The Lycan King’s Hybrid Queen
Chapter 52

Theo

"I feel like a beached whale. I can't even see my feet!"

I chuckle while shaking my head at Harmony. "You look beautiful."

"Even though I'm fat?"

I roll my eyes and sit beside her on the couch. Harmony turns off the TV and sits the remote beside her, then smiles at me.

I can't believe how lucky I am sometimes. Every day, I look at the beautiful creature beside me and fall deeper in love with her. I know the mate bond draws us together, but the bond only helps us fall in love faster than average. Harmony is everything to me. Now, she's having my baby, and I couldn't love her more if I tried.

"Harmony, you are not fat." I lay my hand on her swollen stomach and smile. My son kicks against my hand as if saying, 'Hello, Daddy, and my heart hammers with joy. "You're pregnant with my son. Goddess, you've never been more beautiful." Harmony giggles and lays her hand on my face. "Have I told you lately how much I love you?"

"Hmm," I smile. "Only four times today. But," I lean in and kiss my beautiful girl. "I love you more than anything in this world. I'll never stop loving you."

"Would you do anything for me?"

"Anything, Harmony."

"Would you rub my feet if I asked you to?"

I playfully roll my eyes. "Harmony, didn't I prove that last night?"

Harmony had me rubbing her sore feet for over an hour before she would let me go to sleep. Not that I minded. It made my mate happy, and I live for that.

"True. Would you feed me if my arms were too tired?"

I cup Harmony's cheek. "Any time you needed. Like those moments when you're breastfeeding our son, and all your attention is on him, not the food in front of you. I will hand-feed you every mouthful. I'll make sure you get all you need, I promise." "That was the sweetest thing you could have said to me, Theo. You really love me, don't you?"

"More than anything."

"Enough to get this couch cleaned and not let on that it was me who ruined it?"

I narrow my eyes because I don't know what she's saying. There's nothing wrong with the couch.

Regardless, "Of course. Harmony, what are you getting at?"

"Theo, I don't want you to panic, but my water just broke."

"What!?!"

Don't panic?

Don't panic?

When the hell has that ever worked for anyone?!

I jump to my feet, moving left and right, not knowing what I'm doing. I can't think straight; my mind has gone blank!

"Theo," Harmony giggles. "Calm down. Nothing is going to happen just yet. But I do need to get to the infirmary."

I pull my fingers from my hair. "Infirmary. Right." I nod, scoop up my girl, and run to the infirmary as fast as I can. "Dale!" He comes running as if his as.s was on fire. "She's in labor!"

"Already?" Dale shakes his head. I know this is a little early, but it's happening. "Follow me."

Dale leads us down the hall. All the while, Harmony groans and pants. Dale pushes open the doors to a private room. A nurse helps him, and I lay Harmony down on the bed. Her back bows, and she screams. I don't know what to do!

Debbie, the nurse, rushes around, helping Harmony out of her clothes and into a hospital gown. I pace the floor, biting my fist while Dale does his thing. He checks how far along Harmony is, and I have to swallow a growl. Having another man seeing my mate's intimate area is hard to swallow. I want to rip his head off his shoulders! However, I also know Dale is doing his job; he's not looking at my mate in a way he shouldn't.

'Very mature of you, Theo!

'Dad's been coaching me for a couple of weeks, Hendrix. You know this. If he hadn't, I'd have killed Dale already!

'You could have just requested a female doctor to be here instead of Dale?'

'We don't have a female doctor at the moment. I should have hired one, but I didn't, and it doesn't matter now!'

I cut off my Lycan and take Harmony's hand, kissing her knuckles. She's flustered, sweating, and gritting her teeth. I clench my teeth when she squeezes my hand so hard I feel the bones crack!

I send a group mind link to let everyone know Harmony is in labor. I may have been a little panicked, but whatever.

