Page 28 of Saving Nevin
I held on tightly to his hand the whole drive over to the medical complex, and kept holding on as we walked down the checkered tile hallway, all the way to Suite 101. The words - Dr. Mary Rinehold - Omega OBGYN - were etched onto the glass. As Kace opened the door, a cheery electronic bell ding-donged to announce our arrival.
I took a deep breath and tried to keep my hands from trembling. Kace checked us in, and the receptionist handed me a clipboard with a few pages to fill out and sign.
We sat down together and I began skim-reading the words, but my gaze kept wandering over to a heavily-pregnant Omega and her little boy who was playing with a toy truck. A stab of jealousy made me ache. That could’ve been mine, had fate not been so cruel.
I forced myself to finish filling out the paperwork, then turned it in. The receptionist—her name was Stacey—said that a nurse would call us back soon, and to have a seat. The last thing I wanted to do was sit here and watch the little boy zoom his toy around the lobby and wish for things I couldn’t have.
Thankfully, it wasn’t long before my name was called. I jumped to my feet and grabbed Kace’s hand out of impulse. He smiled at me and led the way. We followed the nurse down a short hallway, where she took my height and weight, and then directed us into a room with ultrasound equipment.
My stomach sank. Great…
I sat down stiffly on one of the waiting room chairs and answered questions that the nurse had—like, did I regularly use birth control, how long had it been since my last heat, did I have unprotected sex during my last heat. You know, those mortifying questions. I sank down in my seat, still clinging to Kace’s arm.
“It’s really no big deal, honey,” the nurse chirped. “Just the basic questions we’ve gotta ask.” She turned to Kace, her smile brightening. “Are you his Alpha?”
Without hesitation, Kace nodded. “I am. And the, uh… Possible baby daddy.”
“Possible?” She looked confused.
“I’m barren,” I blurted out. “Just check my records. You’ll see everything. All the doctor appointments, all the tests. I can’t be pregnant. It’s not possible. It’s stupid to even be here.”
“Nev,” Kace murmured. “It’s okay, honey. That’s why were here. To rule out possibilities, right? So if you aren’t pregnant, the doctor can figure out why you’re going through such a hard time.”
“Exactly, sweetie,” the nurse agreed. “I will make a note in your chart, but I’m sure Dr. Rinehold will want to do an exam and an ultrasound, so if you’d step into the adjoined bathroom, right here, and put this on, that would be wonderful.”
She handed me a hospital gown and my stomach churned. If I hadn’t already thrown up this morning, I would’ve guessed it was morning sickness. I swallowed my emotions and when she left the room, I did as she asked. I changed into the gown. I crept back out into the room and hopped up onto the flimsy paper-covered exam table, wrapping both arms around myself.
Kace was at my side in an instant, rubbing my back in that soothing way of his. “Everything’s going to be okay, Nevin. You’ll see.”
“It doesn’t feel like it,” I whispered back.
“Have a little faith, honey. I have a good feeling about this, and if there’s one thing about us Howells, it’s that our guts are always right.” He smiled at me, but I couldn’t seem to muster up the energy to mirror it back. He didn’t seem to mind though, instead leaning in to kiss the side of my head with a soft hum.
It wasn’t too much longer before there was a knock on the door and the doctor came in. She was tall, way taller than any woman I’d ever met before, easily topping six foot, and her Alpha energy was strong. With dark hair pulled back in a ponytail and bright eyes that matched a dazzling smile, it should’ve put me at ease.
It didn’t.
“Hello there, Nevin. I’m Dr. Rinehold. What are we seeing you for today?” she asked, her voice smooth as whiskey. I hunkered down on the exam table and looked at Kace, begging him with my eyes to do the explaining. I was already so tired. I just wanted to go home and wrap myself in a blanket burrito and binge-watch something mindless.
Thankfully, he did.
“Alright. I think we should do an examination and an ultrasound, and see what we’re dealing with,” the doctor said. “If youarebarren, we could be looking at hormonal imbalances, which can easily be sorted out with medication. False pregnancies are possible, but rather rare, especially in male Omegas, so it concerns me a little, but we’ll take a look, alright?” She smiled again.
My stomach churned, but I nodded. What else could I really do?
The exam was simple but a bit awkward. Having another Alpha’s hands on me made me think of darker days.She’s a doctor,I told myself, again and again, as she continued to feel me over. She pressed lightly along my abdomen and sides, then sat back on her rolling stool.
“Alright, time for an ultrasound. This might be a little cold, I apologize in advance.”
With my chest and stomach bared, and Kace at my side, gripping my hand in his, she smeared the cool conductive goo across my belly. I gazed down at it and realized that I had put on a bit of weight, but then again, Kace was an amazing cook. Still, maybe I should cut back a little.
I held my breath as Dr. Rinehold began to rub the ultrasound wand over my stomach, watching the screen of her machine as she did so. She drew her bottom lip between her teeth in concentration, humming softly to herself.
My heart felt like it might rip out of my chest, even though I’d been through this same song and dance before. I knew she wouldn’t find anything, but something seemed different this time. Things sounded different.
“There we go,” she said, beaming like a proud mother. She turned the screen towards us and pointed towards a nondescript grayscale blob. I frowned. I didn’t understand. Dr Rinehold continued with, “Congratulations, daddies. Say hi.”
“What? What does that mean?” I asked, my chest feeling suddenly too tight.
