25. Chapter Twenty-four

Chapter Twenty-four

Amelia was pacing the room, rubbing her belly. There was nothing wrong with her pretty girl, but Rome insisted she allow the doctor to look at her. They had one on pack lands. He’d helped with the birth of Ariella, but that didn’t stop her doubt. Maybe he was the lone wolf who would see her as an abomination and see the pretty girl she carried as one too. They also needed a name. Every time she brought it up, Rome redirected the conversation. She wasn’t all that sure that he was settled on only having girls. It made sense for him to want a son, but that wasn’t what she could give him. She was cursed to bear omegas.

She wobbled out, wanting to meet Rome outside. Her fifth month was almost here. She wasn’t wobbling. Ugh, there was a slight wobble that she expected to get worse the farther along she got in her pregnancy. Her face lit up. She was pregnant. According to Rome, she was glowing, but didn’t they say that about all females, shifters or humans?

“Alpha-mate, you’re looking radiant today.” Saul was sitting in the pack lounge.

“You’re such a sweet talker.” His compliment made her smile more. She’d lived so many years without wolves saying nice things to her that she ate it up.

“Your alpha should be pulling up anytime now.” He stood, took her hand and helped her into a chair.

“I’m not fond of not being able to sit and stand on my own.”

“It’ll only get worse, ask me how I know.” Sheela handed her a blueberry muffin and a bottle of blueberry juice. The doctor wanted her to have a full bladder.

“I’m ignoring you, Sheela,” she took a bite of her muffin and closed her eyes. Sheela and Saul laughed.

“What did I miss?” Rome asked. Amelia’s eyes flew open to see her sexy wolf standing there.

“Nothing, they’re messing with me about being pregnant. It was funny though,” she added to stop the growl she knew was coming.

“Managed by my mate.” He gave her a kiss. “Are you ready?”

“You’re sure it will be alright?”

“I’ve known this doctor for years. You’ll love him.”

“I’m ready.” Rome helped her up and led her to the car, keeping his hand on the small of her back.

That little touch made her feel like she was a queen to his king.

The thought of Rome being her king or alpha made her think of Brittany, who disappeared before Rome could call her in to talk.

“Any word on Brittany?”

“No one has seen her or knows where she went. I’d like to say she was gone for good, but…”

“We both know better. I’ve been thinking. There’s no way she did this on her own, she had help. Someone instigated it.”

Rome pulled into a spot in front of the doctor’s office. It was a cute cabin larger than some, but he must need the extra space for exam and birthing rooms. He probably had a surgical suite.

“I have an idea who may be behind it. We’re here. Remember his name is Pierre.”

“I know.” It made her jittery to know Pierre was French. It reminded her of the pack she fled.

Rome held her hand, kissing the back of it before he led her in. He could tell her another thousand times it was okay, but she wouldn’t believe him until she met Pierre.

They walked into the waiting room, which was nice and comforting. The walls were painted a medium gray. To help hide stains? Maybe. There were lots of chairs that were made in the typical doctor’s office kind of fabric that resisted stains and wouldn’t allow wetness to penetrate. The chairs were a rose color with gray accents and melded seamlessly with the walls. In one corner, there were toys for children.

“Welcome. My name is Dr. Pierre Martin. I sent my secretary Grace home a bit early. I didn’t want any rumors spreading about the alpha or alpha-mate.” Pierre was about six feet tall with smiling eyes and black hair. His eyes were blue-gray, and he had a slim though muscular frame.

“Pierre, I am Amelia Dumas. Rome’s very pregnant mate.” She held her breath when he stretched his hand out in a very human gesture.

If he had tried to get any closer or goddess forbid scent her, she’d have left immediately.

“Alpha-mate, I’ve heard you had some problems with your last pack. That must have been traumatic. You’re of French descent, members of your pack must have been also. It would be impossible for me to hide what I am. I wanted you to know the reason I wasn’t here when you came. I take several months a year to search for children that have been discarded. Always hoping to find an omega I can bring to the pack. I discovered four children, two boys and two girls. They were human, I got them in an orphanage where I know they will be taken care of.”

“How do you know?”

“I started the orphanage, and I oversee it.”

“I see. It’s nice meeting you. Do you mind checking on our pretty girl?”

“What if she is he?” he asked. Pierre led them back to an open exam room and asked her to put on a gown.

Amelia didn’t have any answer for him. She took the gown, and he stepped out, giving her a chance to change.

“I didn’t mean to be presumptuous,” he said when he came back in.

