Page 27 of His Temporary Alpha Mate (Sweetwater Pack #5)

Well, That Worked

Dalton

P ost heat recovery took a couple of days. We were told to rest at home and had our pets returned to us. Chase kind of moved in for a time so he could help us around the house. Super useful because we weren’t fit to do anything. We had him cleaning, cooking, and taking care of Spice and Priscilla, who were a tad more clingy than usual.

I asked him about his rather nomadic lifestyle and he told me he loved it, preferred it even. Rieka was sleeping through the night, so Axel and Teárlach had her on a decent routine. He still helped out most days and stayed the night there more often than not. He just liked to give them time just as the three of them, or a night alone as a couple if T’s mom took the baby.

It worked for him. He was part of all these families, yet he didn’t feel tied down. He was spending more time with Deke, who was feeling lonely now as everyone else seemed to be pairing off. Now he was there for us when we needed the extra hand.

Just as soon as I recovered from my heat, I felt something else. It was barely a week from my heat when I started to get symptoms. Nausea first thing in the morning for the first couple of days. Then periods of nausea throughout the day, though I didn’t actually vomit.

By the time the second week ended, I was sure I was pregnant.

Why? Because I’d just thrown up thanks to the eggs Larken had thoughtfully cooked for me for breakfast.

I’d never felt so happy while vomiting. Life was weird sometimes.

We had an appointment at the clinic to check over our recovery and to do a test, though I was sure I was pregnant. I’d still do the test if only to put that niggling doubt to rest.

“Dimples, you okay?” Larken rubbed my back while I rested my head against the cold tile floor.

“Peachy,” I drawled.

“It’s a good sign, right?”

I got up to rinse my mouth out before I even attempted to answer.

“Yeah, I know I said I’d be happy with all the bad shit just to get a baby, but honestly? I’m not into this. I hope this bit doesn’t last long. ”

Larken laughed, the audacity. “I know, baby. It sucks. Let’s just hope it isn’t for long.”

“No more eggs.”

“Right. No more eggs.”

The clinic was busy. They directed us to a waiting room to await our turn. The nerves returned, but I worked to look calm on the outside.

Larken had spent the time I was in the shower looking up remedies for morning sickness, then called to ask Winter if he had any ginger cookies. I just knew I was going home to find a whole basket of the things. Which would be super sweet if I liked ginger. I just wouldn’t tell either of them.

“Dalton?” James stuck his head out of an exam room. “You’re up.”

First up was peeing in a cup so they could check my hormone levels and whatever else they did. James took my blood pressure while Aldrin typed up the notes. I loved how they worked together.

“You’re both fully recovered from your heat?” Aldrin asked, not taking his eyes from the screen.

“Yes,” we both answered .

“Should we need another heat—“ Aldrin started to say.

“Oh, we won’t. Congratulations, both of you! You’re pregnant, Dalton!” James held up the little stick like it meant something to me.

Even though I already knew in my heart, it still didn’t feel real to be told. I cupped my stomach, my eyes flitting to meet Larken’s. He looked so damn proud.

“Congrats, Dimples, you did it.”

“We did it. We’re a team.” I had to take a moment to stop the tears. “Without you suggesting the potion—“

“We don’t know that’s what did it,” Larken pointed out.

“Based on what we know of Dalton’s ability, the likelihood is that the potions helped. Whether we should have used two is up for debate, considering the condition the pair of you were in. Thankfully, my mate and Hiroshi could fix you up a bit, but we were all worried.”

“Aldrin’s right. I’m just glad we don’t have to go through this anytime soon,” James added.

James and Aldrin nodded at the same time. They were so cute! I was so grateful I didn’t have to go through another heat for a while, all being well with the pregnancy, I would get a couple of years to recover mentally from it .

“Okay, let’s have a look and see if we can hear their heartbeat.”

I went to the bed to lie down as James got the machine ready. He covered my abdomen with the cold gel but waited until Larken was holding my hand to put the wand in position.

