Chapter 42
Hunter
Avery and Clover came downstairs during breakfast, my pack mate preening like a peacock with our omega in his arms. Clover’s dads watched them curiously over their coffee cups.
“Good morning, peanut,” Pete said, getting to his feet and heading toward the kettle to start it for Clover’s morning tea.
I bolted over to get to it first, and he gave me an approving smile when I laid out the loose-leaf herbal tea and everything I needed to make it.
We had been learning her little rituals and everything she enjoyed during the course of her stay with us.
Half the point of her dads being here was to assure them we could take care of Clover, and I wanted them to have no doubt in that.
Avery set Clover on her feet, and she made her rounds, planting a kiss on each dad’s cheek and aiming closer to center for the pack.
It was probably ridiculous how much I loved getting a kiss from our omega each morning.
Whether we spent the night in the nest or not, it was the perfect way to start the day.
Logan quietly whispered congratulations to Clover after their kiss, and I paused, wondering why he’d said that—until Avery stretched, the fabric of his shirt shifting to reveal a bond mark on his bicep.
Holy shit.
No wonder he was acting so proud of himself.
That was big.
Huge. Fucking monumental. Clover’s first bond into our pack hadn’t been intentional, but this…she didn’t have a hint of distress over this development, which meant she’d chosen it.
Holy fucking shit. While my brain was busy screaming, I covered it up by preparing Clover’s tea.
She was going to stay.
Our omega wanted to be part of our pack, and suddenly the infinitesimal hope I had been holding on to erupted into a supernova. Dreams and plans laid themselves out in a path I could actually see now.
Avery scooped her up again after she had delivered her good mornings and carried her over to sit on the counter next to where I was stirring in honey.
“Congratulations.” I chuckled, a thousand times more nonchalant than I felt.
“Wait, what’s going on?” Parker asked around a mouthful of pancakes.
“Avery and I bonded last night,” Clover announced as she accepted the cup I’d prepared for her. She leaned against my side and purred when I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her closer. Was she really offering a whole lifetime of this to us?
“Did you know about this?” Parker whipped around to look at Logan.
“Of course I did. I felt Avery enter the bond, but it’s not my announcement to make.” He turned from Parker to Avery. “I’m happy for you, man.”
“I feel like a whole new alpha,” Avery declared.
A wave of envy almost took me out at the knees. Logan, Avery, and Clover were in a metaphorical treehouse, while Parker and I were staring up at them from the ground.
Clover cupped my cheek and drew me into a sweet kiss. “What’s going on inside your head? There’s too much brow furrowing happening.”
I snorted. “I’m happy you guys bonded, I swear. The opportunity for life with you is everything I’ve wanted since we first met.”
“But?
“Maybe I’m a tiny bit jealous that Avery was able to sweep you off your feet before the rest of us. My time will come if I can prove to you how much I love you—”
Clover’s breath hitched and her blue eyes filled with tears. “You love me?”
“If you’re questioning it, that means I’ve done a shit job of making you feel it.
I’ve been obsessed with you from day one, and getting to come home to your beautiful face, building a family together, is what gets me through even the hardest days.
I can’t wait until you want me to sink my teeth into you. ”
Clover kissed me absolutely breathless, until one of her dads awkwardly cleared his throat. She laughed as she pulled away, her hands still sweetly cupping my face. “I love you, too, and yes, your time absolutely will come.”
Parker groaned. “You’re both going to be insufferable now, aren’t you?”
“Of course I am.” I laughed. “My omega just said she loves me.”
Avery looked panicked when John rose from the table to shake his hand.
“Welcome to the family, son.”
Avery stared at him with enormous eyes before accepting the handshake. “You’re not upset about what I did to your daughter?”
John’s cheeks flushed. “What Clover does is her business. So long as she wanted to bond you—”
“I did!” Clover interrupted.
“—then there’s no problem.” John turned to Logan. “I suppose I forgot to say the same to you when we arrived, but we’re glad Clover has decent taste in partners, even if you joining the family was accidental.”
Logan didn’t seem to know what to do with himself when John pulled him into a hug.
Poor guy. I knew he’d had a moment with Pete the other night, but this was more fatherly affection in a week than he’d probably had in his whole life.
Clover was bringing so much to our lives: her perfect self, our child, and involved fathers that, frankly, too much of my pack had gone without for so long.
