47
Scarlett
M y first week living with the pack is spent situating my nest and going over design plans for the nursery Caito wants to build.
Thanks to Kars, the anti-nausea medication has been helping me immensely, and I’m back to stuffing my face full of anything I can get my hands on.
My appetite really amuses both Lark and Caito, who have absolutely no problem getting me every little thing I mention that I’m craving.
Currently, I’m sipping on a blue raspberry slushie in the back seat of the pack’s SUV, on our way to our first real doctor’s appointment for the baby.
“You know, I could have gone by myself or with just one of you. I don’t think this new doctor is going to appreciate so much testosterone in her exam room. ”
Wren gives me a look in the rearview mirror where I’m wedged between Lark and Apollo right in the middle of the bench seat.
“There is no way any of us would miss an appointment for our pregnant omega who’s carrying our child.
The doctor can deal. She’s being paid well enough to keep her opinions to herself. ”
I roll my eyes. Overbearing alphas. It only takes another minute or two before Wren is pulling into the side parking lot at a much bigger clinic than the one Kars runs.
Curious, I ask, “If Kars is endorsed by you, then how come his clinic is tiny compared to this one, which is also endorsed by you.”
“This is an obstetrician’s clinic, mo chroí . Kars has a smaller client base than lady doctors do.” Caito responds, and I can’t help but smile at his description.
“Lady doctor.” Apollo snorts before slipping out of the car, reaching his hand back in to help me slide across the bench and outside.
Caito immediately muscles the other alpha out of the way so he can wrap his arm around my waist as we walk to the front doors.
The little bell above the door gives a soft chime when we enter, and I blink around at the mostly full waiting room.
There are pregnant people everywhere.
Some are so swollen with a baby that it looks immensely uncomfortable, and now I’m starting to get concerned for my well being.
Wren checks us in at the receptionist’s desk while my other three alphas lead me over to a section with fewer people.
Most of the women have one or more guys with them, but there are a few spotted throughout that don’t appear pregnant and are alone.
The moment I’m pulled down into Caito’s lap, I feel eyes on us, but I do my best to ignore them, sipping at the remnants of my slushie. Caito nuzzles my cheek affectionately, and I feel a blush creep across my face. I’m still not used to the way they’re all so openly affectionate with me.
“They’re a little behind with appointments, but I was assured it shouldn’t be too long.
” Wren joins us in our little corner of the waiting room, looking like some avenging viking god warrior.
The way his muscles shift beneath his tight black dress shirt as he crosses his arms over his chest makes my mouth water. Calm the hell down omega hormones .
“It’s not the end of the world to wait for something.” I tease him, but he just huffs like an overgrown, rabid bear.
“We own this clinic,” Apollo says as he leans back in his chair, propping his feet up on a nearby coffee table with various magazines spread out over it. “We shouldn’t have to wait even a second.”
My brow arches. “You endorse this clinic. I don’t think those two things are mutually exclusive.” I turn to Lark then. “You agree with me, don’t you? Your pack mates are just being dramatic.”
The alpha literally flushes when all eyes turn towards him for his answer. He swallows hard. “We can definitely be patient and wait.” He confirms, obviously not wanting to get on my bad side. I smirk, smug as hell. until Caito’s tongue darts out to flick over the shell of my ear.
I jerk so violently that I damn near toss my precious slushie at Wren.
“Stop that.” I hiss, batting him back, but he just smiles like he’s the cat that got the cream. I can feel the gazes of other omegas on our little group huddle, but I keep my focus on my alphas and my slushie so my anxiety doesn’t get the better of me.
“It’s alright, Dream girl.” Lark leans in to kiss my cheek from his seat to the left of Caito. “You don’t need to be ashamed to be here with us.”
I shake my head, because he’s interpreted my reaction all wrong.
“I’m not ashamed. I just don’t like being stared at.
I’m… excited about this baby.” I admit. I don’t think I’ve mentioned that to them yet, but it’s true.
Already I can’t wait to feel the little one jostling around inside of me.
“I’m not excited about pushing him out, but I am about the other things. ”
“Him? You think it’s a boy?” Apollo leans forward in his chair to give me a radiant smile.
I shrug. “Just a hunch.”
