I wrapped him up in my arms. “I’m sorry. Should we reschedule? I’m sure Carrie has an appointment next Wednesday.”
My omega did this thing where one of his eyebrows went up while he considered something. “No. We need to go. I think they can hear the heartbeat at this visit, and I’m excited about that. And I really want to ask about this tiredness. Maybe I need some vitamins or something.”
“Then let’s go and when you get home, you can sleep all you want.”
“I might nap on the way.”
“That is also a great idea.”
We drove the short way to Carrie’s office and were welcomed by a smiling man at the front desk. We had filled out all the forms online so there was less of a hassle when we arrived.
Bowen grabbed my hand and squeezed. His scent was sweeter now that he was carrying our cub, but there was a tangthat reached my nose. “Are you okay?” I asked. There was no one else in the waiting room.
“I’m nervous. What if something is wrong? With me or the baby?”
“What brought that on?” He’d never expressed those concerns before.
“I don’t know. My mind is swirling with a bunch of things.”
I put my arm over his shoulder and squeezed. “Your wolf would tell you if something was wrong with his pup, right?”
He nodded.
“That’s right. So, you’re probably just having hormone fluctuations. Everything is going to be okay and, if it’s not, we’ll deal with it. You and the young are safe. I promise.”
Bowen’s shoulders dropped from their tense position up around his ears. “Thank you, alpha.”
Carrie came out and called us to the back. The place was decorated tastefully in a way that was clinical but also made us feel at home. She got us settled and asked a thousand questions, not just about the baby or the pregnancy but like she was really getting to know us as a couple.
Bowen told her of his worries from before and, while she didn’t dispel them, she reassured him, as I had tried to, that it was all going to be okay.
“Let’s listen to the heartbeat today, shall we? That always quiets a new dad’s worries.”
She pressed a small machine to Bowen’s belly and, in minutes, the entire room filled with a speedy whooshing sound.
“It’s so fast,” he said, grasping my hand.
“It’s normal. He’s a shifter, first of all, and second, he’s revving up his little engine. Growing and flourishing, it sounds like. He’s doing well, Bowen. I have no reason to worry.”
“And the exhaustion?” I asked since Bowen hadn’t brought it up.
“Tiredness in the first trimester is normal. Bowen needs more rest. He’s growing a babe inside him now. And since you are a panther and he is a wolf, the gestation time is only a guess. If I had to, given the two species and considering the human element, I’d say you’re due to give birth around month seven. Maybe earlier.” She pushed to stand. “In other words, you two should begin getting ready for this babe earlier rather than later.”
We both nodded. Excitement bubbled inside me. My thoughts turned to my omega. He had to grow our baby inside him, go through the pain of giving birth, and then nourish our child. I could experience it all secondhand, but it was nothing like the journey for him.
They were both so dear to me even though I hadn’t even met our son or daughter.
We left the healer’s office laden with books on pregnancy and birth, along with gifts and vitamins for Bowen to start taking.
I hoped they would help him. I hated to see him so depleted all the time.
We stopped in town on the way home, and I was glad to see him clean his plate. Carrie had answered our questions and eased most of our worries. Bowen had been more concerned than he’d let on, I suspected. But again, it was all normal.
“I’m going to lie down,” he said before kissing my on the cheek.
“Mind if I join you? It’s been a while since I had a nap.”
“I’d love that, alpha.”
