67: Appointment

67: Appointment
Lena.

Lou grumbled but allowed me to take the afternoon off when I claimed a medical appointment I couldn't reschedule. Darlene gave me a knowing look as I left early, slipping a protein bar into my hand.

"Eating for two now," she murmured. "Don't skimp on nutrition, especially if the test was positive."

I nodded gratefully, touched by her practical concern even as I realized I couldn't share the full complexity of my situation with her or anyone else in my new human life.

The journey to Dr. Vasquez's clinic required a bus ride followed by an expensive taxi along increasingly remote roads. The clinic itself was surprisingly modern—a low-slung building of glass and cedar nestled into woodland, appearing more like an upscale spa than a medical facility. No signage identified its purpose, just a street number discreetly displayed near the entrance.

Inside, the reception area continued the understated aesthetic—natural materials, soft lighting, comfortable seating arranged for privacy. The receptionist, a petite woman with unusual amber eyes that suggested non-human heritage, greeted me with professional warmth.

"Ms. Ellis?" she confirmed, using the slight variation of my name I'd adopted for appointments. "Dr. Vasquez will see you shortly. Please complete these forms while you wait."

The intake paperwork included standard medical history questions alongside more unusual sections—"Non-human genetic factors," "Cross-species considerations," and "Territorial/Political Complications." I completed everything honestly, including my connection to an Alpha werewolf and current exiled status, knowing that full disclosure was essential for proper medical care even as it created potential security concerns.

Dr. Vasquez herself projected calm competence—a woman in her fifties with silver-streaked dark hair and the subtle confidence of someone comfortable with supernatural complexities. She reviewed my paperwork thoroughly before addressing me directly.

"You're in a complicated situation, Ms. Ellis," she observed, her accent lightly coloring precise English. "Exiled mate of an Alpha werewolf, potentially carrying his child. There are significant medical and security considerations we need to discuss."

"I need to confirm the pregnancy first," I replied. "And understand what it means for a human to carry a werewolf child."

She nodded, gesturing toward an examination room. "Let's start with confirmation and basic assessment. After that, we can discuss implications and management strategies."

The examination was thorough but efficient. Blood samples, physical assessment, and finally an ultrasound that confirmed what the home test had suggested—I was pregnant, approximately six weeks along based on human measurements.

"However," Dr. Vasquez noted as she studied the ultrasound screen, "werewolf gestation accelerates after the first trimester. What would be a nine-month pregnancy for a human typically completes in seven months for a werewolf mother. For a human carrying a werewolf or hybrid child, the timeline falls somewhere between—usually around eight months total."

I stared at the screen, at the tiny flickering light that represented new life. "The father is an Alpha," I said quietly. "Does that affect development?"

"Significantly," she confirmed. "Alpha genetics create stronger, faster-developing offspring. They also increase the likelihood of multiple embryos."

She adjusted the ultrasound wand, focusing more intently on the screen. After a moment, her expression shifted to something I couldn't quite interpret.

"Ms. Ellis," she said carefully, "I'm detecting multiple heartbeats."

"Multiple?" I echoed, my own heart suddenly racing. "You mean twins?"

"I'm counting three distinct cardiac signatures," she replied, turning the screen so I could see more clearly. "You're carrying triplets, Ms. Ellis."

Triplets. The word seemed to echo in the small examination room, its implications even more overwhelming than the pregnancy itself. Not just one werewolf baby to protect and nurture outside pack structures, but three.

"Is that... normal? For werewolf pregnancies?" I managed to ask through my shock.

Dr. Vasquez shook her head slowly. "Multiple births occur in werewolf pregnancies at roughly the same rate as human ones—twins occasionally, triplets rarely. However, when they do occur in Alpha bloodlines, they're considered highly significant. In werewolf tradition, multiple Alpha offspring are seen as a sign of exceptional strength in the bloodline."

"How rare are we talking about?"

"The last documented case of Alpha triplets was over two hundred years ago," she replied solemnly. "In werewolf terms, this pregnancy would be considered historically significant."

The information landed like a physical blow. Not just pregnant, but carrying a pregnancy so rare it would be considered a supernatural event of historical importance. The children of an Alpha, conceived just before their mother's exile, developing without their father's knowledge or protection.

"What does this mean for my health? For the babies?" I asked, forcing myself to focus on immediate practical concerns rather than the staggering political implications.

Dr. Vasquez switched into clinical mode, explaining the heightened nutritional needs, accelerated development timeline, and potential complications of a human carrying multiple werewolf offspring. The risks were significant—greater strain on my non-werewolf body, higher nutritional demands, potential complications during later development when werewolf traits began manifesting in utero.

"You'll need specialized prenatal care throughout this pregnancy," she concluded. "Regular monitoring, supplements designed for cross-species gestation, and eventually, delivery in a facility equipped to handle werewolf births. A human hospital would be problematic for numerous reasons."

"And all of this while maintaining anonymity and security," I added grimly. "While earning minimum wage plus tips as a diner waitress and living in a room the size of a generous closet."

Dr. Vasquez's expression softened slightly. "Your situation is challenging but not impossible. I can provide the medical support you need on a sliding scale basis. There are resources for supernatural pregnancies in difficult circumstances—discrete networks that operate outside pack politics."

She hesitated before adding the question I had been wrestling with since seeing those two lines on the test. "Have you considered informing the father? Alpha or not, exiled or not, he has genetic connection to these children."