Page 21 of Unexpected Delivery

I grimace.

Am I really creeping on the guy who delivered my baby? No, I am absolutely not. That would be crazy.

Plucking Gracie off my sore breast, I tug up the hospital gown and practice the hold the nurse recommended for burping her. Those long lashes of hers flutter as her eyes open, but they’re rolled back into her head. She pushes her lips together, making a silly face.

My heart melts.

Sure, I made some mistakes along the way, but I made the right call when I left Adam. I’ll keep reminding myself of that every time self-doubt slithers back in.

This sweet baby girl is mine, and she’s counting on me to protect her.

The hospital bed is mostly in the upright position, so I can lean back as I continue burping her. It’s a bad move, and shooting pains radiate from my pelvis up to my abdomen.

I gasp, and Hayes appears at the edge of the bed.

“Are you okay?”

Nodding, I plaster on the most realistic smile I can muster when I’m both emotionally and physically exhausted.

The massive alpha drops the box on the chair and turns back to me. “May I?”

My head tilts.

He did wash his hands.

I’m not opposed to letting him hold Gracie. “Yeah, of course.”

In no way, shape, or form do I expect him to lower the rail and climb onto the edge of the bed. I bite my lip and prepare for the discomfort as I scoot over to give him enough room to sit down.

I’m lying on a massive pad like they give incontinent people, and I’m wearing a diaper. I have no idea why he would want to risk being this close to me, but his smell hits my nose as he carefully takes Gracie from my hands.

There’s nothing comparable to his scent, making it impossible to accurately describe it. All I know is, he’s the most potent scent match I’ve ever smelled. It affected my system that day in the gym, and it’s even worse now.

My instincts scream to bury my nose in his throat. It would be the fastest way to soak up his pheromones. There’s a whole dynamic where alphas and omegas are concerned. Sure, there’s the sexual aspect, which makes our designations highly compatible, but it goes deeper than that.

Alphas are meant to protect omegas.

Omegas, in turn, calm an alpha’s more aggressive nature, and contact with our pheromones helps prevent them from going feral.

On top of that, there’s an additional level, which I found out from my first OBGYN. Omegas who don’t have regular contact with alpha pheromones and even semen during pregnancy have a higher risk of miscarriage, preterm labor, and severe maternal complications.

Nature designed alphas and omegas to fit together.

That’s just how it goes.

My head falls back against the bed as I realize I’m going to have to go back on suppressants as soon as it’s safe.

Can I breastfeed while taking suppressants?

If not, how the hell am I going to afford formula?

My last doctor warned me that heats start again anywhere from three months to a year after giving birth. It’ll depend on how quickly my body heals, but even a year feels like no time at all when I have so many other things to focus on first.

“She’s so fucking tiny,” Hayes says, stretching back against the bed next to me. He keeps Gracie’s bottom on his chest, and he makes it look easy as he continues patting her back. “I’m sure you want to kick me in the balls right now.”

I snort, readjusting my gown.

“Well, she sure didn’t feel small when I was pushing her out.” I turn a little toward him and carefully put the majority of my weight on my hip. “It was still worth it, though. I don’t know what I would have done without the three of you.” My eyes burn. It’s likely I’m about to cry again, so I rush to get it all out. “I’m so grateful you were there. I wish I had the right words to thank you. It feels like I owe you more than I can ever repay?—”

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