Devoted, Book 3: One.

Devoted, Book 3: One.
It was a relatively miserable day, Calum thought as he got out of the driver's side of the truck. Though the rain was light he supposed, and mostly vertical. Maybe he was just looking for something tangible to be frustrated at. Though the weather wasn't exactly something he could control, but he wouldn't be truly Scottish if he didn't whine about it; when it is hot in Summer everyone complains it's too hot, and when it isn't everyone complains about when summer will finally arrive. He was being picky, it was late September, it could snow within a month at home if the weather gods allowed.

Gods, he had never given much credence to, till he met his wife, her shaman friend and found out they do in fact exist and one may have been in attendance at his own wedding. The errant thought made him shiver.

Focusing in on the now, Calum admitted to himself that in truth he just didn't understand why they had to be out at all, not when they could be cozying up together in bed, while exploring all the new sensitivities Colt's body was developing with her pregnancy. But, the same pregnancy hormones which gave such added delight, also could run rampant through his wife's system, and they were definitely not a joke to be trifled with. As such he tried to make life as easy going as possible for them both.

At least her body wasn't threatening to shift with every hormonal flare up anymore; the failsafe of the female shifter's body to protect the young was in full effect, and although partial shifts were common, Colt no longer had to worry about becoming so worked up both her animal forms tried to take over. It was one of her biggest concerns upon discovering her pregnancy and one of her biggest reliefs as well.

Now Calum simply got to deal with all her angst in her beautiful human form, with razor sharp claws to boot. Pregnancy definitely had it's highs and lows when it came to hormones.

However, Calum still believed there were a few goings on, that were not purely the result of hormones, something was bothering her. Calum just had to figure out what, and to do so without triggering her homicidal hormones to react negatively toward him.

"Are you sure about this, Love?" Calum ventured to ask, as he and Colt headed along the pavement towards the private clinic for their scan.

They had travelled right down the country to Glasgow for this, and it astounded Calum; because if they only waited another three weeks at home they could have found out without the three hour uncomfortable drive his wife had to endure.

"Yes, we need to know as soon as possible," Colt affirmed, squeezing Calum's hand as they waited for the traffic lights to change, revealing a little green man which would signal they can safely cross the busy road.

Calum sighed, completely giving in to her whims by pulling his wife into his embrace, dropping a kiss on her forehead while he held her tight.

"Once we know, we can't unknow, you know?" He said, making Colt laugh.

"I bet you can't say that three times fast," Colt challenged him playfully.

"Oh really? And what exactly are we wagering on?" Calum asked, enjoying the chance to take a moment to tease his wife; publicly grabbing her backside, as her scent shifted and her face reddened.

"Damn it, Calum. Not here, the sonographer is a dog shifter! I don't want him smelling me like this!" Colt scolded, trying half heartedly to pull out of her mate's embrace and making him laugh shamelessly.

Calum bent down and buried his chin against her neck, causing Colt to shiver as his stubble teased her neck. "Sometimes, I do love your hormones, Mrs. Macgregor," he purred into her ear. "Let him smell, let the world smell what I can do to you. It means I'm doing my job right after all," he smirked.

Colt moaned at the contact, her legs buckling slightly as she pressed further against her mate; before suddenly remembering they were in the middle of a busy street.

"Damn it, Calum!" She shrieked, suddenly feeling very flustered as she pushed him away with a huff, before stomping away across the road with a very hot, well a very hot everything really, all while she ignored the howls of laughter coming from her mate behind her.

"Colt, Colt," Calum began, calling out frantically when he realised she wasn't going to wait on him. Stifling his laughter he caught up to her, and threaded his fingers through hers, "I'm sorry," he assured her, "Honestly, I am," he insisted, "Don't look at me like that, Love, please."

Colt sighed, the scowl disappearing from her face, Calum may be a tease with a ridiculous ego, but he was her tease with a ridiculous ego.

"Come on, Casanova, or we're going to be late." She stated, pulling him inside the glass fronted building they were now standing in front of.

