Chapter Text
The cry of his pup shattered the air before Harry could even process that it was finally happening.
The sound pierced through every layer of fear and nervousness he had been holding onto for hours, settling deep in his chest and completely undoing him. His eyes filled with tears without permission, and when the doctor lifted the tiny body, still damp and reddish, Harry was already crying openly, without a shred of shame, without even trying to stop the tears.
It was his baby.
And when he finally heard the doctor say, “Congratulations, it’s a girl,” the world around him blurred, as if someone had submerged the room in water. The voices, the footsteps, the instruments-absolutely everything melted into a distant murmur that couldn’t break through the deafening beat of his own heart.
“Is dad ready to cut the umbilical cord?”
The question reached him muffled, as if it were coming from another room.
The alpha didn’t answer; he couldn’t even find the words. He could only stare as the tiny baby squirmed, opened her mouth to let out another indignant cry while her little fists clenched against the cold air.
“Sir, would you like to cut the cord?” This time the voice reached him.
He blinked, as if waking up, and suddenly the world rushed back all at once: the harsh white lights, the sterile smell, and the weight of his own trembling legs. He swallowed hard, nodding because he didn’t trust his voice, and awkwardly stepped forward when they handed him the scissors. His hands wouldn’t stop shaking, and he realized the cord was thicker than he had imagined, too real. He hesitated for only a second, his heart racing wildly, before cutting it.
Anyone could describe it as a simple act, but to him, it felt so unique.
The doctor smiled softly and nodded toward one of the nurses, who wrapped the baby in practiced movements before instinctively turning toward the bed.
“Let’s take you to mommy,” she murmured sweetly.
She hadn’t even managed to take a step before a sharp “no” echoed through the room. The single word fell without emotion, making the nurse stop in confusion as she looked toward the omega, expecting hesitation, fear, something that could explain the rejection, but she found nothing. His expression was flat; his eyes made it clear he was serious.
“Don’t even think about it,” he added, exhaustion heavy in his voice. “I don’t want to see her. Give her to her father.”
The silence that followed was brief, but it still felt heavy.
The nurse blinked in surprise before walking toward Harry with a hesitation she couldn’t quite hide. He frowned faintly, not out of disbelief, but because of the way those words, so cold and final, had cut through the room. Even so, he held out his arms.
When the small, warm bundle was placed in them, the world shrank down to that simple weight, and time stopped once more. The baby let out a soft, restless sound, and Harry felt something inside him completely surrender.
She was so tiny, so perfect, and most importantly, she was his.
A broken sob escaped his throat as he clumsily pulled her closer to his chest, as though he feared the world might steal her away if he didn’t hold her tightly enough.
“Hi,” he whispered, voice trembling. “Hi, little one.”
And in that instant, just by looking at her and holding her, Harry knew he would give his entire life for her.
˚ʚ♡ɞ˚
The room fell silent once they took the baby away for a checkup, simply to make sure everything was alright.
Without her cries filling the space, the air felt strange, too wide. Harry remained seated in the chair beside the bed, elbows resting on his knees, his trembling hands clasped together. He didn’t dare move and he didn’t even dare leave.
The omega on the hospital bed was asleep now. Exhaustion had erased every trace of hardness from his face, leaving him pale, vulnerable, almost unrecognizable. For a moment, Harry felt a pang of something that resembled compassion, or maybe guilt; he wasn’t entirely sure.
Time passed unnoticed, until a slight movement beneath the sheets made him lift his head. The omega’s eyelids fluttered before slowly opening, disoriented. He blinked a couple of times, focusing on the room until his eyes landed on Harry.
“Oh,” he murmured, voice rough. “You’re still here.” He rolled his eyes.
He tried to shift, but the moment he moved, a muffled sound escaped his throat along with a wince of pain on his face.
The alpha stood immediately, instinct driving him before he could even think.
“Are you okay?”
He hadn’t even managed to touch him when the voice, angry again, spat out, “Don’t touch me.”
That response was like a whip, leaving Harry frozen with his hand suspended in the air. The omega’s eyes burned with fury, filled with a resentment Harry had refused to see all this time.
