Page 130 of Omega's Refuge

“Seriously?” He got off the bed, his hair sticking up messily.

“God, the motel is going to charge us for ruining the mattress.” I grimaced down at the wet bed. “How embarrassing.”

“I don’t really give a darn about the motel’s mattress right now, Tanner.” He ran over and grabbed his jeans, pulling them on without underwear. “We need to get you back to the medical center.”

“Yeah.” I winced as another painful cramp hit me. I inched toward the edge of the mattress, feeling unnerved.

Swinging my legs off the bed, I paused as the cool air hit my skin. The stiffness in my joints made it hard to stand at first, and my swollen feet protested when they touched the carpeted floor.

Rex hurried around the bed to steady me with a hand under my elbow. His other hand rested lightly on the small of my back. “I’ve got you.”

“I have to pee. Do you think there’s time for me to pee?” My voice wobbled.

“I think so, yes.” He helped me waddle toward the tiny bathroom.

Once I’d emptied my bladder, I splashed my face with cold water. I’d wanted warm water, but even after running the faucet for a few minutesthe water wasn’t heated. I stared at my dripping face in the spotted mirror. My cheeks were flushed, and dark shadows hung under my eyes. I was excited that it was time for the baby to arrive, but also terrified of what was to come.

By the time I came out of the bathroom, Rex had laid out my clothes on the edge of the bed. My hands shook as I pulled up my jeans and tugged my shirt over my head. “We don’t have our pregnancy bag with us,” I mumbled.

“I called Mrs. Rodwell while you were in the bathroom, to let her know what’s happening. She’s driving the bag to the medical center for us.”

“Really?” I was surprised. “She’s driving it herself? Why wouldn’t she send one of the guys?”

“I have no idea. She just said she’d bring us the bag.”

“Well, that’s good, I guess.” I grunted as another contraction hit me. I braced myself on the bed, gritting my teeth.

Rex watched me warily. “Since your water broke, things could move quickly now. We should get going.”

“I’m trying,” I said breathlessly, waiting for the contraction to loosen so I could walk. “I just need a sec.”

He moved to me, rubbing my back. “I wish I could do something to help you.”

I laughed gruffly. “Me too.”

Once the contraction was past, Rex slowly ushered me toward the door. The morning air held the sharp, woody scent of pine trees. The gravel crunched underfoot as we made our way to the truck. Rex helped me into the passenger seat, his expression anxious.

I leaned back against the seat as he put my safety belt on me. The contractions were getting stronger, and I was relieved we only had about a ten minute drive back to the medical center. “It’s good we stopped here,” I mumbled. “The drive will be shorter.”

“Yes.” He shut the truck door, his eyes very serious as he moved around the outside of the vehicle. He climbed in, starting the engine before he even had the door fully closed. The rumble of the truck vibrated through the seat, oddly soothing against my lower back. He shut the door and pulled out onto the road, heading back in the direction of Big Timber Medical Center.

I gripped the center console every time a contraction hit, and sweat broke out on my face. I didn’t want to complain too loudly, but it was hard keeping the groans of discomfort from escaping my lips. The contractions were getting more painful with each passing moment.

Rex drove fast. Probably faster than was actually safe, but he seemed hell-bent on getting to our destination quickly. The wheels of the truck screeched slightly as he pulled into the smallparking lot of the Big Timber Medical Center. My heart was pounding as much from the contractions as from my nerves. I gripped my belly, which felt impossibly tight with each wave of pain, and tried to focus on my breathing.

Rex and I had gone to some pre-birthing classes and learned a few breathing techniques to control the pain. To be honest though, breathing techniques were no match for the contractions I was experiencing. It was hard to concentrate on breathing slowly when I was in so much pain.

Rex parked as close to the entrance as possible and jumped out of the truck. He opened my door and carefully helped me down from the vehicle. The chill of the morning air hit me, making me shiver despite the heat coursing through my body. He wrapped an arm around me, guiding me toward the building.

The automatic doors slid open, revealing a modest but clean waiting area with beige walls and laminated posters about flu vaccines and blood drives. A receptionist sitting behind a desk greeted us immediately. She was a woman in her fifties with kind eyes, her graying hair pulled back into a neat bun. Her name tag read “Linda.”

“I’m Rex and this is Tanner. He’s in labor,” Rex blurted before she could even open her mouth. “His water broke already. We’re not really sure when because we were asleep.”

Her gaze flickered. “Okay.” She reached for the phone beside her and pressed a button. “I have an omega here who is in labor. His water has already broke, and he’s not exactly sure when.” She flicked her gaze to me. “He’s definitely having strong contractions.” She put her hand over the mouth piece. “Who’s your OBGYN?”

“Dr. Thompson,” Rex responded.

I was glad he was handling the talking. I was having trouble not screaming in pain. Polite conversation would have been beyond my capabilities in that moment.

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