43. Kelly
Chapter 43
W ork was long, school was long, Spence completely freaked out about this weekend and growled at several people in class who got even remotely close to me. I love Sam and I love Teddy, but all I want right now is to curl up with them and sleep. I’m just so danged tired. Still, Sam’s not wrong about needing some supplies for the nest, probably just not the ones he mentioned.
My throat’s still sore, but I don’t want to tell anyone, because I’m certainly not complaining after Steve and Jake both got shot trying to protect me. I don’t want to seem ungrateful, which deep down I know is ridiculous. We can all be injured, but I feel bad taking attention away from them right now. So I’ve tried to talk as normally as possible and pretend like nothing hurts. Having anyone dote on me makes me a little squirmy and uncomfortable.
Also, while I’m sure it would cool down their libidos if I mentioned how exhausted I was, I don’t want them to feel bad for wanting me. Which sounds stupid even to myself. They missed me and want to be physically close after we were apart. But…I’m…still feeling kind of awkward. I joked last night with the new toy I got for Teddy’s heat, but it’s still uncomfortable, especially after some of what Marc said. They weren’t just planning to choke me. That was just a bonus, I guess.
I retrieve a bottle of lube and some towels from the master bathroom and drag myself to the nest, feeling like if I close my eyes for more than a quick blink, I’ll be asleep. The door is closed, so I knock gently. Teddy opens it, but his eyes look red and swollen. The mattress on the floor behind him has stacks of blankets and pillows, and it takes more willpower than I like to admit for me not to crawl under the piles of pillows and close my eyes.
Teddy doesn’t look a heck of a lot better than me right now, so I let myself fall against him. We can hold each other up. My hands come up to cup his face and wipe a stray tear from his cheek. I don’t even have to ask what’s wrong. He nuzzles into my palm before picking me up and folding himself down on the mattress. I still huddle against his warm body, willing my eyes to stay open when his cozy cookie scent surrounds me.
“I missed you, Pixie.” he murmurs against the top of my head, squeezing me tightly. “Any chance you feel up to cuddling up in here with me before dinner? I’m so damned tired, and I just want to hold you…plus while the nest smells a little like you, especially on those pillows.” He points to the pile Steve and I were flopping on to read after we spent so much time cleaning on Saturday. “It’s not enough. Will you be upset with me if I steal your pajamas from the last few days…or can you pick out a few pairs to wear that you’re ok with me using for my nest afterwards?”
My poor omega, I forgot how sensitive their noses are. “Sorry, Teddy, I can totally pick out a couple of pairs that you can use, though I’ve really only got four that I wear and wash, and I threw those in the laundry before I left this morning. When I was living at home, I usually just wore a pair of panties to bed, but I didn’t want to make anybody uncomfortable. Would it be any easier if we all sleep down here for a few days?”
He groans against the top of my head. “You mean I could have been cuddled up to an almost naked beta this whole time?” His low chuckle sounds less sad than his voice before. “Maybe we should get you some more pajamas, because I’m pretty sure if you do that here, you’ll never get any rest.” He takes a deep breath against my hair, and his purr starts, making my body melt into his.
“I’m sorry, Teddy. I’m just so tired today. Cuddles sound amazing…but I gotta warn you that Sam’s probably gonna be here soon for more than snuggles. He seemed so excited about breaking in the nest, I didn’t tell him I was worn out. And we can play, if you both want to…I’m just not gonna be the most enthusiastic participant this evenin’…sorry.”
His purr stutters out, and he squeezes me before pulling back enough to look into my eyes. “Oh, Pixie, I would be happy…ok, not happy…but I would accept if I was only ever able to snuggle you and never actually have sex. I want you, so does Sam, but if you don’t feel up to it, that’s fine. We can always just play together, or make Garret come and give you cuddles while we play with Steve. Though with the way you two were getting along while we were gone, would you rather have cuddles from Steve instead?”
I fake some retching noises, looking up at my grinning omega. “Sorry, but I’m pretty sure Steve and I have come to an understanding. As much as he steals my clothes and books, it’s more like an irritating sibling that I have to share my boyfriends with. Heck, I think he even stole my chapstick last week. Who does that? It was pomegranate flavor and now it’s just gone from the bathroom.”
