I Was The Only Omega In The Beast World-Chapter 96: CP: Pregnancy Contraction pt. 2

As midnight approached, Mira called all three mates together.

"Contractions are two minutes apart now," she said. "Strong and regular. We’re approaching transition—the phase right before active labor begins. This is when it gets difficult."

"More difficult than this?" Alex asked from where he was half-leaning, half-collapsing against Naga.

"Much more difficult," Mira said bluntly. "Transition is when most bearers lose their composure. When the pain becomes overwhelming and the body demands to push even though it’s not quite time yet. It usually lasts one to two hours."

"One to two hours of worse than this," Alex repeated numbly.

"Yes," Mira confirmed. "But then—then you get to push. And pushing feels productive. It feels like you’re doing something instead of just enduring. Most bearers find that easier, even though it’s more physically demanding."

She looked at each mate in turn.

"During transition, he’s going to need all three of you. Constant support. Constant reassurance. He may say things he doesn’t mean—may beg to stop, may insist he can’t do this. Your job is to remind him that he can. That he is. That every contraction brings him closer to meeting his cubs."

"We understand," Naga said, speaking for all of them.

"Good," Mira said. "Then let’s prepare the birthing pool. When active labor begins, he’ll need to be in the water. It’ll help support his weight and ease the pressure."

The birthing pool had been prepared hours ago—a large, shallow depression in the living coral, filled with clean seawater that was constantly refreshed by the tide. Soft bioluminescent algae lined the edges, providing gentle light.

Steps carved into the coral allowed easy entry and exit.

Alex looked at it with something between relief and dread.

"Once I go in there," he said slowly, "that’s it, isn’t it? That’s when the cubs start coming."

"More or less," Mira confirmed. "The water triggers the final stage. Your body recognizes the ocean as safe for birth—an instinct all bearers have, even land-dwellers."

Alex took a shaky breath.

Then another contraction hit—the strongest yet, lasting nearly ninety seconds, and Alex heard himself make a sound he’d never made before. Something between a groan and a cry, completely involuntary.

"That’s transition," Mira said quietly. "It’s starting."

The next two hours were the longest of Alex’s life.

The contractions came one on top of another—barely thirty seconds of rest between them, each one lasting longer, demanding more, stripping away his composure piece by piece.

He lost track of time.

Lost track of which mate was supporting him at any given moment.

Lost track of everything except the overwhelming sensation of his body doing something enormous and unstoppable, and all he could do was surrender to it.

"I can’t," he gasped at some point, his legs shaking with exhaustion. "I can’t do this anymore. I can’t—"

"You can," Naga’s voice, firm and certain. "You are doing it. Right now. This very moment."

"It’s too much—"

"It’s almost over," Leo said. "Mira says you’re almost through transition. Almost there."

"Breathe with me," Zale added, his cool hands on Alex’s face. "In... and out... in... and out..."

Another contraction, somehow even stronger than the last.

Alex felt something shift inside—a sensation of pressure moving downward, of the babies descending, of his body finally, finally opening enough for them to pass through.

"I need—" he gasped. "I need to push. I need to—"

"Not yet," Mira said, suddenly right there, her hands checking. "Almost. Almost but not quite. One or two more contractions and then you can push."

"I can’t wait," Alex said desperately. "I need to push now—"

"Breathe through it," Mira commanded. "Don’t push yet. Your body isn’t ready. Pant if you have to—short breaths, don’t hold it—"

Alex tried to obey, panting through the overwhelming urge to bear down, every instinct screaming at him to PUSH.

"Good," Mira said. "Good. One more like that and then—"

Another contraction.

Alex gripped Naga’s arm hard enough to hurt, panting desperately, fighting his own body’s demands.

And then—

"Now," Mira said. "Your body’s ready. Get him in the water. NOW."

Three sets of hands supported Alex as they moved him toward the birthing pool. His legs barely functioned, his entire body focused on the single overwhelming need to PUSH.

The water was cool and welcoming as they lowered him in. The moment it touched his skin, something in him settled—an ancient instinct recognizing this as right, as safe, as exactly where he needed to be.

"Good," Mira said, positioning herself in the water beside him. "Now, when the next contraction comes, you push. As hard as you can, as long as you can. Understand?"

Alex nodded, too far gone for words.

The contraction built—

"PUSH!" Mira commanded.

Alex pushed.

And the real work began.

[ACTIVE LABOR INITIATED]

[Cubs descending]

[Estimated time to first birth: 30-60 minutes]

[Host status: Exhausted but functional]

[Mate support: Maximum]

[Let’s bring these babies into the world, Host. You’ve got this.]

The first push felt both productive and impossible—like his body knew exactly what to do but his mind couldn’t quite believe it was happening.

"Good!" Mira encouraged. "Again! When the next one comes—PUSH!"

Another contraction, another push.

Alex could feel movement—could feel the first cub descending, shifting, making progress in a way that was both terrifying and exhilarating.

"I can feel it," he gasped between contractions. "I can feel—"

"The first one’s close," Mira confirmed, her experienced hands checking. "Maybe three or four more pushes. You’re doing a good job."

Three or four more pushes sounded both impossibly far and terrifyingly close.

Naga was in the water with him, supporting his back, his scales pressed against Alex’s skin providing cool relief. Leo stood at the pool’s edge, one hand gripping Alex’s, the other clenched tight at his side as if physically restraining himself from interfering. Zale floated nearby, ready to assist however needed.

Another contraction.

"PUSH!" Mira commanded.

Alex bore down with everything he had—

And felt something give. Progress. Definite, undeniable progress.

"There!" Mira said, excitement in her voice. "I can see the head! One more big push and the first cub is here!"

Alex didn’t have breath to respond.

The next contraction came almost immediately—

He pushed—

And suddenly there was release, pressure giving way, and Mira was lifting something small and squirming from the water.