“Do you think I’m okay?” he spat, his voice cracking between rage and exhaustion. “Do you know how painful this is? It’s your fault I’m like this. All because of your stupid ba—”
“Stop.” The alpha cut him off firmly, his tone slicing through the air. Harry frowned, his jaw clenched. “Don’t even think about finishing that sentence.”
The omega stared at him in disbelief, as if he hadn’t expected resistance.
Harry forced himself to breathe deeply and keep his voice steady. “Remember that you were the one who decided to go through with the pregnancy. I told you I would support whatever choice you made. I never forced you into anything.”
A snort escaped the omega’s lips. “I did it because it was obvious you wanted that baby.”
The alpha shook his head slowly.
“It wasn’t my decision. Was I happy when you said you wanted to keep the baby? Yeah, of course, because I’ve always wanted to be a dad. But you know very well that if you’d decided otherwise, I never would’ve judged you,” his voice softened, though it didn’t lose its firmness. “It’s your body, Oliver. What mattered wasn’t what I wanted, but what you wanted.”
Oliver rolled his eyes, as though the conversation exhausted him more than the labor itself.
“Anyway, what’s done is done,” he muttered, staring up at the ceiling. “Don’t think I’m going to take care of her now. My job here is over. I brought that baby into the world, but I won't be taking care of her.”
Harry let out a slow breath, as if he had been expecting those words. “I know. You already told me that. I have no problem taking care of my daughter.” He rubbed his forehead tiredly.
At that moment, the door opened softly before either of them could say anything else. A nurse entered carrying the baby in her arms, wrapped in a white blanket, her tiny face barely visible between the folds.
“Here’s your little girl,” she announced with a smile. “Everything looks perfect, and she’s very healthy. But she needs to eat soon.”
The nurse instinctively approached the bed.
“Mom, it’s important that you try to breastfeed her. Her first feeding helps strengthen her immune system and encourages early bonding. Even—”
“No,” the omega interrupted, his jaw clenching.
The nurse frowned in confusion. “I understand you’re tired, but this first contact—”
“I said no,” he repeated, his anger now plainly visible. “I’m not doing it. And I’m not her mother.”
Silence fell between them. The blonde nurse looked at Harry, searching for an explanation, any sign that this was a misunderstanding, but the alpha simply took a deep breath and shook his head.
“I’ll take care of it,” he said calmly. “Is there any alternative?”
She hesitated for a second, still processing the tension in the room.
“Well, we can provide formula temporarily,” she replied carefully, “but breast milk would really be ideal, especially during these first few hours.”
Her eyes drifted back to the omega, hoping her words might change his mind, but they didn’t. Oliver simply turned his face toward the wall, ending the conversation.
“Alright. I’ll prepare everything,” the nurse sighed with a nod.
“Thank you, Crystal,” the alpha smiled at her, looking at her nametag.
She smiled back and gently placed the baby into his arms. Once again, he felt that overwhelming sensation bloom in his chest the moment he held her.
When Crystal returned a few minutes later, she carried a small bottle and a container of formula. Oliver had already fallen asleep again, his face turned toward the wall, his breathing deep and heavy. Exhaustion had claimed him without resistance.
Harry, meanwhile, remained completely captivated by his daughter, studying every tiny detail of her face. She was still too little to tell whether she resembled him, though he hoped she would at least inherit the color of his eyes, which at the moment, didn’t even show their true shade.
“Alright,” the beta whispered, standing beside him. “Let’s feed her.”
She showed him the bottle, explaining in a low voice, “Hold her like this, yes, exactly.” She gently adjusted the angle of Harry’s arms. “Try not to lay her completely flat.” She smiled. “Good. Now tilt the bottle so the nipple stays full of milk and she doesn’t swallow air.”
The alpha nodded, hanging onto every word.
“She might not know how to suck at first,” Crystal continued. “That’s normal. Just be patient.”
The alpha lowered his gaze to the tiny face resting against his arm. Her eyelashes were barely shadows against her cheeks, and her small mouth opened and closed instinctively, as if searching.
“Hi, my love,” he murmured, holding his breath. “Your food’s here now.” He inhaled deeply before carefully brushing the nipple against her lower lip. For a second, nothing happened. Then the baby frowned, let out a tiny protesting sound, and finally latched on.
