Page 135 of Claimed By the Rival Alpha

So many problems felt insurmountable, but as long as I had my mate at my side, I knew we could conquer anything—including a brief doctor’s visit.

Dr. Stan returned a moment later, wheeling a bulky device with a flat black screen. The screen looked like a solar panel, but I knew it was meant to show images. I’d seen similar screens around the pack.

“I have to say, Alpha Night,” he said, closing the door with his foot, “the Kings have remarkable technology. We don’t have any ultrasounds as advanced as this one back home. We must get some of these ultrasound machines as soon as we can.”

Night smirked and nodded. “We’re working on it, believe me.” I knew he was referring to the alpha challenge. With his win, the Wargs would have access to the Kings’ resources.

That seemed to please Dr. Stan, and he brought the ultrasound closer to the examination table. “Congratulations on your pregnancy, Bryn. How have you been feeling?”

“Thank you, Doctor,” I replied. “Honestly, I haven’t been feeling all that well. I’ve been sick and exhausted.”

His gentle, handsome face was sympathetic as he nodded. “That doesn’t surprise me. Having a baby is no easy feat. Why don’t you lie down, and we’ll get started?”

“Sure. I’m a little nervous about all this.”

He smiled. “Don’t worry. There’s nothing invasive about this process; we’ll just see how your little one is growing. Could you lift your shirt, please?”

When I did, he squirted clear gel on my stomach.

Night took my hand again, and I squeezed it. “It’s a little cold.”

“Sorry about that. It’ll warm up once I’ve started the examination.” He pressed a device with a smooth head to my stomach and spread the gel around. It did warm up pretty quickly. “Now, you’re just at the beginning of your pregnancy, so we probably won’t see much.”

As Dr. Stan slowly moved the device back and forth over my stomach, I squeezed Night’s hand again, and he ran his thumb back and forth over the back of my hand.

“There it is.” Dr. Stan grinned. “It’s just the size of a pea.” He turned the monitor toward me, showing me a black-and-white image. Near the middle of the image was a black circular shape and a little circle attached to the inside of that shape.

“That’s the baby?” I breathed. I didn’t know much about fetuses, but I hadn’t expected mine to be that small…and cute.

“Yes, indeed. Tiny, right? I’d say you’re around six weeks along.”

“Why is it pulsing like that?” Night asked, pointing to the throbbing bean.

“That’s the baby’s heartbeat.”

“In real-time?” he asked, awe filling his voice.

“Yes, Alpha. In real-time.” The doctor’s smile was so gentle, I got the impression that he loved having consultations with parents-to-be.

I returned my attention to the screen, my vision suddenly blurry with tears. It was one thing to know I was pregnant, but it was another thing to see the baby—to see it living. I was seeing the little life that was forming inside me, and I’d never seen anything more amazing.

Dr. Stan looked around a bit more. “Bryn, you should know that you’re very lucky.”

I tore my gaze away from the screen to look at him. “Hm? Why?”

His happy expression had smoothed into a more neutral one. “It looks like you’ve got only one ovary and a very low egg count. Because of that, the odds of you getting pregnant are quite low.”

I gaped at him. I’d had no idea there was anything wrong with me. True, my periods had never been regular, but my mother and I had chalked it up to female wolf hormones in the air throwing off my cycle.

“Will I be able to get pregnant again?” I asked.

“Most women with this condition only have one child, if they are able to conceive at all. It’s very unlikely that you will be able to have a second child. A condition like this is genetic, something you would have been born with.”

Shock pierced me like a lightning bolt. I couldn’t bring myself to look at my mate. Night had said that he wanted a big family, but I probably wouldn’t be able to give my baby even one sibling. Night had done so much for me, but I couldn’t even do that much for him.

“Um, so, what happens now?” I whispered.

“Well, I’ll need to see you every two weeks for a checkup. I’ll want to monitor both your and your baby’s health. In the meantime, you need to do what you can to ensure you and the baby are as healthy as possible. Listen to your body, especially when it’s telling you to rest.”

I was certain his words weren’t meant to sound accusatory, but they hit me like a blow.

All the times I’d pushed back when Night asked me to take it easy, the times I’d insisted on getting out to look around at the pack—even this morning when I insisted I had to be there while he went to the council and the bank.

I hadn’t even realized I was risking our baby’s life.

I could’ve just sent Tavi and saved myself some strain.

The doctor pressed some buttons. The machine started to make a new sound, and it took me a minute to realize it was printing off the image like a Polaroid camera.

“Miscarriages can happen at any time without warning. But the best thing you can do to prevent one is to stay away from smoking and alcohol. Don’t do any heavy lifting, avoid stress, and spend as little time on your feet as you can.

You will experience cravings. It’s perfectly fine to indulge, but keep your diet healthy overall. ”

“Okay,” I murmured.

