Page 25 of Knot Your Baby

She nods, tears lacing her eyes. “I’m scared.”

“Get my phone from my jacket pocket.” I keep my eyes on the road while she fumbles in my pocket. “Call Miller. He’s my pack mate and a doctor. Put him on speaker.”

She whimpers as her fingers brush against my thigh as she retrieves the phone. Electricity zips through my body despite the fabric between her touch and my leg.

Focus, Zane.

She scans through the contact list, hitting Miller’s name.

The phone rings. And rings.

No answer.

“Shit.” I press harder on the gas pedal as she groans through another contraction. Her scent fills the car—strawberries, lime, and something else. My heart stops. It can’t be.

I thought I could smell her when I picked her up, but now the smell is more intense.

“I can handle this at home,” she insists between breaths.

“Not happening. I’m a fireman. I help people, not leave them in harm’s way. What if the baby needs medical attention?”

“But I’m scared.” Her voice is small, vulnerable.

We screech into the hospital parking lot. “Stay. In. The. Car.” The words come out as a growl.

She holds her belly in her palms. “You know that growly voice thing isn’t scary at all. It’s actually kind of hot.”

“Hot?”

Her eyes widen, and she clamps a hand over her mouth. “Oh god, did I say that out loud?”

I nod. “I take it your brain-to-mouth filter doesn’t work very well.”

She laughs. “Filter? What filter? I’m honestly fine, normally.” She glances at the ceiling. “Mostly. But around alphas I give up trying. I just word-vomit everything I’m thinking—and they run away screaming.”

She winces through another contraction. “See? I’m doing it again. This is why I’m single. At least I have my collection of romance novels featuring firemen. Which I probably shouldn’t mention to an actual fireman. And I’m still talking. God! Please stop me now.”

I can’t help but laugh. There’s something refreshingly honest about her rambling. “You’re not so bad.”

“Says the super hot fireman who probably has omegas throwing themselves at him daily.”

“Trust me, they don’t.” I touch my chest where the burns are hidden under my uniform. I think she noticed the smaller one by my ear but my neck, chest, and thigh. She’d run a mile if she saw those.

I hold out my hand for her to take it, and when she does, electricity skitters from her touch all the way to my toes.

She glances at the sky, her teeth dig in her lip, biting back the words I know she wants to blurt.

I position my hands carefully. One at her back, the other under her thighs and bend my knees, preparing to lift her.

“No, no, no! Put me down! I’ll break your back!” She flicks her hands, trying to push away from me. “I’m like a baby whale right now!”

I can’t help but laugh at her panicked expression. “A very cute baby whale.”

“Did you just call me cute? While I’m in labor?” She tilts her head to one side and considers me for a moment, then a beautiful smile slashes across her gorgeous face. “That’s...actually kind of sweet. But seriously, I’m heavy anyway, now I’m pregnant, I’m—” Her words cut off in a squeak as I lift her effortlessly from the car seat.

“Oh. My. God. You’re like...really strong. Like superhero strong. Not that I’ve been carried by superheroes. Or many men at all. Actually, no one’s carried me since I was ten and broke myankle jumping off the swing set trying to prove I could fly and—” She grimaces.

“I’m an alpha,” I say simply, adjusting my grip.

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