Page 186 of Broken Bonds

What might become inconvenient is as the baby grows and gravity still rules the world, and my internal anatomy rearranges itself, it’s not uncommon for there to be growing pressure on my prostate. Apparently, that’s not a bad thing as long as I’m not having any other issues, because the more hormones I have gumming up my brain, the easier the delivery usually is. And the closer my due date grows, and once the baby is fully developed, frequent orgasms are a good way to kickstart the labor and delivery part of the festivities, as well as help with natural pain relief.

“Kind of like getting the baby out the same way it got in there,” she jokes.

I must have audibly gulped because she kindly laughed and assured me that, as with female births, I can opt for a chemical assist in the form of an epidural.

Whew.

And to be prepared to likely nurse no more than six months, if that. Between the baby’s faster development and the whole omega stuff, even female omegas nurse a far shorter time than their human counterparts.

It’s overwhelming, but at least now I’m less hesitant to research online. I was afraid to start there out of fear I’d only find the most salacious—and fake—information designed solely as clickbait.

Todd won’t let me work in the barn or in the fields, so I convince him to teach me the business end and set me up in the office. It’s not difficult work. I’m soon handling the bill paying and logging receipts, as well as sending customer invoices and managing inventory and supplies. I don’t know much about the medical end of stuff, so Todd and Terry are still handling the direct contact with the vet until I’m up to speed.

Again, I’ve done far worse work for far less pay. It feels weird handling payroll when I’m no longer one of the guys out there, but I also take care of the lunch runs, so that’s another task off Todd’s plate.

The guys have been great about my status change—both as Todd’s mate and as a pregnant omega. They all act genuinely happy for us, not that they have any say in the situation, of course. I’d worried it might be weird for them, but that seems to be one more unfounded anxiety thanks to my CPTSD.

Thanks, Dad.

One more entry on the growing list of things for me to tackle in therapy. It’s easy to forget that a lot of people didn’t grow up the way I did. That they had loving families and supportive packs. Or if they joined the pack instead of being born into it, they’ve been used to the supportive atmosphere of the Ocala Pack.

I’ve been pregnant for nine days now—something I’m honestly still trying to wrap my head around because other than not requiring coffee like I usually do, and needing to nap every afternoon, I haven’t noticed anything different.

Well, besides being hornier than hell because Dr. Williams hasn’t cleared me to fool around, and won’t for nearly three more weeks, if she clears me then.

Poor Todd won’t even let me blow him, and he won’t jerk off, adorably sticking to some imaginary chivalric code that exists only in his mind, that he doesn’t want to satisfy himself while I do without.

Meaning more than one morning we’ve awakened to discover we were grinding against each other in our sleep.

I’m seriously considering asking Shawn for Sam’s phone number so I can contact him and talk him into coming over for dinner and maybe convince him and Todd to do something.

Todd’s not there that morning when Alizée rides over with the familiars to care for their cattle. I’m in the office, and she walks in and sits down like she’s always belonged there.

And she wears a playful smile. “How you feeling, Daddy?”

“Terrified.”

Her smile widens. That’s natural, no matter how many you have.”

“Is this a social visit or work?”

She shrugs in that easy way she has. “Little of both, actually. Remember what I said when I first met you?”

“Can’t forget that.”

“Things are moving, and will move quickly from this point on. Trust Todd, trust Jax, and go with the plan. Okay? Don’t try to overthink stuff.”

“This sounds…bad.”

“It’s not.” Her smile fades. “It’s a necessary step toward ending this bullshit. It’s okay for you to worry or be scared, but don’t let fear overwhelm you or dictate your life. All right?”

“Hot news flash for you—my entire life’s been dictated by fear. Even the past several weeks. Just a different kind of fear now.”

Hell, that’s when it hits me I haven’t been here a full month yet, and already I have the hot dream guy/baby daddy, the happily-ever-after locked and loaded, and I’m still terrified I’ll hear my father’s voice screaming outside our front door demanding I come out before he kills us both.

Yeah, I haven’t told Todd about that nightmare.

She cocks her head, studying me with hazel eyes that dreamily shift between green and grey and baby blue even as I stare into them.