Building a Pack is Ruff, Part 1 (The Pack Pets Omegaverse #2)

16. Sam

Chapter 16

I wake up to the sweetest beta pressed against my chest. One hand tucked under her chin, the other hand holding onto my chest hair. Which is slightly painful, and most likely what woke me up. She murmurs something in her sleep and yanks again.

Yeah, that will definitely open your eyes.

Shit.

Last night hit her hard. I think all the confrontation, grocery shopping, then a big dinner knocked her for a loop. If she isn’t feeling better today, I’ll take her and Teddy both to the doctor. I look over her shoulder, taking in my omega. He looks so much better this morning. He isn’t as pale, and he’s smiling in his sleep as he buries his face against Kelly’s hair. I hear a small murmur as he pulls her closer against him, causing her to yank against my chest hair again. If this keeps up, I’m gonna have a bald patch there.

Stroking my fingers over her jaw, I make quiet susurrations—trying not to wake either of them up—but to get her to at least relax enough to let go so I can slip out. It’s bright outside. I forgot to close the curtains, and I need to get up and let Jake out before he has an accident. Her fingers finally loosen enough for me to escape, and I slide out of the bed, not bothering to put on anything more than my shorts so I can take care of Jake as soon as possible.

I open the door and almost trip over the big lug. He’s laying sprawled on his back in the hallway. His eyes pop open and he wags at me, his legs flailing in the air as he tries to roll over. “C'mon, bud, let's get you outside,” I murmur quietly to him, patting my leg when he finally manages to get upright. He follows me downstairs, only looking back at the bedroom door and whining once. By the time we reach the back door, he’s practically wiggling in circles around me.

I open the door and barely manage to get the screen unlocked before he pushes it open and bolts outside, running back behind the shop to take care of his own business. Leaving him to it, I wander towards the kitchen, headed for the coffeepot. I can get that running before I start on breakfast. It’s a good thing Kelly picked up all the staples yesterday so I actually have stuff to cook this morning.

I don’t usually bother for myself. It’s easier to just fix something fast. But I need them to know I can take care of them. I grab out all the ingredients to make stuffed French toast and strawberries. I remember hearing Brice complain about not getting anything but decaf, and I don’t have that. So, I also pull down my sampler box of tea and put the kettle on. According to Brice, omegas are supposed to avoid stimulants if at all possible due to hormone fluctuations. I like tea well enough, but sometimes I need my fucking caffeine fix.

I just finish mixing up the cream cheese for the French toast when I hear Jake scratching at the screen door. It’s still cool enough to leave the back door open, and no one comes around that way anyway. I let him in and he scrambles to his food bowl, glaring at me when he beats me to it since I haven’t filled it yet. “Sorry, buddy, I’ve been kinda busy.” I pat him on the head and pour a big scoop of kibble into his dish. He’s already scarfed most of it down by the time I finish washing my hands and get back to chopping.

The strawberries are sliced and cream is whipped when I make my way upstairs. Teddy's still holding tight to Kelly, and he’s purring in his sleep. Part of me wants to wrap myself around both of them again and go back to bed. But after yesterday, my main priority is making him feel secure. I sit on the bed beside him, and he pulls her closer as his body rolls towards the dip in the mattress. Running my fingers over his forehead and through his hair, I’m glad to see his fever's completely gone. He nuzzles against my palm, but when his tongue comes out to lick my fingers and nip at my thumb, I know he’s just faking sleep. Probably to keep snuggling our beta.

I lean down to give him a kiss and his mouth opens for me as soon as our lips touch. He lets out a low moaning whine, and I’m suddenly rock fucking hard in my sleep pants. Which do nothing to hide my erection. He chuckles quietly, murmuring against my lips. “Feel free to come back to bed, Sexy. I’m sure we can think of a good way to wake up Kelly that she would enjoy. Plus, open up a few of those boxes she got last night, try them out.”

I can’t stop my loud bark of laughter, and Kelly jolts straight up in bed, looking around groggily. Teddy glares at me as I pull back, but there’s no real heat in it. “Sorry guys, breakfast is just about ready, and I didn’t want your food to get cold.”

He grumbles at me a bit, but swings his legs out of the bed beside me and sits there for a minute, getting his bearings. Kelly circles the bed, running her hands over his forehead and through his hair as well. “Are you feeling any better?”

He smolders up at her. “Well, I could be more better.” He waggles his eyebrows and she smiles back.

“Nope, let’s get you some food first. We can play later.” He grumbles but lets her pull him off the bed and we all go downstairs.

There are still a few minutes left on the coffeepot, but the kettle's puffing out little bursts of steam and half whistles, so I turn off that burner. “So, who gets coffee, who gets tea…” I open the door to the fridge, doing a quick scan. “And who gets orange juice?” Kelly stands beside the sampler pack of teas reading the box while Teddy looks longingly at the coffee.

Must be a shared omega trait.

Not that I blame them, I can’t imagine.

“Do you have any Constant Comment or Spiced Chai?” he asks me.

It takes me a minute to think because I don’t drink tea that often. “Check the pantry, second set of shelves on the right, third shelf down, wooden box. If I have anything that’s not in the sampler, it’ll be there. I know I used to, but I can’t remember when I drank it last.” Teddy walks over to the pantry still casting longing gazes at the coffee, I hear a few grumbles, and I think he called me obsessive. Well, he’s not wrong, but I like a tidy workspace. Lord knows what he’ll think if he ever comes out to the shop. He leaves the pantry carrying a packet of orange and spice tea. Good flavor, naturally sweet, but I guess I must have been out of the others. I make a mental note to put them on my grocery list, along with a canister of decaf.

Kelly pulls the orange juice out of the fridge for herself, and I get a cup of tea steeping for Teddy while I start plating the first batch. I make them sit down and enjoy their food while it’s still hot since I can only do a few pieces at a time and ideally you need the contrasting temperatures when serving this. It’s just as well, since Teddy finishes everything off, and takes me up on the offer for a second slab and more strawberries. Jake's circling the table, waiting for someone to drop something, and I lead him outside with the promise of a slice of ham if he’ll play outside while we eat. He hops around in circles, before taking off after a squirrel in the backyard.

Kelly’s putting her plate and glass in the dishwasher when I return and declines my offer for more food as I finish cooking the last few slices and settle in next to Teddy. She comes back to the table with a cup of coffee and sits down beside me, running her foot over mine under the table and then smiling as she kicks me lightly. I guess this is happy-flirty Kelly. It’s nice. Teddy finishes his breakfast and tea, then loads his own dishes in the washer before coming back to sit down too, still looking at her cup of coffee. I need to make getting decaf a priority.

Kelly takes a sip from her cup and he watches her, licking his lips. I’m about to insist he goes and gets some damned coffee before he gives me a nervous breakdown when she speaks up. “So, do we have any plans for today? I know yesterday we said today we were going to spend the day talking and getting to know each other. Did you have anything specific in mind?” I don’t think she means anything by it, but Teddy bites his lip and wags his eyebrows at us both.

Fuck my life.

Not that I don’t want to, I would love to spend the whole day in bed getting to know every inch of both of them. But for Kelly’s peace of mind if nothing else, we need to talk so she knows this isn’t just about sex. Kelly's giggling at the faces he makes at her, but they both sober up when I touch his hand. “I am completely onboard with that plan later, but I really do think we should spend some time together today, actually talking. Come on, I can show you the basement.” I take my last bite of breakfast and put my plate in the sink. I’ll come back and wash the breakfast dishes in a bit.