Page 16 of Rescued By Four Alphas
"Good. Don't be shy about asking for what you need. Regular sexual contact with your bonded Alphas helps stabilize your hormones and reduces stress, which benefits the babies."
"So, you're prescribing sex?" I ask with a small smile.
"Precisely. Doctor's orders." She winks. "Now, let's get Evan in here for the ultrasound. I think you'll both want to see this."
A nurse fetches Evan while Dr. Marianna prepares the ultrasound machine. He enters looking slightly less tense than before and takes a seat beside me, reaching for my hand.
"Everything okay?" he asks.
"So far, so good," I assure him. "We're about to see the babies."
Dr. Marianna squirts cold gel on my stomach. "This might be a bit uncomfortable."
She places the wand on my belly and moves it around until the screen lights up with fuzzy images. The whooshing sound of multiple heartbeats fills the room.
"There they are," she says, pointing to the screen. "Baby A, Baby B, Baby C, and Baby D."
Evan squeezes my hand; his eyes fixed on the monitor. "They've grown so much since last time."
"Indeed, they have." Dr. Marianna takes measurements, clicking buttons on the machine. "They're developing faster than standard human pregnancies, which is consistent with shifter genetics."
"What does that mean for the delivery date?" I ask.
"I'd estimate you'll deliver around thirty weeks instead of the typical forty. That's only about four and a half months from now." She moves the wand to get a better angle. "We'll need to monitor you closely as we approach the third trimester."
Evan stiffens beside me. "That soon? Will the babies be okay?"
"Multiple births commonly arrive early, and with proper medical care, the outlook is excellent." She freezes the image on the screen. "Would you like to know the genders?"
We exchange a glance. We'd discussed this before but hadn't decided.
"No," I say at the same time Evan says, "No."
"Ohh… why, if I may ask?"
"I would prefer it if everyone were here for that information."
Dr. Marianna prints several images of the ultrasound and hands them to us. "That's amazing. Everything looks healthy. The babies are growing well, though slightly unevenly. Baby C is the smallest, but still within normal range."
As she speaks, Evan's phone buzzes in his pocket. He glances at the screen and frowns.
"I need to take this," he says, standing. "I'll be right back."
He steps out of the room, leaving me with Dr. Marianna, who continues to wipe the gel from my stomach.
"While he's gone, I want to go over some guidelines for the next few months," she says. "Your body will undergo significant changes as the babies grow."
"I've noticed," I say, glancing down at my expanding waistline.
"Your center of gravity will shift, so be careful on stairs—no heavy lifting. Drink plenty of water. Dehydration can trigger contractions." She helps me sit up. "And listen to your body. If something feels wrong, call me immediately."
"What about work? I've been continuing my research from home."
"Mental work is fine, but limit your time in the lab. Some chemicals can be harmful to developing fetuses." She makesmore notes in my chart. "Also, your Omega instincts will intensify as the pregnancy progresses."
"What does that mean exactly?"
"You'll feel a stronger urge to nest and prepare your home for the babies. You might become more territorial about your Alphas. And your heat-like symptoms may increase, especially in the presence of your bonded mates."
