Page 5 of Loving My Omega (The Perfect Designation Trilogy #2)

Chapter

Five

I adjusted the bags in my hand. The market was having a sale on yogurt and I might have gone a little too crazy. It was a handful and I got two too many bags. Grabbing the railing, I made sure to skip the fake step before continuing my way up the stairs to my apartment. Letting out a breath at the top, I could see it before it disappeared into the cold air.

Supposedly there would be some snow soon. I’d never been so thankful that Marcus got me a little heater. It was working overtime already, but it would probably save me all through December. The winter weather was going to be fantastic. Finally, a reason for it to be this cold.

Taking a breath, I shook my head. How had a single month of not working at the docks put me this out of shape? I really needed to set up some kind of exercise routine if I was going to continue. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to do the simple steps around school by the end of December.

Walking past Mrs. Truman’s window, the blinds were pulled back but it was closed. I stopped and leaned in, putting my hand up against the reflection. My eyes widened and my heart fell to the floor, shattering into pieces. She was laying on the floor between the bedroom and the living room. It looked like she had crumbled where she was standing and she wasn’t moving.

“Mrs. Truman!”

I slammed my fist on the door a couple time before looking back at the window. She still hadn’t moved. Cursing, I raced to my apartment. Fumbling with my keys, my hands were shaking as I yanked over my door once I got it unlocked. Throwing all the groceries onto the floor in the kitchen, I didn’t stop. I grabbed the bowl on my kitchen counter and rifled through the junk until I found the extra key.

Racing back, I didn’t even bother closing my door. I missed the key hole three times before I finally managed to get my shaking under control. Unlocking the door, I threw it open and raced to her. Sliding on my knees, I looked her over before gingerly brushing the hair out of her face.

“Mrs. Truman…please…”

I started to cry as I snaked my arms under her, lifting up into my arms. There was only a small relief that filled me when I felt her breath on my cheek. It was labored and it looked like it was a struggle with how her chest was expanding. Her pulse also reflected that her heart was also having a hard time.

Maneuvering her so I could grab my phone from my pocket, I dialed the emergency line. I closed my eyes, allowing my tears to fall as I caught my breath. Right now, I needed to talk and my breakdown wasn’t going to help. An operator picked up the line and I didn’t even let her finish her intro.

“My neighbor…she’s in her late seventies. I found her collapsed on the floor about three minutes or so ago. I don’t know how long she has been down, but I saw her this morning when I took out the trash at nine. Her…um…her breath is labored and her heart is beating, but it keeps skipping and it’s not strong.”

My words started to rush out now, unable to collect myself in my panic. “She has family in the pack nearby. Three kids, six grandkids, and she’s…a bear shifter. Um…no longer has a mate. What else…?”

Mrs. Truman’s eyes fluttered open. “Is…that you…Colton…dear?”

I nodded and took her hand, placing it on my cheek. “It’s me. I’m here. I called the emergency line. They are going to bring an ambulance.” I smiled down at her while I tried to hold back my sobs. “She just regained consciousness, but her words are slurred and her eyes look like they are struggling to focus.”

“We are sending an ambulance to your location. What’s the apartment number?”

“It’s 205. Tell them….the third step is fake. They need to be careful.”

The operator hummed but I didn’t care. I dropped the phone to the floor next to me after putting it on speaker. I pulled Mrs. Truman up a little more and closer. Brushing my hand through her hair, I hoped that this was as calming for her as it was for me.

“Don’t worry. They will come and get your fixed up. You’ll be back making apple pies for everyone in no time.”

“I’m sorry, my dear. You shouldn’t be handling this.”

I shook my head, sniffling. “It’s okay. I’m happy to help. You know that. You just focus on you for once.”

“Such a good boy you are. I wish you were my son. Maybe the others wouldn’t be such bastards if they had you as an example.”

My chuckled only ended in a deep sniffle and me rubbing my eyes on my shoulder. “Don’t say that. They love you.”

She coughed, but I assumed that it was supposed to be a laugh. “Doesn’t make them any less of bastards.”

Pulling her close, I buried my head in her neck and nuzzled her. “You’ll be okay. When you come back, we can go to the next doctor’s appointment together. We are figuring out the gender then, remember?”

Her hand shook as it rose but she placed it on my bump, rubbing it softly. “It’s a girl. I know it. She will be so loved. With you as her daddy, she’s going to grow up to be something special.”

“So you have to get better. Because you have to find out with me. Plus, I’ve got too many questions for you. You promised. You said I could ask you anything. I’ve had nothing but pregnancy issues. I need your expertise. You’re the only one.”

Mrs. Truman hummed and smiled up at me. “You got it. I want to go to that sandwich place again too. It was delightful.”

There was a knock on the door and I looked up. I hadn’t realized that when I slammed the door open that it shut behind me. They probably wouldn’t be able to see through the window either.

“In here! It’s not locked!”

The door opened and two paramedics rushed in. They kneeled next to her and she smiled at them.

“Good evening, ma’am.”

Mrs. Truman chuckled. “Well, aren’t you two handsome. It looks like I will be in good hands.”

