Knight Life In Vegas (Sin City Omegas #3)

Chapter 43

E verything ached. Deliciously so, as if the memory of what had happened was branded into each muscle. Impossibly warm and cocooned, I delayed opening my eyes for as long as possible. I had only flickers of the past few days, but it was enough to piece together that I’d had a heat. My first in years.

It was…unreal. The drastic difference between my experience with this pack and my heats with Andrew hurt my brain to think about. I was pretty sure they hadn’t left me alone for a moment and had diligently cared for me through my whole heat.

The warm glow of my alphas asleep in the bond didn’t trigger my panic like I’d expected it to, the way it had when I bonded Beau and Chico. All four of them in there felt secure, safe, like I was held steady by the balance of all those connections.

I had already sort of figured my body would keep triggering heat flushes until I had bonded all of them; I just hadn’t expected a full blown heat.

Whoever was behind me shifted, drawing me closer with a soft sigh. Then another movement elsewhere, and affection tumbled down the bond as Dylan woke, his purr roaring to life as he nuzzled my thigh.

“I know you’re awake, princess.”

Reluctantly, I peeled open one eye. Beau was deeply asleep in front of me, Eduardo beneath me, and Dylan using my butt cheek as a pillow, which meant Chico must be the one behind me.

Dylan sat up and stretched, but I was so tangled in the others I wasn’t able to do the same. My golden retriever of an alpha looks like he had been tossed through a tumble dryer. I probably didn’t look any better.

“How are you feeling?” Dylan asked, covering his yawn with a hand.

I wiggled carefully, not wanting to wake the others. “Good. Tired.”

Dylan laughed quietly. “I’m surprised you’re conscious. You gave us a run for our money.”

Chico groaned and pulled me even closer, tucking his face against my throat to plant a kiss there. Goosebumps erupted over my skin. “Good morning, duchess.” He made a soft grumbling sound. “Is it even morning?”

“Fuck if I know,” Dylan replied. He rubbed his eyes and climbed out of the nest, staggering like a newborn foal. Picking up a phone, he clicked it on and scrutinized the lock screen. “Two PM. And it’s Wednesday.”

Chico sighed, stretching without letting go of me. “Your heat was damn convenient in its timing, duchess.”

“Was it?” I wasn’t quite awake enough to know why.

“It triggered Sunday night,” he explained, “and we had Monday and Tuesday off anyway. It’s going to be rough going in tonight, but not impossible.”

I couldn’t imagine sitting on a horse right now, but then my experience with the heat was probably a little different than theirs.

Dylan dropped back down on the edge of the nest. “You’re not freaking out.”

“Should I be? Do you want me to?”

“No.” He climbed all the way in until he was over top of me so he could drop a kiss to my lips. “I just figured you would with the whole bonding situation.”

I drew him in again, sliding my fingers into his hair so I could get a proper kiss. “It’s cute you think I have the energy to panic after all of you demolished me for three days.”

Eduardo woke, blinking rapidly until his eyes cleared. “Why is everyone on top of me?”

“You’re just lucky, I guess,” Dylan said with a laugh.

That woke Beau too. Whatever panic I might have been capable of was held on a short leash by the rivers of affection flowing from all of them toward me. I blinked back tears. I’d never felt that much love before.

Beau shifted toward me, brushing his knuckles over my cheek. “Why are you crying? You don’t feel upset in the bond.”

“I’m not. Just overwhelmed.”

He moved closer and pulled me into his arms, Dylan angling so I could be scooped right onto Beau’s lap. “What can we do?”

“You’re already doing it.” I sighed, letting myself relax against him. “Does Ava still have the boys?”

“I let her know you went into heat,” said Dylan. “They’re keeping them until you go get them.”

Guilt burned hot in my chest at the idea of asking Ava to keep them one more night. I wasn’t confident I could stand upright and the boys were always a little wild when they came back from their sleepovers. “Can someone pass me my phone, please?”

Chico grabbed it for me out of my purse and I composed a message to Ava.

Charlotte:

Sorry Dylan didn’t get to update you. I kept him occupied. Thank you so much for watching the boys. You’re a literal angel and I don’t know what I would do without you.

Ava:

You’re more than welcome

How are you feeling?

Charlotte:

Vaguely human. I could use about 20 more hours of sleep.

Ava:

Want us to keep them one more night?

It’s no trouble

I blew out a relieved breath.

Charlotte:

Would you? I miss them but some recovery time would be amazing.

Ava:

I get it lol

I am very familiar with the post-heat feeling

Rest up and we’ll see you tomorrow

Charlotte:

Thank you

“Okay. No boys tonight.”

“That’s probably for the best,” said Beau. “How long until everyone has to leave for work?”

“Technically we should have been there about half an hour ago,” replied Chico.

I didn’t want them to go anywhere, but this business was their baby, and omega leave worked a lot different when you were the one in charge of things. “I’ll come with you.”

Relief rolled through the bond from Dylan and Eduardo. I couldn’t be apart from them so soon after the bond, but I wasn’t especially excited about going out in public just yet.