Harry let out a choked laugh that dissolved into tears slipping down his cheeks. He couldn’t stop himself from feeling overwhelmed. His shoulders shook as he watched his daughter suckle clumsily, still enjoying her meal anyway.
“She’s doing very well,” Crystal whispered.
But Harry barely heard her. All of his attention was focused on his pup in his arms, on the soft sounds of her feeding, and on the little hand that, without thinking, curled around his finger.
That simple movement completely undid him, making him cry even harder as he pressed a sweet kiss to the top of her head.
“Daddy’s here,” he whispered to her. “I’m always going to be here.”
The pup kept drinking, oblivious to everything else, content with the warmth, the food, and the steady beat of her father’s heart beneath her ear.
“Thank you,” Harry murmured sincerely to the nurse. “For helping me with this.”
She offered him a gentle smile. “Of course.”
“Oh, and by the way,” she added, handing him the formula container, “you’ll need to feed her every two to three hours, even if she’s asleep. Newborns need to eat frequently. If she cries sooner, you can offer her more, but try not to let too much time pass.”
Harry nodded, memorizing every word. “Got it.”
“And, uhm…” The nurse hesitated for a moment. Her eyes cautiously flickered toward the bed. The omega was still asleep, oblivious to everything. “Please try convincing the mother to feed her again. Even just once. It’s really important for the baby,” she said lowering her voice.
The alpha followed her gaze and sighed. “It’s a lost cause,” he admitted tiredly. “He doesn’t want anything to do with the pup.”
The nurse frowned with concern. “Then it could be postpartum depression. Sometimes mothers react with initial rejection, but with support—”
Harry shook his head gently.
“It’s not that. He chose to have the baby, but not to take responsibility afterward. He was always clear about that.”
The understanding on the blonde’s face was accompanied by a silent sadness. She looked at the little girl in Harry’s arms and then back at him.
“Well, in that case, let me tell you'll be a good father.” She stated with certainty. Harry swallowed hard, unsure how to respond, managing only a soft, “Thank you.”
Crystal nodded, and just as she was about to turn and leave father and daughter alone, she hesitated again, carefully choosing her words.
“Mr. Styles, I don’t mean to be intrusive, but… we do have another option for cases like this, if you’re interested in hearing more.”
The alpha immediately looked up. He didn’t say anything, but hope lit up in his eyes with undeniable clarity.
That gesture was enough for the nurse to continue. “We have wet nurses. Omegas who are lactating and are trained to feed and care for babies who can’t receive milk from their own mother. They breastfeed them, help regulate their schedules, and provide skin-to-skin contact if needed.” She paused briefly. “If you’d like, you could try that. Like I explained, breast milk is very important for a newborn.”
Nothing could have prepared him for what those words made him feel. Even his inner alpha stirred at them, because they sounded like the world was offering him help without him even asking for it. It felt like hope.
He lowered his gaze to his daughter, who had already finished eating and now slept deeply in his arms.
Maybe they weren’t alone after all.
˚ʚ♡ɞ˚
Two days had passed since the birth.
Two days of intermittent crying, medical instructions, fragmented nights, and a kind of exhaustion that clung to the bones. Two days in which Harry discovered what it meant to care completely for another living being, where time no longer belonged to him and instead revolved entirely around his daughter’s needs.
He had named her Arabella. Bella, for short.
He chose the name after carefully going through his “in case it’s a girl” list saved in the notes app on his phone. Oliver had never wanted to reveal the baby’s gender during the pregnancy, so Harry, unable to contain his excitement, had made two separate lists of possible names for a boy and a girl.
That night, while watching the little one sleep in the hospital crib, he reread every option one by one. But when his eyes landed on Arabella, something inside his chest settled instantly. He looked back at the baby, at her soft cheeks and tiny furrowed brow as she dreamed, and he simply couldn’t imagine any other name for her.
His happiness had only grown when the nurses confirmed she was a little omega. The discovery came with another detail that squeezed at his heart in a completely unexpected way: her scent.
Bella smelled like vanilla.
