Chapter 39 Winnie
Winnie
I wake up tangled in a pile of alphas and a puppy at the end of my bed. Thank God I got the window air unit hooked up. It’s blasting cold air over all of us, making this comfortable instead of an oven.
Corbin’s muscled arm bands around me. The ridge of his nose rests against my forehead, and his steady breathing is like a lullaby.
Rafe is behind me, and I think I’m clutching his hand, but when I look down, the knuckles have familiar line drawings and they’re paler.
I realize Eli is behind Rafe, with an arm slung across him to reach for me.
Eli’s face is maskless, and in sleep his features are much more carefree and peaceful than they ever are during the day.
His face rests in the crook of Rafe’s neck, and they’re cuddled together, safe.
Gage nuzzles further into my abdomen, and his warm body between my legs sends a beat of heat to my core. Zeke looks back at me from my thigh, and when I catch his eyes, his warm contentment races through the bond, highlighting my own.
“Good morning, Blossom,” he whispers.
The others start to stir around us. I use the hand not in Eli’s to trail through Zeke’s fluffy, disheveled morning hair. His smile is quick, and his lips find my thigh, warm and soft.
“You sleep good, Sweetheart?” Corbin’s dream-thick voice asks against my forehead.
I nuzzle into his chest, scent-marking him, and his answering freight-train purr melts every bone in my body. Soon every alpha in the room joins in, and the acoustics of this little space make it feel like I’m inside a heartbeat.
I slept so well with them last night. I can only imagine that the next time I’m in this room alone, it will feel too big without them crammed into this bed. This room has never felt big before, and the thought sends a small shot of panic racing through me.
The first thing I thought of when I opened my eyes was the conversation with my friends. The one about my heat. The one about bonding.
It’s too early, I chide myself, trying to push the thought down. It’s too early and—
“Blossom.” Zeke’s eyes meet mine near my hip. I can tell he senses the rising tide of anxious emotions swirling inside me.
Eli pulls my hand up, and my knuckles graze Rafe’s lips. “What’s the matter, Softness?” Eli asks.
“What makes you think something’s the matter?” It’s childish. I’m stalling while I get my thoughts together.
“You get a crease between your brows,” Gage says, lifting his hand to drag the pad of his thumb gently between my eyebrows, right where my forehead has likely furrowed. “Just there.”
As his hand pulls back, his knuckles graze my cheek, and I can’t help scent-marking him too. My omega is desperate to make all of them ours. Gage’s cocky little smile tells me he has an inkling of exactly what I’m thinking.
I take a deep breath and start with the most pressing issue first. “My heat is coming up soon,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper.
Every alpha’s purr stutters. Every body seems to freeze in place. For one wild heartbeat, time stands still.
Then they’re all moving around me. Rafe and Corbin cage me between their broad chests. Eli leans over Rafe, running a soothing hand through my hair. Gage and Zeke both move further up my middle.
“Would,” I start, “would you want—”
“Yes!” Zeke says before I can finish. A small giggle escapes me. “That's the answer, right?” Zeke looks around at the others.
“Jesus, Zeke. Remember that chill we talked about?” Gage asks, bumping his shoulder.
“If you were going to ask us to stay for your heat, Sweetheart,” Corbin says, and I nod, “then I don’t think there’s an alpha in this nest who would say no to you.”
My heart feels like it might crush my chest.
“Okay,” I manage.
“Okay,” Rafe echoes, leaning in to press a kiss to my lips. Eli follows, his mouth grazing my forehead.
“In that case, though, we need to talk about the nest,” Gage begins.
I stiffen, my heart dropping again. My nest definitely isn’t ideal. I knew they couldn’t like it. I—
“Winnie.” Corbin’s soft bark pulls me out of my spiral. From the way they’re all looking at me, it’s not the first time he’s said my name. Gage looks absolutely abashed.
“Princess, that’s not what I meant,” he assures me, leaning up on his elbows to hover over my torso. “Your nest is lovely. It’s cozy and warm and perfect for you. I’m just worried that with such a small space, we can’t tend to all your needs here. And you deserve a dedicated space.”
What he’s saying makes sense, even if it still makes my chest ache.
“It’s kind of all there is, though. I don’t think the hotel has heat facilities,” I point out, since that’s where they’re still staying.
Corbin shifts beside us. His pale blue eyes meet mine. “My cabin has a nest space,” he says, like it’s a simple fact. I hold my breath. “It came with it. I wasn’t looking for it at the time. There are several extra bedrooms. Enough for the pack.”
The statement hangs there, still not quite a question.
“Is that a damn invite or what?” Eli gruffs, and I can’t help the laugh that bubbles up.
Corbin groans and buries his face in my neck, kissing along the column of my throat. “Yes, it’s a damn invitation. Mostly for my mate, but I suppose for the rest of you fuckfaces too.”
My mind catches on the words my mate. I love those words.
I love hearing them from Corbin’s mouth.
My perfume rises in the small space, and I feel five alphas snap to attention.
Rafe’s hand glides down my side and over my hip.
Zeke slides kisses up my leg. Corbin’s fingers find my chin and tip my face up to meet his.
His scar stands out starkly against his skin in the early morning light, making him look both dangerous and sexy.
“You like when I call you my mate, Sweetheart?” he asks, his lips brushing my jawline.
As he nibbles and nips, I struggle to breathe.
“Yes,” I manage through gasps. Zeke has reached the apex of my thighs.
Then my phone buzzes.
