Page 27 of Matched in Mayhem

“Are you speaking from experience, alpha?” I asked, the corners of my lips trying to curl up into a smirk.

“Not personally. I know there are many reasons someone might not ask for help, but I know guys who do take it personally,” he laughed.

“But you’re usually someone people do call and ask for help,” I said

“Sometimes and if it’s you it should be all the time,” he yawned.

“I let you help me last night,” I said. “And today too. Well, shit…”

“What?” Bennie asked, opening one eye.

“I wanted to shower before the midwife came but…. This damn IV,” I sighed.

“Oh, I’ll take care of that after this bag finishes,” he said, closing his eye again. “I’m trained in field medicine or what some folks call battle medicine. That includes putting in and taking out an IV.”

“Good,” I sighed. “I think I could get it out myself, but…”

“Yeah,” Bennie nodded, stringing together my abstract thoughts. “Being pregnant means everything that affects you also affects the babies. I got you. Do you need anything right now?”

“Maybe a cuddle,” I admitted.

His eyes opened and his fur began shrinking back into his body. A second later, he crawled up on the sofa with me. I scooted close to him, resting between his legs and he wrapped his arms around me careful not to pull on my IV. It was the sound of his heart that lulled me back to sleep. This was the safest place for me and the babies: All wrapped up in his arms.

A few hours later, I woke up to Bennie and Grandpa talking about my house call appointment with the midwife. I stopped myself from stretching, afraid of yanking on my IV. Only when I moved, it was gone. The conversation between the alphas fell silent and Bennie kissed my forehead.

“Got it out while you were still under,” he said.

“Tricky,” I laughed. “But good because I need to pee and clean up. How long until the midwife arrives?”

“About an hour. Do you want me to make you something to eat?”

“Only if you want me to throw up on you because I’m not ready to risk it yet,” I shook my head as I slid off the sofa.

Chapter 13

Bennie

The Hemlock Wolf Pack, Star’s Territory

I was more nervous about Alby’s well omega exam than he was. Normally, I was reasonable. Hell, I even kept up with my own physicals as a part of being able to help other people. I didn’t want some unknown factor to cause my body to let me down when I needed it the most. From the moment I met him, I hated anything that made Alby uncomfortable whatsoever but now that he was pregnant, I had this craving in the back of my throat for the blood of those who caused him to be nervous. I’d heard everyone from Ryder to some of Raziel’s siblings complain about well omega exams and it made me want to eat the midwife. I’d gobble them up and that would be that. No more stress. Happy mate and clean murder plate.

“It would only take a few bites. If they’re a dragon that just means they’re a crunchy snack,” my tiger sounded off into my thoughts. “Like a nice peanut battered kabob.”

He was right. It would only take a couple of bites if I got the jump on the midwife as soon as they got here. Midwives never expected to be eaten straight away. Sometimes alphas bite them because of inner beast malfunctions but they never just get pounced and eaten.

“It’s a very good strategy. We’ll hide behind that big magnolia tree in the yard and…” my tiger started but didn’t get very far into his plan before someone interrupted our conversation.

“Snap out of it!” Clyde’s voice sounded off in my head through the family link. “Seriously. Snap out of it. The midwife is a lovely omega. You’ll both like him. He’s had thirteen children of his own over the last fifty years. He knows his shit and he knows what it’s like to be a pregnant omega. I get it. The first time Ashley was pregnant I wanted to eat everyone. I wanted to kill them just before they could get any bad ideas inside their heads. Don’t put Alby through that. Don’t make him deal with whatever unresolved issues you have or whatever primal instincts your tiger is working through.”

I wanted to argue with him, but I knew he was right. Though, at least the midwife was an omega. That did make me feel better. I had no problem with alpha or beta midwives, but this was probably the best case scenario for today.

“Bennie?” Slyvin chimed into my thoughts.

“Yeah?” I said, answering more casually than when Clyde tried to get my attention.

“Eat before whatever happens. I can’t pick up the exact details, but you’ve been that way since you were a cub. You want to eat people when you’re hungry,” he pointed out.

“Morning sickness,” I shrugged.