Chapter Eighteen

Talon

Turned out, Amir was more advanced than just about any other healer I'd ever heard of. He had all sorts of equipment in his office like an ultrasound machine. And we had an appointment for its use. Rowan had expressed doubts, not liking the human tech much, but at his last appointment, Amir had expressed some concerns and a desire to get a look at the baby. He would have done the test right then, but the machine needed a repair or calibration or something, and we had to wait a week. He suggested we go to another healer he trusted, showing me there were others who used tech, but Rowan dug in his heels and refused.

So, here we were, with my mate's shirt pulled up to reveal his swollen belly and the healer squeezing gel over the skin. "Do you want to know the gender?" Amir asked. "Or keep it a surprise?"

We hadn't even discussed it. How funny. "What do you think, Rowan? It might make shopping easier if we know."

"True." He patted the top slope of his tummy and then grimaced and looked at his hand. "Ugh."

Amir handed him a paper towel. "Yeah, it is kind of ugh. But it does a great job, and at least we have a warmer for it now. Used to be pretty cold."

"I kind of like not knowing yet. Like we're getting to know them a bit at a time. Right now we know they kick."

We all laughed and then settled into quiet while the healer moved his device over my mate's skin.

Finally, he stopped. "Okay, you're looking good, little person whose gender shall be known before too long. They are not in a position at the moment where anything will show, if you get my drift. Look at the screen." He turned the monitor to face us, and we eagerly absorbed our first view of the baby who would be joining us in a month or so.

"They are very big, aren't they?" Rowan's voice held the appropriate concern of the man who was going to have to push that baby out of his body.

"For a baby with two wolf shifter dads, I'd say a little big, but nothing to indicate a problem. How are you feeling, Rowan?"

They discussed some recent symptoms. Sleeplessness due to an active baby, something the healer joked was only going to get worse when the baby was delivered and ready to howl. Back ache. Braxton Hicks contractions. Heartburn with certain foods, swollen feet and ankles…

At that, Amir frowned. He set down the device and turned off the ultrasound machine. "I'm going to take your blood pressure now."

He had at every appointment, so it wasn't a surprise that he planned to do that particular test, but there was an ominous tone to his voice I hadn't heard before. Steeling myself so as to not worry Rowan, I said, "Sounds good."

Amir fastened the cuff around my mate's upper arm and hit the button to inflate it. I had no idea how to read the information, so I waited to hear his report. As of our last visit, his BP had been fine, but when the healer's brow furrowed, I knew it wasn't now. Heck. "Well, looks like those swollen feet were trying to tell you something, Rowan. You're going to be having a little vacation for the next month."

"Vacation?" I asked, wondering where I could take him that was near enough to the healer for this holiday.

"That's right. When you leave here, you take your omega right home and tuck him into bed. He'll be on complete bed rest until the baby comes. I'll give you a special diet, too, and no worries or upsets for Rowan. We need to get that BP down. Do you have a cuff at home?"

"No," I told him. "But I can get one overnighted."

"I have lots of instructions for you, too, alpha daddy. If you're going to keep that baby cooking until it's due and keep your omega healthy, you've got your work cut out for you."

"I am not a lot of work," Rowan protested. "And I don't need to be in bed. I'm not that tired."

"That's not it. High BP in pregnancy can cause lots of unpleasantness. You have only one job. Stay in bed except when using the restroom or for a very quick shower, and do what your alpha tells you to do." He gave me all the orders, and I vowed to follow them to the letter. This was my family.

He argued all the way home, which I took to mean he had more fear than anything else because Rowan had never done anything but whatever was best for the baby. The healer's words had made it sound more like it was for his own good, so I had to turn it back around. "Omega, if anything were to happen to you, the baby could die too. And then what would I do? How could I survive knowing that you were both gone. My life would be over. Please, for my sake, and the baby's, try not to get too upset, all right?"

He thrust his lower lip out. "I can work in bed."

"You can rest in bed and do as you're told. Just the way the healer said. Okay?"

"Then who will help you?"

"I will get what I need to done and use one of the guy's PAs if necessary. You have to finish growing this baby and stay well for my sanity. Okay? Deal?"

"Not sure how it's a deal if it's just do it or do it."

"It's a deal, just not a choice."