I’m primed to ignore it, but the name on the screen makes me pause. Rose. I glance at the clock. It’s six thirty in the morning. Rose is known for never getting up before noon if she can help it.
“Wait,” I say, and every alpha immediately pulls back.
I reach over Corbin’s shoulder and grab the still-buzzing phone. “Sorry,” I tell the room before answering. Every alpha’s attention stays locked on me.
“Up kind of early,” I say as a greeting, mostly to cover my worry. No one calls unless there’s a party or a problem.
“Cali’s in labor,” Rose says without preamble.
My heart does a strange sinking flip. We’ve been expecting this. She's two days past her due date. But it’s still huge.
“Oh my gosh. Okay. She’s at the hospital? Did it just start?” I know from my sisters that labor can take a long time.
I’m sitting up now, alphas crowding close, all watching with concern. Rafe drags a hand up and down my spine. Corbin curls around me. Zeke and Gage sit up at the end of the bed. Poor Deputy makes small whining sounds.
“No, sorry. I just,” Rose sounds frazzled. A deep alpha voice murmurs in the background, likely soothing her. “She went into labor last night. She knew it would take a while and didn’t want to wake us. The baby is here.”
“The baby’s here? And everyone’s okay? The baby and Cali?” I reach out blindly, and Eli takes my hand to steady me while I hold the phone with the other.
“Yes. Everyone’s healthy and safe. And we don’t get to know the name or gender until we meet them, so I’m heading over.”
“She’s up for visitors?” I ask. Giving birth and then seeing people sounds daunting.
“She said she is, but only for short periods. She wants everyone to meet the newest Book Club member,” Rose jokes.
I laugh, tears prickling my eyes. One of my best friends just had a baby. The first of us.
“Okay. I’m coming,” I say.
We hang up, and I scoot out of bed. The alphas start getting up too.
“I’m sorry I have to go,” I say as I grab clothes from the top drawer.
“Why’re you sorry, Dulzura?” Gage asks.
“Because I have to rush out like a maniac,” I reply, hunting for a bra.
“You mean because we have to rush out,” Gage says.
I pause and look back. They’re all getting dressed.
“We want to see the new baby too,” Rafe teases.
“Plus, driving frazzled doesn’t seem like a great idea,” Corbin adds.
“You guys want to come with me to see Cali’s baby?” I ask.
“We want to come with you to make sure you’re supported,” Eli corrects.
I don’t know if it’s the early hour, the emotions, or how close I am to my heat, but I definitely tear up again.
“Okay,” is all I manage before we’re dressed and heading for the bikes. Deputy stays behind, and I promise him treats when we get back.
It’s a cool morning, but I barely feel the chill as we ride to the hospital. I recognize several cars in the lot when we arrive. Clara is in the lobby with two of her alphas, Victor and Dagan—the twins.
We hug, and Rose looks lost. “Which way is the maternity ward? I’ve never been up there.”
After following signs and getting help from a kind older nurse, we find the right floor. The correct room is obvious. Alphas crowd the hallway, milling about. Clara and I hurry forward with our packs. Hunt, Sunny’s alpha and Connor’s best friend, smiles when he sees us.
“Ready for some cuteness overload?” he asks.
We nod and head inside. The room is large, an omega suite meant for packs welcoming pups. Since Cali only has three alphas, there’s plenty of space.
Cali lies in the middle of a large pack bed, Bax on one side, Connor on the other. Seth stands nearby, holding a small bundle.
Cali smiles when she sees us. “Hey,” she says weakly, and Clara and I both burst into tears.
Sunny's warm hand slips into mine. Rose's settles at the small of my back, grounding me.
“How are you?” I ask as we reach the end of the bed.
“Fucking awful,” she admits, smiling.
“We brought you lots of snacks,” Clara says, Victor lifting a bag behind her. “Hospital food is slow and disgusting.”
I kick myself for not bringing anything and vow to fix that next time. Cali doesn’t seem to care.
“Do you want to hold her?” she asks, eyes gleaming.
“It’s a girl?” I ask, elated. Not that boys aren’t wonderful, but the first baby in our omega group being a girl just hits differently.
She nods, and we’re all crying again. Seth steps forward, and the bundle becomes a tiny person.
Her face is scrunched and lightly bruised.
A small nose, light brown skin, and wisps of thin hair make it clear Bax is likely the biological father, though no one cares.
As a pack, they’ll all be her fathers. It’s just an interesting fact some packs learn for medical reasons, while others never do.
Very carefully, like he’s afraid I might drop her, Seth places the baby in my arms. She’s warm and wiggles before settling. The girls gather close and sigh.
“She’s so calm. Must be tired,” I murmur.
“She’s been very chill,” Connor says. “We know we’re lucky.”
I bite my cheek, remembering my sisters’ babies being the same at first. Quiet before the storm.
“What did you name her?” Clara asks, practically vibrating.
“It’s Jane,” Cali says.
Everyone coos.
“Like Jane Eyre?” Sunny asks.
Cali smiles and squeezes Connor’s hand. “Yes.” Jane Eyre is Cali's favorite book and one of her first pack dates with Connor was watching the movie.
We fawn over the baby, talk through the birth, and try not to wince when Cali gives too many details.
As I hold Jane, I catch my alphas watching me.
Each expression is different, tender or heated, but none look afraid or unsure.
And the bond, which I barely notice anymore unless I reach for it, lights up with something warm and soft and possessive.
Something I haven’t felt from Zeke before.
Something that feels unmistakably, beautifully like love.