I’ve never felt more like an equal, vital part of this pack than I do in this exact moment.
Little Moments
Sandra
The sweet, artificial scent of a plug-in air freshener fills the small exam room. I sit on the edge of the padded table, the crinkly paper rustling underneath my thighs every time I shift my weight. At twenty-six weeks pregnant, finding a comfortable position is getting harder by the day.
My pack crowds into the room with me. The space is clearly designed for two people, maybe three at a stretch. Putting four massive guys in here makes the walls feel incredibly close.
Jethro stands right beside my knees, his large hand resting over my thigh. Ross leans his shoulder against the heavy doorframe, his arms crossed over his chest, his blue eyes tracking every movement in the hallway through the small glass pane in the door. Caleb sits in the single plastic visitor chair, his knee bouncing in a rapid, nervous rhythm. Oli stands on my other side, holding my hand and running his thumb over my knuckles.
We're waiting for the formal results of the advanced prenatal genetic screening. I know the ultrasound already confirmed weare having a healthy baby girl. I know she is growing on track. But a dark, insidious fear has been living in the back of my mind ever since I found out I was pregnant.
I was taken by Nero and Emilio. They forced their bites on me. Even though my body rejected their claims and I bonded with my true pack, the ramifications of what happened before I reached Willowside terrified me. I’ve spent months waking up in a cold sweat, terrified the baby growing inside me belonged to the men who tried to destroy me.
A light knock raps through the room before the door opens. Ross steps aside. Dr. Ramirez walks in, her eyes already scanning a sleek tablet in her hand. The Beta woman wears her usual medical scrubs with a stethoscope looped around her neck. Her warm brown skin glows under the clinic lights, and she offers a kind, genuine smile as she leans against the edge of the counter.
"Good morning, everyone." Dr. Ramirez taps the screen of her tablet to wake it up. "I know we are all eager to get right to the results, so I won't keep you in suspense."
She types in her passcode, pulling up my digital file. Her eyes scan the data for a brief second.
I squeeze Oli's hand so hard my fingers ache. Jethro shifts his stance, his broad shoulders tensing. The entire room goes dead silent.
"The genetic screening confirms a complete Genome Shift." Dr. Ramirez looks up, her eyes meeting mine with absolute certainty. "It is a rare but well-documented biological response in Omega pregnancies, especially in cases where a true scent-match bond is established early in the first trimester."
I swallow hard, my throat feeling incredibly dry. "What does that mean, exactly? In plain English."
"It means the DNA of the fetus adapted entirely to your bonded pack." Dr. Ramirez turns the tablet toward us, pointingher finger at a complex digital breakdown. "The baby carries your genetic base, Sandra. But the paternal markers are a perfect, blend. She carries distinct genetic markers from Jethro, Caleb, and Ross."
The words hang in the air for a single, suspended second.
"All three of them?" Oli looks at the tablet, his green eyes wide with wonder.
"All three Alpha contributors." Dr. Ramirez gestures to the glowing screen. "The pack bond essentially rewrites the paternal DNA to match the protective structure of the household. It is biology’s way of ensuring the child belongs completely to the bonded pack. There are absolutely no trace markers from any outside contributors."
A massive, overwhelming wave of peace crashes over me.
The lingering shadows of Nero and Emilio vanish. The fear that I would look into my daughter's eyes and see the men who hurt me is erased. She is ours. She belongs to the men who saved and love me.
I let out a shaky breath. Tears spill over my eyelashes, tracking hot and fast down my cheeks.
Jethro drops his forehead against my shoulder. He wraps his massive arms around my waist, burying his face in my neck. His shoulders shake with the force of his own relief. The charred scent of his anxiety instantly sweetens into a rich, pure marshmallow.
Ross lets out a loud, breathless laugh. He pushes off the doorframe, crossing the room in two long strides to wrap his arms around both me and Jethro . He presses a hard kiss to the top of my head. Caleb stands up from the plastic chair, pushing his dark glasses up the bridge of his nose to hide the tears shining in his brown eyes. He rests his hand over Jethro's back, completing the circle.
Oli wipes his eyes, a brilliant, watery smile lighting up his face. "She's really ours. A perfect mix."
"She is entirely yours." Dr. Ramirez offers a gentle, understanding smile. She gives us a moment to process the emotional weight of the news before swiping over to the next tab on her screen. "And beyond the unique genetic structure, the health markers are absolutely flawless. No indicators for genetic diseases. Her heart rate is strong, her development is in the ninetieth percentile, and she is perfectly healthy."
I look down at my six-month bump. I rest my hand right over the curve, feeling a soft, fluttering kick against my palm.
"She's perfect." My voice comes out thick with emotion.
"She really is." Ross crouches down, pressing a warm kiss right to the center of my stomach through the thin fabric of my shirt. "You're doing an amazing job, sweetheart."
Dr. Ramirez locks her tablet screen and looks over at Caleb. "I already uploaded a copy of the full lab report to your secure patient portal for your personal records. Keep taking your prenatal vitamins, Sandra. Stay hydrated. I will see you back here in a month for your routine checkup."
We thank her, gathering our things and stepping out into the bright, sunlit hallway of the clinic. The walk to Jethro’s truck feels entirely different than the walk inside. I feel lighter. The invisible weight I carried for the last six months is gone.
