Chapter 16
CHAPTER 16
Damon
I ’m sitting in the waiting room as Lena is getting looked at by the doctor. People are being rushed in by ambulance, but all I can think about is my sweet omega. She will be mine even though she doesn’t know it.
If the stranger hadn’t been in her home, she would never have run down the stairs and hurt herself. A low growl rumbles in my chest at the thought of that stranger taking advantage of Lena.
If he ever hurts her, I’ll kill him.
I find it strange that someone else was watching her besides Gunnar, Max, and me. With how much Lena keeps to herself, it strikes me as odd that anyone would have her on their radar.
A door down the hall opens, and the doctor is rolling her out in a wheelchair.
He brings her to where I’m sitting. Something is wrong. She looks both stunned and sheepish, avoiding eye contact with me when she comes to a stop in front of me. Now I’m on high alert.
“You must be the father—congratulations!” says the overly enthusiastic doctor.
I stare at him, not understanding what he’s telling me. I glance at Lena, who has gone bright red, expressing absolute mortification.
“Damon, we should get going,” she mumbles, her face aflame. She struggles to her feet and grabs my arm, trying to tug me toward the exit doors. I stand my ground, unwilling to leave until I get clarity from the doctor.
It’s almost comical how Lena is trying to drag me away with her tiny hand on my arm, but I don’t laugh, needing to get to the bottom of this.
“I don’t understand, Doctor,” I say, speaking to him while holding her to me so she won’t fall. “What do you mean?”
He glances at Lena and frowns, clearly confused by her reaction to me. He clears his throat and straightens his spine.
“I’m sorry,” he says, “but I’m needed elsewhere. Lena, please call me anytime if you experience any pain or if your symptoms worsen. I’ll see you soon.” He gives her a tight smile and hurries off.
“What did the doctor mean?” I ask once he’s gone, my curiosity piqued. Several people in the waiting room are now eagerly listening to us, but this can’t wait.
“Mean what?”
“By ‘you must be the father,’” I clarify. She knows exactly what’s happening, as my chest pumps with adrenaline. “Are you pregnant?”
“I have no idea what he’s talking about,” Lena says, shrugging and trying to appear nonchalant, but I can read in her eyes that she’s clearly lying. “Maybe you misunderstood him.”
“Oh, I heard him well enough.”
“Damon, can we please go?” Lena begs quietly, glancing around the waiting room. “My ankle is killing me.”
She gestures down at her bandaged ankle, but I don’t budge. I need answers to what I’m starting to suspect may be true.
“We’re not going anywhere until you tell me what the doctor meant.”
“Oh my god, everyone’s watching us,” she whispers harshly, looking away.
“Lena, look at me,” I growl, and she finally meets my gaze, her face bright pink.
“Fine, I’m pregnant,” she whispers, embarrassment clear on her face. “Doctor Roman confirmed it with a pregnancy test.”
“Oh fuck,” I say, my heart racing as I struggle not to howl for joy. I want to embrace Lena and kiss her senselessly, but I calm myself, seeing that she still looks flustered by the news.
I immediately pick her up and carry her out of the emergency room, away from curious eyes.
“What are you thinking?” she asks worriedly.
“You are the most amazing thing that has ever happened to me,” I say, my heart soaring at the thought of a little one stumbling around my home, learning to walk. “My omega.”
“No, I’m not your omega,” she says as I gently place her in the passenger seat of my car. My excitement dwindles at the realization that her safety is now paramount.
I can’t let anything happen to her or our pup. If I wasn’t sure about my decision to watch over her before, I am sure as hell now.
“Alright, if that’s the case, you’ll need to stay with us during the pregnancy at least,” I say firmly. Maybe she’ll eventually fall in love with us and get comfortable.
“Why?” she asks in protest, her eyes widening.
I cup her jaw, stroking her cheek tenderly with my thumb. “I want you to be safe, and you’re always safest with a pack of alphas.”
When I enter the driver’s seat and drive toward the pack loft, she looks deep in thought. For the entire ride, she remains silent, and it worries me.
“Please don’t tell your pack,” Lena says softly.
“About?”
“The baby.”
“Why?” I ask, flabbergasted. This was our baby, and they should know the good news right away.
“I want them to know eventually, but I just need a moment to soak it all in,” she says simply, and I nod as I turn left.
“I can accept that,” I say, and she lets out a long sigh, leaning back against her seat. I’m confused by her, but I’ll play by her rules for now.
* * *
Max and Gunnar are waiting outside our home when we arrive, and I can tell that Lena is surprised to see them.
Max rushes to open her door and helps her out as she leans against his arm.
“This is a surprise,” she says, breathless, but I can tell she’s excited to see him again from the way her scent turns muskier and sweeter. She’s aroused to see my pack again, which is a good sign.
A really good sign . Because I’m hard as fuck for her, especially knowing that she’s pregnant with my pack’s baby.
“Damon called us while you were at the emergency room,” Gunnar says. “How’s your ankle feeling?”
“It doesn’t hurt as much anymore. I took a pill on the way here,” Lena replies. “But I’d like to go home now, please.”
