Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 61468 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 307(@200wpm)___ 246(@250wpm)___ 205(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61468 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 307(@200wpm)___ 246(@250wpm)___ 205(@300wpm)
Logan’s big hand covers mine, warm and steady.
“Relax, sweetheart,” he rumbles softly. “It’ll be fine.”
Before I can reply, the door opens and Dr. Elizabeth smiles at us.
“Poppy, Logan—come on back.”
I trail behind Logan, my heart pounding. The exam room is cool, too cool, and I shiver as I perch on the edge of the padded table.
“Um, do I have to take everything off from the waist down again?” I ask uncertainly. “So you can use that, um, wand thingy on me?”
Dr. Elizabeth must see the look on my face and realize how much I’m dreading it because she pats my arm comfortingly.
“No wand today. You’re far enough along now for a standard abdominal ultrasound. We’ll just put some gel on your tummy and use the probe over the surface. Much more comfortable.”
Relief rushes through me and I sag back against the exam table.
“Oh thank God.”
Dr. Elizabeth laughs.
“I know—nobody likes the wand. Okay, let’s see what we have today.”
She dims the lights, spreads warm gel across my belly, and starts scanning. At first I hear only the soft hum of the machine as I feel the firm and steady pressure of the transducer on my belly. (That’s the name of the thing they rub across you to get the ultrasound images, in case you’re interested.)
Dr. Elizabeth hums softly under her breath and everything seems to be going fine. Then her expression changes—her eyes widen and her mouth quirks in surprise.
I’ve been watching her face and when I see that look my heart fists in my chest.
“What? What is it? Something’s wrong, isn’t it?” I can hear the panic in my own voice but I can’t control it.
“No, no,” Dr. Elizabeth says quickly, her tone reassuring. “Nothing is wrong. Quite the opposite. Here—have a look.” She tilts the monitor so we can see. “Remember how I suspected Secundus Calor—Second Heat? This confirms it.”
Logan leans forward, his jaw tight.
“How can you tell? I mean…other than her milk coming in early.”
Dr. Elizabeth points to the screen.
“Here. Look. That flicker? That’s a second heartbeat. Poppy, you’re carrying a double pregnancy.”
I blink at her, stunned.
“You mean… twins?”
She shakes her head.
“Not twins. This second pregnancy is younger than the first. See how much smaller the second baby is? The first conception happened weeks before the second. It’s rare, but not unheard of—your body ovulated again during Second Heat and Logan’s pup implanted successfully.”
My stomach turns over.
“But doesn’t that mean one will come too early? That I’ll lose one?”
Dr. Elizabeth pats my hand gently.
“Don’t worry. Were physiology is unique. Your body will balance both pregnancies. Each baby has its own placenta, its own support system, even while they share the same womb. And thanks to special hormones your body is producing, the younger baby will grow more rapidly to catch up.”
I try to breathe through the shock as Logan squeezes my hand.
“Can you tell the sex?” he asks. His voice is low, strained.
“The older one is definitely female,” Dr. Elizabeth says, smiling. “Your first baby is a girl. The younger… I suspect male, and most likely an Alpha. He’s already strong and already measuring larger than average for his gestational age.”
Logan’s breath catches.
“A son? I’m going to have a son?”
I glance up at him nervously.
“Are you… upset?”
He shakes his head hard and his eyes are suspiciously bright.
“No, baby—not upset. Just stunned. Sheila—my mate who passed—she couldn’t have children. We were about to start the adoption process when…when she got sick.” His voice catches.
Dr. Elizabeth smiles gently.
“You’re also having a daughter, remember?”
Logan nods, his face filling with wonder and joy.
“I know. And I’ll love them both.” His eyes shine, and for the first time I think my big, tough Alpha is about to cry.
Emotion wells in my chest.
“So you’re sure you’re not upset about having two instead of one?”
He laughs, husky and raw, and gets up to hug me tight.
“Upset? Sweetheart, are you kidding me? A son and a daughter—we’re going to have both! I never thought this was possible.”
Dr. Elizabeth chuckles.
“Careful, Logan—you’re going to get ultrasound gel all over your shirt. Let me wipe her down first.”
“I don’t care,” he mutters, kissing my cheek and stroking my hair. He looks into my eyes. “You’ve made me so damn happy, kitten.”
I can’t stop the tears that slip free. I cling to him, overwhelmed, feeling safe in his arms.
Dr. Elizabeth wipes me clean, then says briskly, “Both babies look normal and healthy. We’ll keep checking growth, but by the end of the second trimester, I expect your son will have caught up to his big sister.”
My face flames as I clear my throat.
“Er… Dr. Elizabeth, does this mean we have to stop, you know… being together? I mean, if we don’t want a third baby in there?”
She shakes her head, amused.
“No worries about that. The window for additional conception is closed now. Honestly, I’m surprised this little boy managed to sneak in at all—he must have been very determined to be born.” She pats my belly gently.