Chapter Twenty-Two

Tobias

Shifters rarely did a lot of medical testing, mostly because we were very healthy but also because most human medical stuff just didn't work for us. Also, since we were not completely accepted or understood, going to a human hospital or testing center could lead to all sorts of problems. But more and more, there were facilities that dealt entirely with shifters, and Quinn had an ultrasound machine.

He wanted me to come in for a scan, and I didn't see any reason for it. But since I'd moved in with Leon, I discussed things more with him and let him have more input into the decisions I made. Especially where the baby was concerned.

"Ready to go?" Leon came into the kitchen jingling his keys. "Our appointment is in a half hour."

"As ready as I ever will be." I wasn't thrilled with the whole machine idea. My family had been on the low-tech side of things, and my omega father never even saw a healer, much less had an ultrasound or anything. We had heard the heartbeat at other appointments, and it was cool, but somehow that ultrasound machine scared me. "Am I supposed to do anything to get ready?"

"You should be drinking." Leon headed for the refrigerator and opened it.

"What?" The doctor recommended a pregnant omega should drink alcohol? "I don't think that's a good idea."

Leon turned toward me, holding a large bottle of water in his hand. "Why not?"

I clapped my hand on my forehead. "When you said drink, I thought…"

"You thought what? Ohhh." He held up the water. "Absolutely not. You need to have enough liquid in your abdomen for the device to give us an image of the baby. Sorry. Did you want to drink? I have heard for pregnant omegas an occasional glass of wine or beer isn't a problem. We can ask Quinn when we get there."

I laughed at that. "No. I just misunderstood. I don't have any experience with these things. And I'm going to be a father."

"It's just tech. And it will give Quinn more information about how the baby is doing and if there are any concerns he hasn't spotted." Leon led me out into the garage and opened the door of the new SUV he bought as our family vehicle. "And we get a good look at the baby, too."

"I'm nervous."

Leon closed the door and went around to get in. The remote activated the outside door and as it rolled up, he patted my hand. "I understand. And as your alpha, I try not to push you into things, so if you really don't want to do it, we'll tell Quinn that we prefer not to have the scan."

And this was the difference, one anyway, between my fated mate and my ex. He would have demanded I do it his way, and Leon always wanted me to feel that I was doing things in a way that made me comfortable. And happy. And that in turn made me feel safe trusting him to help me do the right thing.

It was an incredibly comforting feeling. Much better than I felt after downing that giant bottle of water, along the road.

When we got to Quinn's office, he took us right back. "We don't like to keep pregnant omegas who have a full bladder waiting."

"Thank you so much." I hoped the scan didn't take long or I'd be in trouble.

"We were just saying we're not sure we want to do the ultrasound today." Leon's words had me spinning to look at him. "We're sorry to have cost you time."

"Oh, really? Did you forget to drink the water, Tobias?" Quinn looked surprised.

"No, I drank it all," I told him. "My bladder is about to explode."

"Then why are you saying you don't want the scan?"

Technically I hadn't, but Leon had. "No, we do want it." I focused on the healer to avoid my mate's accusing glance—should there be one.

"I see." Quinn looked back and forth between us. "Your mate sounds like he doesn't want you to have one. What are your concerns, Leon?"

And then we were both looking at my mate, whose frustration was evident in his expression, and I felt it necessary to clear up the misunderstanding before he exploded. Not in rage or anything but literally. His face was so red…

"It's not Leon. He's fine with it, but I wasn't sure I was. I am now though. Let's get started before my bladder bursts or I lose control of it entirely."

After all that, it didn't take long, and seeing the baby was priceless. It didn't hurt, wasn't even really uncomfortable, and I got to take a scan home with me to frame. They were adorable. It even took some of the sting out when Quinn suggested, firmly, that it was time for me to start my paternity leave.