Soft and sweet. He had been waiting to discover her unique scent, thinking it would take longer to appear, but he was surprised it had come so soon. He felt like the vanilla blended perfectly with his own scent of amber and hints of cinnamon, so much so that every time he breathed in their scents together, he felt complete, overcome with a happiness that only kept growing each passing minute.
Harry didn’t know if it was possible to love someone after only two days of existence, but every time he held her, he felt something inside him settle into a place he never wanted it to leave again.
He spent those days at the hospital. Of course he needed to stay close to his pup, but at the same time, he also wanted to make sure the omega who had brought her into the world was okay.
More than once, Oliver had told him with barely restrained irritation that he didn’t need him there, that Harry didn’t have to take care of him, that his presence was unnecessary. Harry never argued. Even so, he couldn’t pretend Oliver didn’t exist. He felt nothing for him; no bond, no affection, but his inner alpha refused to abandon an omega who had recently given birth who was vulnerable and in pain. It was an instinct that worked against his own will.
So he stayed. For both of them.
He only went home long enough to shower, change clothes, and return. He didn’t really sleep; he barely closed his eyes. He didn’t stay in Oliver’s room, for obvious reasons, but thanks to Crystal, Bella could remain in the hospital nursery during that time.
The alpha spent hours there. Learning how to prepare bottles, how to interpret her cries, how to soothe her. And every time he fed her, every time the little omega calmed down against him, the fear loosened its grip a little more.
When Oliver was discharged, he signed the paperwork quickly without looking at anyone. There were no goodbyes, no polite words. And when he passed by Harry, he only spared him a cold, distant glance, as though he and the baby were merely the consequences of a bad decision.
Then he left without looking back.
Harry watched him go and realized there was no emptiness in his chest, only the quiet certainty that his daughter was with him, and he would take care of her. That was enough for him. He sighed softly and returned to the nursery.
When he entered, he saw Bella still asleep in one of the bassinets, wrapped in a white blanket. Her chest rose and fell in a soft, steady rhythm, and the vanilla scent that defined her seemed even more noticeable in the stillness. He picked her up carefully, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. Her tiny brow wrinkled and she let out the faintest little sound before settling again, as though she already recognized the safety of his arms. It drew a huge smile from the alpha.
˚ʚ♡ɞ˚
Today would be the first day with the wet nurse.
He had decided to wait until Oliver was discharged. Mostly as an excuse to first learn how to hold Bella, feed her, and care for her himself. But now he was ready to accept help.
The door opened softly.
“I was looking for you,” Crystal said with a kind smile as she stepped inside. “I already found a wet nurse for Arabella.”
Harry looked up attentively.
“You said everything was safe, right?” he asked cautiously.
She approached slowly, careful not to wake the baby. “Of course. The omegas who participate in the program are medically evaluated. They make sure they’re healthy, well-fed, and emotionally stable before allowing them to care for other babies.”
Harry nodded, processing every word.
“I chose one who was available and who helps regularly,” she continued. “His name is Louis Tomlinson. He’s twenty-six years old, in excellent health, and he has an eight-month-old baby.”
“You’ll be able to bring Arabella every two or three hours, depending on her rythm. At first, frequent feedings are recommended to stimulate milk production and help her adjust. She can also stay longer if she needs skin-to-skin contact.”
Harry felt his daughter beginning to stir in his arms.
“And what if… she can’t latch?” he asked worriedly. “She’s done well with the bottle, but what if she doesn’t know how now?”
The nurse shook her head gently.
“Don’t worry. Either I or another specialized nurse will be there to help with latching and adjustment. It’s normal for some babies to need a little guidance at first.”
The relief wasn’t immediate, but it was enough for the tension in his shoulders to ease.
The beta held his gaze warmly. “If you have any more questions, you can ask anytime.”
The alpha looked down at Arabella, who was yawning now, trying to open her little eyes, probably ready to eat.
“Thank you. I think we’re ready,” he murmured.
Crystal smiled. “Perfect. Follow me.”
The alpha grabbed the diaper bag from one of the tables and followed her, adjusting Arabella against his chest before walking behind her.
