Book 1: Chapter 56

Finn’s arms were wrapped around my middle while his head rested on my shoulder. I rode my motorcycle up into Silas’ territory and headed into the town square. To say we turned heads was an understatement but I didn’t care. I usually turned heads everywhere I went but Finn seemed a little uncomfortable with the attention. Pulling up to Shep’s private office, I turned off the engine.

“What are we doing here, Sol?”

I looked at him. “Getting you checked out.”

His eyes widened and he started to sputter when I grabbed his hand. Pulling him around the corner and into the office, Shep was smiling at us.

“Alpha asked if I could see some interesting folks today but you exceeded my expectation.”

I chuckled. “Shep, it’s good to see you.” Holding out my hand to shake his, he took it but his other hand covered mine. “How Silas couldn’t see it, I don’t know, but you are the spitting image of your mother.”

My eyes widened but I just smiled. “You’re as bad a Maggie. The two of you knew instantly.”

He smiled, his eyes crinkling in the corner. “Now, what can I do you for?”

I turned back to look at Finn, who was completely flushed and fiddling with the bottom of his shirt.

“Finn is pregnant. He and his mate are both Beta’s. I don’t know how far along he is and I wanted to make sure he got checked over by someone who understood male pregnancies.”

Shep nodded and smiled to Finn. “Congratulations my dear boy. I’m sure everything is alright but let’s get you checked out, shall we?”

Finn took my hand. “Can Sol come with…during…”

Sighing, I squeezed his hand. “I’ll be there the entire time. I promise. You’re not going through this alone.”

Finn smiled and nodded. Shep led up back into one of the smaller examination rooms. It was all set up with a Ultrasound machine. Shep patted the chair for Finn and I sat down next to him, holding his hand the entire time.

“Do you know how far along roughly? It will dictate which ultra sound I need to use.”

Finn shook his head and I sighed.

“Maybe about four weeks? A little longer?” I answered.

“What…”

Shep interrupted him though. “I’ll do the non-invasive one then if you’re that far along. Considering it’s only six months to birth, it’s a quick time and you’ll see it goes by fast.”

Asking Finn to pull up his shirt, he spread the gel on his stomach and then turned the machine on. Carefully, he placed the wand on his stomach and immediately there was a strong heartbeat. Tears filled my eyes and I smiled. Finn also was mesmerized. Shep turned the screen and pointed out a white blob.

“There is your little pup. Strong and healthy. Heart beat is perfect.” He looked at me. “You were a little off. Our little one is actually six weeks.”

I nodded, smiling brightly. “Is there any way to tell the gender?”

Shep moved the wand around. “Not at this point it looks like. We will need to take some blood, make sure everything is good. But you only have twenty more weeks to go. You actually might start showing pretty soon. This little one seems very strong and growing pretty quick.”

Shep wiped off Finn’s stomach and allowed him to pull down his shirt. “I’ll grab the tests we need to run and we can get that all done today. I’ll also give you some prenatals as well. I know it’s a pain for you to come up to the territory often.”

“Thanks, Doc. I appreciate everything.”

“Of course, my dear.”

He slipped out of the room and I squeezed Finn’s hand. “What do you think?”

“I’m scared and excited and nervous and I don’t even know if I’m going to make a great dad.”

I chuckled. “Finn, you’re going to be a wonderful father. You and Noah both. The both of you love each other so completely that I have no doubt this little pup is going to be loved more than any other pup.” Getting up, I leaned over and kissed his abs. “They are going to have the best fathers in the entire world.”

Finn finally choked up and started to cry.

I pulled him into another hug and peppered kisses on the side of his head. “I love you, Finn. This is going to be amazing. You’ll see.”

“But…” I leaned back and Finn put his hand on my cheek. “It puts it into too much perspective.”

“How so?”

“You don’t have twenty weeks left…do you?”

I closed my eyes and pressed my cheek more into his hand. “Finn, I think I’m going to be lucky if I get 12 more.”

His breath caught and he shook his head. “You aren’t leaving me. Not through this. You can’t. Sol, you have to hold out. Please.”

Shep opened up the door and I broke away from Finn, unable to look at him. Finn looked down in his lap as Shep turned his arm over and quickly got busy taking multiple vials of blood.

“I’ll send the results along with one of the boys when they go down to your place.”

I nodded. “Thanks Shep. Make sure they give it to me. I’ll take care of it.”

“You got it. And…Aelia?”

My eyes met Shep’s.

“I’m sorry. Not that it’s worth much anymore but I am.”

Nodding to him, he opened up the door for us. Finn refused to let go of my hand and I didn’t mind. We walked out of the building and over to my motorcycle.

“I promise I’ll tell him, Sol.”

I snorted. “You better. Or I’m not saving your ass from his anger.”

-

Two fucking weeks. It had been two fucking weeks and my patience was running thin with Finn. His emotional state was all over the place. Noah actually started staying in the office more than anywhere else. I also felt like I was continuously making pancakes as that seemed to be the only thing Finn craved. Time was ticking and the further in we got the worse it was going to be.

