admiration for her. In my dreams following up to the birth, I knew the baby was going to be a girl. And she was finally here.
I touched her little shoulder carefully. Her wrinkly purple skin was so soft against mine. She calmed down instantly and stopped crying at my touch.
“Her name will be Tiana,” I cooed.
“She’s perfect,” my husband agreed, placing his finger in her palm. Tiana’s fingers closed over his and Therman smiled widely.
“She has the mark,” said the midwife, pointing to a pink mark on my baby’s shoulder. I panicked as I quickly looked at her shoulder. It looked like four claw marks. “It’s the omega sign. She’s an omega. I couldn’t see it at first until you held her.”
Omegas were rare and highly coveted in our community in Howl’s Edge. They were distinguishable by the mark on their shoulder, signifying they belonged to a pack later in their lives.
“How is that possible?” I asked in shock.
I turned to my husband, whose eyes were as wide as mine.
“Well, it makes sense. I’m an alpha, even though you’re a beta. It’s rare, but it happens,” Therman assured me. “We have to leave Howl’s Edge immediately. Before anyone takes our child.”
Horror filled my heart at the thought of anyone taking my baby. It wasn’t safe during these times.
She could get kidnapped off the street or sent to the Omega Auctions. We weren’t wealthy enough to protect her on the island. No matter how they obtained her, it was the law for an omega to mate with alphas. She would be taken by alphas and made to mate with three or more of them. I couldn’t let that happen.
“We have to leave tonight,” I said, trying to get up, but my head spun.
“Miss, you just gave birth,” insisted the midwife.
“We will take the first boat out in a couple of days,” assured Therman. He kissed our daughter’s head and rubbed my arm reassuringly. “I’ll make sure our family is safe. Whatever it takes.”