He lets out a light laugh at my rambling grumpiness, before stretching us out on the bed, positioning me in front of his big warm body, so he’s my big spoon. “Well, as long as you’re ok with sharing, and he stops trying to start shit, then we’re good. I love you, Pixie. I love that you accept me and Sam despite what you’re used to. I love that my best friend growing up has fallen head over heels for you, too. I even love that Vee is now your sassy gay best friend. ”
My head jerks around, staring at him, and he snorts another laugh. “He told me about the diner. What a bitch. Alpha chaser, really? Couldn’t she come up with something better to be snarky about…like blanket thief, or coffee tease…cheese novice?”
He snickers against the back of my head and my eyes slowly drift closed. My mumbled reply of, “Asshole,” sets off another burst of laughter as my body finally gives in to the warm comfort he’s offering, and my mind drifts off.
I wake up when the bed shifts, and the body behind me moves away. Mumbled voices filter through my consciousness, and I can’t quite make out what they’re saying. There’s a heated discussion, and I hear Sam’s low growl filtering through the room. Teddy’s not behind me anymore, but a warm body lies down in front of me. The salty scent of Garret fills my nose as he cuddles close to me.
Burying his face in my hair, all the tension in his body seems to melt, but with all the other grousing, I’m slowly coming fully awake. My stomach lets out a loud rumble, and I can feel his smile against the side of my head. “Are you hungry, Sweetness? Sam tried to come in earlier, but Teddy growled at him and told him you were asleep.”
Sam’s fresh cut cedar scent washes over me as big arms come around me from behind and warmth settles against my back. “You know, Sugar, if you’d just told me you just wanted cuddles earlier, I would have listened. You never have to pretend to be ok. I’m sorry I didn’t realize how out of it you were. You’re just always so upbeat. I didn’t think about it. I’m sorry.” He rubs his whiskers against the back of my neck, and I nearly come off the bed with a loud, shrieking giggle.
A big hand wraps around my ankle, dragging me to the end of the bed, and then pulling me up and cradling me against a warm cookie scented chest. “Leave Kelly alone. She doesn’t feel good. I told you, her neck hurts and she’s tired.” Teddy’s voice is a low growl, and both Sam and Garret curse behind me. I try to push out of my omega’s hold, not wanting to be a problem, but he starts to purr and I have to struggle to keep my eyes open.
“Teddy, I’m fine. Seriously, it doesn’t hurt that bad. They can snuggle me. I don’t want anybody to feel like I don’t want ’em around.”
Sam growls beside us, but Teddy talks over him. “Pixie, I tried to cuddle you earlier. You whimpered whenever I got close to your neck. Don’t lie to me, Love, you’re definitely not ok. Now, you can tell me how you’re really doing, and what’s on your mind, or I can be an overprotective, possessive asshole about it until you decide to. ”
It surprises me how much the idea of that appeals to me, Teddy being overprotective, not telling my guys what’s really on my mind. But it’s not fair to them. My gaze flips around the room till I find Steve by the door. His eyes meet mine and he gives a small shrug before looking back at the floor. He was with me this week, so he heard what his dad threatened, but he’s telling me it’s my choice, and I appreciate that.
Still, Teddy told me and Sam something similar happened to him. Maybe we should both come clean and hope like crazy that Garret’s head doesn’t explode since he’s gonna get twice the surprise. I push off Teddy’s chest and he sets me down with a muttered grumble.
“This room’s a lot bigger than I realized. Even with all five of us in here, it doesn’t feel cramped.” My voice is overly bright and chipper as I try to change the subject.
True to form, Teddy calls me out. “Yes, my nest is lovely. Thank you for doing so much work on it…all of you. Now, spill Pixie. What’s wrong?”
I’m saved from having to answer by my stomach growling again, and then Sam is ushering us all out of the room. He leads us all to the table and insists that I sit down while he fixes me a plate of Spanish rice, refried beans, and tacos…which he loads down with lettuce and tomato. I don’t mind the onion so much, but he just laughs at me when I throw a glare his way.