The hospital hallways felt different in that wing. They were quieter and even felt warmer. The echo of their footsteps disappeared into the polished floor, while the distant murmur of soft voices replaced the rushed rhythm of the maternity ward.
They turned one corner and then another. The clinical white walls gradually gave way to a pale, almost ethereal blue that made the air feel calmer, easier to breathe in. Several doors lined both sides of the corridor, each with a small silver plaque. Harry imagined that behind them were the omegas waiting for babies who weren’t their own and yet still offering them something as intimate as nourishment.
The thought absorbed him so completely that he didn’t notice when Crystal stopped, when she opened one of the doors, or even when she stepped inside.
“Hi, Louis, this is—”
Her voice sounded distant. Harry stopped hearing entirely the moment he saw the omega standing in front of him, who was, without exaggeration, the most beautiful he had ever seen in his twenty-eight years of life.
Soft, fluffy brunette hair, held back by a small pink clip to keep his bangs from falling into his face. The simple detail revealed perfect blue eyes, clear and deep, staring back at him with the same surprise Harry himself felt.
His gaze drifted downward without permission, taking in the delicate button nose, the pink lips now caught between nervous teeth. Harry forgot how to breathe. For a second, he even forgot where he was and why he had come there.
The world narrowed down to that suspended moment between them.
He didn’t notice the small bundle the omega carried against his chest in a baby carrier, hidden beneath the soft fabric of his clothes, until a tiny protesting whine shattered the silence.
The pup stirred, sounding close to tears. And just like that, the spell broke.
The little noise made the omega in front of him jump immediately.
“Shh, shh. It’s okay, sweetheart,” he whispered lovingly. Even his voice was beautiful, softly raspy.
He slid a hand over the pup’s back and scented him, letting his scent spread in small warm waves. The gesture worked instantly, the baby relaxed almost instantly, his breathing becoming deep again as he settled against his mother’s chest.
And just as suddenly, the scent filled the room.
Chocolate.
Not cloyingly sweet, but warm and enveloping, like melted cocoa, dark and creamy, with a warmth that seemed to wrap around him from the inside out. It spread through the air softly, reaching every corner of the room.
The alpha’s nostrils flared and he inhaled involuntarily. His inner wolf moaning in satisfaction. The sound escaped before he could stop it, low and traitorous. He disguised it as an awkward cough, bringing a fist to his mouth as if he could hide the obvious.
The omega noticed immediately and looked up abruptly, his eyes wide with surprise as a delicate blush spread across his cheeks.
“Oh God...I-I’m sorry,” he stammered. “I didn’t mean to overwhelm you with my scent. I just wanted to calm my baby before he started crying and—”
“No,” Harry interrupted quickly. He cleared his throat, aware of how rough his voice sounded. “Please don’t apologize. I’m sorry for reacting like that. I—uh...”
The words died in his throat. He didn’t know what to say without revealing too much, without admitting that the scent had awakened something deep, primitive, and dangerously comforting inside him.
The silence threatened to become awkward until Crystal stepped in with a barely concealed smile, her eyes moving between them knowingly.
“Well, as I was saying, Louis Tomlinson, this is Harry Styles,” she said gently. “The alpha I told you about, the one you’ll be helping with his pup.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Harry.” The omega held out his hand, another blush tinting his cheeks, softened by the little crinkles forming at the corners of his eyes as he smiled. Harry couldn’t help thinking he was the most adorable omega he had ever seen.
“The pleasure’s mine.” He clasped their hands together in a greeting and couldn’t ignore the spark that traveled through his body at the contact. Louis seemed to feel it too, because his breathing stopped for just a second. Their hands remained joined and they stared at each other for what felt like forever, until a cry shattered the moment.
It was Arabella, already asking for her food.
Both of them let go at the same time, startled back to reality.
“Shh, easy there, little one,” Harry murmured, rocking her carefully against his chest. But the crying didn’t stop.
Crystal smiled softly, taking a small step back.
“I think that’s my cue to leave you two alone,” she said lightly. “Louis, you already know how this works. Good luck.”
The omega nodded.
“Thank you, Crystal,” Harry said before she could leave. “Really.”