“Maybe the next bonding could happen after we’ve left the house,” Pete suggested with an awkward laugh. “Truly, though, we trust Clover’s judgment, and I think it’s obvious to all three of us that you’re going to take good care of her.”
“I think this would be a good time for us to think about heading home,” Mike said.
“Home?” Clover’s expression fell. “I thought you were staying for the month?”
“We were, but that was to make sure you were safe and happy here, which you’ve already proven you are. Besides, I can’t sleep well anywhere except my own bed, but I promise we’ll be back to meet our grandbaby.”
I helped Clover off the counter and stood aside as she padded over to her dads, drawing them into a group hug around Mike, who was still sitting with his leg elevated.
“If you’re ready to go, we can schedule the family jet,” Parker offered. “You’re more than welcome to stay as long as you want, though.”
I nodded my agreement. “Clover loves having you around, and it’s been great getting to know all of you.”
“You can’t leave until after dinner at Meadow’s,” Clover stated.
“We wouldn’t dream of it,” replied Pete. “She’s practically a second daughter at this point.”
Avery perked up. “Is there anything else we can do in the meantime to make you feel extra secure about Clover staying with us? I added her to the group chat last night, so someone will always be available to answer anything she needs if we’re not right next to her, and I put on the location tracker thingy so we can all see each other. ”
Parker stirred his cup of coffee, cocking his head to the side. “I was going to suggest that. It’s better for logistics.”
I snorted. Parker was deeply protective of the ways people could reach him, but I wasn’t surprised he’d instantly caved on having Clover slide right into another pack space. “Logistics, sure.”
“Let me check if my other plan has arrived.” Parker flipped through the stack of mail and extracted one of the envelopes, handing it to Clover. “I can never make up for the bullshit I pulled, but I’m going to keep taking steps to correct it.”
Clover ripped open the envelope, revealing a sleek black credit card. “Parker?”
“There’s no limit on it. Whenever you need something, whatever it is, I don’t want you to hesitate. It’s attached to my personal account, and I trust you to use it responsibly.“
Holy shit.
Was today just a day of surprises? Clover must’ve done a number on Parker for him to go from a restrictive contract to a no-limit credit card. About fucking time. I was willing to buy Clover anything she wanted, but her own pack card was far preferable.
Clover slammed against Parker’s chest in a hug.
“Does this mean you’re happy with my offering?” Parker asked, looping his arms around her.
“I don’t need the money, but I do appreciate the trust.” Clover laughed. “I’m going to buy so much cute baby stuff.”
Now I wished I had something to offer her this morning. My declaration of love, and the breakfast plate I fixed up for her while she was busy, would have to do for now.
“I’m so glad you could come!” Meadow hugged us one by one. “Phin is cooking. It’ll be ready soon!”
Pete lifted Meadow right off her feet. “It’s so good to see you! How have you been? Where’s this little sapling Clover’s told us so much about?”
“Here he is.” Hendrix held Forest above the crowd.
“Sapling!” Clover cooed, striding over and plucking him out of Hendrix’s arms. “It’s been too long since I’ve had my snuggles.”
She looked so fucking cute with a baby in her arms.
“Hey there, little man,” I greeted him.
Forest shied away from me, and Clover tutted. “Sapling, that’s not very polite. That’s your Uncle Hunter.”
Meadow slid up next to us. “Don’t mind him. Forest has started that weird stranger-danger phase babies go through, but he’ll warm up to you soon enough.”
I hoped so, because Clover loved Forest, and I wanted anyone she loved to be comfortable around me and my pack.
Meadow, Clover, and her fathers got along so well that the rest of us easily fell into step with their laughter and discussion.
We crowded into the living room with a full view of the kitchen, so Phin was included.
Clover surprised me by sitting on my lap with Forest, her legs sprawled over Avery, and Logan at her back.
“Forest is going to love you by the time we head home tonight,” she insisted.
Logan laughed and planted a kiss on her shoulder. “You’re settling in quickly to the idea of the pack house being your home?”
“Yep.” She tipped her head back with a grin, getting a proper kiss from him. “You’re stuck with me now.”
I cuddled her closer. “Perfect.”
My good luck with Clover lasted through the night, with the whole pack being invited to sleep in her nest. I’d never been part of a full-pack cuddle puddle before, and apparently I’d been missing out. I slept like a fucking rock and woke practically a new person.