Page 16 of Watcher's Omega
“But I have seen you pee,” I pointed out.
“Can you set a timer? I didn’t grab my phone.”
“Three minutes?” I double-checked that the instructions hadn’t changed since the last time I sat with one of my single siblings while they waited for the pixelated baby. Thankfully for them, it didn’t show up.
“Yeah, please.”
“You don’t have to say please. It’s still a privilege to take care of you.”
“Don’t say that. I’m going to cry. I snapped at you for being all kind like you always are,” he said and sniffled.
“Mate, it’s okay. Your body is going through---”
“I know what my body is going through!” he growled. “I don’t need you to alpha-ize it for me. My body thinks it’s being attacked and until my immune system settles down this will happen. I’m crying because my throat burns and not feeling well makes me an asshole. You don’t need to spell it out. I just--- I’m pregnant.” The timer sounded and the water turned on.
I waited in silence as he washed his face and gingerly brushed his teeth. I’d do anything for my mate but there didn’t seem to be anything he wanted me to do. I almost picked up my phone to text Dad to ask about an ultrasound appointment but thought better of it. Maybe that was another way that I’d just be alpha-izing it. Whatever that was. It didn’t sound like a compliment.
“That’s when you put on your ‘alpha voice’ that says you have it all handled and say things everyone knows. I’m not a pup. I didn’t puke up brain cells and I’m certainly not a patient at the hospital who needs to be babied.”
“You’re my mate. I don’t consider care taking tasks babying. What is babying? Bottles and diapers? Chest feeding?”
“Handled with kid gloves,” Eamon said, trying not to laugh. “Look, I love you and I know you have this primitive drive to take care of me and I love that because it means you’ll get up to turn the light out at night if the app won’t work. It means if I put mycold feet on you, you get me socks. You bring me snacks in the middle of the night if I dream of food because you think it means I’m hungry. Usually I am hungry, but sometimes, I’m going to want two minutes of privacy.”
“I know. That’s why I didn’t come in,” I said, trying not to frown. “It’s hard to know you’re hurting and I can’t do anything to stop it. So I wanted to do something to make it easier”
“You did. The gummies really helped. The water too and you gave me the space I asked for. I just don’t want to hurt your feelings either,” he sniffled.
“Can I come in now?”
He flushed the toilet again and stepped out of the bathroom into my arms. I held him close but not too tight because I didn’t want to upset his stomach. He buried his face in my chest and breathed in my scent. We stood like that for a long time, taking in the tiny moment that meant our lives were about to change forever. Soon, we’d be in charge of at least one little person. Probably more.
“More. It’s a litter.”
We arrived at the hospital two hours before we were due to pick up Glenn. That gave us time to swing into the hospital’s little walk-in omega and baby care clinic. While I was all for my dad performing the ultrasound, Eamon reminded me what often follows the ultrasound is a well omega exam and he wasn’t down for my dad offering that service.
We were taken back right away by a nurse wearing orange scrubs. She smelled like a fruitcake, though. She must’ve hadsome Yuletide scented pheromone blocker spray left over. I wasn’t sure if we were taken back straight away because of who my dads were or if it was because Jolly stood guard at Eamon’s side like he was ready to devour anyone who dared to cross his path.
Eamon climbed up onto the examination table while I tried to explain to Jolly what was about to happen. Most of the time it was sires who were ready to eat the healers, but I grew up with them and figured my wolf wouldn’t lash out. Well, I hoped that he’d keep wagging his tail and not decide at the last minute he was ready to eat a healer. Jolly on the other hand had only witnessed an ultrasound or two at the hospital. Unlike Ralphie and Frieda, Jolly hadn’t even witnessed my carrier or other relatives pregnant up close and personal.
As soon as I thought I’d given him all the details he’d need to remain calm, he climbed up onto the exam table and sat on top of Eamon as if I meant for him to protect my mate from whatever was coming. Eamon stroked the soft fur along his back and flashed me a look that said ‘let him be.’
The healer who walked into the room was short. I sniffed instinctively but was greeted with strawberries instead of a scent that would tell me whether or not they were an omega. I glanced at Jolly. Sometimes his nose detected things that the pheromone blocker spray didn’t cover up. Not that it was my business whether or not the healer was an omega like I automatically assumed but it mattered to my wolf.
“Good morning,” the healer grinned, picking up Eamon’s chart and glancing at it. “I hear you had an early morning bout of morning sickness, but the gummies took care of it?”
“They did,” Eamon nodded, still petting Jolly.
“Any other symptoms?”
“I’m snappy. Like little things bother me sometimes.”
“Is that why your friend is on top of you? Is he protecting me from you?” the healer asked.
At first I thought the healer was joking but he wasn’t.
“I’m not sure, really,” Eamon admitted.
“Well, hello there,” the healer said to Jolly. “I’m Midwife Garin Felp. I’m here today because your friend there is probably going to have puppies.”