She gave him one last warm look. “I’ll be nearby if you need anything.” The blonde smiled at them before quietly closing the door behind her.
Louis carefully removed his own pup from the baby carrier and settled him gently into a small portable crib in the corner of the room, making sure he was comfortable before lightly covering him. Then he took off the carrier and set it aside.
When he turned back around, he found Harry watching him openly and intently while still soothing a crying Arabella.
The omega felt heat rise to his face again, but he didn’t look away.
“I know you probably have a lot of questions about how this works…” he began softly, taking a small step toward him. “So you can stay here and watch how I do it.”
“The few times I’ve done this, I’ve usually been alone because the parents prefer to give me privacy, so this will be a little different.” He let out a shy laugh, intertwining his fingers nervously in front of him. “But please, don’t hold back,” he added, lifting his gaze slightly. “I’m not embarrassed about you seeing me breastfeed and besides… I want you to see that your pup is safe with me.”
Harry nodded, still holding Bella, though there was now a faint trace of nervousness in his movements.
“I trust you,” he said honestly. “And, uh, if at any point you feel uncomfortable with me here, tell me. I can leave—”
“You could never make me uncomfortable.”
Louis interrupted him almost immediately, lowering his gaze while gently biting his lower lip. The gesture pulled a small smile from Harry.
“Alright,” the alpha replied softly.
He cleared his throat, regaining some composure.
“So… should I hand Bella over to you?”
Louis looked up abruptly.
“Oh—yes, yes, of course,” he rushed to say. “How silly of me.”
Harry laughed as he stepped closer and carefully placed his pup into Louis’s arms.
And then she stopped crying.
Her tiny body relaxed, and instead of fussing, she turned her face toward the omega’s chest, nudging her little nose against him and breathing in softly, almost as though the scent were already imprinted in her memory.
The alpha’s eyes widened in surprise while the omega let out a soft coo, adjusting her more comfortably in his arms.
“She’s a beautiful baby, Harry,” he murmured without taking his eyes off her.
Harry could only nod, slightly dazed, unable to stop staring at the scene before him.
Louis gently guided him toward a set of armchairs at the back of the room. He sat down in the softest one, settling Arabella naturally in his arms. Harry copied him, taking the seat beside him.
“Well… I have to admit I’m glad Bella accepts my scent,” the brunette commented with a soft laugh, those little crinkles appearing at the corners of his eyes again. “That was the first step.”
So am I, Harry thought.
He coughed into his fist.
“Yeah, uh, I-I can see that.”
The brunette smiled faintly at the alpha’s stammer, though the blush crept back up his neck.
“Babies are usually very sensitive to scents,” he explained softly while adjusting the pup more securely in his arms. “If a baby rejects the omega’s scent, the process can take a little longer. But from what I can tell, Bella seems very comfortable with me.”
As if understanding they were talking about her, the little girl let out a soft sound and rubbed her nose against the brunet’s chest again, inhaling deeply of the chocolate scent.
A tiny “oww” escaped the omega’s lips, sending a shiver down Harry’s spine.
Behave yourself, the alpha scolded himself internally. Stop being ridiculous.
But could anyone really blame him? There was something about the image in front of him that made his chest feel strangely light; Louis holding his daughter so naturally, so delicately, as though she were his own baby.
“Alright, uh…” the omega began after a few seconds, glancing up at him. “Normally, it would be under other circumstances that I'd show my chest to an alpha.”
Harry nearly choked on his own saliva.
“I’m sorry!” Louis rushed to apologize, red all the way to his ears. “I just wanted to be funny and… well… make this less awkward. Ugh, but I think I made it worse.” He squeezed his eyes shut in embarrassment.
The sound of Harry’s laughter made him open them again.
It was warm and unguarded, seeming to surprise even Harry himself.
“At least I made you laugh, right?” Louis let out a shy laugh of his own. “Sorry again. For some reason, you make me nervous.”
The alpha shook his head gently, still smiling.
“You don’t have to be.” His voice came out softer than he expected. “I know you’ll do well.”
Louis took a deep breath and slowly lifted his shirt, revealing a cream-colored nursing bra. With practiced ease, he unclipped one side with a single hand and lowered it near the baby’s face, exposing his breast.
