Chapter 14 #3
“It’s late, though. I doubt you’ll see the doctor until tomorrow morning,” Cian says. “I’m not impressed with the hospital or this standard of care. Next time, I’ll just use my own physician.”
“That was very elitist,” Caleb says from the door. “You heard the nurse. They’re watching her lungs. Simmer down.”
“I’ve killed people for telling me shit like that,” Cian grunts. “I will be back tomorrow, but you can’t stay at your apartment, Hollis. After what Emilia did, I expect that she’ll be recording all about how dangerous it is to cross her.”
“The woman is bold,” I say. “Uppity bitch wanted Forever Yours to fail.”
“It didn’t though,” Cian says gently. “That event was amazing. Everyone had a fantastic time despite Emilia.”
I can’t make a face at that, but I really want to. My medication is helping, and there’s a cushion now between my pain level and my brain.
“I listened to some of the conversations happening, and really enjoyed being a fly on the wall. This is why I wanted to do this mixer,” I say. “Okay, is that everything? Nothing else?”
“Hollis Anne Edwards,” Cian warns. “Don’t you ignore me. Your ears work just fine. You can’t go back to your fucking apartment.”
“She’s moving in with us,” Malcolm says. “We spoke about it earlier.”
Letting my head flop to the side, I gaze at him. He’s stretching the truth a smidge.
“Is that true?” Remy asks. He sounds so excited, I groan in my head. Malcolm knows exactly what he’s doing.
The issue is that he’s right. Living alone when I’m so sore that walking is going to be a hard sell means that’s out of the question.
“You don’t play fair,” I rasp.
He’s big on consent, which means that I’ll be in control of what happens, and my body will be forced to heal before I’ll go into heat. It doesn’t mean that my body won’t force me to heal faster than normal in an effort to get a knot or four.
Being an omega is very confusing.
“Doesn’t change the fact that you need to stay with someone,” Malcolm reminds me.
“Hollis, not to be a knot block, but you do have a choice,” Caleb says. “Lars and I will take care of you, feed you, and make sure you’re good to go.”
The growls in the room increase and I groan.
“Or I could just take her home with me,” Cian says. “Don’t make this more complicated than it has to be. Hollis, you choose.”
Four pairs of puppy dog eyes meet mine, and something inside of me, the vulnerable omega side, decides that she wants her alphas. Ugh. I really need to talk to them about things and why I’m so skittish.
In the grand scheme of things, I’ve avoided opportunities to be happy. I never choose myself, and the alphas of Pack Ledger are good men. This once, I’m going to choose myself. It doesn’t mean I don’t miss my baby sister any less.
Right?
“I want a tray of Lars’ lemon squares,” I say. “I want my clothes and things too. I’ll agree to stay with Pack Ledger then.”
“Do you want brownies too?” Lars asks, laughter in his gaze. I’m pouting while trying to be an adult.
“Maybe throw them in for good measure,” Brice says softly. “Thank you, Hollis. I really need to take care of you. I’m freaking the fuck out that you’re so hurt.”
“With that decided, I will leave you be,” Cian says, standing. “I’m going to check in regularly, though. If you all fuck up with her, I’ll bury you under my garden.”
“It wouldn’t be the first person under there,” I say without thinking. “Ugh, I think my medicine is kicking in.”
Cian snickers with a shrug. “Thanks for the street cred, kid.”
“Brice, stay with her,” Malcolm says. “I have a feeling they won’t let us all stay.”
“We’re staying,” Caleb says. “Pretty sure I don’t care what the hospital says.”
“You’re on guard duty,” Cian says as he leaves. “You two don’t count as guests. If anything comes up, let me know.”
“Yes, sir,” Lars says.
Malcolm presses his lips carefully against my forehead before leaving, while Remy and Felix don’t know if they should touch me or not as they say goodbye.
“I’m a mess,” I say gently. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“I’m so sorry, Holis,” Felix whispers. “I grabbed you water, and by the time I was able to get back, you were gone.”
There’s nothing I can say to make him feel better, so I simply nod. I hate that they blame themselves for this. It wasn’t their fault.
The brothers trail out sadly, and Lars closes the door behind them. Ugh. I have a feeling Brice has an earful for me.
“Do you think the bed will break if I get in it?” he asks, surprising me.
“What?” I ask, laughter coating my tone.
“Your ears aren’t broken,” he grunts.
“I don’t think it’ll break, but you may break me,” I tease him.