Alarm spikes through me at her rebellious nature.
“I already said you’re coming home with us,” I say.
“I don’t want to go home with you!” she exclaims, pulling away from Max and leaning against the car instead.
“There’s someone out there following you. I know you may hate me, Lena, but your safety is important to us.”
“I don’t hate you,” she mumbles, breaking eye contact. “I’m just not ready to be part of a pack. I’m perfectly safe as I am. I can take care of myself.”
“But what happened?” Max asks urgently.
She bites her lower lip, nibbling on it for a moment before taking a deep breath and steeling herself.
“When I told you that I thought someone was in my apartment, I actually saw them. They were standing in my kitchen, going through the kitchen cabinets. I got scared, so I ran,” she confesses, tears sparkling in her eyes.
“Gunnar,” I bark, and he stands at attention, his gaze hardening. “Go check Lena’s apartment. Search everywhere. If you find anyone, you know what to do.”
He nods and turns to leave, but Max interjects.
“I’ll go,” he offers instead. “Gunnar can stay with Lena.”
“I don’t care who goes. I just want to get Lena to safety and inside the penthouse,” I snap. “We need to keep our omega safe. Is that clear?”
Max and Gunnar nod, and with a shared look, Max gets back into his car and races out of the parking lot.
“Come,” I say, walking toward my home. Gunnar takes Lena’s hands, preparing to lift her in his arms if she doesn’t comply.
“Damon, please,” she whines. “This isn’t necessary. I don’t need to live with you. All my things are at home; you can take me there. I’ll be fine.”
“Max will get everything you need from your apartment, love,” I say calmly, unlocking the door to our penthouse with a code. “I promise he won’t leave anything behind.”
“Please let me go. I just want to go home. I promise I’ll be okay,” her voice high, like she’s about to go into hysterics.
“Let me show you around,” says Gunnar. “You can tell me where you want to build your nest.”
“No!” she yells, pulling her hand out of Gunnar’s grip. “I’m not staying here! Why can’t you all leave me alone?!”
“Lena, baby?—”
“Leave. Me. ALONE!” Lena screams, stumbling backward. Gunnar’s eyes widen in surprise at her forcefulness, and I’m also shocked. “I don’t understand why you’re all so obsessed with being with me! Just let me go!”
She turns and tries to push past me at the doorway. Damn it, she’s putting up one hell of a fight despite her aroused scent filling the air.
Lena pushes against my chest with all her strength, trying to get me to move. I calmly wrap my hands around her upper arms, alarmed by her desire to escape us.
“What are you made of, bricks?” she hisses when I don’t move an inch. She tries to push me again but almost topples over, grabbing my muscular forearm to steady herself.
My arousal heightens from her touch and her enticing scent, but I try to calm my erection, not wanting to agitate her further.
“Lena, you’re stressing yourself out for no reason,” I say, looking into her tearful eyes. “You don’t need to worry—we won’t force you to be our omega. You know that deep down, honey.”
I feel my arousal intensify when her grip on me tightens.
She glances down, her eyes widening at the sight, and I groan, realizing that my erection might have crossed a line that she’s not quite ready for.
To my surprise, she licks her lips and starts to breathe heavily, her breasts heaving with every breath.
God, I want her.
The intoxicating scent of wild honey and vanilla fills the air, and I know Lena feels the same way I do. I glance down and see a wet spot on the front of her white leggings. She is soaked, ripe, and ready for me.
She follows my gaze and blushes when she sees the evidence of her arousal on her leggings.
“Are you sure you want to leave?” I growl lowly, placing my hands on her hips. She blushes and shakes her head quietly.
I caress her back, pleased with her answer, loving how her breathing hitches with my touch. She turns away from me to face Gunnar, freezing in shock to find him already naked, his erection proudly jutting out.
She lets out a little gasp of surprise, and he grins, his smile feral.
“Don’t be shy, baby,” he croons, taking a step toward her. “It’s nothing you haven’t seen before.”
“What makes you think I even want you guys?” Lena says breathlessly, but this time without the venom in her voice.
“Right here,” I say, reaching around to cup her pussy, rubbing the wet spot on her leggings. “This shows me that you want it. You want us to knot you, don’t you, honey?”
Although I know she won’t admit it, Lena is turned on too. Her scent lingers in the air, and the wet patch on the front of her leggings grows more saturated at the sight of Gunnar’s angry cock on display.
“No, I don’t,” she says, taking a step back, but she crashes into my chest. Lena may claim she wants to leave, but her actions suggest otherwise. Her defiance turns me on and makes me even more desperate to pin her down and fuck her.
“Where do you think you’re going, hmm?” I ask, pulling her toward me. I bend down and kiss her neck, inhaling her intoxicating scent.
“Oh god,” she mumbles, her head lolling back against my chest while I kiss along her shoulder. I press my hard-on into her back, making her aware of the effect she has on me.
Lena groans and pushes back, rubbing her ass against me wantonly while her eyes remain locked on Gunnar. She may have wanted to leave, but she’s not going anywhere now.