Chapter Thirty-Eight
Maybe I didn’t belong anywhere. I walked alone in the dark, holding my stomach with both my hands. The babies kicked and squirmed around in there. The night was warm with a cool breeze, but perspiration still dotted my forehead. Fresh air was supposed to clear your head and all, but I didn’t really feel like being alone, so I walked down to The Welcome Center.
“Hello,” Mr. Jones said, looking up from the book he read, sitting in an Adirondack chair on the front porch.
I glanced at the chair next to him but knew I’d never be able to get myself out of it, so I leaned against one of the porch posts, breathing in and out, a bit out of breath from the few blocks I walked.
“Nice night,” I said.
“It is quite beautiful. Come in. I’ll make us tea. Sam is inside playing board games. Mr. Caleb is over watching their brood so he and Tyler can have an evening to relax a little. Though, Tyler popped out for a bit, but he should be back. Sam’s inside hanging out with Matt for the time being. I don’t think you’ve ever met him.”
“All right.”
“Let me,” Mr. Jones said, opening the door. He waved me in, and we went over to the day room, where a smattering of people chit-chatted, read, and Sam and Matt played a board game.
“Hi, Mason,” Sam said. “Come have a seat.” He stood and pulled out a chair at their table.
“I don’t want to intrude.”
“Mason, c’mon.”
“Okay,” I said, taking a seat, scooting my chair back a bit so I could fit.
“I’m Matt. How’s it going?” he asked, shaking his long dark-brown hair out of his face.
“Good,” I said. They didn’t need to know about my drama. “I hear Mr. Caleb is watching your little ones, Sam.”
“Yes, he’s so wonderful. So are all the others. Mr. Jensen is watching Matt’s twins.”
“Nice, but what others?” I asked. Matt stood, and when he did, I could tell he was a lot taller than most of the omegas I had met so far. He walked away, bringing me back a glass of water. I gave him a smile. “Thanks.”
“A lot of the omegas who have older or grown children help out the ones with younger kids. They have a whole list of people you can call when you need help, but a lot of the time you become close to one or two, and they’re always more than happy to help.”
“That’s really great.”
“They remember what it’s like to be a frazzled parent with a bunch of babies and toddlers.” Sam laughed.
“Planning on anymore?” I asked. I know he said he had a full life, but seven kids, that sounded like your whole life.
“Right now, we’re at a no, but we said that after we had the twins, and then after we had the triplets, and as of right now after these twins, we say seven is a good amount.”
“Sounds like a wonderful amount,” I said, wondering if I’d be like that. That night, I was freaking out, but I had even said before that I knew I wanted to have more kids. But was I saying that because it’s what everyone else wanted? I was on the brink of my whole life changing forever, even more so than before. I just wanted to make sure it was what I really wanted.
“People around here, they’ll always be there to help you out.”
“That’s great. I’ll be right back. Thanks for the water, Matt.”
“No problem,” Matt said with a smile.
“I’m going to go help Mr. Jones with that tea.” I pushed myself up—wanting to be alone for a moment so I could think about what Sam said and to get my head wrapped around everything—and walked back out to the front lobby when the door burst open, and a young, pregnant omega stood in the doorway.
He looked at me with wide eyes. “I have the correct place, right? Please tell me I’m right.”
“Where exactly were you looking for?”
“Pine Wood Falls.” Sweat dripped down his forehead, and he panted out his words.
“You’re in the right spot then,” I said, taking his elbow and leading him in, closing the door.
He held his stomach and winced.
“Hey, come have a seat. I’ll get you some water.”
“I need…” he winced again.
“Do you need Dr. Garcia. Are you in labor?” I asked, suddenly quite worried for him. We needed to get him to the hospital.
“I don’t think so. It’s probably from all the walking.” He let out a few deep breaths and his light-blond hair stuck to his forehead in all the sweat. His greens eyes were wide and darting around.
“Here,” I said, guiding him over to one of the armchairs in the lobby. And at my very short height, he almost made me feel tall. I had at least an inch or two on him.
He sat down and wiped his forehead with the back of his hand.
“What’s your name?”
“Thomas.”
“Where did you walk from Thomas?” He looked thoroughly exhausted.
“The front road. The driver wouldn’t get any closer.”
“You mean the start of Pine Woods Road?” I asked, quite shocked.
“Yes.”
“That’s miles away. Let me get Mr. Jones.” I couldn’t do much, but I knew Mr. Jones could at least give him somewhere to stay for the night, a place to freshen up.
“Please, don’t leave me. He might be coming. What if he caught up with me?” Thomas asked, grabbing my forearm.
“Who?”
“My alpha.” Thomas tightened his grip and whimpered.
