9

The morning sunlight was already pouring in through the bedroom curtains when Sawyer managed to rouse himself awake. The room was silent and Daniel was nowhere in sight, having left over an hour ago, if he could recollect very well. His entire body was sore and his head was hurting, despite his heat subsiding. They hadn't knotted just once. Sawyer drifted off to sleep once the simmering tension released in his body the moment he felt the warmth of Daniel's knot traveling down his channel like soothing water.

Since he began having these heat periods, this particular one was the worst. He kept waking Daniel up every three hours for an extra round.

They'd ended up doing five. The sixth couldn't hold because Daniel felt like his sperm ducts were already sucked dry. Still, he helped Sawyer jerk off, which was relieving to an extent.

Sawyer scanned the room which was lying in ruins before him. Daniel had carefully folded his clothes and placed them on the nightstand beside him. There was also a bulky cellophane bag on the clothes as well, which he reached for with effort. It contained a huge amount of money, together with a note.

I'll transfer some more when I have the time. I had an urgent meeting to attend, hence why I left you alone earlier. I'm so sorry.

Xo

Daniel.

Sawyer sighed as he raised his knees to his chest, hugging them closely. Truth be told, he'd felt as though he was in heaven last night while wrapped up in Daniel's protective embrace. He didn't know what to make out of that but it was the most comfortable he'd been in a long time. Daniel made it feel like home.

But Sawyer knew his boundaries. It was a mutual agreement for them to knot so Sawyer could be relieved while still having some money to leave the country for a safer place since he was a bottom feeder. The law wouldn't affect Daniel, who was a top-tier Alpha and one of the backbones of Manhattan. Sawyer couldn't allow his heart to expect much from the Alpha who had been so helpful.

If there was anything the omega had learned, it was that the spark before these one-night stands normally died down the next morning. He had to get used to the fact that Daniel wouldn't look at him the same way as it was back in the restaurant. Not minding the fact that Sawyer had given him an attitude that night. Surely, Daniel couldn't settle for someone as vulnerable and naïve as Sawyer.

He pondered these things as he got dressed quickly. He was already running late, and while Maddie would always be there to open the shop, things wouldn't feel complete without Sawyer there. He liked to be professional and hated coming to the shop late.

As he combed his hair in front of the huge dressing mirror, which was not bad for an Alpha, he spied the box of condoms in the half-opened wardrobe. He ran his fingers over the blue seal, gasping as a terrible realization hit him.

Fuck.

Fuck!

Now that he remembered it, Daniel hadn't used a condom at all. The condom pack was still unopened, there were no foil packets anywhere to be found, and there should have been five.

Five.

He started hyperventilating, emptying the dollar cash on the bed and using the cellophane to blow into it. At least as he breathed through the anxiety, he realized that the symptoms of his heat were gone. So knotting with Daniel had served its benefits.

He was a little sick to the stomach, ignoring the voice at the back of his head about how dangerous the consequences of the situation were. However, he forced himself to focus on one fact.

He could leave Manhattan after all. And he could afford to pay to stay at a nice hotel for three months, at least until the Manhattan politicians had a rethink.

He hurried out of the bedroom, clutching the cash close to his chest. As he rushed past the security man outside, he recalled not writing Daniel a note to thank him for a fabulous night. Well, it wasn't as though they were seeing each other after that. But still, Sawyer wanted to show his gratitude. Maybe in Mexico, he could write his thanks to Daniel.

Yet, as he boarded a cab bound towards his shop route, he felt like this wasn't the end of his troubles. This wasn't the end.

The next few weeks flew by quickly. Back in Mexico, summer was at its peak and the heat was sweltering. Plus, in the hotel where Sawyer was lodged, there was no electricity during the day, only at night. So, to combat the heat, Sawyer stayed out on the balcony, wearing nothing but thin tank tops and beach shorts. From up there, he could see the vehicles pulling up below, tourists filing out with suitcases and bags – children laughing as they glanced through the exquisite hotel property.

His stomach roiled as he leaned back on the reclining chair he was lounging on. He was still hungry, despite having taken a plate of lasagna and orange juice. He couldn't explain it because he had never been a heavy eater.

"Well, you're practically swimming in dollars!" Maddie laughed when he complained to her about it two days ago. The Manhattan Government were in talks with top Pack elders to rescind their decision on the werewolf ban. Sawyer still hadn't heard from Daniel, except one time on the cover page of the local Mexican gossip that carried a picture of him and Daniel in the restaurant that night while they were having a late dinner.

Hot-shot billionaire Daniel Sturm, interested in a sweet male omega? – the headline had read, then delved into a three-paragraph commentary which Sawyer had not bothered perusing through because he was upset. Though he'd sent the money he promised, Daniel hadn't sent a text or called him since he left the penthouse that day. He knew it would come down to this, but a part of him hoped that Daniel was different from the other shitty Alphas he'd met.