“Well, I have a hunch the babe’s mine.” Caito sounds smug as hell when he says that, and I elbow him in the shoulder. Of course, he doesn’t budge. If anything, his smile only grows wider.
“You’ll all be daddy.”
“No. I’ll be pops.” Apollo winks, and I roll my eyes, but I can’t stop the smile from spreading across my face.
“I like the sound of daddy.” Lark comments, going all dreamy-eyed. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside to hear them talk about their favored dad titles.
“Wren, of course, will be big daddy alpha .” Caito remarks, and the pack lead scowls at him, arms still crossed over his chest. Fucking shit , he looks so damn hot like that.
“That would be quite the mouthful for a baby.” I point out, and Wren gives me an approving look. I preen, because my inner omega is a greedy bitch for her alpha’s approval.
“It doesn’t matter,” the pack lead rumbles while still staring at me like his entire universe starts and ends with me.
“There will be plenty of time to figure out the dad hierarchy as I plan on keeping our omega pregnant many times after this one.” I don’t know why, but a bolt of excitement shoots up my spine at his declaration
Because I feel like it wouldn’t be normal for me to voice just how much I liked hearing him say that, I grumble, “Until any of you are able to push out a watermelon sized human being from your nether regions, we’ll just stick with one.”
Apollo laughs, the sound rich and loud. It echoes around the waiting room, drawing every other eye that hadn’t already been on us right to us. My nostrils flare. “What do you find so funny, alpha ?” My tone is so dangerously low that it snaps all four alpha’s spines straight.
The alpha in question at least has the decency to look slightly mortified. “I was just…” he trails off, studying me for a moment. “Nothing was funny, love. I’m just in utter awe of you. Our perfect omega carrying our perfect child.”
Dammit, his words have the desired effect, because I deflate like a balloon, easing my body back against Caito to get comfortable while we wait.
“As you should be.” I declare, patting my flat abdomen while I finish off the last sip of my slushie.
Lark takes the empty cup from me and tosses it into a nearby trash can like the angel he is.
I’m totally going to reward him for it later.
Maybe I can convince him and Caito to smash me between them like their favorite style of deli meat…
I’m so lost in my sudden daydream, that I must miss my name being called by a nurse that just stepped out into the waiting room, a clipboard in her hand, because Caito lifts us suddenly.
“Let me walk.” I murmur to him, brushing my nose against the mark I’d left on him along the underside of his jaw.
He hesitates, but only for a moment, before he sets me gently on my feet, though he keeps an arm looped around my waist—much to Wren’s annoyance.
The pack lead is clearly having withdrawal issues from omega touch, because he snags my hand to twine our fingers together as we approach the waiting nurse.
I decide she gets to keep her eyes when she keeps them focused solely on me. She smiles, flashing pearly white teeth, and makes the skin crinkle at the corners of her eyes. Warm honey buttered biscuits surround us as we get close, and I barely manage to hide my shock.
She’s an omega.
“You must be Scarlett Reighn. I’m Delphine, and I’m a nurse for Dr. Reagan.” She doesn’t offer a hand or anything, so I give her an awkward as hell wave. Her scent had already told me everything I needed to know.
She’s not only an omega. She’s an unbonded one.
I have so many questions, starting with how the hell she’s managed to work in a field like this at all considering she’s an omega. Also, how she isn’t bonded yet.
But then I remember where we are. Black Tide Valley is full of abnormalities. My roommate, Kate, is literally just like Delphine. An unbonded omega that could be harboring a hoard of secrets.
I have no right to pry into her life, just as I wouldn’t want her to do to me.
I keep my mouth pressed into a firm line as I nod my head at her. I’m not sure if she thinks I’m coming off as abrasive or anything. Her smile doesn’t falter while we stare at one another.
Eventually, she shifts until her body is sideways and she gestures to a wide hallway beyond that had been at her back. “If you’ll follow me. We are going to stop at the scale first so I can get your weight.”
I feel grounded by the two hulking alphas on either side of me and the two at my back as we follow after her. She passes two open door rooms before she turns into the third on the right, where she stops us at a large, medical grade scale set against the wall just inside the doorway.
“Please, step up on the platform and hold still for me while I take the measurement.” She says in an even, professional tone.
I do as I am told, my mind wandering off as I think of just how easy this has been so far.
If only I hadn’t been so lax.