16. Cecil

Chapter 16

"Cecil, it's good to see you. But I will say that I didn't quite expect to see you so soon. Most omegas don't come to see me until they've been mated a bit longer."

"I'm not sure what to say, Dr. King. I don't have heats, but Warwick swears I did, and now he's saying I'm pregnant. But I shifted and came here in my bear form. Tell me that isn't all kinds of messed up."

Dr. King's eyes went from Warwick to me, where he held my gaze. "All right. Maybe let's start at the beginning. And first, congratulations again." Dr. King gestured between the two of us. He pulled a rolling stool over and sat down. "Tell me about your heats."

I shook my head. There were no heats to speak of.

"No you won't talk about them?"

"That's not it. I've just never had them. I never did, and it was something my parents definitely held against me. I'm an omega, their only omega son, and I'm defective and can't even do the one thing I'm supposed to be able to do."

Dr. King glanced at Warwick, who was shaking his head before he pulled up a chair and sat in it.

"All right. So no heats. None, ever?"

"No," I told him. "I've never had one. I hit puberty and was able to start shifting, but no heats ever came. Warwick said I had one though, and what he described to me and then showed me through his memories, I'd say I actually did. I just don't remember most of it."

"Okay. And no suppressors or anything else of that nature?"

"No." I shook my head.

"Ever?"

"I didn't need them. At least that's what I thought. But then when we claimed each other, well, I think I might have gone into heat, and Warwick swears I'm pregnant, but I shifted, so I'm saying no. But I just don't know. I don't feel pregnant, but his beast insists I am. So now we're here."

Dr. King looked just as puzzled as I felt. He looked to Warwick for his side of things, I guess, because Warwick started speaking. "He had a heat. Even before we claimed one another, he was showing signs of it starting. His cheeks went from pink to red. He kept saying it was hot in the house. His eyes became glassy, and in all honesty, he was acting a lot like humans do when they're drunk. And once we bit each other, it was full-blown. It was then six days of sexual need."

"All right. And the pregnancy?" Dr. King asked.

"I noticed his scent changed yesterday. Today, I discovered he was shifted on the back deck. When I joined him, my beast could scent the baby. He's telling me Cecil is definitely carrying a hellhound's baby."

"See, that doesn't make sense," I told my boss. "I shouldn't be shifting if I'm pregnant."

Dr. King sighed. "Yes, possibly. But there are some that can continue to shift well into their pregnancies. And I'll agree with your mate already, you are most certainly pregnant. I can detect the auras of the babies already."

I stopped breathing. "What?" I asked quietly. I was pregnant?

"Babies?" Warwick asked.

"I am not pulling a Constantine here, I swear. I'm not meaning to spill any news prematurely, but you seem to be under the impression that you're not pregnant. I'm telling you now that yes, you are. And it's twins. This is something you need to be prepared for because the pregnancy will be different than one with just a single baby." Dr. King looked at Warwick. "You said his scent changed yesterday?"

"For me, yes. I noticed it almost immediately when we woke up. It might have been changing before then, I just didn't notice. But yesterday, it was obvious."

"When did his heat end?" Dr. King asked. He had rolled closer and was now typing on his laptop.

"The eleventh is when he came out of it, if that's what you're asking."

Dr. King nodded. "And, Cecil, any symptoms? Morning sickness? Change in appetite? Mood? Anything out of the ordinary?"

I took another breath. I was suddenly having difficulties breathing again. I looked at Warwick and held out my hand. When he grabbed it and brought it to his lips and kissed the back, a tear ran down my cheek. "I'm sorry, Warwick. I wanted to believe you. And part of me did. But I could shift. How can I shift?"

"No need to be sorry. We're going to have to figure out how to be parents soon, though, since the doctor says you're carrying two and not one."

And there was that. "Twins? Are you sure, Dr. King?"

"Yes, Cecil. I'll do an ultrasound for you in just a bit. It's early still, but I can show you that there are two in there."

I was going to have twins. Two. Not one, but two. I looked over at Warwick, who was still holding my hand. "What are we going to do? We're going to be so busy. And how are we going to handle two?" I was definitely worrying about how we would handle twins. One was going to be hard enough, but two?

"Stop worrying," Warwick said. "We'll figure everything out as we go."

I nodded. He was right. And Warwick was going to be an amazing dad. He was so protective and attentive with me.

"All right, with Cecil being a bear shifter and their gestation being five months, and you said October eleventh, I have your estimated due date at March tenth. Now, I would expect a couple of weeks before then to not be out of the question since it's twins."

I looked at Dr. King. "March. Seriously?"

Dr. King nodded. "Yes. Babies happen all months of the year, and your two should be here in early spring."

Warwick squeezed my hand. I looked at my mate. "It's going to be all right."

"Do you think your assignment will be wrapped up by then?"

Warwick's brow furrowed. "Which assignment?"

