Chapter 18
18
brIAR
Clover bobs on her rolling stool while typing away on the computer.
The notes she’s taking range from everything to Sadie’s everyday pregnancy symptoms to an overview of what she wants for a birthing plan.
This is our third meeting together but the first where we’re starting to nail down every detail needed to ensure the best delivery possible.
She could go into labour any day now.
“How intensive is the restraining order?” Clover asks.
Sadie pats her thighs anxiously.
She appears a bit less nervous today than in the previous meetings, but there’s still an edge to her that I want to smooth.
“It’s strict no contact. No personal visits or even a text message.”
“In that case, we’ll have extra security monitoring the clinic before, during, and after delivery. Our medical staff here is incredible, so I don’t want you to worry about your care at all. If it’s okay with you, I’d like to have Briar, myself, and one of our labour nurses in the room during the birth. Then, once you and baby are cleared to go home, we’ll continue providing as many visits and checkups as you wish to have for as long as you need them. Do you have anyone to help you at home?”
Sadie stares at Clover, cheeks tinted pink.
The glassy look in her eyes calls to my omega, causing me to reach for the hand on her thigh.
I take it in both of mine and squeeze.
“That sounds okay. The three of you, I mean. And my mom may come down to help. I’ve asked a few times,” she murmurs.
Clover swallows the anger flashing across her face.
“If she’s unable to come, I do encourage you to reach out to us. We can work out a visit routine for the first few months until baby is a bit easier to handle on your own. Our home nurses are some of the best in the country.”
“I’m always available as well. Anytime you need me, just call. You’re not alone in this. Being a new parent is one of the most challenging moments in our lives, and while I don’t have any children of my own, I’ve been privy to quite a few other omegas’ parenthood journeys. It can feel very intimidating and isolating, but we’re here to remind you that you have us at your disposal. That’s what Harbour of Hope is all about,” I say, keeping my voice soft but firm enough to get my point across.
“Thank you. That’s . . . that’s very generous,” Sadie breathes out.
Clover pushes closer to us on her stool and crosses a leg over her knee.
“I know this most likely isn’t a topic you want to discuss, but we do need to give the security team we’ve called in a heads-up on what they need to expect on the job. They would prefer to hear a briefing from you directly, but Briar and I have spoken to Duke, the team lead, and he has given us the go-ahead to relay the information to him. If you don’t want us to do that, we don’t have to, but I thought maybe it would be easier for you,” Clover says.
Sadie’s face blanches.
“How much detail do you need?”
“Enough for us to best protect you if need be,” I answer, squeezing her hand again.
She exhales. “How many domestic abuse cases have you handled before?”
“A few,” Clover confirms. “All of which have been handled differently depending on individual circumstances.”
“Thorne is possessive. He believes I’m his property and, since he’s the father of my baby, also thinks he has ownership of her. The pack is small. Thorne is lead alpha, and Sebastian follows him regardless of what he wants. Out of the two of them, it’s Thorne I worry most about. His temper makes him terrifying, but his ego is what sets him off. Once he sees there’s security keeping him from us. . .” She trails off, roughly biting her lip.
Clover nods as I blink past the pathetic burn in my eyes.
The warm scent of brown sugar fills the office, meant to calm Sadie but doing the same to me.
If it’s unprofessional to feel so strongly for the omegas we help here, then I’m as bad as they come.
That’s who I am, and I won’t change for anything.
I like to think my compassion makes me a better doula and human being.
There’s a lack of empathy in the world right now.
Too many people have become afraid to care for others and instead fill their hearts with cruelty.
It might be easier to feel nothing, but if that’s the kind of person someone chooses to be, I pity the day they seek help from others and are met with the same disregard they offer to those who deserve better.
Caring deeply for others isn’t a flaw in your molecular makeup.
It’s the opposite.
“We’ll take care of it, Sadie. You can put your trust in us here. We won’t take it for granted,” Clover swears.
Sadie smiles slightly.
“That’s why my brother sought you out.”
“Are you safe right now? Have there been any breaks in the restraining order?” I ask.
“No. They’ve stayed away for the most part.”
“What falls into the ‘most part’ category?” Clover asks, shifting forward slightly on the stool.
