Page 76 of Shades of Scars

Five minutes into my first meeting with the doctor that Wren has deemed worthy of delivering our first baby, and I feel like I’m going to do some serious harm to Caito.

Dr. Aria Reagan surprises the hell out of me when she cuts the bossy alpha off mid-sentence while hurling a slew of questions at her. If it wasn’t for her distinct beta scent of ripe watermelon, I would have thought her to be an alpha. She has quite the backbone. “Why don’t you let your omega speak, Mr. Archer? She looks like she might have some of her own questions.”

Caito clams up faster than an oyster desperate to escape a predator. It’s actually quite comical.

I think Apollo mutters, “Finally,” under his breath, and that makes Lark chuckle softly from where the both of them are standing in the corner of the exam room. Caito and Wren are on either side of the exam table I’m currently sitting on, neither of them daring to stray too far from me.

I’m trying not to let their overbearing asses get to me.

I may be an independent omega, but I can still appreciate my alphas wanting to do everything in their power to ensure I am safe and happy.

Dr. Reagan offers me an encouraging smile, and I chew on my lip for a moment while I think of the first question I’d beenwanting to ask her since we came in here earlier. “Can you… I mean, do you have any recommendations for books or classes I can take to prepare me for, uh, labor?” I feel so embarrassed to be asking this. I have a feeling that most omegas already know the ins and outs of all things pregnancy and babies, but I am not a normal omega.

I was not raised the way most were.

I’d just been given up to a pack of soulless assholes the moment my perfume hit. No omega training school for me.

She smiles. “I do. At the end of your appointment today, I’ll be sending you home with some reading material along with a list of texts you can look into. I also hold birthing prep classes on Sundays here at the clinic when we are closed, so we can get you on the schedule for them before you leave.”

Relief floods through me at that. “That’s awesome. In case you can’t tell, I’m a little nervous about this whole thing.” I offer her a weak smile, and that causes Caito’s and Wren’s chests to start rumbling with purrs of comfort.

“You have a lot of support here, Scarlett. Not only from your alphas, but from all of my staff and I. If you ever have any questions or concerns, any time of the day, you are welcome to call the clinic advice hotline.”

“I also have the doctor’s personal cell phone number, pager number, and her address. Just in case.” Wren announces, and Dr. Reagan shoots him an annoyed look.

“Wren-” I start to chastise him, but the doctor cuts me off.

“It’s quite alright, Scarlett. Mr. Madden has been generous enough for my clinic that I have no problem being on speed dial for your pregnancy. I know how to handle overbearing alphas. This pack isn’t the first I’ve dealt with.” Caito makes a sound of displeasure beside me, but I ignore him.

“Overbearing? You have no idea.” I elbow the grumbling alpha to my left, but he just kisses my temple like he’s notbothered in the slightest. I think I’ll have to reconsider which alpha I want to invite into the nest with Lark and me when we get back to the pack penthouse.

“I’d like to schedule you for another scan to keep track of growth in two weeks, but for now, how about I try to wrangle a heartbeat out of that sweet babe?” Dr. Reagan reaches over to a drawer beside the stool she’s sitting in, and she pulls out a small device with a wand attached to it. “If you’ll please lay back for me and lift your shirt.”

I do as she asks, fingers digging into Wren’s large hand. Caito moves closer to my head so the doctor can squeeze in next to the exam table. “This may be a little cold.” She warns me before she squirts that weird jelly over my belly that had been used by the nurse in the emergency room the other day.

I hold my breath when she presses the wand against my skin, and the device in her hand instantly starts making static noises while she moves around. It takes another minute of her shifting the wand around, and then the most miraculous sound echoes through the room, just like the thrum of a humming bird’s wings.

I feel Apollo and Lark shifting closer to the exam table as if drawn by the sound. Dr. Reagan smiles at me when our eyes connect. She turns the device so it faces me. “Strong and steady at 169.” I stare at the little screen with awe and wonder.

“I’ll never get over hearing that sound.” Wren murmurs, just as affected as I am. He uses his free hand to brush his fingers against my cheek in a tender gesture that makes my heart sing. These alphas are steadily breaking down all of my walls and defenses.

I’m not sure I want to fight it anymore, either.

49

Scarlett

Aweek passes with relative calm. I haven’t left the penthouse since my appointment, but the alphas have assured me that all has been quiet on the streets.

I’ve spent the last several days exploring the penthouse and using the rooftop pool to my advantage. It’s surrounded by a dome of bullet proof glass, otherwise I wouldn’t have been allowed up there with the possibility of more snipers lying in wait to catch me unguarded.

I hate that this is what my life has become. Last night, Caito told me that he has some people working on digging up viable evidence that can be used to bring down Harlan, and that they are close. He also assured me that he has a guy watching out for Kate, though my old roomie has already texted me multiple times to let me know that she is less than thrilled about her little shadow.

My phone rings, making my eyes pop open where I’m settled back against a poolside lounger, and I reach over to snag it from the little table next to me. I smile when I see Kate’s name flashing across the screen. I answer on the third ring. “Please, for the love of God, tell me that you aren’t busy. I’m going to lose my mind if I don’t get out of this apartment.”

I laugh as I sit up and swing my legs over the side of the seat. It feels good to be so lighthearted with a friend. It’s notsomething I’m used to. “There’s not much to do here aside from the pool. Caito and Wren are down at the club getting it ready to open back up tomorrow night, Lark is at his office seeing to his PT clients, and Apollo is dealing with the contractors for the nursery. I wouldn’t mind if you can convince your super scary mercenary bodyguard to bring you over for a swim.”

Kate groans. “I’d rather stay far away from that creep. I have so much to tell you, Scar, but I can’t do so over the phone. He’s not going to want to let me out of his sight, and I doubt Apollo will be thrilled having him around while his omega is in a teeny tiny polka dot bikini.”

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