“Let’s get washed up,” suggested Chico. “A shower and a good meal will help everyone.”

“You all go ahead,” said Beau.

“What are you doing while we do that?”

“Ordering food and stripping your nest. I’m reasonably certain I can get all of it washed and dried before everyone gets home since we have laundry in both suites.”

“You’re not coming with us?” I asked.

“You won’t even notice I’m gone.” He kissed the top of my head. “Think of how good it’s going to feel to slip into a fresh, clean nest tonight.”

I couldn’t deny that would be amazing. We had made quite a mess of everything.

I let the others bundle me off into the shower while Beau got to work. They scrubbed every inch of me and Chico braided my damp hair for me afterward. By the time we were all dried and dressed, the pizza Beau ordered for us had arrived and I inhaled a whole medium one myself.

Dylan winked at me. “As voracious for food now as you were for cock during the heat.”

My cheeks burst into flame.

“Don’t be embarrassed. It was hot as hell.”

We all rocked up to the arena, looking a little worse for wear. The staff members who were already there—mostly the knights who were checking over their horses and getting them warmed up—had their eyes on us. Too exhausted to give it much thought, I leaned against the stall wall between Eclipse and Applesauce.

Leo grinned at me while he brushed down Eclipse. “Rough weekend?”

“You could say that.” I covered a yawn with my hand and reached in to pet Eclipse’s muzzle.

“Do you think your friend will come to the show again?”

“I can definitely ask her.”

Dylan snatched me up, huffing my scent and squeezing me against him. “I’m gonna need you to be waiting in the wings for a cuddle every second I’m not out there.”

I melted into his arms. “That can be arranged.”

A moment later Eduardo was there too, sandwiching me between them. “This is ridiculous. I can’t go five minutes without you now.”

I caught Leo’s curious gaze. “Did you guys bond already?”

“Yeah, I’m not very good at bonding on purpose,” I replied.

“As long as you’re happy,” Leo said with a shrug. “I’d love to meet my scent match and connect with them that quickly.”

Every time I got close to working up a panic, it was almost immediately buried under an avalanche of affection from my pack.

“I’ll warm up your horses,” Chico said as he came by, taking note of Dylan and Eduardo plastered against me.

“I’ll help,” offered Leo.

“You’re the best,” Dylan yelled as Chico and Leo led Applesauce and Scout into the arena.

The actual show was a blur. I stayed tucked in the wings at Dylan’s request so my alphas could practically fly off their horses and into my arms as often as possible. They had set up a little waiting station for me with a chair and a meal the servers brought to me. I was too tired to do much more than sit there, dropping off into brief naps a half dozen times through the evening. How the alphas managed to ride their horses, throw javelins, and sword fight was beyond me.

“You guys get home for some rest,” Leo said. “I’ll stay late and take care of your horses.”

With profuse thanks, they tucked their horses into the stalls to await Leo’s care and bundled me back to Chico’s office while they showered and changed.

I couldn’t even work up the energy to be embarrassed when Chico picked me up and carried me out to the vehicle to head home. He drove, since his bond wasn’t quite so fresh, Eduardo and Dylan draped all over me in the backseat.

When we stepped back inside the apartment, it smelled fresh and clean. Beau was in the kitchen, tending to a pot on the stove. “You’re all home early. Have a seat and I’ll dish everyone up.”

Most of the nest contents were neatly folded, and I couldn’t wait to burrow.

“The last items are in the dryer now,” said Beau as he passed me a bowl of beef stew and a plate of heartily buttered baguette. “I know it’s not a very seasonal dish, but I figured it would help with recovery.”

He dished up everyone else and we sat together in the living room on the plush couches. Every bite was exquisite. I tore into the bread, using it to mop up the remains of the sauce and looked at Beau plaintively for more.

“Full serving or half to start?”

“Just give her a full. I’ll eat whatever she doesn’t finish,” said Dylan.

With a nod, Beau fetched me another serving and I scarfed it down as easily as the last.

They were so sweet with me, every alpha touching me as often as possible and letting me fall asleep in their arms.

I woke in the dark to my phone ringing. I fumbled toward it, answering groggily. “Hello?”

“Charlotte,” said Ava, “I’m so sorry to wake you.”

I sat up sharply, the bolt of panic lancing through me and waking the whole pack. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing bad,” she promised. “Ollie woke up crying, asking for Mommy and Daddy. That was almost an hour ago. We can’t get him to calm down.”

“I’m getting up. We’ll be there soon. Thank you.”

“No problem. We’ll be waiting up.”

My pack and I dressed quickly and we set off in the middle of the night to Ava’s. I kept twitching with anxiety, and when it came to my kids, it didn’t matter what the pack sent to me through the bond, I couldn’t stop worrying.

“It’s okay,” Dylan soothed. “He’s not in any danger. He just misses you.”

“He wouldn’t have to miss me if I’d just brought him home tonight.”

“Charlotte,” Beau said firmly, “you are allowed to rest. I know it doesn’t feel like it, but you haven’t done anything wrong.”

