I Was The Only Omega In The Beast World-Chapter 82: CP : But I Don’t Have Three To Four Mates

The Mer-Tribe settlement appeared on the horizon like something from a dream.

Built into and around a massive coral reef system that rose from the shallows, the structures were a blend of natural formation and deliberate architecture. Caves carved into the living coral, platforms woven from giant kelp and sea glass, walkways of polished driftwood connecting air-pockets where land-dwellers could breathe.

But most of the settlement was underwater—Alex could see it through the crystal-clear shallows. Buildings of mother-of-pearl and abalone shell, gardens of swaying sea plants, mer-people swimming between structures with effortless grace.

There had to be hundreds of them.

[POPULATION ESTIMATE: 400-600 mer-people

SETTLEMENT TYPE: Permanent reef city

THREAT LEVEL: Low (they’re curious, not hostile)

AESTHETIC RATING: Absolutely stunning]

"Welcome to Tidehome," Zale said, pride evident in his voice. "The largest mer-settlement on this coast. Home to aquatic species of various kind. "

He guided the raft toward a island—a protected inlet where the water was calm blue.

Other mer-people were already gathering—curious faces breaking the surface, eyes wide with interest at the land-dweller being escorted by their prince.

"Zale!" a female called out—her scales a brilliant turquoise, her hair white as foam. "What have you found?"

"A pregnant bearer in distress," Zale called back.

"Fell in the river upstream, carried here by current. In pre-labor with SIX cubs. I need the healers immediately."

Gasps rippled through the gathered mer-people.

"Six?!"

"Pre-labor?!"

"The tides have blessed us—"

"Someone fetch Healer Mira! NOW!"

The settlement erupted into organized chaos—mer-people diving and surfacing, voices calling out instructions, the whole community mobilizing with impressive efficiency.

[They’re treating this like a major event. Six cubs is apparently REALLY rare for mer-people.]

Within minutes, the raft was being carefully guided to a platform that sat half-submerged—designed specifically for the rare occasions when land-dwellers needed to be treated by mer-healers.

Gentle hands—some webbed, some scaled—helped Alex out of the raft and onto the platform.

"Easy," Zale said, supporting Alex’s weight. "Don’t strain yourself. The healers are coming."

An elderly mer-woman surfaced beside the platform—her scales had faded to soft silver with age, but her eyes were sharp and assessing. Her hair was bound back with strings of pearls, and she carried what looked like a medicine bag made of waterproof kelp.

"I am Healer Mira," she said, her voice carrying the same melodic quality as Zale’s but aged with wisdom. "Prince Zale says you’re carrying six and in pre-labor?"

"Yes," Alex confirmed, one hand protectively on his belly. "I fell off a cliff last night. Into a river. The current carried me here."

Mira’s eyes widened. "You FELL off a CLIFF while six months pregnant and SURVIVED?"

"My spirit guide deployed a protective shield," Alex explained. "I’m alive. The babies are moving normally. But there’s pressure and—"

Gasps rang throughout the crowd.

" You have spirit guide? " Mira asked. Astonishment in her voice.

" Uh...yes. "

" Ocean favours us. It brought us a Saintess with such high fertility. " One of them shouted.

" What? " Alex asked. Looking at the crowd of mer-folk.

" Ignore him. He’s just happy to have someone who can conceive multiple cubs. Let me examine you,"

Mira interrupted gently. "May I touch your belly?"

Alex nodded.

Mira’s hands were cool and slightly damp from the ocean, but her touch was professional and gentle. She pressed carefully in several places, humming thoughtfully.

Then she placed both palms flat on his belly and closed her eyes.

"She’s using water-sense," Zale murmured quietly to Alex. "We can feel vibrations through water and fluid. She’s listening to the cubs through the amniotic fluid."

"That’s... actually amazing," Alex said.

Mira’s eyes opened, and her expression was grave.

"You have six healthy cubs," she said. "All strong. All active. But—" She paused. "Your body is under extreme stress. The fall triggered early labor responses. You’re not in active labor yet, but you’re in what we call ’preparation phase.’ Your body is readying itself for delivery."

"How long?" Alex asked, though he suspected he already knew.

"Seven to ten days," Mira said. "Maybe less if you experience more stress. Maybe more if you rest completely and stay calm. But not the three weeks you were probably hoping for."

Alex felt his chest tighten.

"My mates," he said. "They’re coming. They’re tracking me. But they’re still upstream— will be here anytime. "

"Then we make sure you and the cubs stay stable until they arrive," Mira said firmly. "Complete bedrest. No stress. Constant monitoring. And—"

She looked at Zale meaningfully. "Protection. A bearer this far into pregnancy with six cubs needs multiple attendants. Especially one whose mates aren’t currently present."

"I’ll assign a rotation," Zale said immediately. "Three attendants at all times—healers, guards, whatever’s needed."

"That’s not necessary—" Alex started.

"It absolutely is," Mira interrupted. "You’re carrying SIX. Do you understand what that means? The energy drain, the physical toll, the resource requirements? One bearer cannot sustain six cubs alone in the final stages. You NEED support."

She looked at him with something like sympathy.

"Your mates—they’re providing energy through the mate connection, yes?"

Alex nodded slowly.

He’d felt it sometimes—a warm pulse through the tattoos when he was especially tired, like Naga and Leo were sharing their strength with him across the bond.

"That helps," Mira said. "But it’s not enough. Not for six. You need physical presence. Multiple sources of energy and support. Food, rest, protection, emotional stability—all of it."

She paused meaningfully.

"In our culture, a bearer carrying multiples typically has four to six mates attending them constantly in the final month. The energy drain is that significant."

[HOST... she’s saying you literally NEED more support than two mates can provide. This isn’t romantic. This is BIOLOGICAL necessity.]

"I don’t have four to six mates," Alex said quietly.

"No," Mira agreed. "I recommend you have more in the future but currently you have an entire tribe willing to help. And you have—" She glanced at Zale. "You have a prince who’s already claimed protection responsibility."

Zale’s scales flushed slightly darker—the mer-person equivalent of a blush.