Ashen's POV
I woke up to a terrible churning in my stomach. My body was drenched in sweat, and the moment I shifted, a wave of nausea crashed over me so violently that I barely had time to stumble out of bed before I was sprinting toward the bathroom.
I barely made it to the toilet before I threw up, my entire body shaking from the force of it. My stomach twisted painfully, rejecting whatever little I had eaten last night. I gripped the sides of the porcelain bowl, breathing heavily, my throat burning.
Warm hands were suddenly on my back, rubbing soothing circles as a familiar scent surrounded me.
Dominic.
"Breathe, baby," he murmured, his voice soft, gentle. A stark contrast to the ruthless Alpha everyone else knew him to be. "I'm right here."
I squeezed my eyes shut, humiliated that he had to see me like this. I hated feeling weak. Hated being seen like I was fragile.
"I'm fine," I croaked, my voice hoarse.
A low growl vibrated from his chest, but there was no real anger in it. Just frustration.
"You just emptied your stomach, Ashen," he said, reaching over to flush the toilet before crouching beside me. "That is not 'fine.'"
I sighed, leaning back against the cool bathroom wall. My head was pounding.
"I feel gross," I admitted.
Dominic smirked, grabbing a wet towel and gently wiping my face. "You're beautiful."
I scoffed, rolling my eyes. "I just threw up my soul, Dominic."
His lips twitched with amusement, but there was only warmth in his gaze. "And you're still the most breathtaking thing I've ever seen."
I huffed, but my cheeks burned at his words.
Satisfied, he reached for a glass of water and held it to my lips. "Small sips," he ordered, watching me closely as I obeyed.
The water was cool and soothing, but my stomach still felt unsettled.
Dominic seemed to notice. "Do you think you can eat something?"
The thought of food made my stomach lurch. I shook my head. "Not yet."
Dominic frowned but didn't argue. Instead, he lifted me effortlessly into his arms, carrying me back to the bed as if I weighed nothing.
"You don't have to carry me," I muttered, though I secretly didn't mind it. His warmth was comforting.
"You're carrying my pup," he countered, settling me into the blankets before tucking them around me. "That means I take care of you. End of discussion."
I sighed, knowing there was no point in arguing with him when he was like this.
Dominic ran his fingers through my hair, his touch so gentle it almost made my chest ache. "You scared me," he admitted quietly.
I blinked up at him, startled. "What?"
He leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead. "Seeing you sick like that... I hated it. I'd take it all away if I could."
My throat tightened. No one had ever cared for me like this. Not since my mother.
"I'll be fine," I whispered, though even I wasn't convinced.
Dominic cupped my cheek, his thumb stroking my skin. "You don't have to be strong all the time, Ashen. Not with me."
I swallowed hard, unsure how to respond to that.
A knock on the door saved me from having to.
"Dominic?" Ryker's voice came through. "Roy's here to see Ashen."
Dominic sighed, glancing at me. "Do you want to see him?"
I hesitated. I loved Roy—he was like the annoying little brother I never had—but I wasn't ready to tell him about the pregnancy. I knew he'd worry, and worse... he'd probably cry.
"I... I don't want him to know yet," I admitted.
Dominic nodded in understanding before calling out, "Let him in."
The door opened, and Roy stepped inside, his usual bright smile faltering when he saw me still in bed.
"Ashen?" he asked, frowning. "Are you okay?"
I forced a small smile. "Just feeling a little sick."
Roy immediately rushed to my side, his eyes wide with concern. "You never get sick! Do you have a fever? Do you need medicine? Did someone poison you?! I swear if someone did, I'll—"
I groaned, covering my face with my hands. "Roy, stop. No one poisoned me."
Dominic let out an amused chuckle, but I could feel his protective gaze on me.
Roy pouted. "Then what is it?"
I hesitated, glancing at Dominic, who gave me a reassuring nod.
"It's nothing serious," I said carefully. "Just... adjusting to some things."
Roy narrowed his eyes. "Adjusting to what?"
Damn it. He was too sharp for his own good.
Before I could come up with a lie, Dominic smoothly cut in. "Stress. The pack has been a lot for him."
Roy's expression softened instantly. "Oh... yeah. That makes sense."
I sighed in relief.
Roy reached out and squeezed my hand. "If you ever need a break, just let me know, okay? We can run away for a day and do something fun."
I smiled, genuinely touched. "Thanks, Roy."
Dominic cleared his throat, crossing his arms. "He's not running away anywhere."
Roy stuck his tongue out at him before turning back to me. "Do you need anything? Soup? A blanket? A knife to stab whoever stressed you out?"
I let out a weak laugh. "Just you being here is enough."
Roy grinned. "Good! Because I'm not leaving until I know you're okay."