"Theo," Harmony groans while turning on her side to face me. She closes her eyes with a whimper while clutching my fist to her chest. I lean over and rub her back, and she all but purrs. Dad told me he did this for Mom, which helped ease things.

As time progresses and labor progresses, Harmony's groans and screams get louder and louder. She sits with her feet on the bed, legs apart, while Dale rechecks things.

"Oh, sh.it, it hurts." Harmony whimpers.

"I know it does, baby, but it will be over soon. Then we'll have our boy in our arms."

"Where's Lyric? Why isn't she here yet?"

"I'm here! I'm here!" Lyric rushes through the door right on cue.

"I thought you weren't coming."

Lyric grabs Harmony's free hand. "I'm so sorry, Harm. I had to deal with something, but I'm here now."

"Harmony," Dale looks up from between my mate's legs. "On the next contraction, I need you to push, okay?"

Harmony nods.

"Theo, please."

I know what she's asking without hearing the words. I kick my shoes off and climb onto the bed behind my mate, with my legs on either side of Harmony's body. She leans back against me.

I lay my hands on her stomach, feeling the tightness as another contraction hits.

"Push, Harmony!"

"I am!" She screams at Lyric.

The contraction ends, and I'm gritting my teeth because her nails are so far into my skin; she's drawing blood!

"What are you groaning at?" I hadn't realized I was loud enough to be heard. "You think this hurts?" Harmony wiggles her nails against the backs of my hands. "This is nothing! You don't know pain, you miserable bas.tard! You did this to me, you as.shole! You are never touching me again! I hate you!"

I look at Lyric, who's trying not to laugh.

Dad told me about this and how Mom threatened to castrate him when she was in labor with Thane. Mom told Dad she hated him, that she didn't want him as a mate anymore, and he was evil for doing this to her. Then Dad laughed at the shocked expression on my face.

He said, 'Son, as my father told me, women will say all sorts when they are in pain. Labor is a pain no man can handle. Women are amazing creatures. They stand by our sides through war, take care of us because it comes naturally to them, and they would walk through fire to save us.

'They carry our children with a heart full of love. When the day comes, and the pain the likes we'll never know wracks their bodies, they say things they don't mean. Harmony may well blame you and tell you she hates you. But remember, she won't mean those horrible words. Pain makes people say things in the heat of the moment.

'Besides, Harmony will instantly apologize if she's anything like your mother. Just remember that she loves you, and don't take her harsh words to heart!'

I smile and kiss Harmony's head. "I know, baby girl, it's all my fault."

Harmony screams while pushing, clutching my hands tightly. I grit my teeth but don't make a sound.

"That's it, Harmony, push. You can do this."

"Shut up, Lyric! You try pushing something the size of a watermelon through the stretched opening the size of a plum and see if you can do this! ARGH!"

Lyric looks at me and smirks. Good, she's not taking Harmony's harsh words to heart, either.

"Harmony, the baby is crowning." My eyes are wide as excitement fills me. "Relax for a moment, and give it all you've got on the next push."

"I can't," Harmony shakes her head. She's trying hard to fight the fatigue, but it can't be easy. "It's too hard. It hurts too much."

With my hand on her face, I turn her to look at me. "I know how much this hurts, and I'm so sorry,"

"No, I'm sorry. I don't hate you; I love you so much."

"I know, and I love you too. But you have to do this for our little boy. I know it's a little early, but he can't wait to meet his beautiful mommy." Harmony's eyes sparkle with tears. "You are the strongest woman I know. You can do this, Harmony, love of my life." She nods, turns away, and with a scream, bares down. I hold my breath, even when Dale smiles. Harmony stops screaming and giggle-sobs. My eyes widen as Dale holds up the most beautiful baby I have ever seen. My son. My boy. "Lyric, if you could pull down Harmony's robe,"

I growl.

What is this sh.it?

"Easy, Theo. It must be done so I can lay the baby on Harmony's chest. It's paramount for their bonding."