“I’ve seen Thorne lingering across the street from my place, but he hasn’t crossed the road or attempted to contact me.”
Clover hides her concern behind a well-crafted mask of calm, but I know her better than to fall for it.
“Would you mind sending over a picture of the restraining order when you get home? I’ll pass it to the security team and have them read over the details for their plans. Starting today, they’ll be monitoring the clinic off and on until you go into labour.”
If Sadie’s alpha is already stalking her outside of her home, it makes me nervous that he’ll escalate once she goes into labour.
Keeping an alpha from his offspring isn’t an easy task, let alone one who’s legally required to keep his distance.
Add in his tendency for violence, and we need to make sure we’re prepared.
“Yeah, of course. I’m going straight home from here anyway,” Sadie says.
Clover drops her leg to the ground and leans over her knees, holding Sadie’s timid gaze.
“I’ll have my phone on me every day. I’m serious, if you need anything, you let me know.”
“So will I,” I add.
“Every day but Saturday,” Clover corrects me with a stern look.
Despite my best efforts, my stomach erupts with butterflies at the reminder of my plans.
In just two days, I’ll be having dinner with my potential pack.
The first of what I hope can be a million more to come.
Clearing my throat, I nod, knowing this isn’t the time to give details.
Looking at Sadie, I say, “Every day but Saturday. However , if it’s an emergency, Clover will let me know, and we’ll both be there no matter what.”
“I appreciate both of you being so dedicated. Truthfully, I didn’t know what I was expecting when my brother told me that he’d made me an appointment,” Sadie admits, rubbing soothing circles over her belly.
Clover beams. “It’s what we do. And I’m grateful he knew that.”
“Still. I’ve never been great with putting my faith in other people.”
“We’re excited to prove ourselves to you, Sadie. You deserve a support system,” I say.
“What about a friend? Or two?” Clover asks.
Sadie’s eyes widen, betraying her surprise.
“I don’t expect anything like that.”
“I know. That doesn’t mean we can’t give it a try, anyway. Do you have dinner plans tonight? I can make a mean and clean chicken casserole. Baby girl will love it,” Clover says, going completely off book.
I don’t remember the last time we invited a client for dinner.
It’s not a bad thing, just unexpected.
Clover has a heart ten times too big for her tiny frame, but she guards it from those she doesn’t know well.
“You’re sure?” Sadie asks cautiously.
I laugh. “Trust me, she wouldn’t offer if she wasn’t sure. But she is overselling the casserole.”
“Ignore her. I even have a few mocktail mixes I’ve been needing an opportunity to use,” Clover muses.
Sadie keeps a hand on her belly.
“Well, in that case, I’m sold.”
“Perfect! I have two more appointments this afternoon, so how does seven sound?”
“Seven works for me. Just don’t take it personally if I start drowsing off on you afterward.”
I watch the pregnant omega smile, proud of Clover for reaching out.
“We’ll be right there with you. I’ll send you a text with Clover’s address once we’re finished here.”
“Thank you,” Sadie says.
Clover grips her knees, straightening her spine.
“Alright, first, we need to get on with the actual appointment before we get too distracted. If you can get up on the bed, we’ll take a listen to baby’s heartbeat.”
Sadie’s expression explodes with interest and excitement.
My heart warms at the sight while I stand and make my way to the door.
The waddle Sadie has makes me stifle a giggle behind my fist while stepping out of the room.
I’m not needed in here for this part of the appointment, and now that I know we have plans for tonight, I have a one-track mind set on ordering dessert from my favourite bakery.
Baked goods are the key to solidifying any new friendship, and something tells me that Clover won’t stop until we’ve done just that with Sadie.
There’s a very distinctive feeling that comes when someone’s watching you.
Whether it’s from afar or only a few feet away, that prickle on your skin and drop of a pebble in your stomach is unmistakable.
As I remove my key from the doors of Harbour of Hope, I know there’s someone somewhere nearby with their eyes on me.
Breathing in, I slowly adjust my hold on the key to rest between my fingers and slip my hands into my jacket pockets.
Clover left half an hour ago to grab the order I made at our favourite bakery while I offered to stay behind to lock up.