Once they were through the doors into the lobby, Colt smiled at the friendly looking receptionist behind the desk, and took her damp jacket off.

"Hi, my name is Colt Macgregor. We have an eleven-thirty appointment?" She said to the woman, still loving calling herself by her husband's name.

It was a stark turn around from the independent woman she once was. But, Calum gave her a wholeness she wasn't aware she wanted, and getting to use his name made her feel even more connected to him. He had offered at first to change his, but knowing his clan background and the difficulties he would face from his family, Colt gladly swapped out Merrier for Magregor.

"Sure thing, please have a seat," the receptionist smiled, her eyes twinkling as they landed on Colt's stomach.

"Thanks," Colt replied, pulling Calum along behind her to sit down.

Calum sighed, looking around the pastel walls of the private clinic, before he sat in what arguably had to be the most comfortable waiting room chair he had ever seen. They were high backed, and obviously designed for supporting the lumbar area of the spine comfortably. They were the only two here, so Calum thought to himself for a moment, before he reached over and lifted Colt up from her own chair and placed her onto his own lap.

Colt squeaked with surprise, but didn't resist her mate as she soon nestled into his warm embrace, enjoying the soothing vibrations she felt from his gentle purring. They sat like this for a few minutes, before Calum ventured to broach the subject again.

"I don't know why we have to find out the sex at all, Love. But, will you at least tell me if the reason you are pushing for this and doing it early is linked to the reason you are seventeen weeks along and only Alasdair and Iona are aware of this baby?" Calum asked, unconsciously rubbing small circles into Colt's lower back and now eliciting a relaxed purr from her throat as well.

The receptionist briefly looked up at the pair and smiled broadly, she loved this part of her job, seeing excited young couples, but right now she sensed a sensitive topic coming up, and discreetly excused herself from the room.

Calum felt Colt sigh against him now they were completely alone, and knowing whatever her reasons, his suspicions were correct. There was something bigger at play.

"I want to know first because..." Colt began quietly, she always went quiet when she was nervous.

"Colt Macgregor?" Came the sonographer's booming voice. "Would you two like to come through?"

Colt was off Calum's lap in a flash, meaning he had to suppress his irritated hiss at the dog shifter for interrupting them when he was finally making progress. He wasn't ashamed to admit he also wanted to hiss at the man for making his mate pull away from him so suddenly.

Before long, they were both watching the fuzzy grey shapes on the monitor which denoted their child. The sonographer was taking some brief measurements to add to their file while Colt and Calum watched in awe. Colt was also hiding the wince each time the probe put pressure on her full bladder, but the discomfort was worth it for the clear picture. They were enraptured by every movement their baby made, a wiggling hand or a nodding head, it made no difference, this was a precious window into their future. A future Colt had scarecly let herself believe was a possibility, and a future she would move mountains to protect, they both would.

"So, are we ready for the reveal? Or would you just like it written down and you can arrange one of those gender reveal parties that are all the rage just now?" He asks with a smile. "There are some really out there ones online, although I did see a ridiculous one where one woman accidentally handed the wrong piece of paper over. She then had to interrupt the couple mid celebration to say 'actually it's a girl.' She was mortified. However I must admit, I do like the ones that involve cake, because you get to have a piece of cake afterwards, and who doesn't love cake?" The doctor began rambling on.

"Please, can you just tell us?" Colt asked, her body already thrumming with anxiety, and the thought of a gender reveal party only adding to her stress levels.

Calum gave the hand he was holding a squeeze, knowing he had to get to the bottom of Colt's behaviour, because all this stress wasn't good for anyone.

"Alright," Smiled the doctor, pointing to the screen as he moved the probe around, "Well, do you see these lines here?" He asked, having moved the probe to the part of Colt's stomach that was closest to the baby's bottom, "These indicate your baby is most likely a girl." He smiled warmly at the two, before adding in Calum's direction, "Good luck, Daddy. You'll be chasing away randy tom cats before you realise."