"The one in Italy. I would really hate for you to miss being here for their birth. Well, unless that's a big nope for you. I could probably get Grandpa Lev to be with me." I really needed to contact my grandparents. They had texted me once, telling me that they were happy I had found my mate and to enjoy my time off getting to know Warwick.

"The assignment takes as long as it does," Warwick told me. "It could be over in a week or could take a year or more. We never know with assignments like that."

Oh. Warwick and I really needed to sit down and talk about his job and what it entailed. The problem with that was every time we tried to do that, we usually got distracted and ended up naked and knotted together. I couldn't help it—my mate was sexy, and I loved it when he was knotted to me. He didn't seem to mind either.

"Are you ready for the ultrasound?" Dr. King asked. It took a moment for me to pull my attention from my mate to my boss.

"Yeah, sure. Are you doing the old-school way or the magical one?"

Dr. King chuckled. "Old-school. I can get some early measurements a little easier that way. And to be honest, with you being mated to a hellhound, there are going to be a lot of extra questions that others are going to have regarding your babies."

At that, I propped myself up onto my elbows. "What do you mean? I'm having babies, not a science experiment."

"Yes, but your mate is a hellhound. Nobody knows what, if any, impact that will have on a pregnancy."

I flopped back completely and stared up at the ceiling for a second before I looked over at Warwick. "Know anything about possible hellhound babies?"

Warwick shook his head at me. "You are the first that we know of that could possibly be carrying a hellhound baby."

"I can tell you if you'd like to know," Dr. King said, scowling at the computer screen. He'd squirted the gel on my stomach and was holding the transmitter against my flat stomach.

"What's wrong?" I asked. I knew that look didn't mean anything good.

"Do you wish to know what you're having?" Dr. King asked while looking at us expectantly.

I looked up at Warwick. "I'm not sure. What do you think?"

My mate shrugged. "I'm indifferent either way. If you want to know, I won't be upset. Same if you don't."

Until two weeks ago, I absolutely didn't think I'd ever be carrying my own child, let alone twins. Did I want to know? I knew me, and yes, I absolutely did.

"I think I want to know," I said. I looked up at Warwick again. "Is that all right? Are you sure?"

Warwick reached up and ran his finger down the side of my face. "If you want to know what you're carrying, I want to know too. It will make it easier to know what color to paint their room and what names to pick out."

Dr. King chuckled. "There is only one sac, so you are having identical twins," he said. "Are you certain you'd like to know beyond that?"

I nodded. I did. I wouldn't be able to come back to work and not beg Dr. King to tell me what I was having. I knew me.

"It's me, Dr. King. Do you really think I can come back to work in another week or two and not ask you over and over what I'm having?"

Dr. King and Warwick both chuckled. "True. And if you are certain, you're having hellhound babies."

My breath got caught in my chest. I suddenly couldn't breathe. "Really?" I managed to whisper.

"Yes. There are several questions I have, and I'm going to have to ask you to give me permission to reach out to Master Edison. I have questions that I believe he should ask the goddess."

Immediately, I felt uneasy, and I knew Warwick did as well. "Is something wrong?" Warwick asked.

"I wouldn't think so." Dr. King turned the monitor so we could both see it. "I know that two weeks ago was when the two of you claimed each other. I have a pretty good date for conception, going by your dates for Cecil's heat." Dr. King pointed to the screen. "But the babies are measuring a lot larger than they should for their gestational age. With them being hellhound babies, I simply don't have any idea what to expect. Cecil should only be a week pregnant. The babies at this development stage, I would guess they were a month along already."

I pushed up onto my elbows again. "What does that mean? Are they all right?"

"They seem perfectly healthy." Dr. King pointed to the screen again. "You can see the heartbeats here. They're strong, just…larger and more developed than I expected. I know the two of you weren't mated a month ago, but these numbers for measurements would put you at a month gestation. That's why I ask permission to reach out to Master Edison. Or perhaps Alpha Vitomir. I need someone to get into contact with the goddess. Or perhaps one of the fates. I'm not sure if they know anything more about hellhounds and hellhound babies than anyone else. It's worth a try though."

I fell back against the exam bed again. "I would expect to have larger babies. Because, you know, you're you," I said to Warwick. "But this is…what? Do hellhounds magically grow in a hurry?"

"I don't know, Cecil. Hellhounds are created; we aren't born. These two will be the first two ever to be born. At least that we know."

"What do you mean, ‘that you know'?" Dr. King asked. "I know of Ansel, but I was under the impression he, too, had been created by your master."

Warwick nodded. "Yes. But there are two missing hellhounds. What if one of them, or even both, are already mated and have children? We've looked, but we can't seem to locate the last two."

"Ah. Understood." Dr. King was typing on the keyboard, and after a few moments, he wiped the gel off my stomach. "I'll wish to see you again in a month at most, but as you will be back at work by then, it will be easy to have your next routine appointment."

Dr. King's eyes widened as he looked between me and Warwick. "I assumed. Are you to return to work?"

Warwick snorted. "He would be back tomorrow if you would have him."

