Haulcon's Revenge (21 page)

“
Like Ziplan.”

He glanced away for a moment as shadows crossed his features, proof that he was still warring with the grief inside of himself. “Yes. Just like Ziplan and others.”

“
Have you discovered what is happ—”

“
Welcome, Alpha!” The door at the end of the hall swung open. “I have been looking forward to your visit.”

“
Hessel, greetings.” Haulcon smiled at the long, gray-haired male standing in the doorway.

Adair moved forward with Haulcon as he spoke to the man.

“
This exotic creature must be, Adair.” Hessel studied her with perceptive pale blue eyes.

A strange turn of events. Now she was the one that was looked at as a creature. She understood how Haulcon had felt hearing Princess say it. “I am.” She held her hand out to him.

I would never let anyone make you feel out of place here.

Thank you.

Grasping it in both of his, Hessel drew her forward. “I have been waiting to meet you since Haulcon announced to the clan that you were expecting. Amazing. He drew her deeper into his clinic.”

Unlike other places in the mansion that was decorated in dark colors, the area reminded her of a cross between a human doctor’s office and her father’s lab. There were examination tables in the middle and a wall full of more scientific accoutrements.

“
I’m glad to meet you as well. Haulcon tells me you’re the person who can answer my questions about the baby.”

“
Most of them I’m sure, but a lot of it I will be studying and discovering along with your advancement.” He patted one of the examination tables.

She took that to mean he wanted her to sit, so she climbed up on it and sat down.

“
You are one of a kind. There’s never been such an occurrence before between a valf and human.” He rattled on, excitement lacing his voice and making his eyes bright.

“
I guess someone has to be the first.”

“
True, true.” He produced a light from a drawer in the table and shined it in her eyes, ears and mouth. “Lay down please.”

Doing as she was told, she was thankful that Haulcon stood beside her giving her the comfort of his nearness.

Hessel glanced at Haulcon then her as he pulled up her shirt and pushed down her sweats revealing her round belly. “I see the mate bond is also alive and well between you to.”

“
It is,” Haulcon confirmed.

“
I wondered about that after your announcement. Especially when she was so far away and you remained at the mansion for a few days without bringing her back.”

“
We parted properly and as we all know, there were urgent matters needing to be taken care of in reclaiming Ziplan’s body.”

“
Yes, of course.” Hessel’s stiff fingers moved around her abdomen, pressing firmly but gently.

“
Oh, goodness,” Adair exclaimed.

The medical man chuckled. “Well, he is definitely growing strong and well.”

“
What happened?” Haulcon’s face was filled with concern.

“
Your heir kicked me,” Adair accused as she took Haulcon’s hand and brought it to her stomach.

As if sensing his father’s touch, the baby gave an even stronger kick.

She smiled as she saw the big Alpha’s face brighten as it filled with wonder.

“
I’ve heard kicking normally doesn’t happen, especially this strong, until around five months or later with human babies.”

“
Well, this male is growing rapidly, but I don’t believe he will be coming sooner than valf offspring. At a month along you would have been bigger than this.”

Bigger? Adair couldn’t imagine that.

Hessel closed his eyes and stood still as if he were concentrating on something.

Remaining still, she waited.

Opening his eyes, Hessel said, “The heart beat is forceful. Nothing to concern yourself there.”

“
That is good.” Haulcon let out a breath as if he was uneasy about their child being one of the weak ones.

“
Okay. Please undress so I may examine you.”

Sitting up, she slid off the table. Getting naked before a man she had just met, even a doctor made her uncomfortable. However, she reminded herself she was being ridiculous and began to strip with Haulcon’s assistance.

Once she was bare she moved back to the table.

“
Stop,” Hessel called out before she could raise her foot to the step stool.

Glancing over her shoulder at him, she wondered if he had wanted to do an exam differently than the OB/GYN did.

However, he was frowning and staring at her lower back.

His gaze was so intense she felt like covering her ass. Was he shocked by the width of it? She’d seen for herself that just as Haulcon said, valf women were full-figured for the most part.

“
Where did you get that?”

Her brows tightened. “Get what?”

He stepped to her and touched the area at the top of one of her butt cheeks. “Is this one of your human ink markings?”

Looking where his fingers were, Adair realized he was commenting on her birthmark. It was dark and thin and with a quick glance it could appear some sort of odd tribal tattoo. “No. It is called a birthmark. My mother had the same thing. I believe it is genetic and all of her family had it. At least those I was able to do a little research on. Her line was a little muddled somewhere in Alaska.”

“
Do you know what it is supposed to be?” Haulcon asked standing beside Hessel gazing at her ass.

“
Just a bunch of swirls is what it looks like to me. I’m supposed to have Yupta roots, Eskimo-type people. But, a Black Eskimo…who ever heard of such.” She chuckled and continued up on the table.