Finn was even starting to show. His abs were softening into a little pooch that was now very apparent. At least to me it was. He, however, apparently was still so oblivious to it, that he continued to walk around without a shirt on all the time. I was slowly being driven insane. Between lying to Noah and trying to deal with Finn’s needs and mood swings, I could feel it taking a toll on me.

Turning around in the kitchen, I lifted up on my tip toes to grab a plate and I felt my non-metal leg give. It buckled underneath me and with two plates, I crashed to the floor, wincing as the plates shattered next to me.

“The fuck…” Noah opened the door and walked around the island. “Sol!”

I put my hand up. “I’m okay. Don’t. You’re bare foot…the plates shattered.”

“I don’t give a shit.”

He stepped forward gingerly to slide his arms under me and pick me up. Backing away from the mess I made, he set me down on one of the kitchen stools. Looking me over, Noah determined that there was nothing else wrong with me and grabbed the broom out of the cabinet.

“What happened?”

“My leg gave out. I was on my tip toes grabbing the plates and it just decided to crumbled.” I sighed and rubbed my leg. It still tingled with numbness.

Noah growled. “He can’t keep making you do all this stuff, Sol.”

“I’m okay, Noah.”

“You’re not! He orders you around like a maid. Do this, make me this, clean this. When was the last time there was a thank you out of his mouth?”

I sighed. “Really. It’s okay. This is what I do normally. I just…”

“Can’t do that much anymore? He should be helping you out! Instead he’s shoving his face full of pancakes getting fat!”

My eyes widened and then I rolled them. Of course Noah would notice. Apparently, the only oblivious one to the changes in his body was Finn. Though part of me wondered if he was just ignoring the fact that he was carrying a pup. Like he just tried to think that he wasn’t.

Speak of the devil and he shall appear. Finn walked through the door, a towel hanging over his shoulders, shirtless, and his sweats hanging low on his hips. He looked still amazingly fit. But his tummy was definitely starting to round out and he was loosing some of his ab definition. I knew he had been working out at the gym more lately, so I think subconsciously at least it was bothering him that his usual eight pack was missing.

“What happened?” Finn looked from me to Noah.

Noah growled but didn’t answer.

 I smiled. “I was trying to grab some plates and my leg gave out. No biggy.”

“Oh. You okay?”

Noah grumbled, “Like you care.” But I knew it wasn’t loud enough for Finn to hear.

“Yeah. I’m fine.”

Finn flashed me a smile. “I’m going to shower and then we can eat.”

Noah rolled his eyes and I glared at him. Finn disappeared into the bathroom and Noah cleaned up the kitchen. Carefully getting off the chair, Noah came over and put his hands on my waist. Putting some weight on my left leg, it sent painful tingles up it. Almost like it was asleep but I could put weight on it. Smiling, I kissed Noah on the cheek.

“Thanks, love. I’m okay.”

“Does it hurt?”

I shrugged. “A little, but it isn’t bad. I’ll be okay. Did you want me to make you anything for lunch?”

Noah shook his head. “After that…” He waved to the bathroom. “…I’m not hungry. Do you want me to handle lunch though? I don’t have to be in the office.”

Chuckling, I shook my head. “For your sanity, I think you do. I’ll be alright. I’ll bring you a snack when he’s done.”

“I think I’m going to install some railing on the stairs.”

“Noah, you don’t…”

He growled at me. “I want you safe, Sol. Even if it’s only me that cares.”

“Finn cares, Noah. He’s just going through some stuff.”

Finn opened up the bathroom door, the towel hung low on his hips. Noah snorted and shook his head.

“Yeah, going through the entire fridge and then some.”

He headed to the door when Finn reached out to him. “Noah, what is going on?”

“What is going on? Are you serious, Finn? You are seriously asking me that?”

Finn looked hurt and he let go of Noah’s arm. I sighed. Weeks back I told Finn I wouldn’t save him from Noah’s anger. This is what it was coming to and I wasn’t going to get between them.

“You’ve been completely MIA. You only come out to check on Solaris which is pretty fucking rude. You don’t even sleep on your side of the bed anymore. I’m your mate! What about me?”

I winced this was not going to end well.

“You? You have been acting batshit crazy, Finn! You’re either itching for a fight or you’re thinking I said something when I didn’t! I come in to check on Sol because you’re running her into the ground. If anything, you’re taking days off her life with how much shit you give her!”

Finn stepped back, tears in his eyes. “I don’t…I haven’t…”

“Yes, you have. You’ve been ordering her around like some maid. Do this, make me this. She’s had four collapses this week alone. We haven’t even hit Friday yet! But you don’t give a rats ass. You just care about eating all the time! I know you’re working out more but Finn, you literally have gained a belly for everything that your eating. It’s disgusting! I’m not going to fucking watch while you not only destroy yourself but Sol as well!”

Noah turned and slammed the door shut after him. I did wince when he slammed the office door shut. Sighing, I looked up to see Finn, the flushed red with anger now gone to a pale ghostly white.

“Do I…have I…”

Smiling, I came over to him. Taking his hand, I pulled him to the full length mirror. He looked at himself as though it was for the first time. I had been right, he had been avoiding it this entire time. His hand traced where his abs used to be and now the little belly that continuously was growing every day. Tears filled his eyes.

“I’m fat.”