I gasped and looked at Warwick, a bit hurt. "Do you really believe that?" I looked over at Dr. King. "Yes, I plan on returning. I'm not sure how things will work out after I have the babies though, but I know that Warwick is going to be needed on his assignment in Italy."

"Yes, but I can pop home in an instant if you should need me."

My heart did that flutter thing again. That was so incredibly sweet. "Do you know how long it takes to get in contact with the goddess?" I asked Dr. King. Warwick helped me to sit up.

"I wish I could say it was as simple as picking up the phone and contacting her, but unfortunately, it isn't. I'm unaware of how they actually do it, but I know it can be done."

I looked up at my mate. Did he have any idea? "I've never talked to the goddess. Well, not exactly. I was in a meeting with her before we went to Colombia, but that was it. She wasn't exactly in what I would call a good mood then. I haven't heard if there has been any contact since then or not."

Wonderful. I wasn't going to let it get to me too much. I was going to remain as optimistic as I possibly could. "All right. Well, for now, we'll wait and see because that's all we really can do." I looked at Dr. King. "I'll be back at work in two weeks, I think." How long I'd be able to work would remain to be seen. But if I worked with the council's doctor, really, what could go wrong? I would be in the best place for a pregnant omega.

"I will be counting the days," Dr. King said. "Todd tries, but his mind is elsewhere, and I feel for him. He's trying, truly, but he's struggling to balance work and life raising his siblings."

"Maybe he should be in the childcare center," I suggested. "That way, he can be near his siblings but still working."

Dr. King nodded. "Yes, I've suggested it. I'm not sure he's of a mind to agree though. Todd seems to be more at ease in a position that's outdoors. Think tour guide or something more along those ideas."

"Hmm…maybe a park ranger?" I suggested. "I can reach out and ask Grayson if they're looking for more rangers. He and Jai are both rangers still. Jai loves their twins, but he loves having that time away from them at work. Their twins are in the childcare center the den has." I loved Jai. He was amazing for Grayson. And the way he adored Grayson and their twins, well, my cousin was lucky in the mate department. He was something like my third cousin, but just like with Grandfather and Grandpa, our family simply didn't care to add the greats and the seconds or thirds. Grayson was a cousin, as were Jules and Sam, Grayson's uncle and omega father respectively.

"I could see him as a ranger. But I don't know who to ask about that. I know the council works with the displaced omegas, but I'm not sure Todd has really talked about what he'd feel most comfortable doing."

I nodded absently. I could take care of that. One quick call to Grayson and I could have him reaching out by the end of the day.

"Well, I'll ask. So two weeks?" I asked.

Dr. King grinned. "Yes. And if you need anything before then, you know the number to call and where the office is." Dr. King stood as Warwick helped me slide off of the exam table.

"Are you ready?" I asked Warwick.

"As ready as I'm going to be. I think there are some things we need to go home and talk about. Twins are a bit of a surprise, but I've come to expect those anymore."

I couldn't help but smile. Not only was I a surprise to Warwick, but for me, my heat was. And, of course, the babies. I certainly agreed with Warwick.

"Here's your book," Dr. King said. He was holding out a book that I was very familiar with. "You know the drill."

I took the book and smiled. "Yep. Warwick and I will start reading it tonight." The What to Expect When You're a Pregnant Omega book had been written by Constantine at Master Edison's most recent coven in Amherst. It had been incredibly helpful to all of the pregnant omegas and more than a few expectant alphas as well.

"Thank you, Dr. King. I appreciate you seeing me on short notice."

Dr. King grinned. "What do you mean? You had an appointment," Dr. King joked. "But in all seriousness, I'll reach out if I have news from the goddess that cannot wait. I don't anticipate that, but one never knows."

Warwick wrapped his arm around my shoulders, and I leaned into his side. "Thank you, Dr. King," Warwick said.

"Yes. I appreciate you letting me squeeze in. Even if I had an appointment that I made about two minutes before the scheduled time."

Dr. King smiled. "Always available to help omegas when they need a last-minute appointment."

Dr. King walked us out. We found Todd grumbling at the computer again, and I made a mental note to reach out to Grayson soon. Surely there was something somewhere that Todd could do that didn't require him to deal with computers.

Warwick and I walked past Todd while Dr. King tried to see what it was that he was struggling with now. Once we were outside, my mate winked at me, and then my stomach did that familiar roll. We were once more inside our house, and I sighed in relief. Only that relief lasted seconds because what had just been shared with us quickly resurfaced.

"We're having hellhounds," I said.

Warwick chuckled. "I'm sorry. I think I'd probably have preferred little polar bears for both our sakes."

That didn't make me feel any better. "Are hellhounds truly that difficult?"

Warwick shrugged before he leaned down and kissed me slowly. All thought and worry about the babies left the front of my mind when Warwick cupped my face with his hands. The man knew how to kiss, and that was all it took to turn my thoughts elsewhere when he was involved. We could worry about babies later.