"Oh my god, Sawyer! If that's the Alpha you hooked up with then…how on earth did you manage to get his attention?" Maddie was ballistic when he told her about his encounter with Daniel. "He's one of the most powerful Alphas out there, and the most eligible. Omegas have their panties in a fix each time he is anywhere near. You're such a lucky bitch!"

Sawyer had rolled his eyes. "Oh, phu-leeze. He's just the same as the others, no difference."

"What makes you say that? Did he defy the agreement you two had in any way?"

Sawyer sighed in exasperation. "No, but I really thought he was the one, you know. He made me feel…things. The way he looked at me, I thought I meant something to him too. Maybe it was my heat messing with my thinking. Anyways, I should forget about him."

His heart constricted in his chest as he briefly recalled the amazing experience they shared. He'd been kind and gentle in bed, showing concern and care the entire night. Sawyer hadn't known such affection existed until him. It was such a pity.

"Awwn. Poor you," Maddie said in sympathy. "Well, you'll find someone better someday."

Sawyer yawned. "Probably," he wasn't looking forward to that at all. No man could measure up to Daniel if he was being honest. "I'm hungry. I don't know what's up with me these days. I keep eating too much."

"You've got the money, so you can afford an appetite," Maddie giggled. "Have you put on weight?"

Sawyer looked himself over before answering. "A little? I feel heavy."

"Wow. You need to exercise then. All this sitting indoors has made you fat."

Sawyer scratched his temples thoughtfully. "I don't think it's fat. I've also been having these morning sicknesses and my stomach hurts a lot as though something is kicking in it. I'll have to go to the hospital at this point."

"Oh god," Maddie exclaimed. "You don't think you're…"

"I'm what?"

"P-Pregnant, Sawyer. You're pregnant."

The omega snorted. "Don't get ahead of yourself, here. That's absurd."

"Well, those are the signs…morning sickness, frequent belly kicks, weight gain. Damn, I didn't envision being an aunt this early."

Sawyer's heart began pounding, his headlights. He felt as though he was about to collapse. "I can't be pregnant, Maddie. That's…not what I want for myself at this point."

"That's reality, baby. Did you two use condoms?" Shit, he was freaking out now. He remembered the blue seal still intact. Fuck!

Grabbing the half-emptied bottle on the table in the room, he walked back out to the balcony and gulped it down.

"Hello, Sawyer. You still there?" Maddie boomed from the other side of the phone. His hands were trembling now. "Calm down, boy. Did you two use protection?"

"No," Sawyer shut his eyes tight, tears escaping from the corners. His biggest fear had come true, and to think that he'd lost all concrete contact with Daniel. It was him alone now with…a baby.

"Oh, dear." Maddie breathed. "Maybe I'm wrong…still…still go for a test or something. Yes, you can get a pregnancy test there, right?"

Sawyer nodded, then remembered that Maddie was present with him. "Yes. I-I think I'll do that. Talk to you later, Maddie."

He sent for the pregnancy kit through a messenger, waiting with bated breath. When it arrived, he shut his door, the balcony entrance, and window blinds. In the room's dimness, he took off his shorts and inserted it, eyes bulging out in horror at the vivid red line when he pulled it out.

God. Oh god!

Maddie was right, he was going to be a father. A single father. Within minutes, he was sweating profusely, calling for another bottle of water. He hadn't…expected this. He'd hoped that he'd be lucky.

Feverishly, he placed a hand on his stomach, and almost immediately he felt kicks. A warm, fuzzy feeling came over him. He liked it. He liked what he was feeling.

Isn't this insanity? He asked himself. The shrill ringing of his phone drew him back to the present. It was Maddie calling.

"So how was it?" She asked anxiously.

"Positive."

"Oh, shit! What the hell are you going to do? If I remember correctly, you're in no way ready to have a baby."

Sawyer sighed. "I don't know what else to say, Maddy. It's a good thing I know of this now. At least I'll save up some money instead of using it all up. I hope the business keeps on moving well, else it'll be hell," he pressed a palm to his forehead, feeling a bit faint. "We would have it extremely rough if that happened."

"How about informing Daniel about it? He's the father…"

"I don't think that would be the right thing to do. He'll think I want to soak him for money. I'd like to handle this alone."

"In as much as I admire your independence, you're not doing yourself good by taking this responsibility solely upon yourself. He needs to know he's having a baby with you, and step up as a man and Alpha."

"I don't think he even remembers me, Maddie," Sawyer forced a laugh. It sounded bitter to his ears. "Besides, he's very busy for someone like me. Relax. I know how to handle this."

His heart was cut up as he said. "I hope something positive comes out concerning the ban by next week. I can't stay in Mexico much longer due to costs. I need to save up every little thing."

"I know, Sawyer. On the Brightside, I'm always here to help you. I'll send the statements of accounts and the amount I made these past weeks. I trust it'll be helpful. You also need to be healthy and eat good food. I don't want to be an aunt to a malnourished pup."

Sawyer chuckled. "I've heard you. I'll go find something to eat, then take a nap after. Talk to you later, dear."

He hung up.