Page 74 of Knot Her Mountain Men

My omega nodded, lacing her fingers with mine while the doctor checked her over head to toe. I preened over her finding comfort in touching me. Anxiety tumbled down the bond and I did my best to offer peace back to her.

“On the outside it looks like you’re recovering very well from everything you went through. Hopefully things are running as smoothly on the inside.”

Morgan’s face pinched. “I guess we’ll find out.”

Iwas so nervous I could barely focus. Cooper must have gone in around the same time I did since he was gone when we came back out. I asked the front desk to let him know I had gone next door and would be back soon.

Bear kept a steady arm around my waist, guiding me into the adjoining lab. I let him hold my hand while they did the blood draw, but I drew the line on him joining me while I peed in a cup.

“You’re free to go back to the clinic,” my phlebotomist told me, “or you can get yourself something to eat or drink while you wait for the results. We’ll send them over as soon as they’re finished and the doctor will give you a call.”

“Do you know how long it’ll take?”

“Shouldn’t be more than an hour. Post-heat omegas are prioritized unless there’s an emergency case.”

“Okay, thank you.”

“Tea?” Bear signed, raising an eyebrow in question.

“Sounds good.” We picked up some to go from a cafe across the street and I sipped it standing outside, snowflakes drifting down around us.

Bear nosed along my cheek and whispered in my ear, “Feeling okay?”

“I’ll feel better when I get the results, I think. Where are the others?” I hated not having a phone. I wanted to be able to contact people.

“Shopping.” Bear tapped my fingers. “What are you thinking?”

I told him as much.

“Let’s go get one,” he signed, offering a tentative smile.

“Really?”

Bear nodded. “You need one.”

We picked Cooper up at the clinic, relieved the doctor had given him a clean bill of health with instructions to make sure he stayed hydrated. Our next stop was the strip mall down the street, which blessedly contained somewhere I could pick up a new phone. I didn’t have a wallet or ID or anything useful, but Bear handled all of it. I suppose he could legally handle anything for me since he was my bonded alpha now, but I chose not to be annoyed about it in this case since I didn’t have any option to get what I needed myself.

By the time Bear had added all the pack numbers to my new phone and Cooper had added his, the clinic was calling Bear to let him know my results were in. We hustled back, nerves making me want to throw up.

I had to wait a few minutes for someone ahead of me to finish, but then they took me right back to Dr. Martin.

“First off, your pregnancy test came back negative.”

Relief washed over me. “Oh, thank god.”

Dr. Martin gave my hand a sympathetic pat. “It’s still early, but omegas tend to show signs very quickly. You don’t have any markers that would indicate something is developing.”

Bear tried to communicate with the doctor, but it became immediately obvious she didn’t know ASL.

“He’s asking if the suppressants or my ordeal in the woods prevented a pregnancy.”

“Both are very possible. Long-term suppression can make it difficult for omega bodies to regulate themselves. Kicking off a heat because you were in proximity to scent matches likely happened before your body was in any condition to conceive. It’s similar to a beta release for a video game. Technically it works, but there’s going to be bugs.”

I nodded carefully, absorbing her words.

“Your body still has some healing to do. I would recommend some IV fluids to help restore your system since you’re very dehydrated. Everything else should heal perfectly fine in time. I’m going to have to recommend you not go back on suppressants for a year or so to let your body recalibrate. Your heats will take time to settle, and heat flares won’t be uncommon, but it will be much healthier long term. If parenthood isn’t in the cards, we have very effective birth control both for you and for your alphas.”

I let out a little groan of displeasure. Suppressants had been my lifeline for so long, but at least now I didn’t have to be afraid of my heats.

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