“
Stranger things have happened,” Hessel mumbled, but his eyes looked distant now as if he were talking to them but not really present.

That expression made her shiver, it reminded her a little of her father when he was lost in his mind.

“
Also there is the matter of her unique scent,” Haulcon informed him.

“
I picked up on those notes. Not as other humans.”

It was strange to stand there and hear men discussing how she smelled. “Um, the exam?”

“
Yes. Lie back and place your heels on the table and drop your knees open.” He went to the sink and washed his hands.

She was happy to see that hygiene was as important to this medical man as it was in the human world.

Haulcon took hold of her hand and she loved how he always knew when she needed his courage and support.

Hessel pressed inside, palpating her cervix and pushing down on her stomach at the same time. “Mmhmm.” More searching.

What he was doing wasn’t painful as much as it was uncomfortable. Having someone with their hand deep inside of her vagina like they lost a coin in it was just not her way of spending an evening.

Finally withdrawing his hand, Hessel smiled down at her. “Things appear to be coming along fine. However, your cervix is thinner than it should be at such an early stage. You should have another three and half months to go by valf standards, but you’re at a stage that appears there are only a couple months remaining.

“
A couple of months? You said I wasn’t as big as valf woman usually are at this time.”

“
That is correct. However, it must be because of your human genetics the child maybe smaller,” Hessel said.

She rose up on her elbows and glanced at Haulcon. “What kind of super child have you put inside me?”

He chuckled. “Mate, you will be fine. We will handle it however it comes about.” Shifting his gaze to the doctor he asked, “Other than the speed in which the offspring is forming, do you have any other concerns?”

“
None. Your son appears vital and strong. I will keep a close eye on Adair in the coming weeks. Ensure there are no surprises.” He went and washed his hands again. His back to them, Hessel went on to say, “It is possible that the two forms of DNA have linked and built upon each other. Changing normal structures and patterns. Have you noticed any difference in yourself, Adair?”

“
Besides being tired and hungry all the time, I feel stronger and I have more endurance. I had no problem keeping up with Haulcon as we traveled through the woods and up the mountainside.”

“
This is true. I was initially concerned about the distance she would have to travel with me, but she never complained and moved at a steady pace.”

“
I figure it is the doses of his serum that are helping not only our baby but me to endure as well,” she added.

“
It is possible. You and this child may hold the key to some answers that have been plaguing us over the last century.” He sighed and moved toward a side door. “I’m sure you have more people to see. I’ll let you get dressed, Adair, so you can be on your way.”

She thanked him and then slipped off the table to get dressed.

“
Are we headed to meet the clan now?”

“
In a moment. I want to head down to our suite for a moment. I’m sure the staff needs a little more time setting up for the reception.” He opened the door for her.

“
Okay.” She went down the hall beside him toward the stairs. “You know the next time you all are thinking about upgrades to this underground mansion, consider an elevator.”

“
Didn’t you just say how much endurance my serum is yielding you?” he teased.

“
Yes, but a pregnant lady always prefers a quick elevator ride to climbing up and down stairs multiple times in a day.”

~YH~

“
Oh, my gracious, Haulcon, where did all this come from?”

He enjoyed seeing the look of wonder and excitement on Adair’s face. “Dresa, the keeper of our suite, is resourceful, extremely.”

Crossing to the bed, she ran her hands along all the different dresses and apparel. “I would say so. We were only gone a little over an hour at the clinic.”

“
I shared your concerns with her. It was her idea to collect donations from the females in the clan. A welcome gift.”

Adair faced him, her features contorted with shock and bewilderment then quickly clouded as her eyes filled with tears. “Such amazing things and they don’t even know me. Have not…been intro-duced…to me y-et.”

He didn’t believe he would ever become accustomed to her crying. The sight of the tears and her broken voice always made him feel helpless. “The gesture was not meant to make you cry but bring joy.” He gathered her in his arms.

“
These are tears of joy and gratitude.” She sniffed.

“
You know us valfs just smile and bow a lot when we are grateful for something. You want to try that occasionally?” he teased knowing she could not change her nature any more than he could his.

She poked him in his side and stepped back. “I will do no such thing. You will just have to get used to me.”

“
It will be my pleasure.” He pulled her back into his arms and kissed her. “How about you choose one of these items and we get ready to go meet my clan.”

Staring at his face, she ran her soft small hand along his jawline, down the side of his neck then followed the buttons of his shirt down to his waist. “Are you sure you don’t want me to thank you for your considerate act?”

He groaned. “I very much want that. However, if I allow that to begin then they will have to cancel the meeting.”

“
Well, we can’t have that.” She cupped his cock then squeezed him firmly before stepping away.

“
Mate,” he growled.