Page 91 of Ready or Not
Tearing sounds exceptionally fucking violent. Not like it should be no big deal, but I’m in full-on alpha beast mode. Everything and everyone feels like a threat to my woman and child.
“We’re going to take her for a quick bath and to get some measurements, if that’s okay with you, Mom?” one of the nurses asks after Vale gets her hour of skin-to-skin contact.
Vale’s eyes get huge, darting around, like she’s checking to see what we think.
“We’ll go with her to make sure they don’t accidentally swap her out for a less cute kid.” Holt laughs, leaning over to kiss Vale.
It kinda makes him sound like a dick, but I know he’s making an excuse to ensure one of us keeps eyes on her at all times.
And not for an accidental baby swap.
Andrew is unhinged. The hospital has protocols in place, but criminals are unpredictable.
“Not funny,” she grumbles, yanking him back down for another kiss. “But thank you. Keep her safe.”
“We will, love,” Mercy assures her.
The nurse scoops up Aurora and places her in the baby cart. She’s already got an ankle bracelet that matches the one they put on the five of us.
They move Vale into a private room while Mercy and Holt follow Aurora to the nursery.
“All right,” the nurse says after grabbing a ton of supplies. “I need to get you to the bathroom.”
“No, I’m good. I don’t have to go,” Vale says, shaking her head. “I’m totally fine.”
“I need to check your output and go over how to take care of your stitches.” The nurse politely but firmly drops the rail on the bed. “We’ll go over what to expect and when to tell if something might not be right.”
Bishop growls, and I prepare to tackle his ass if he does something stupid. Alphas are fiercely protective of our omegas. Logically, I know that he knows the nurse isn’t a threat. But it’s even hard to remind myself as Vale whimpers during her first few steps.
“Maybe we should adopt if we want more kids,” he mutters as the bathroom door closes.
I sigh, swiping a hand over my face. It’s even worse, because I know for a fact, I’m the one who knocked her up. She’s still suffering, and I’m still unable to fix any of it.
He might be right.
Adoption is clearly the way to go.
They’re in the bathroom for so long, I start to panic. It doesn’t help that her physical pain and mental discomfort filter through the bond. They make it out and back to the hospital bed.
Bishop helps her get situated, and then the true agony starts.
The nurse begins massaging Vale’s stomach to help her uterus shrink or something. I only half hear what she’s saying because my vision gets hazy. It’s a continual battle to remind my instincts that she’s helping Vale. The more her pain filters through the bond, the more my impulses view the nurse as a threat.
I exhale heavily as Bishop holds Vale’s hand, cradling her face to his stomach as she cries.
I’m about three seconds away from picking the nurse up and toting her out of Vale’s vicinity.
Our little omega is crying harder from the belly massage than she did giving birth.
Once that’s finally over, they give her pain meds. I’m torn between wanting to touch and comfort her and feeling guilty she’s going through all of this to begin with.
Bishop sighs, waving me over with the hand in her hair.
I stride over before I can stop myself. “I love you. I’m so sorry you’re in pain.”
Vale sniffles, turning her face toward mine. “I love you too. I can feel how guilty you feel in the bond. Don’t be. She’s worth it.” She pats the hospital bed at her side. “Very carefully, sit with me.”
Pure relief washes over me as I lower the rail and take a seat.