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He took a breath, giving me time to settle.

"Shifters—especially powerful ones like alphas—carry a kind of…biological imprint in their DNA. It’s ancient, instinctual. When a shifter bonds with someone they’re deeply compatible with—emotionally and physically—it can activate something in their partner’s body. Even in humans like you."

Doc Coughran patted my hand.

"Basically, inside you, there’s a tiny group of cells that most doctors used to think were useless leftovers from before we were fully human. But if the right trigger happens—like, say, being with a bonded shifter during an intimate heat or emotional moment—those cells can 'wake up.' They reshape part of your body into a special place where a baby can grow."

He held up his hand when my eyes widened. Reshape? This was like Alien on steroids.

"No, it’s not a uterus like a woman’s. But it’s similar. It forms low in your abdomen, stays connected to your blood supply, and builds a little sac that keeps the baby safe. It only happens when there’s a very strong biological match. And a shifter’s body knows, almost before their mind does."

"But…" I couldn't finish the question. It was too impossible to imagine.

"So yes," he finished softly, "you’re pregnant. Not because something went wrong—but because something very rare and powerful went right. Your body recognized your alpha. And responded."

He gave a smile that wasn’t clinical, but warm.

"This doesn't make sense," I snapped, staring at the floor. "How the hell did I get pregnant? It's not like my ass sends sperm anywhere!"

The doc didn’t flinch, just crouched a little so we were eye level. "You're right, Danny. Normally, that’s not gonna work. But you’re not dealing with a 'normal' partner. You were with a shifter. That changes everything."

My brows furrowed with suspicion, worry. Maybe even shame that I still wasn't getting it.

"Look," he continued, voice calm but firm, "your body has simply reacted to powerful hormonal signals. Signals that only come from bonded shifters."

I blinked. "Signals like what?"

"Like the mating bite. Like heat. Like certain proteins in alpha shifter sperm that act almost like a key in a lock. When you’re emotionally and biologically compatible, and exposed at just the right time? Those dormant cells wake up. They build a kind of artificial womb inside your abdominal cavity."

I opened my mouth but words didn't come out.

"The sperm doesn't need to travel through traditional paths," he added gently. "Shifter biology is...intense. The proteins bind to your bloodstream directly, absorbed through soft tissue. Once the changes start, your body reroutes. Hormones shift. Blood vessels realign. You grow what the baby needs."

I was speechless and glanced at Bayer. I was pretty sure he'd never heard a medical explanation. He squeezed my hand, and I was grateful, offering him a weak smile.

The ultrasound machine looked ancient compared to the sleek equipment I'd seen in my favorite TV dramas, but Dr. Coughran handled it with practiced ease. He squeezed gel onto my stomach—cold enough to make me yelp—and positioned the wand.

"There we are," he murmured, his eyes focused on the small screen. "Very interesting."

"Interesting good or interesting bad?" I asked, gripping Bayer's hand.

"Interesting unique," Dr. Coughran replied, adjusting the angle. "You see this here?" He pointed to what looked like a gray blob on the screen. "One gestational sac containing both fetuses. It's called a monoamniotic pregnancy—rare in humans, but more common in shifter multiples."

"Is that dangerous?" Bayer asked, his voice tight.

"It requires careful monitoring," the doctor admitted. "The babies share the same amniotic fluid, which means we need to watch for complications. But given that you're a human-born omega, your body seems to be adapting remarkably well."

I stared at the screen, trying to make sense of the grainy images. "Are those...heads?"

"Indeed, they are." Dr. Coughran smiled, moving the wand slightly. "And if you listen carefully..."

The room filled with the rapid thump-thump-thump of two distinct heartbeats, slightly out of sync with each other. The sound hit me like a physical force, making my chest tight with emotion.

"They're real," I whispered, tears blurring my vision. "They're actually real."

Bayer's hand tightened around mine, and when I glanced at him, I saw his eyes were bright with unshed tears. "Our cubs," he murmured.

“Hmm,” Dr. Coughran murmured and moved the wand a little. The beating suddenly seemed louder.