There was silence in the room aside from the whooshing sound of my insides as James sought out our baby.

“Oh, there they are,” James said happily. The flub-flub sound was music to my ears. “Both of them.”

“What?” The sound changed to another similar, but somehow different, sound.

“Congrats, new daddies! There’s twins in there!” James was utterly delighted with this news.

“Wonderful! Congratulations to you both. Seems that the potions really did their thing, huh.”

James frowned at something he was seeing on the screen. “Could I ask you to step into the waiting area and get some water? Drink a couple of cups, please.”

“Is something wrong?” Larken’s hand tightened on mine.

“No, nothing wrong. I just want a better image for checking your due date. These two seem a little bigger. That could be your ability in effect.”

Somewhat soothed, Larken helped me wipe up and get off the bed .

James and Aldrin had their heads together, whispering when we left the room.

“I’ll get you water, go sit down,” Larken urged gently. He kissed the top of my head, probably sensing just how worried I was.

How was it I could go from being on top of the world, pregnant with twins, to worried about the little lives I was carrying, so quickly? I couldn’t lose them. I loved them so much already.

We waited in that room for what felt like hours. It couldn’t have been long. I sat just sipping from the cup Lark got for me, wishing with everything I had that my babies would be fine. This ability had to be good for something, right?

Mateo, Grady, and Trey took seats in front of us, filling up the small waiting room. With all the tests and pregnancies, the clinic could do with extra space. The two new omegas were practically glowing with health and happiness. Mateo didn’t give much away, but the possessive way he touched them and constantly watched them told me a lot.

“Check up?” I asked, desperate to keep the conversation off me. What were Aldrin and James talking about? Was there something wrong with my babies? Was it my ability?

“Yeah, we’re both nearly two months along now,” Grady said, breaking through my growing worry. “ Can’t believe we’re pregnant together.” Grady grinned at Trey.

“Your heat must have been interesting. Two omegas to please, Mateo, I don’t envy you!” Larken did one of those complicated handshakes with Mateo.

The bird had finally joined the pack now that his family was complete again. His dad would never fly again, unfortunately. They would have had to re-break Rudi’s wing in order to heal it, and no one wanted to try it, least of all Hiroshi, who would have had to do the healing. At least we got him and Ricky back safely, it was all that really mattered. The wing guard got extra members with both Mateo and Ricky joining the ranks.

“Not nearly as bad as yours. Five days? Too long. Impressive.” Mateo gave us both a look of respect.

“Worth it, though, considering you’re pregnant. What happens with you two now? I heard there was a contract.” How did Trey know I was pregnant? Was it just because I was in the clinic so soon after my heat?

“Um, no. We ripped it up.” At their blank look, I clarified. “We’re staying together. I love him and he loves me. This is it for us.” I really wanted to ask questions, but Trey didn’t give me a chance.

“Thank fuck!” He clapped his hands together, clearly delighted.

“Excuse me?” Larken’s hand tightened around mine, hearing the agitation in my voice .

“Well, it would have been hella awkward to tell you two that you’re fated if you didn’t want to stay together,” Trey said with another grin.

The man was always smiling. Also, WTF?

“What the fuck?” burst from Larken. I couldn’t hold back a snort giggle at our shared thoughts.

“Excuse my mate,” Mateo said politely. “He is learning to control his ability.” He glared at Trey. “You are being rude, mi amor.”

“What ability?” I asked, on the edge of my seat.

“Well, I can heal others, and Trey can see bonds,” Grady said, proudly.

See bonds? What an amazing gift! Not that healing wasn’t awesome, we needed more healers, but seriously, being able to look at people and see their bonds was just, wow!

“So you can see our bond?” Larken asked, getting out what I wanted to. My mind was still catching up.

Finally, it registered what he’d said about me and Larken.

Fated. We’re fated!