“It’s not that. I just think every child we’ll have will be a girl. I know Rome would like a boy.”

“Would you like to know the sex of your baby?”

“No,” Rome said. “Some things should be a mystery until the very end.”

“I understand.” He gave Amelia a very thorough exam before he asked her to lie down.

“Everything okay?” Amelia asked.

“Beautiful. You’re in great shape. Keep doing whatever you’re doing.”

“I’m not eating too much?” Her face turned red. She felt like she was eating more than Rome and he could eat.

“You’re a shifter, and you’re eating for two. You need calories. Your body will tell you if you’re overdoing it. Do you find yourself craving sweets?”

“Blueberries.” She pointed to the bottle that was on a little stand next to her.

“Someone makes blueberry juice?”

“Sheela makes it for me.”

“I think it’s time to get to know the lovely Sheela.” He winked at her. “This is going to be cold. It doesn’t matter that I try to warm it up, it always manages to get cold before my patient comes in. If I didn’t know better, I’d think it had a mind of its own.” He adjusted the gown and the cover he placed over her to expose her belly. The gel was cold, but not freezing.

Amelia was tense, waiting for bad news, even though she felt everything was okay.

“This is the pup’s heartbeat.”

“Is it too fast?” she asked.

“It’s perfect. I’m taking measurements now. Then, if you want, I will print you off some pictures, and you’ll be done. Your pup is growing just the way I like to see them. Nothing to worry about,” Pierre said. He took live action pictures, he joked, and then sent the pictures to the printer.

Rome helped her clean up and get dressed, then they went to get the pictures.

“One for mommy, and another for daddy and one for the kitchen refrigerator,” Pierre said, handing the pics out. He gave Amelia a wink. “It’s impossible to tell in the womb if a child is an omega. If they turn out as beautiful as you, I wouldn’t worry about it. You’re safe here.”

“Thank you.” She stared at the picture, not able to take her eyes off it. The way her stomach swelled said it was real, but there was something about a picture. They needed to get more furniture for the nursery and clothes along with diapers. They were so far behind. Their precious girl would be here before they knew it. Maybe even tomorrow. Right, not tomorrow, but it would feel that way.

“We need to finish the nursery,” she said. Pierre laughed.

“That’s what usually happens when mothers have their first sonogram. It gets real in a different way.”

“We still have five months, right?” Both human and wolf pregnancies took nine months, she knew that. What made her think that she’d be different?

Pierre hesitated before blasting her with the force of his smile.

“Nine months, but no one can be sure. Babies are early or late, they come on their time and not the parents.”

She nodded. “Why do I think there’s something you’re not telling me?”

“Normally, I would be able to tell you approximately when your pup is due. I couldn’t get a reading on when it would be born, but I was able to see everything just fine, including the sex that I’m not saying anything about.”

Amelia smiled as she tried to get in touch with the goddess Luna. She would be the one to know when her pup would be born.

Rome and Pierre were standing close to the door talking. She’d been turning over the news of her pup and hadn’t noticed.

“Thank you, when should we come back?” Rome asked.

“Make an appointment tomorrow with Grace to come back in a month. If something happens, call me, and I’ll make a house call.”

“If we need you sooner?” Amelia asked.

“I’ll be there. I’m not going anywhere until the pup is born. I’d schedule your appointment, but Grace threatened me with unspeakable things if I ever touch the schedule again.”

Amelia laughed hard as Rome led her out of the doctor’s office.

“According to the doctor, the baby could come anytime between now and the next few months. He couldn’t get a line on when she might be born,” Amelia told the surrounding crowd. All of Rome’s brothers were there as well as Malcolm, Sheela and Todd. Each of them looked on with worry. Her child would be the first child to bridge the gap between the old world and the new.

“How can he not know? Even when I had Todd,” she flung her hand in his direction, “the doctor was able to give me an estimate of when he would be coming.”

“I believe Luna had a hand in this. If she wants this child to be a secret until she is born, I won’t argue with her. We have too many things to deal with, like a possible hunter on the loose.”

“The alpha-mate is right. We will all keep an eye on her, but things like the hunter must be dealt with,” Saul said. The need to protect not just the alpha, but his mate and the cub they carried were buried deep within him. It felt like a prime directive. One they must have received when they were transformed from males into shifters.

Rome squeezed Saul’s shoulder in brotherhood. Knowing his brothers were willing to look after his mate was a blessing.

“What do we do next?” Theron asked.

“Tomorrow, I want a pack meeting. Inform the enforcers to tell the pack. I will also be promoting a new head enforcer.”