"Anything, Tom." I wouldn't normally offer such a carte blanche response, but I knew in my gut Tom wouldn't ask me for more than what he absolutely needed and felt no one but me could provide.
Tom waited until Darcy scooted away before leaning back on his heels. "I need you to use your Alpha powers to force a shift. Shifting won't repair everything, but it will speed things along since I've healed his actual wound. After that, we need to feed him and pour him into a bed for some sleep."
Taking him at his word, I pushed a wave of power toward Alex, focusing only on him. "Alex, I'm calling your wolf forward. You are going to shift for me now." On the final word, I sent a double dose his way. Instantly, his body contorted and changed. Bones snapped and realigned while muscles and ligaments moved around like marbles in a flesh-colored bag. His teeth and fingernails lengthened, dark brown fur sprouting along his visible skin.
With a relieved laugh, Josh stood and took a step back. "We probably should've at least removed his jeans first. Now he's going to be naked and gross."
Tom glanced over his shoulder at Darcy. "There's a stack of tablecloths in the cabinet left of the sink. He can wrap up in one of those until someone finds him something to wear."
"I can run over to my place. I'm sure Ford has something. You said they were friends anyway, didn’t you?" Dave glanced at Charlie for the last part.
Nodding, Charlie made his father's day with the first word out of his mouth. "Dad, what a perfect idea. Thank you."
Dave nearly melted on the spot. "Happy to help… son. And if I might say so, I'm especially glad to lend a hand to the young man who helped get you out of that place." He was already backing toward the door, his voice rough as he blinked several times. Muttering something about allergies, Dave rushed out of there with a promise to be back immediately.
Everything was a constant swirl of activity, and I still didn't have Charlie in my arms. My wolf was getting pissed, and I was right there with him. I was about to offer to move Alex to a more comfortable spot when Tom sniffed the air and gave Charlie a closer look.
"Um, Charlie? Have you been having any more gas pains?"
Charlie turned pale as he nodded. Pressing both hands against the sides of his belly, he winced in pain. "The whole time we've been sitting here. I got a sharp one when she pulled out the gun, about the same time I peed my pants. They haven't stopped, either. It's gotten so bad. As soon as one passes, the next one starts."
"Darcy, grab more tablecloths." Tom didn't hesitate to start barking orders. "Josh, your brother is fine. I don't care how you do it, but I need you to move him over there to your right. Alpha, if you'd be so kind as to lift your mate onto the counter after Darcy spreads out a few tablecloths, I'd appreciate it."
Slapping at Tom's arm, Charlie looked completely panicked. "Tom, stop messing around. You almost made me think I'm in labor."
To his credit, Tom remained completely calm, rubbing Charlie's back. "Sweetie, you’re in labor. You didn't pee yourself—your water broke. There was just too much going on for anyone to notice."
"Charming, I can't do this. Not here! I don't want Gidget born on the counter in the middle of the tasting room. Take me somewhere, anywhere."
Josh was struggling, since Alex had shifted back without waking. To simplify things, I lifted him and carried him over to the table Tom had pointed out, the furthest point in the room from their dead mother's body. However they'd come into her life, she'd raised them, and I couldn't imagine how rough this whole situation was for Josh and how Alex would feel when he woke up.
Move accomplished, I strode over to my mate and finally lifted him into my arms. Cradling him close, I kissed the top of his head while Darcy quickly finished preparing the counter. When I went to lay him down, Charlie clung to my neck, shaking his head. This time, he spoke aloud. "No, charming. I can't do this here. By the goddess, our customers drink our wines at this counter."
I wasn't sure how he'd react, but I actually had a good response. "And more than one of them haven't been able to handle their alcohol and proceeded to throw up on it. We'll do the same thing we do there—sanitize it and get it nice and clean for the next people who need to use it."
"Ew. And you want your daughter born where people puke?" Charlie started giggling, giving up the fight when Tom cleared his throat. "Fine, but try not to let anyone see. I've been pretty dang preggo lately, and I'm not sure how well the landscaping has held up, if you know what I mean."
His brothers both laughed at my answering growl. Rolling his eyes, Darcy lifted another tablecloth from the cabinet. "Charlie, in case you missed it, your mate is saying he doesn't want anyone looking at your precious bits any more than you do. Now let's get those pants off. I have a tablecloth to spread over your legs. Nobody will see your business but Tom. And we both know he'll be too laser-focused on performing the perfect delivery to notice anything else."
Tom nodded as he shrugged. "It's like they know me or something. Although I will go on record and say I told you so, Charlie. You said I was being overprepared when I studied how to deliver a baby and made you take me on your last doctor appointment so I could pick Dr. Diego's brain. See? I was trying to extend my knowledge, but now I can help you in your hour of need."
If he was attempting to distract Charlie, it worked beautifully. Charlie was too busy muttering about cocky, know-it-all brothers to pay attention as I carefully removed his pants and shoes. As promised, Darcy whisked the tablecloth right over him, forming a perfect barrier to satisfy Charlie's modesty—and my wolf's and my own need to keep prying eyes away from what was ours. I felt like a caveman, but there was no fighting natural instincts at a time like this.
Further distracting Charlie, Tom started his examination, asking Charlie to describe the pain and help him by watching the clock on the wall to see how far apart they were.
"Are you kidding me, Tom? A baby is about to come out of my body, and you want me to remember how to tell time?"
I was about to offer, but Tom shook his head. "Never mind, crybaby. Gidget is crowning. I can already see her head. Alpha, take Charlie's hands and help him push. Darcy, grab a clean tablecloth and get ready to take her." Tom talked Charlie through pushing as the next contraction hit. "Okay, good. Relax for as long as you can. I only have half of her head. On the next one, I need you to bear down with everything you've got and push like you haven't pooped in a week. Remember when we got punished and ate nothing but Brussels sprouts for two weeks? And how stopped up we were? Then you can understand the kind of pushing action I want to see."
This time, Charlie actually growled. "Tom, I love you with all my heart, and I appreciate you being here for me. But if you compare my daughter's birth to pooping one more time, I won't be responsible for what I do when this is over. My payback will be slow and stealthy, and it will be filmed. Zero regrets. I will put it on TikTok for the entire world to enjoy."
"Got it, sweets. Babies aren't poop. You're going to destroy my life if I compare them again, blah blah blah. I see your stomach tightening, so here comes the contraction. Push, Charlie. Remember the Brussels sprouts!"