He tried to ignore the heat climbing his cheeks under the alpha’s attentive gaze. Truthfully, he had never done this in front of someone else before. The few times he had breastfed his own pup, or even the pups he helped care for, the nurses usually gave him privacy or stayed only long enough to make sure everything was alright. But now Harry was there, sitting close enough that Louis could smell amber and cinnamon wrapping around the space between them.
His inner omega practically purred at the scent, and only then could he ignore the eyes on him enough to focus on what he was doing.
Carefully, he guided his breast toward the baby’s mouth, and the moment the nipple brushed against Bella’s lips, she reacted instantly. She turned her little head with an eager sound and latched properly, feeding with such ease that Louis released a relieved sigh he hadn’t realized he’d been holding.
The room fell quiet again, save for the soft little sounds of the pup drinking his milk.
Louis continued staring at the tiny girl in his arms with wonder, the blush slowly fading from his face as he supported her small back with one hand while his omega practically purred in satisfaction at the fulfilled instinct.
Harry watched the scene as though he were witnessing something sacred. His eyes moved from Bella to Louis again and again, unable to look away.
“S-She did it…” he stammered, nearly incredulous. “She’s feeding from you.”
There was genuine amazement in his voice. He was captivated by the sight. Because somehow, seeing his daughter being breastfed, something he had believed would never happen, felt incredible.
The omega glanced up shyly.
“Babies usually know what to do,” he whispered sweetly. “It’s instinct.”
The alpha swallowed hard and nodded slowly, unable to look away from those blue eyes in front of him. He wasn’t sure what affected him more: the peace on Arabella’s face or the sight of that beautiful omega holding her as though he had been born for this.
They smiled at each other, a glow in their eyes neither of them noticed.
And it was there that their souls recognized one another; all thanks to a baby girl who had arrived to change everything.
˚ʚ♡ɞ˚
Two months passed in a blur.
Two months of shared mornings in that blue wing of the hospital. Two months in which the routine stopped feeling strange and began to feel dangerously close to something like home.
They had agreed to see each other only in the mornings since Louis had requested permission to take a few hours off work and, in exchange, had to return in the afternoons. So Bella ended up becoming the only pup he regularly fed during that time. Afterward, when they said goodbye, Harry continued the rest of the day with formula, learning how to balance the little omega’s schedule, naps, and diaper changes.
And somewhere in the middle of all that, they began to truly get to know each other.
There were casual conversations while Bella fed, talks about their favorite things, their families, embarrassing stories, and little everyday details that slowly built intimacy between them without either of them noticing.
Harry learned that Louis spoke faster whenever he got excited; the shy omega who used to blush whenever Harry looked at him had long since disappeared. He discovered that once Louis grew comfortable, he let his true personality shine through; so bright, funny, and full of life.
That the corners of his eyes crinkled even more when he laughed, that he always wore a different clip holding back his bangs, matching it with whatever outfit he wore, and that his chocolate scent became sweeter whenever he was happy.
Louis, meanwhile, discovered that the alpha’s nose twitched slightly when he talked and that, even though he spoke slowly, he was never boring. On the contrary, there was something hypnotic about the way he told stories, accompanied by that deep, rich voice of his. He also noticed that, without realizing it, Harry would softly scent the room every morning so that he and the pups would feel comfortable.
And most importantly, he discovered that the alpha had endless patience with babies.
Especially his own.
Harry adored holding Mason. And not just that, he loved making him laugh, playing with him while Louis fed Bella, and receiving those tiny excited babbles that melted him every single time.
The brunette often watched them in silence, feeling a strange warmth spread inside him at the sight of the alpha holding his pup.
There were even times when both babies ended up feeding from the omega at the same time.
Mason was a little territorial over his mommy, and seeing another pup taking up part of Louis’s attention, and his breast, didn’t always please him. There were times when, after seeing Bella begin feeding from the omega, the little alpha would squirm restlessly until he managed to claim his own spot against him too.
And during those moments, Harry felt like he might burst at the sight of Louis sitting in the armchair, messy-haired and flushed, holding both pups while they fed peacefully against his chest.