“Fuck, I’m going to have to risk it,” he says.
I don’t know how, but he manages to lift my body so that he can get in behind me to cradle my body with his.
I have to admit, it’s much better than when I was alone in bed.
Humming under my breath, I breathe in his sweet scent, his chest the perfect pillow.
If my face didn’t hurt so much, I would scent mark the fuck out of him.
While it’s an odd thought, it’s true. I’ll blame the pain meds.
“Mmmm. Much better,” he says. “Be a good girl and sleep. There’s more than enough time to talk tomorrow. I’m not mad, I’m furious you were hurt. However, I’ve listened to Cian tell me how everything went down, and there’s no way you’d have done anything differently.”
“Did I tell you what happened while asleep? I didn’t have time to explain, did I?”
“You told Cian before you passed out,” he murmurs. “The rest is written in bruises on your skin. Sleep for me, Hollis. Just relax.”
I’m already halfway there as my breath deepens and I let myself drift off to sleep.
NOVA
Katee is laboring really well, we’ve been swaying, and her body is progressing quickly.
“Nova,” she says, groaning through another contraction.
The nurses said that she could move some in the room, though they’re not comfortable with her walking the hallways since she’s bleeding so much still.
“You’ve got this,” I remind her. “Tell me what you want to say when you can.”
She’s leaned over the hospital bed to brace her weight as her hips sway back and forth while I apply gentle, firm pressure to the sides of her hips to help relieve some of the pain she’s feeling.
It takes three more fierce contractions before she gasps,“Head! Nova, I have…to push. Now.”
Well then. Go girl.
It’s just her and I here, and the nurses told me that I have the room outside of necessary medical care. I brought absorbent surgical pads for the ground and I quickly drop some all around us to catch any fluids during labor.
“Do you want to stay in this position?” I ask. As she nods wildly, I change out my gloves and help her step out of her underwear. “Don’t hate me, I just want to check to make sure you’re ready.”
I have a mask on already and I drop into a squat to check her dilation, only to find a head already crowning.
“Nevermind, push away, Katee,” I say brightly. “Come on, breathe and do what your body needs.”
After the wait, this baby is in a hurry, and after three good pushes, she slides into my hands.
“Hi, baby,” I say, unable to stop smiling. This is my favorite part. Katee did so fucking good. “Katee, stand and reach down for your baby.”
I make sure she can hold her, and I stand as I hold the baby’s bottom as Katee snuggles her.
“Go ahead and get into bed nice and easy, and we’ll wait for the placenta to be delivered,” I say. “You did the hard part.”
Katee is sobbing with happy and grateful tears, whispering to her baby about how they did it.
Blinking rapidly, I have to force back the tears because I know they’re going to be alone as they make this transition.
She’s hired me to also be her post partum doula, so I’ll be with her along the way for as long as I can be.
Just as Katee is in bed and covered, a loud knock sounds before a doctor barges in.
Unfortunately, it’s Dr. Stewart. I thought he’d stay down in the emergency department instead of the maternity ward. Guess I was wrong.
“What’s going on here?” he asks wide eyed.
“Baby is here,” I say without making eye contact as I begin to pick up the floor pads.
“I can see that, but shouldn’t a nurse have done that?” he asks.
“Midwife here,” I say, tossing the trash into the proper container. “I’m waiting for her body to expel the placenta, and I’m monitoring them both to ensure they’re comfortable and well.”
“So you’re not her partner,” the doctor says slowly, making me finally have to look at him.
“Nope. I got this, you can go. Thanks,” I say with a tight smile.
“You’re like twelve,” he sneers. “How many babies have you delivered?”
“More than twelve,” I reply. “Katee has been in labor for eight hours, unless you’re going to stare at her to watch her deliver a placenta, there’s nothing to see here, Dr. Stewart.”
“Of course not,” he says, snapping out of it. “That would be creepy. I’ll be back to check on you, Katee. Congratulations.”
“Actually,” Katee says,“I would prefer it if you didn’t. Nova is more than qualified to take care of Addy and I. Go away.”
Dr. Stewart’s jaw drops while I hide a smile. Katee’s face pinches, and I move to pull up the blankets.
“You got this, Mama,” I say. “Push when you feel the contractions. Little pushes.”
By the time the door closes, I barely notice because I’m completely focused on Katee. Who needs a scent match like that anyway?
Sometimes, biology gets it wrong.