I wanted to laugh, but I couldn’t. Not in this situation. It was the first time ever seeing the woman who I thought of as a mother be weak. Tears threatened to fall again, but I did my best to help answer what Mrs. Truman couldn’t. Finally, one of the paramedics slipped his hands where mine were and lifted her up. The small door wouldn’t fit the gurney, but he carried her out the door and gently placed her down on it.

The second paramedic helped me up before heading out to help his partner. It was hard to watch as they carried the gurney down the stairs. I followed behind them and walked next to Mrs. Truman to the ambulance.

She reached out and took my hand, squeezing it. “Be strong, Colt. Not too strong though. Make sure you rely on others too.”

Shaking my head, I reached over and kissed her forehead. “Nope. You can tell me all that when you come back. When I have to carry you up the stairs after your grandkids drop you off. You can tell me the latest romance you’re reading.”

Mrs. Truman coughed out another laugh. “Why would I do that? I have the real thing unfolding before me. A dragon shifter and a wolf shifter. Imagine that. I’ll get all the naughty details out of you.”

“You need to teach me how to seduce him then. Because he hasn’t touched me.”

This time her cackle broke through the cough. One of the paramedics came back and maneuvered her into the back of the ambulance. I stood there, feeling the sentiment earlier. I wish I was her son too. I wish I could climb in and go with her. I wish I could sit with her in the hospital while they did all the tests to make sure she was good.

Giving her a small wave and a smile, I wrapped my arms around myself. The door shutting was such a finality that it made me jump. Watching them drive way, my eyes closed and tears streamed down my face. The sirens started up again and I wanted to crumble on the sidewalk.

Suddenly, arms wrapped around my shoulders. Looking to my side, Mrs. Williams from apartment 217 and put her chin on my shoulder. I rubbed her arm as I watched more people come out and look down the street. People were asking questions, but I couldn’t answer them. I had no idea what was going on.

“She will be okay. Bridgett’s too stubborn. It will always be out on her terms. Never someone else’s. Not even the gods.”

I snorted and nodded. “You’re right. I’ll check in when they get her settled. Plus, her kids…”

“They will get notified. Don’t worry, Colton. It will be fine.”

Once people realized there wasn’t any information to be had, they disappeared back into their apartments. Slowly, I trudged my way by the the stairs. I pulled her her door shut and locked it with my spare key.

I made my way back to my apartment, the door still wide open but it didn’t matter. Right now, nothing mattered. Closing the door behind me, I robotically put away the groceries that had spilled all over my kitchen floor.

Yogurt in the fridge, top shelf. Half the chicken in the fridge, half in the freezer. Grapes in the fridge. Tea in the cabinet. Coffee in the cabinet. I looked down at the new spread I brought for the bread. Did it go in the fridge or the cabinet? The label said refrigerate after opening but, I could just put in the fridge. My inability to choose left me paralyzed.

Slipping down to the floor, I broke down. Covering my mouth wasn’t even helping as I sobbed. It hurt. Mrs. Truman had taken me under her wing since I moved in. She found out that I was an Omega and that I was pregnant but she protected me. I owed her so much. Hell, I still needed to take her to bingo now that I didn’t have a job in the way.

She would be okay. She was the strongest bear shifter I knew and no matter what, she had to be okay. Taking a deep breath, I gathered myself enough to stand up. She wouldn’t want me to wallow. She wouldn’t want me to crumble like this.

Setting the spread into the fridge, I cleaned up the last of my dirty dishes before stripping down to take a shower. I took a shower for the full time that I got hot water before I turned it off. Rubbing myself down with a towel, I walked into the bedroom and collapsed on the bed.

My phone buzzed and I inched down to the edge of the bed where I had tossed it. Lifting it up, I saw that it was Mike.

Mike

She’s been admitted. They are running tests now.

Mike

I’m sorry, Colt.

Mike

I know you like her. Hopefully it was just a fainting spell.

I put my phone back down. Hopefully he was right. I’d help her any way I could when she got back. Even if it was me making dinners for her every night. I would do it. Her kids might move her back into the pack though. They were lazy enough to not want to commute.

They didn’t even know how lucky they truly were. Mrs. Truman was an incredible shifter. Having her as a mother would be the best thing. I wondered what her partner was like. Whenever Mrs. Truman talked about her, all she said were wonderful things. It also seemed like she was your typical Omega. Pretty much the opposite of me.

Pulling up the soft blanket that Mrs. Truman gave me, I didn’t even bother getting dressed. I stopped pushing away the exhaustion and let it sink into my bones. It took over as I curled up on the bed.

My phone buzzed a few times and I lifted it up.

Professor Dreamboat

Did you have eat dinner yet?

Professor Dreamboat

If it gets too cold, make sure to turn up the heater a little.

Professor Dreamboat

Did you want me to bring lunch for you tomorrow?

I didn’t reply, snuggling into the blankets further. It buzzed again after a while.

Professor Dreamboat

Colt?

Professor Dreamboat

Everything alright?

“No, not it’s not.”