44. Garret
Chapter 44
W ednesday is a whirlwind, with Kelly getting up for work early to make sure she’s there before the owners to get the ancient coffee maker working. Which is puzzling after we dropped off a new one that she hasn’t mentioned.
I do call the hospital and schedule my MRI that Dr. Baxter sent in for me. It won’t be until next week, but with Teddy’s heat on the horizon, that’s fine. They also set up Teddy’s swab test for the bone marrow matching at the same time. He could go in at any time to do it, but he’s really emotional and hormonal right now, and it just makes sense to get it all done in one trip.
I drive her to work and then bring her lunch so I can drive her to school. After what she told us last night regarding my father, I’m in a constant state of near panic about her safety. There’s the large alpha that follows her around school, and while I don’t like it, he seems protective enough that he can keep her safe while I’m not there. It also gives me someone to talk to while I wait for her. I’ll need to find a job soon, because even before Sam lost his shop, I refused to be completely useless. I want to make good enough money that I can give Kelly whatever she might want. My sweet girl deserves to be spoiled.
I walk up to the house behind her, knowing that I’m hovering. I just can’t seem to help it. Every instinct I have is screaming at me to keep her safe. She was already attacked here once, and who knows what could be lurking around the corner to take her away from me? The need to bite and claim only intensifies as she opens the door and I’m plowed over by a fucking freight train of pheromones.
Smells like my packmates had an interesting day. Sam and Vee sit on the couch, each with a glass of water and a worn down expression. Kelly rushes over to Sam, hovering and trying to figure out what’s wrong. I know she’s a beta, but can’t she tell from the scent? If Teddy’s not already in heat—and going by my pack sitting on the couch instead of being in the nest with him, he’s not—then he will be by tonight. So what the hell are these two doing out here?
Steve answers my unspoken question. “My bear kicked us out. He wants to make sure the room’s perfect and refuses to let us in until Kelly gets home from school. All because he wants her to be the first one to see all his work.” He sneers at my beta, and going by the uncomfortable-looking bulge in his jeans, I can understand a bit of the snark. Shit, I don’t even want Teddy, but the fucking omega pheromones that are trying to drown me demand that I take Kelly into the other room and lick her down to the gooey center.
Sam grumbles from the other end of the sectional. “Fine, yes, now, how about instead of bitching out the beta for something she has no control over, we see if she feels up to talking to Teddy before I lose my fucking mind. I’m fine taking matters into my own hand at this point, but if his heat’s starting and he needs us, I don’t want to be…um…out of juice, so to speak.”
Kelly lets out a tired sigh—she’s still worn down, even if she doesn’t like to admit it—and walks down the hallway to the newly refurbished nest. Her knock is quiet on the door, and it’s only a moment later that Teddy answers—like he was just waiting for her. Maybe he was. The big omega opens the door enough to stick his head out. His skin is flushed, his hair a wild tangle around his head, and the scent that bursts forth from the room is gonna leave me with a fucking zipper indent in my raging erection.
I let out a tiny whimper when he takes Kelly’s hand and gently pulls her into the room. I can see the look of surprise and awe on her face when she peers inside—before he closes the door, effectively shutting out all the alphas in the house.
The door muffles most of the sound, but I hear Kelly’s voice. “Teddy, it’s gorgeous. Your nest looks amazing.” I imagine the big omega preening at her praise. I’ve seen catalog displays for nests before, we all have, but each one is unique for its owner. While many of the store examples are in soft pastels and cream tones, everything Teddy had was dark tones or black. Like some sort of gothic fairytale prince.
Of course, he could probably pull off the goth vibe easily, except he’s too broad. I can see why so many people mistake him for an alpha. He looks just like one, and if it weren’t for his scent, it’d be impossible to realize he’s an omega. Heck, seeing him with my brother, I’d peg Steve for the omega of the pair. But now I’m just trying to distract myself from the sound of Kelly’s clear laughter that filters from the room. I’m torn between wanting to retreat to the living room with the guys, or press my ear to the door to hear more of her voice.
I am so fucking wound up for this girl, and I hope like hell she lets me mark her and bond her during this heat. Am I even going to be able to stay in the room, or is it going to get too strange with three other men? My brain is all tangled up between emotion and instincts, and I very nearly scream at being pulled in different directions.
Before my mind can decide which way to go, the door opens again, flooding the hallway with Teddy’s fucking perfume. But now it has that subtle touch of lilac that I love so much. Kelly reaches out and takes my hand, looking at Teddy for confirmation before she drags me in.
Sam and Steve are not gonna be happy that I’m coming into the nest before them, but screw it. I look around the room, and while we all slept in here last night, it’s nearly unrecognizable now .