I don't have time to protest, Lyric already has Harmony's gown unwrapped, and Dale is laying our son on her chest.

"Oh," Harmony sobs while kissing the baby's head. "Hello, my baby. I'm your mommy, and I love you so much. Look, Theo. Look what we did."

Tears fall from my eyes as I wrap my arms around my mate and son. I stroke his tiny dark head. "I'm your daddy. I'm your daddy." A sob of joy escapes me.

I knew I'd be happy when the day arrived, but this feeling is something else. Nothing in the world could compare to this moment - nothing.

"He's beautiful, Harm." Lyric kisses Harmony's head while stroking the baby's head. "Well done, and congratulations."

"Is he okay?"

"Yes," Dale nods at me. "I was a little concerned when you got here. But I don't sense any problems. We'll check him over just to be sure, but I don't think there's anything to worry about."

Good.

"Why don't you take him to meet our family while I get cleaned up?"

I take a deep breath and nod.

"Let me just check him over; then you can take him."

I climb off the bed, and Dale takes my son.

I help Harmony sit back against the bed. "You did so well, baby girl. I am so proud of you."

"Thank you. I'm so sorry for the things I said. I didn't mean them, Theo."

"I know. Don't worry about anything right now. Let Lyric help you get cleaned up. I'll take the baby to meet everyone; then I'll be back."

Harmony shoots me a tired smile. "Okay, handsome. I love you."

"I love you too, more than you'll ever know." Until my dying day.

It only takes a few minutes before Dale declares my son healthy, and Debbie brings him to me.

"He's wearing a diaper, but the blanket is the only thing keeping him warm. You didn't bring any clothes with you." She smiles apologetically. "He'll need feeding soon. So if you have him back with his mother within ten minutes, we can get him latched on to the b****t." "Right." I tip my head and take my boy for the first time in my arms. I am feeling so much right now it's overwhelming.

"If you'd like, you can hold him against your naked chest before you go out there. Skin to skin with Daddy and baby is just as important as with Mommy, Prince Theo."

I want that; I want to bond with my son the way Harmony did.

Debbie removes the baby's blanket and tells me to lift my shirt. I do, and Debbie helps me slip my son underneath. I'm chest to chest with my son, and all the love in the world fills me for him.

When I kiss his head, I pray that he feels my love. Nothing, and nobody will ever hurt him. I will protect him with my life, for he is my life, just like his mother.

I look back at Harmony as Lyric helps her to the bathroom. "I won't be long, beautiful."

"Take your time, handsome."

I head out the door with my son still against my chest under my shirt. All of my siblings are here, my parents and grandparents.

"Oh, Theo!" Mom gushes while kissing my son's head.

"Everyone, I'd like you to meet Adam Spencer Theo Knight. My son."

My family crowd around, congratulating me until Adam lets out his first cry.

"I think someone needs a feed."

"I think you're right, Mom. I best get this little man back to his mommy."

"Just a second." Thane hovers his head over my son's head. A golden light shines from his palm. "Welcome to the family, Prince Adam Knight. May you have a prosperous life, and may the Moon Goddess and Mighty Fenrir always favor you."

My heart swells with pride. My brother, the King, has blessed my son, and I couldn't be happier.

Lyric leaves Harmony's room. "Mommy would like her little boy back." I nod and turn to go, but Lyric takes my arm. "Thank you." She whispers.

I nod again and keep walking. I didn't need Lyric's thanks, but knowing she's finally accepted me meant a lot.

"There you are."

"I'm sorry, sweetheart." I remove Adam from my shirt, lay him in Harmony's arms, and kiss her head. She's clean from her shower and sitting in a chair. Debbie helps Adam latch onto Harmony's breast. I sit beside her, this gorgeous creature using her body to nourish our sons, and I breathe deeply. There's pain in my heart because I will have to send them away, and though it's for the best, it hurts.

"I'll always love you."

"Ditto, man of mine."