Chapter 293 Two Weeks
The heavy SUV pulled into a private, secured parking lot at the rear of the hospital. Jax, ever the tactical Beta, had already made the necessary arrangements during the drive, ensuring that Dr. Chatmory—one of the few human physicians in the area fully read-in on the existence of the Lycan world—was on call and waiting for their arrival.
The moment they stepped through the discreet back entrance, a cheerful nurse met them with a warm smile. She bypassed the crowded public waiting room entirely, smoothly escorting the group straight back to the doctor's private office.
Dr. Chatmory, an older man with kind eyes and a calm, grounded demeanor, stood up from his desk the second they walked in.
"Jax," Dr. Chatmory greeted, extending a hand to the towering Lycan. "Long time. What brings you in today?"
Jax took the doctor's hand, giving it a firm shake before stepping back to gently place a massive hand on Ginny's shoulder. "Good to see you, Doc. I need you to take a look at my mate, Ginny, and our son, Iggy."
Dr. Chatmory's eyes widened slightly in pleasant surprise at the sight of the baby, offering Ginny a warm, welcoming smile.
"And this," Jax continued, gesturing respectfully to the woman standing beside them, "is my brother Fenn's mate. Our Luna, Leela."
At the mention of the royal Lycan title, Dr. Chatmory immediately stepped back. He lowered his gaze and smoothly started to dip into a formal, deep bow of respect.
"Oh, no, no, no," Leela interrupted quickly, letting out a bright, genuine laugh as she reached out to gently wave off the gesture. "We don't do that here. Please, stand up. I really do not consider myself above anyone."
Jax shifted slightly, his golden eyes doing a quick, hardwired sweep of the hallway outside the open door before he leaned in.
"Especially when we are out in public," Jax mumbled under his breath, his deep voice dropping into a serious, tactical octave. "I know you don't know everything that's going on with the pack right now, Doc, but it is best that we look like just a normal family having a baby check-up."
Dr. Chatmory instantly straightened up, reading the absolute, protective seriousness radiating off the massive Beta. He gave a single, understanding nod, seamlessly locking away the royal titles and slipping right back into his unassuming, professional bedside manner.
"Understood completely," Dr. Chatmory agreed, gesturing warmly toward the padded examination table. "Well, let's get you folks taken care of. Who would like to go first?"
Ginny stepped forward, gently lifting the knitted blanket away from the heavy car seat Jax had carefully set on the padded exam table. Dr. Chatmory moved in with practiced ease, unbuckling the tiny straps and lifting the sleepy newborn into his arms.
"And exactly how old is this little guy?" Dr. Chatmory asked warmly, turning to carry the baby over to the digital infant scale resting on the counter.
"Two weeks," Ginny answered, her hands hovering nervously near her waist.
Dr. Chatmory paused, glancing back over his shoulder with a look of genuine surprise. "Really? Was he full term?"
"No," Ginny said quickly, her voice instantly tightening with a mother's sharp, immediate anxiety. "I was only seven and a half months along... well, closer to eight. Why? Is there something wrong with my baby, Doctor?"
Jax stepped right up behind her without a second of hesitation. His massive hands immediately settled on Ginny's shoulders, silently grounding her as his golden eyes locked onto the doctor, waiting for the verdict.
"Oh, no," Dr. Chatmory chuckled warmly, quickly waving off her panic as he looked down at the digital readout on the scale. "He is a perfectly, wonderfully healthy baby. I only asked because, for being born early, he is absolutely huge. He already weighs nine pounds."
Ginny blinked, letting out a long, shuddering breath of profound relief as she leaned back against Jax's solid chest. Leela let out a soft laugh from her spot near the wall, the tension leaving the room as quickly as it had arrived.
The older doctor turned back around, lifting the heavy, healthy baby off the scale. He looked from Ginny’s pale, exhausted face all the way up to Jax’s towering, heavily scarred frame. A knowing, affectionate smile crinkled the corners of his eyes.
"It's no wonder your mate is so incredibly tired, Jax," Dr. Chatmory said, shaking his head in amusement as he handed Iggy back to Ginny. "You said she is completely human. She is trying to keep up with the caloric demands of a rapidly growing Lycan pup who clearly took after you, you absolute moose, rather than his mother."
Jax’s chest rumbled with a deep, proud chuckle, his hands giving Ginny’s shoulders a gentle squeeze. "He's a Blackwood, Doc. He's built to be big."
Leela let out a very un-royal snort of laughter from her spot against the wall, and Ginny rolled her exhausted eyes, though a fond smile pulled at her lips.
Dr. Chatmory grabbed his chart, his expression shifting into a kind, professional focus. "We'll run some basic blood tests just to make absolutely sure your iron and vitamin levels are where they need to be," the doctor explained gently. "But honestly, Ginny, if you are trying to feed this little Jax entirely by breastfeeding, I am pretty sure we've found the main culprit behind your tiredness. A human body trying to keep up with the metabolic demands of a Lycan pup is a massive, constant drain on your system."
He finished recording Iggy's vitals and set his pen down, giving the group a brisk clap of his hands.
"Alright, the baby is perfect. Now it's Mom's turn," Dr. Chatmory announced, stepping over to open the door and wave his nurse inside. He looked pointedly at the towering Beta and the Luna. "Dad, Auntie... out you go. Give us some space."
Jax looked like he instinctually wanted to growl at being separated from his mate, but Ginny gave him a firm, reassuring nod. Reluctantly, the massive wolf stepped out into the private hallway with Leela, where Sarah was standing guard with lethal, stoic posture.