Page 32 of Call Don't Fall

There in that tiny window was a pixelated baby wrapped up in a nice orange blanket. I wasn’t sure what orange meant – if it meant anything at all. I didn’t work on the carrier and baby floor and thankfully, had never knocked anyone up before either.

My mate’s howl was contagious, and I joined in. The neighbors shouted something, but we ignored them because it didn’t sound like congratulations. Part of the price for living on Hemlock Mountain was that someone was always howling their balls off. You got used to it or you moved somewhere with more noise ordinances.

“I can’t believe we’re actually going to be dads!” Chasten said before letting out another long howl.

I joined in again as my wolf scratched at my ribs. I gave in to him and Chasten let his wolf out too. Maybe we should’ve unlocked the door first but after a few minutes of fidgeting with it I managed to get it opened and unlocked. We ran around the neighborhood, bumping and brushing against each other, and barking back and forth. Our celebration left the whole neighborhood with no doubt about what was going on. I chased Chasten around in circles through the yard, skidding and sliding on all the fallen autumn leaves. This was the life. The good fucking life.

Chapter Fifteen

Chasten

We woke up early the next morning to have the first slot at the walk-in clinic for Mercy of Frost. Confirming my pregnancy with an ultrasound was the last bit of paperwork we needed to file for Kirk’s time off. I waited for morning sickness to slap me across the belly, but it didn’t.

“It doesn’t happen to everyone,” Kirk reminded me.

“I know,” I shrugged. “It’s not like I want it. I’m just being careful. Can’t imagine it’s any good for my blood glucose.”

“It’s not but we have the morning sickness gummies on hand too. I did think of grabbing some of those before I left work yesterday. Just in case.”

“Because you thought I was acting hormonal,” I narrowed my eyes on him, playfully.

“I thought your reaction was a bit out of character for you,” he nodded thoughtfully.

“What would you have done if it was the other way around?”

“If you told Treg to hang out with me?” he asked and I nodded. “Well, since they’re your friend I might’ve thought you were trying for a threesome.”

“Hey!” I laughed and slapped his arm. “That’s not nice! That’s not what you were trying for, was it?”

“No!” Kirk said, his expression turning from goofy to serious.

“I know, alpha,” I squeezed his arm. “We better get moving if we’re going to not spend all day at the clinic.”

“Come on. Get my baby out of the bed,” Kirk said and stole a kiss.

***

It turned out that we weren’t the first expecting parents at the walk-in clinic, but the second. The wait wasn’t long and we were taken right back as the young parents before us left whispering between themselves. I only made out “I don’t know how we’re going to tell them.”

I almost asked Kirk who he thought they were talking about but realized maybe he wouldn’t like me gossiping about other patients. I’m sure there was something about that in the Nurses’ Oath. I knew there was in the Healer’s Oath. Besides, I wanted to see our little jellybean more than I wanted to know who the young lovebirds were talking about.

The examination room was smaller than I expected it to be. It was just large enough for the table, a chair, and a little bit of walking room for the doctor to move around. I hopped up on the table and bounced my legs as I always did when I was nervous. Energy bounced through my body, and I tried to ignore the light bulb buzzing above our heads.

“You alright? Want a snack? I brought you a granola bar,” Kirk patted his left front pocket.

“Just buzzy. This is me nervous,” I said and glanced up at the ceiling. “At least they don’t have that stupid sign in here.”

“Which sign?” Kirk arched a brow.

“Call don’t fall,” I said in the same singsong voice I had the sign in the first time I saw it.

“Oh! That one actually saves lives and bones and other body parts.”

“It laughed at me while I was shoved full of tubes,” I crossed my arms but was happy for the distraction. “I swear. That bright yellow sign is gonna haunt my nightmares one day.”

“Well, it was a good thing you didn’t fall though,” Kirk teased me, pushing my knees apart and stepping in between them.

“Do you think they’ll still let me do a home birth?” I asked him. “Even with my issue.”

---