Like they were a family.
The thought appeared in his mind more often than it should have. And that was exactly what made everything harder. Because his paternity leave was coming to an end.
Harry would officially return to work the following week. Yes, he worked from home, but that didn’t change the fact that most of his day would be consumed by meetings, calls, and a backlog of tasks. He would no longer have time to drive to the hospital every morning and spend hours there watching Bella feed from Louis.
And the omega couldn’t keep dedicating all that time only to them either. There were other babies who needed help too. Of course Harry understood that perfectly well. But even so, the idea of no longer seeing him left an uncomfortable emptiness in his chest.
Because somewhere between the quiet mornings, the chocolate scent, and the small shy smiles… Harry had grown far too attached to Louis and his baby. So attached that his alpha desperately insisted on not letting them go, claiming that Louis and the pup belonged to him. Yes, his alpha was very foolish and naive.
So he simply had to let things follow their course and separate his path from Louis’s before he made a mistake and scared him away.
˚ʚ♡ɞ˚
The last day arrived much faster than either of them wanted.
The room was unusually quiet that morning. There were no excited conversations anymore, no soft laughter, no casual comments filling the space between them. Only long glances that were difficult to hold.
Bella slept deeply in Harry’s arms after feeding, completely relaxed against his chest. Mason was calm too in his baby carrier, half asleep while his tiny hand rested on his mommy’s chest.
They were both standing there, facing one another while Harry watched him silently, feeling a lump form in his throat.
He didn’t want to leave and that was definitely a problem.
So he took a deep breath and finally, “Thank you.” He forced himself to speak.
Louis looked up immediately, making Harry swallow hard before continuing. “For everything. Really… I don’t know what I would’ve done without you these past months.”
The blush appeared instantly on the omega’s cheeks. He lowered his gaze almost reflexively, gently stroking Mason’s head to hide his nervousness.
“I was happy to help,” he murmured with a small smile. “And… I think Bella was happy with me too.”
The alpha let out a soft laugh at the shy way he said it.
“Yeah, definitely.”
Louis glanced up at him again. “You’re going to be an incredible father, Harry. W-Well, you already are.”
And God.
Maybe it was the sincerity in the omega’s voice or the way he was looking at him, but something inside the alpha tightened painfully.
“Thank you, Lou.”
The nickname slipped out before he could think about it. Though the omega didn’t seem to mind at all, offering him a small smile full of tenderness.
After that, the silence returned.
Neither of them seemed capable of saying anything else. They simply stared at each other for several long seconds, as though both were waiting for the other to do something to stop the moment from ending.
And in the end, Harry was the first to move; walking towards him.
Louis barely had time to react before the alpha leaned down and wrapped him in a careful embrace, making sure not to crush the pups between them.
The scent of chocolate and honey surrounded him instantly, feeling so warm and familiar that Harry unconsciously released his own scent too, blending together in the most wonderful way.
The brunette let out a small shaky exhale and, after a moment of hesitation, relaxed against him. Then, before pulling away, the alpha lowered his head and pressed a soft kiss to the omega’s hair, leaving him completely frozen. His eyes widened instantly as heat rushed all the way up to his ears.
When Harry finally stepped back, both of them were blushing and smiling.
“Goodbye, Louis,” the alpha murmured.
“Goodbye, Harry.”
The taller man adjusted Bella more securely in his arms and walked toward the door. But before leaving, he turned around one last time and lifted his hand in a farewell gesture. Then he did the sweetest thing: he took Bella’s tiny hand and gently moved it as though the baby were saying goodbye too.
The brunette felt his chest tighten so much it hurt. Even so, he smiled and raised his own hand, helping Mason wave goodbye as well.
And then the door closed.
The omega remained frozen for a few seconds before that unbearable pressure returned to his chest. He felt something slide down his face and, when he touched it, he realized it was a tear. He wiped it away quickly, confused with himself as he hugged Mason a little tighter and squeezed his eyes shut.
Because he didn’t understand why it hurt so much. Why his omega clawed desperately at his chest, begging him to run after that alpha and his daughter, but he couldn’t.
Because this was only supposed to be a job.