I tried to repeat that to myself until we pulled up into Ava’s driveway. The lights were on, and Bryce opened the door to us before we could knock.

Sammy and Ollie were both awake, Ollie sobbing his little heart out on Ava’s lap with Waffles clutched to his chest.

“Mommy!” Sammy yelled, hopping off the couch and racing toward me. He slammed against me, squeezing tight, and I winced over every tender spot he found.

“Hi, honey.”

“Ollie won’t stop crying,” Sammy said against my stomach.

“Let’s go see him.” I walked with him over to Ollie and Ava. My youngest looked at me with tear-filled eyes, instantly breaking my heart. “Mommy’s here, baby.”

He climbed right into my arms and I sat there on the floor with him, letting him cry. His hiccups interrupted his sobs every so often. “I want Daddy, too.”

“I’m sorry, baby. Daddy’s back in New York. You know we can’t see him.”

Ollie shook his head, rubbing his face against my shirt. I didn’t relish being used as a tissue, but it was par for the course with young children. He lifted a shaky hand, making a grabby motion toward where the pack was standing. “But Daddy’s right there. Why’s he just standing there and not hugging us?”

I glanced at my pack, confused. “Ollie, honey, who are you talking about?”

That only made him cry harder. “Daddy!”

My pack edged closer and Ollie grabbed Beau’s pant leg. I shared a look with my first bond before turning back to my son. “Are you calling Beau Daddy?”

“He is Daddy.”

“Honey, what makes you think that?”

“He’s here way more than other Daddy and I wanna keep him. He loves us.”

Beau got down on his knees and Ollie flung himself from my arms and into Beau’s. My alpha looked at me with wild eyes but held Ollie nonetheless.

“ What is happening right now?” Bryce asked quietly.

Nerves chewed at me. I knew things were better between Bryce and Beau, but it had to bring up some feelings to see one of my kids calling Beau his dad.

“Your guess is as good as mine,” replied Beau as he shifted into a more comfortable position. Sammy took advantage of the swap-out and climbed onto my lap, both boys quickly falling asleep now that they had what they wanted.

Bryce nudged the couch further away to settle down next to his dad, looking at him with a mix of emotions. “Hey,” he said softly, “it’s okay to love them.”

“I don’t want to hurt you,” Beau replied quietly, his voice thick, guilt and nervous energy blazing down the bond from him.

“You were an amazing dad when I was little and I want them to have that too. It’s an adjustment to see you like this now, but I’m not upset. I think it’s good for you and for them.”

I sucked in a shaky breath. Ollie was going to be devastated when Beau left us. I had known he was leaving from the start, and I’d been more than okay with that when he first came on the scene, but how was I supposed to be okay with it now? How could I just let him go after everything?

I burst into tears, sitting there on the floor in front of everyone.

Panic jolted through the pack, launching them into action, couch and coffee table getting moved aside so the others could surround me.

They would stay, and I was grateful for that, but Beau and I had an expiration date, and I didn’t know how to cope with that anymore.

“Charlotte, what’s wrong?” Beau took my hand.

“I don’t want you to go,” I sobbed out.

“You didn’t tell her?” Bryce asked.

“I was kind of occupied,” Beau defended.

Ava passed me a box of tissues and I mopped my face with them. “Tell me what?”

“I’m not leaving.”

“You—you’re not? But that was always the plan.”

Beau scooted closer, cupping the back of my head so he could press a kiss to my forehead. “Plans change. I’ve failed a lot in my life when it comes to the people who are important to me, and I’m not allowing that to continue.”

I’d fought the entire time, resisting the building of this new family, too afraid of how Andrew had broken me to let myself accept the gifts fate had given me. I didn’t want to fight anymore. I wanted to feel safe, to feel precious, and I was pretty sure I hadn’t passed a day where these alphas didn’t make that my reality.

“Do you want me to take him, querida?” Eduardo offered, reaching toward Sammy. I let him gather up my son, soft affection trickling down the bond as Eduardo held him. The same came from Beau, exactly what I remembered feeling from my own parents. Ava and her pack stepped back to give us space, near enough to call if we needed to, but not so close as to be obvious if they were eavesdropping.

“Do you all really want to do this with me?” I asked quietly. The bond lit up like a series of spotlights before I could worry too much that any of them might want otherwise.

“You think any of us could leave you?” Dylan asked, rubbing his cheek against mine.

“We’re not that easy to get rid of, duchess.” Chico pulled me onto his lap, everyone edging closer. “Are you saying you want to give this an actual go?”

I pulled in a shaky breath. “I don’t know how to fight it when I can feel everything. Seems ridiculous to even try, so, yeah, that’s what I’m saying. I’m trying to make peace with my past and not let it steal more time from me.”

“Are you ready to go home, querida?”

I leaned closer, resting my temple on Eduardo’s shoulder. Home. We’d definitely need something that fit us all in one space soon, and I was able to look forward to that without wondering if I was good enough, if they wanted me, or any other lingering questions with how brightly their sentiments burned in the bond.

“Yeah. I’m ready.”