We reconvene to the living room after dinner, and I realize they’ve rearranged the furniture while I was asleep—I must have missed that when I came through earlier. The old couch is pushed up against the wall directly in front of the coat closet, and the big sectional that Steve and Garret brought from L.A. is wrapped around the coffee table. Jake lies in the corner on his back, his coned head facing me, and his tail making loud thumping noises when I come into the room.
Jake grunts loudly and tries to roll over to scoot next to me, but Sam takes the spot between us, scratching between my fuzzy buddy’s ears. Teddy sits on my other side, and Steve and Garret take the other end of the couch. Steve sits next to Jake, gently stroking a hand down the big dog’s back. He was never mean to Jake before, but now he goes out of his way to show affection, and Jake is milking his injuries for all they're worth.
My voice starts out shaky, but steadies as I go on. “So, Steve already knows about this, but it kinda relates to Teddy, too. If you feel up to talking afterwards, I think it’d be good. But it’s your choice. I’m…I don’t want to think about this, so I’m gonna say it once. Then it’s done. Please don’t ask again, ok?”
My voice cracks a few times as I tell them about waking up and the call to 911. Seeing Marc in the front yard, and then the threats he made about how nobody would want me after they were done, but at least I’d be broken in. Four loud snarls and one whimper from Jake meet that particular revelation. They continue even as I turn to Steve and explain about blacking out, not remembering anything until I woke up under his bleeding body.
Sam nods at the injured alpha, and Garret wraps one arm around Steve, pulling him into a half hug. His whispered, “ Thank you,” is almost inaudible. Teddy looks both horrified and relieved as he stares across the couch at the man he has such conflicting feelings towards. After a long pause, Steve picks up the story and explains his and Jake’s end of what happened. Including, but not limited to, how they both got shot. I’m a bit surprised it hasn’t come up yet. My throat hurts, so I’ve barely been able to talk, but I thought he would have said something before now to our pack. We talked to the police this morning, so it’s just surprising that this is news to all of them.
Once Steve and I are done, I turn to Teddy, and he looks near tears himself. Though if it’s from anger or worry, I don’t know. “Well, I guess I can see what you mean now. Shit, I didn’t want to have this conversation…ever.” He looks from Garret to Steve and back, slowly unbuckling the leather around his wrists. When he unwraps them, I’m surprised again by the difference in skin tone.
Both twins gasp as he rolls his wrists over, and a loud sob breaks from Steve. He suspected, we both did. But suspecting and knowing aren’t the same thing. Conversely, Garret’s mouth is set in a grim line as he stares between the three of us. When he does speak, his voice is a broken croak. “Fuck, Teddy. I’m…I’m so fucking sorry. We…we didn’t. Shit. I mean…fucking fuck!” He nearly screams the last part, but Teddy’s low chuckle draws him up short.
“At least let me tell you what happened before you try to take all the blame? A month ago, I would have let you…but now…you deserve the truth. Sam and Kelly are the only ones who’ ve heard this, and it was just while you two were at the hospital on Sunday.” Steve nods dumbly, eyes fixated on the pale skin, as Teddy tells them the story of the meeting with their dad, and the threat to his family.
By the time Teddy finishes, Sam has pulled me into his lap and tugged our omega directly beside him so he can wrap his arms around us. He’s making quiet murmuring noises against the side of Teddy’s head as he tries to rock us back and forth. Teddy has gone slightly green, like he’s about to lose his tacos. Steve and Garret are both snarling on the other couch, and I hear one of them mutter, “Should have killed the bastard myself.” Probably Steve, since Garret wasn’t here. Unless they’re talking about an earlier time.
Sam looks over at them both. “Which reminds me, you need to call the hospital tomorrow and set up that testing. Also, can you ask about how long it’ll take for Teddy to do…whatever he needs to do to get tested to check about matching with Brice?” Teddy jerks and now it’s my turn to ask for an explanation.
We’re all up until late in the night talking, exchanging stories about what happened to each group over the last week. And by the time we finish, everyone’s emotionally exhausted. At Sam’s suggestion, we all pile into the nest. He says it’s so the nest can smell like all of us before Teddy’s heat. Steve jokes about the lack of stairs being a bonus for me and I set my alarm for a half an hour early. There won’t be any sunlight coming in here to wake me up, and I am definitely gonna need a shower before I head to work.