Page 100 of Manny's Surprise Baby
He exhaled impatiently. “We can’t wait. We have a thirty-minute window, and you know that as well as I do.”
The spasm lessened and I said, “Okay, now.” I took as many steps as quickly as possible toward the front door. He rushed behind me, grabbing the little suitcase I’d packed. We were almost to the car when another contraction came.
Seth’s fear radiated off him like a microwave, but there wasn’t anything I could do when my muscles convulsed, forcing me to stop walking. I groaned and was embarrassed when tears sprang to my eyes. Nothing had ever hurt this bad. I felt as if I was being ripped apart inside, my organs spreading and tearing as the baby’s air and feeding tube began to disintegrate. That was what triggered contractions in the omega pouch. It was the baby’s signal that it was time.
Inch by grueling inch, we finally made it to the car. Seth helped me in, and then he raced around the vehicle and jumped in the driver’s seat The engine roared to life, and we jolted out of the driveway. I bit my lip, trying to hold back the cries of agony that wanted to burst from my lips. All the horrible things Baxter and those other alphas had done to me couldn’t compare to the ripping torment happening inside of me.
I lost consciousness at one point and only woke when Trina and Seth carried me up the steps into the clinic. Seth’s jaw was clenched and he looked terrified, his eyes red and his scent mixed with panic. “This can’t be normal,” he muttered, staring at me.
“Stay calm, Seth.” Trina’s voice wobbled. “It’s always terrifying like this.”
“It is,” I hissed, wanting to reassure him. “I’ve seen it before.”
“Well, this is a fucking stupid way to have a baby,” growled Seth. His face was flushed and his eyes dark. “Fucking archaic bullshit.”
Dr. Peters came rushing in the building. He took one look at me, and his mouth hardened. “Get him in operating room one, now!” He ran along beside me, trying to take my pulse. “Shit.”
“What’s wrong?” Seth asked.
“How long has he been like this?” Dr. Peters asked, ignoring Seth’s question.
“Five minutes, maybe ten at most.”
Dr. Peters’ face was strained. “His pulse is way too high.”
“His respiratory rate too.” Trina winced. “Everything seems escalated, Doctor.”
“Yes.” Dr. Peters nodded.
“What does that mean?” Seth demanded.
“It means we need to get that baby out of his body immediately, or he will go into sepsis.” The doctor kicked open the operating room doors, and they laid me on the table. Trina faced Seth, her expression grim. “I’m sorry. You have to wait outside.”
Two other nurses raced around the operating room, grabbing instruments and pulling on masks. One of them approached Seth. “She’s right. You have to go.”
“No fucking way,” he snapped.
“Seth,” Trina pleaded, looking frazzled. “It’s for Pierce’s safety.”
“I’m not leaving him.”
Dr. Peters washed his hands furiously at the sink on the side of the room. “You want us to waste time arguing with you, Seth, or would you like us to save Pierce and the baby? It’s your choice.”
“You have to go. You’re risking infection.” Trina’s voice was coaxing.
His expression changed and he nodded, looking lost. “Okay, okay.”
I arched my back, hissing as another contraction arrived. Trina moved to my head and started turning knobs on a device with hoses attached.
Seth came to me, and he leaned over. “You’re going to be okay.” His voice shook and he had tears in his eyes. “Do you hear me, Pierce?”
“I don’t know.”
“Stop that. You’re going to be fine.”
“I love you, Seth… don’t forget I loved you.” My voice was faint as Trina covered my face with a mask. I was terrified I wouldn’t wake up, and he needed to know how much I loved him.
“You’re going to be fine.” Seth pointed at me as he backed out of the room, with one of the nurses pushing him. “You better not leave me, Pierce. God damn it, you’d better not.”