Dominic sighed heavily but didn't argue.
I knew this was only the beginning. The morning sickness, the secrecy, the changes I wasn't ready for.
But as I looked at Dominic watching over me and Roy sitting beside me, I realized something.
For the first time in my life... I wasn't alone.
When Roy left,Dominic said we going to the pack doctor.
"No," I said, crossing my arms over my chest, my lower lip jutting out in a pout.
Dominic sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as he crouched in front of me. "Ashen, we need to see the pack doctor,again."
"No, we don't."
"Yes, we do."
I shook my head stubbornly. "If we go to the clinic, people might find out,one of the doctors already noes.i cant risk"
Dominic huffed, running a hand through his dark hair. "We'll be discreet."
"Dominic, I swear—"
"No." His voice turned firm, his Alpha command brushing against my skin like a warning. "This isn't up for debate. You're pregnant, Ashen. A male carrying a child. We don't know what complications could happen. I need to make sure you're safe. Our pup is safe."
My heart clenched at the protectiveness in his tone, but I still didn't move.
He let out an exasperated sigh before leaning closer, his hands resting on my thighs as his silver eyes softened. "Please, baby," he murmured. "I need to know how labor will be for you. I need to know what to expect."
I bit my lip, looking away. "What if… what if they look at me differently?" I whispered.
Dominic's expression darkened instantly. "Anyone who dares look at you differently will deal with me."
I swallowed hard, knowing there was no way out of this.
"Get up," Dominic ordered, standing to his full height. "We're going. End of discussion."
I groaned but didn't resist when he pulled me to my feet.
"You're bossy," I muttered.
Dominic smirked, wrapping an arm around my waist. "And you love it."
I huffed but leaned into him as we walked out the door.
I didn't know what to expect from this visit.
I hated this.
The clinic was too bright, too clean, and smelled overwhelmingly of antiseptic. The sharp scent made my stomach churn, and I gripped Dominic's hand tighter.
He didn't let go. If anything, his grip only tightened, silently grounding me.
Dr. James, the pack's lead physician, stood waiting for us,and the female doctor who told me i was pregnant the first time. his expression calm but curious. He was a tall man in his late forties, with graying hair and sharp blue eyes that missed nothing. Unlike the pack healer, who dealt with injuries and spiritual matters, Dr. James specialized in medicine and science cold, logical, and factual.
"Alpha, Ashen," he greeted with a respectful nod before motioning to the exam table. "Sit."
I hesitated, but Dominic nudged me forward. "Ashen."
I sighed dramatically before climbing onto the table, arms crossed. "I still think this is unnecessary."
Dr. James arched a brow but said nothing as he pulled on a pair of gloves. "So, Dominic tells me you're pregnant."
I flinched at the bluntness. "Thanks for announcing it to the universe."
The doctor smirked slightly before picking up his clipboard. "Male pregnancies are rare, but they do happen. That being said, we need to monitor you closely. Your body isn't naturally built for this, which means there are risks."
Dominic tensed beside me. "What kind of risks?"
Dr. James flipped a page. "For starters, the pregnancy may put extra strain on Ashen's organs. We'll need to ensure his body is producing enough hormones to sustain the pup." He glanced at me. "Any nausea, fatigue, dizziness?"
I groaned. "All of the above."
Dr. James nodded, jotting something down. "Expected symptoms. But the real concern is labor."
I stiffened. "Here we go again."
Dominic shot me a warning look, but I ignored him.
Dr. James continued. "Female omegas have a birth canal specifically designed for delivery. You do not. That means when the time comes, a C-section will be required."
I swallowed hard. I had suspected it, but hearing it out loud made it feel… real.
"A surgical birth?" Dominic asked, his voice tight.
Dr. James nodded. "It's the safest option. Trying to force a natural delivery would be dangerous, even fatal."
A lump formed in my throat. "What about shifting? Would that… help?"
Dr. James hesitated before shaking his head. "Shifting while pregnant is highly dangerous. It could harm both you and the pup. I wouldn't advise it."
Dominic's grip on my hand tightened. "Then we do the surgery." His tone left no room for argument.
Dr. James nodded. "We have time to prepare. But from now on, you'll need regular check-ups. We'll monitor the pup's growth, your vitals, and your body's response to the pregnancy. I'll also prescribe prenatal supplements to support your system."
I groaned, rubbing my temples. "Great. More pills."
Dr. James smirked. "You'll live."
I wasn't so sure.
Dominic, however, was.
As we left the clinic, his hand never left mine, his presence steady beside me.
"You okay?" he asked once we stepped outside.
I exhaled slowly. "I don't know."
Dominic pulled me against him, pressing a soft kiss to my temple. "We'll figure this out, Ashen. Together."
For the first time since this whole mess started… I let myself believe him.