The blankets are still over the walls, but they’ve been secured all the way, so not even a hint of daylight intrudes into Teddy’s sanctuary. He’s strung small star-shaped lights all across the ceiling, not enough to make the room bright, but you can comfortably see the nest in the dim ambience. All of his pillows and blankets have been spread across the mattress, not a wrinkle in sight as huge mounds of softness curve around a bowl shape in the mattress.
He pulls Kelly into his arms, his whine a high screaming pitch in my head that tells me to do whatever I have to, so he just stops making that sound. Thankfully, as soon as she wraps her arms around his neck and leans up to kiss him, it morphs into a bone melting purr. I need to escape before I’m pulled into something I want no part of. But I’m stuck, wanting my beta, but not wanting to pull her away from someone who makes her happy.
They break apart, and Kelly is panting, her lips red and swollen. She stares up at the omega with a glazed expression of wonder. Despite wanting to be careful about how close I get to him, I’m drawn to her, wrapping my arms around her waist and pulling her back against me. Kelly’s hands stay around his neck, and Teddy is tugged along for the cuddles as I bury my face in her neck and scrape my teeth along the tender skin there.
She lets out a soft shuddering moan, and my hips unconsciously jerk against her. I need this woman like I need my next breath. My exhale comes out in a needy moan as she tilts her ass against me, grinding into my length. One hand comes up to cup her breast through the thick fabric of her work shirt, and that doesn’t feel right. She shouldn’t be in such uncomfortable clothes. Both hands drop to her waist, struggling with the stupid button on her jeans, as my chest rattles in a frustrated growl.
Kelly, my dear, sweet, incredibly ticklish, Kelly lets out a loud shriek of laughter and struggles loose from where she's sandwiched between us. Her breathing is fast, and her cheeks are bright red. My teeth have left pink streaks across her shoulder from where I was tasting her skin. Teddy looses another omega whine, but it doesn’t have the same tone of desperation as before. So while I still feel the need to fix whatever’s wrong, it’s no longer like a storm of needles in my brain.
It doesn’t take Kelly long to catch her breath and move closer again, but at least my mind is a bit clearer. I open the door, needing to escape. At least get a few moments of fresh air, but Sam and Steve are both standing on the other side. Sam looks around me, taking in all the work Teddy's done to the room while we were out today, and Steve glares at me. Like I wanted to be in here before him.
Then Kelly's there. She wraps her arms around my neck like she did with Teddy earlier, but even standing on her tiptoes, she can’t quite reach for a proper kiss. I hear a loud moan from my brother as the omega descends on him, and soon Steve is trapped between Sam and Teddy like Kelly was pinned between us earlier.
Turning back to Kelly, I reach under her hips, lifting her and wrapping her thighs around my waist. I wish I had thought about it before, but we have entirely too many clothes on for this position, and my cock already feels like it’s ready to rip through the two layers of denim. One of my hands lets go of her thighs and slides up and over her ass, squeezing tightly before dipping under her shirt and tracing the smooth skin of her back.
I’ve never had to undo a bra before, and I fear that this may be technology beyond my capabilities as I pull back from Kelly’s lips, staring frustratedly over her shoulder. What the hell is this thing closed with, a goddamned combination lock? She laughs again at my fumbling and slides down my front, leaving me gasping and aching for the feel of her in my arms. Reaching behind with both hands, she smiles at me, before peeling her shirt and bra both off at once. Giggling again at my look of shock.
What sorcery is this…Does it require two hands? Sadly, there’s no time to contemplate the mysteries of the universe—or women’s underclothes—with my beta standing topless before me. I want to fall at her feet, worship her like the goddess she is, spend the rest of my life making sure she knows that she’s my life.
Instead, I stare at her, entranced, while she waves her fingers at me. “I think you have on entirely too many clothes for the nest, Alpha. Seriously, you’re still wearing shoes. My mother would have a fit.” Her smile is huge, eyes twinkling at me.
“Do you really want to be thinking of your mother while you’re half dressed in a room with four men, Sweetness?” Her face scrunches in a pout .
“Ew…no…ugh, why’d you make me think like that? Now it’s stuck in my head. Strip, Alpha, so I can think of something better.” I nod. Her wish is my command, and it’s the work of a moment to have my shoes off and set outside the door, followed quickly by my jeans and shirt. When I turn back around, my beta has stripped too. I’ve seen her naked, of course, even touched her once, but…I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t still astonished that she’s mine…ours.
My gaze flicks over to the nest. A quick dart of my eyes to see that everyone else is still here, but I’m inexorably drawn back to the sweet woman in front of me.