“Sam,” I yelled. “Mr. Jones. Did something happen, Thomas?”
“He didn’t want to let me go.”
“You’re trying to get away from him?” I asked Thomas. “Your alpha?”
“I’m so scared. I can’t go back with Mike,” Thomas said, his voice quavering.
“Okay. Okay. We’re going to help you out.”
“I had nowhere else to go. I’m due in a week. I can’t go to a regular hospital. They’ll cut me open to take the babies out. I want to deliver them naturally.”
“You can do that here. I think we need to get you over to the hospital. If your due in a week you could very well be in labor.”
Mr. Jones came running from the day room into the foyer, followed by Sam and everyone else.
“This is Thomas, and we need to get him to the hospital. He walked miles down Pine Wood Road to get here.”
“Oh, my word, son. We could’ve come and gotten you,” Mr. Jones said, glancing at me with his eyebrows raised.
“I don’t have a phone. He took it from me,” Thomas whispered.
I looked at Mr. Jones. “His alpha. Thomas might need somewhere to stay, also.”
“I have nowhere else to go,” Thomas said, tears erupting from his eyes.
“Whose car are we using?” I asked.
“I’ll drive,” Mr. Jones said.
I helped Thomas stand, and he wobbled a bit on his feet.
“Thank you so much, but what if he finds me? He’ll lock me up again.”
“I won’t let that happen, Thomas. Let’s go out front. Mr. Jones will pull up the car.”
He grabbed his stomach and doubled over. I rubbed his back. “Breathe through it.”
The two of us made our way out front, and I helped him into Mr. Jones car.
Thomas’ eyes went wide. “You’re not coming with?”
“Don’t worry, I’m coming with you.” Mr. Jones opened the car door for me and held my arm as I slipped into the car.
I waited in the hall outside of Thomas’ room. He wasn’t in labor, but he was dehydrated, and Dr. Garcia said he needed bed rest until he delivered. They’d keep him in the hospital until then.
Conrad came running toward me down the hallway. “Tyler said that Sam said you were at the hospital. I was out. I’m sorry. I went to the store. I should’ve been here. The babies are early. Are you okay? Why are you just standing here?”
“I’m fine, Conrad. I was helping someone out.”
“You’re not in labor?” he asked his face all scrunched up and confused.
I shook my head. “No.”
“Oh, thank God. I was so worried about you and the babies. My bags. I left them in the car. I bought you something.”
“Conrad, calm down.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Where is he?” a large alpha with broad shoulders and a sneer on his face yelled from the end of the hallway. I knew he had to be Mike.
“You can’t be here,” I said, stepping around Conrad and into the path of the angry alpha charging in our direction.
“The hell I can, and you better get your bitch ass out of my way.”
“Woah, buddy, you better back up and apologize,” Conrad said, balling his fists. His face flushing bright pink.
“I will take out both of you. Now get out of my way,” Mike growled.
I took a step forward and crossed my arms over my chest. Mike shoved me backward, and me not at all graceful on my feet with my giant stomach, toppled to the ground, the back of my head whacking the floor.
“Mason.” Conrad dropped to his knees next to me.
“I’m fine. Stop him,” I said as Mike tried to go around us.
Conrad shot up to his feet and punched Mike in the face. Mike blinked and shook his head, swinging right back at Conrad. Conrad ducked out of the way and charged Mike, grabbing his shirt and shoving him against the wall.
“Mason,” Dr. Garcia said, coming out of Thomas’ room. Conrad turned at my name, and Mike broke free of Conrad’s grip and clocked him in the eye.
“Help, we need help,” yelled Dr. Garcia. Tyler ran from around the corner and jumped on Mike’s back, putting him in a chokehold.
“Will you two gentlemen escort this young man downstairs while I take a look at Mason. Mr. Jones will call a few others for assistance.”
“I’m fine,” I said, trying to shoo Dr. Garcia away. “Conrad,” I said.
“Nurse,” Dr. Garcia called.
“It was just a little punch, Mason,” Conrad said with Mike struggling against the hold he and Tyler had on him.
A nurse came from down the hall. “Oh, my goodness,” he said. And the two of them helped me to my feet.
“Wheelchair,” Dr. Garcia told the nurse.
“I just fell,” I said, not wanting to admit that my head was spinning.
“Precautions, Mason. We just want to make sure you’re all right.”
“I can’t leave him,” Conrad said.
I locked eyes with Conrad. “Please, help them make sure this guy doesn’t come back. Go, Conrad.”
“Let’s go, asshole,” Conrad said, leading Mike away with Tyler.
The nurse came out with a wheelchair and helped me take a seat. I collapsed back into it, and they wheeled me away to get examined.