We got lucky with not having any emergency deliveries tonight, and I let her go early with genuine excitement.
I’ve never minded staying behind to lock up, and tonight, the lead of the security team we’ve “rented,” as Clover would say, is still here, adding to my ease.
Duke’s standing beside me now, his back to the doors and eyes on the street.
His rigid posture isn’t that alarming .
. . right? We’ve worked with him and his company since we started the clinic, and he’s always a bit stoic.
“Everything okay, Duke?” I ask softly.
The mammoth of an alpha with shoulder-length red hair and gnarly scar from his left ear to the corner of his mouth grunts in response to my question.
“I’ll walk with you to your car.”
“Just to be a gentleman, right?”
“Yes.”
“You’re not selling it very well.”
He drops his eyes to me, expression flat.
“Let’s go.”
I nod, sucking in a calming breath.
It’s probably just a homeless person who’s gotten lost. We’re only a few blocks from the closest shelter, so it’s not that far-fetched.
Scanning the street, I don’t see anyone.
Not even a stray animal.
“Did you get a chance to look at the restraining order Sadie sent over today? Clover said she forwarded it to you.”
Duke hovers a hand over my back without touching as we head for the parking lot.
His respectful nature is one the entire team shares.
He picked every member by hand when he first started his company, and they all follow very firm safety precautions considering the work they do around omegas.
Duke is the only alpha on the team and is on a constant prescription of rut suppressants.
I’ve seen him go as far as to use nose plugs in a situation where he couldn’t replace himself with one of his highly trained betas.
Safety is a priority for us here, and it’s a relief to be able to put complete faith in the team of outsiders we’ve involved in what we do.
Duke keeps his eyes trained forward.
“I have.”
“And?”
“And I’m starting to draft a safety plan.”
“Have you dealt with this before? Two alphas stalking their runaway omega while a restraining order is in place. Should we be worried?”
“We’ll take care of it, Briar. You and Clover don’t need to worry about a thing.”
I huff, releasing the key digging between my fingers.
“You know that’s not possible, right? We’re going to worry no matter what.”
“I’ll protect Sadie,” he says, or swears, rather.
The certainty in his tone is steely, confident to the max.
I lift a brow. “Oh, you will, will you?”
“We will,” he corrects himself.
My car isn’t anything special, and I almost cringe when we stopped at the driver’s door.
I focus on the duct tape keeping my side mirror on.
Yeah, one small ding and it just fell off—a total manufacturer problem.
“Keep us updated with the details of your plans, please. Sadie could go into labour any day now, so if you can put a rush on it?”
Duke peers into the back window, checking it before doing the same to the front.
“I’ll have it finished by tomorrow. For now, keep her vigilant. Remind her that she doesn’t have protection when she’s outside of the clinic.”
“Well, she’ll have it tonight while we’re with her.”
“You and Clover need to take my advice as well.”
I frown.
“We’ve never had reason to worry for ourselves before.”
“You’ve also never had these exact circumstances to deal with before. Nor have you made it your mission to befriend an omega seeking help from the clinic.”
“Is there a lecture coming, Duke?” I ask, palming my hip.
“No. I’m just making sure you’re careful. If either of you ever feel unsafe outside of the clinic, let me know, and we’ll get something figured out. The same goes for Sadie.”
Surprise swells in my chest. “You’re offering personal favours to an omega in need now?”
“Get in the car, Briar.”
“Not when this is getting so juicy!”
He pushes forward and opens the door for me, staring pointedly at me to get in.
“Now.”
“You do know that we pay you, right? It’s rude to order your boss around.”
“You enjoy my company too much to fire me,” he mutters while I reluctantly slip into the front seat.
“Or maybe you just know we’re the best ever and that you’ll never find a business like this again, so you work your booty off to make sure we don’t stop hiring you.”
“Sure,” he deadpans.
“Don’t try to deny it. Have a good night, Duke.”
“Stay safe.”
He shuts the door and backs up enough to break the spell of safety I was under.
Without it, I’m quick to lock the doors and turn the car on.
Unease drips like cold water down my spine as I pull out of the lot and toward Clover’s place.
For the first time in my entire life, I keep an eye out on the road behind me to make sure I haven’t been followed.