I can’t believe The Luna blessed me with you. We belong together.

Betas didn’t have fated mates, but alphas and omegas did, so if Larken was meant to be mine, it meant The Luna had planned the sickness and me being an omega for a long time. She was playing chess with fate and it warmed my heart that she hadn’t forgotten me. Of course, by the time I was an omega, I was already mated to Larken, so I wouldn’t have known, unless we’d tried to break the bonding.

It explained a lot, actually. That pull towards Larken after I woke from the sickness. The way Axel and Teárlach had been with each other once Axel woke. Our souls were feeling our bonds now we had our omega genes.

“Oh yes, and the babies,” Trey continued, pulling me out of my musing.

“You can see the twins?” I asked, awed by this ability, still rocked that Larken and I were fated mates. I thought we had chosen each other, and that was special enough, but our souls must have known. Our relationship, how we had been drawn into a friendship, then something more was guided by fate.

“Are their bonds strong? James wants to scan me again… and I’m scared.” I had to focus on the little lives inside of me.

Larken wrapped an arm around me, lending me some of his strength. “It’ll be okay,” he whispered into my ear before kissing my neck.

“He probably wants to find the other two.” Trey was so matter of fact .

Again, WTF? What was he saying?

“Other two?” I repeated. Beside me, Larken was stunned into silence.

“Yeah, there’re four babies. Two sets of identical twins, I think, judging by their bonds. I’m still learning.”

“FOUR!” I screeched.

“Oh, fuck!” Larken finally found his voice. He couldn’t stop staring at my stomach.

“Dalton? Is everything okay?” James asked from the doorway to the exam room.

“Trey says there’s four babies in here!” My voice was still too high pitched. Panic was about to set in.

“I did think I saw a shadow. Let’s try the scan again.” He was altogether too calm.

On shaky limbs, I stood, and, with Larken by my side, went to the room where James and Aldrin waited to confirm Trey’s insane theory.

Without waiting to be asked, Mateo, Grady, and Trey, who looked rather smug, followed us into the room. We did the whole thing, the gel and the waiting, the ticking of the clock and the blood rushing in my veins, the only thing I could hear.

I was delighted. Really, I was. Completely over the moon to be pregnant. But four babies? The Luna was laughing somewhere, honestly; it was too much of a gift.

“Oh! There they are.” James wriggled the wand some more. “All four!” James turned the screen so I could see it better. “They look so healthy so far. Strong heartbeats for sure.”

“See? Told you. This ability is so cool!” Trey crowed. Mateo and Grady just shook their heads fondly at their mate.

I shared a look with Larken.

It’ll be fine , he reassured me through the bond. We’ll get help at home. We need to get a bigger house of course, but you and me? We’ve got this.

I love you.

Love you, too, Dimples.

“Want to see our babies?” Grady offered once pictures were printed and due dates estimated.

“Why the hell not?” I cleaned up and took a seat next to my mate, holding onto his hand for dear life, as Trey and then Grady were scanned and measured.

“I’m really happy for you both. It’s cool to have another poly group in the pack,” I said honestly. My mind was still spinning.

Are you okay?

Overwhelmed. Delighted. Scared.

I wasn’t paying proper attention to the others, but I was sure they would forgive us, considering what we were going through. My mind was all over the place.

Pretty quickly, we got to see the images on screen. A healthy baby for each new omega .

The others soon left, scan pictures in hand and sunny smiles on their faces. We remained behind, still shell-shocked, I think.

“I’m sorry, Aldrin, James. I hope I’m not coming across as ungrateful. Our goddess has truly blessed us,” I stammered out, still low key panicking. “It’s just that I learned Larken is my fated mate at the same time as learning I’m having quads!”

James squatted next to me so we were eye to eye. “Sweetheart, The Luna never gives you more than you can handle. I’m sure she knows how grateful you are.”

I caught Aldrin shaking his head. “We really shouldn’t have used two potions.”