“I’ve got to put this thing back where I found it.” He turned off the machine and handed me the picture. “Don’t hesitate to see me if you have questions or concerns, even if it’s before the next appointment.”

Night and I thanked him, promising we would come by if necessary. Then Dr. Stan got up to wheel the ultrasound away. When we were alone, Night grabbed some tissues to help me wipe off the gel.

“How are you doing?” he asked.

“I’m okay.” After a second, I added, “Night, let’s go home.”

“Of course.”

When we arrived home, I immediately went to our bathroom to take a long hot shower. I wanted a few minutes to myself. I leaned against the shower wall as the water streamed over me.

The diagnosis Dr. Stan had given me had blindsided me. If I had known more about my mother, I might have known about my low egg count and only having one ovary. I could have warned Night he was getting involved with a woman who could only bear him one child.

If he’d known ahead of time, he probably would have been with someone better. Someone stronger.

My wolf whined, and I shivered. I was a lot better at reading her at this point—she was telling me not to think that way, reminding me that Night and I were soulmates, destined to be together. But that didn’t stop me from feeling bitter. I wished I’d come with a warning label.

When I got out of the shower, Night was waiting for me. He stood in the doorway, leaning against the doorframe. His deep emerald eyes searched my face as I wrapped a towel around me.

“You wanna talk?” he asked, his deep voice gentle.

I hesitated, standing on the bathmat like a drenched puppy. “I promise to do everything I can to deliver a healthy baby,” I blurted.

He stepped towards me and took me in his arms. “I know you will, baby. I’m not worried about that at all.

” He gave me a gentle smile, but for some reason, I couldn’t tell if it was genuine or not.

Maybe it was only because my mind was still reeling from the information Dr. Stan had given us, but I suddenly felt very insecure.

“Night, how do you feel about what the doctor said? About me only having one baby?”

He took my face in his hands. “Bryn, I don’t care if you’re able to have one child, zero, or a hundred. You’re my soulmate. I love you no matter what happens in the future.”

Tears pricked my eyes. “But you said you wanted a lot of kids, and I just can’t—”

He cut me off with a sweet, gentle kiss. “If all we have is one child, that only makes our pup all the more special,” he murmured. “I promise you I will protect you both to my last breath. Nothing and no one will hurt either of you.”

I let out a breath and kissed him again, wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling him close. It was a relief to hear that he was okay with us only having one child, but I wondered if my guilt would ever go away.

“I’m getting you all damp.” I sniffled.

He chuckled. “Let’s fix that. I’ll help you dry off.”

He pulled away to grab more towels, then he tugged me into the bedroom and nudged me onto the bed.

With one of the towels, he started to dry my hair.

He was as gentle as he could be, but the vigorous motion of him running the towel back and forth over my hair—just the way I’d seen him do after he had taken a shower—wasn’t exactly sensual.

When he pulled the towel away, he suppressed a laugh, but a small snort escaped.

I looked at myself in the mirror, saw the incredible bedhead he’d given me, and burst out laughing.

“Sorry,” he said. “I’ll do better down here.”

He crouched in front of me and lifted my right leg. The Redwolfs had kept very luxurious, plushy towels. I’d felt them on my skin dozens of times before, but the way Night used it to caress my foot and ankle set my skin on fire.

He rested my foot on his stomach while gently drying my calf, his touch soft but firm as he moved on to my thigh. His jet-black hair fell across his shoulders as he moved on to the other leg. I wanted to brush the lock away, but his touch had put me in a trance.

Taking my hand, he kissed the wetness from each of my fingers, peering up at me through those long dark lashes.

I shivered even as tears stung my eyes once again.

Did I deserve such tenderness? Did someone like me really deserve a mate as wonderful as Night?

My wolf whined at me again for having these thoughts, but the questions lingered.

As if sensing my doubts, Night slid off the towel covering my body and tucked me into bed. He crawled in with me and turned my face to his to kiss me slowly and gently. His touch stroked my neck, my breasts, and down my stomach to the apex between my thighs.

His tongue politely asked for entrance to my mouth, and I obliged him.

It immediately stroked across mine. It moved in time with his finger against my clit.

I moaned against his mouth as he caressed me.

The circling of his finger in my warmth sent delicate, sparkling pleasure across my skin.

Each movement told me again and again, “I love you, mate.”

As bliss fluttered through my body and the tears slipped free, I told myself I wouldn’t let my feelings of inadequacy hurt my chances of bringing a healthy baby into the world.

I needed to be strong and hold my head as high as I could.

Night was chasing my worries away for now, and I had no doubt they would return, but it was alright.

I would try to be brave for him and our baby because my mate was right.

The baby was a blessing, one he and I would cherish forever.