Chapter 27 Hayes
HAYES
Nate and Sterling are getting some sleep before they start their next shift. So it’s just me and Hailey sitting on the couch. Some love show is on in the background as she turns to face me.
She’s wearing sweatpants and a sweatshirt, her hair in a messy bun with no makeup on her face, and I think this is my favorite version of her.
Her mouth opens and then shuts before she sighs. “Can I see it?” she asks and I grin, before grabbing the collar of my shirt and whipping it off.
The tattoo has healed nicely, her name memorialized on my chest forever.
Hailey takes a deep inhale, her thumb dragging along her name like she’s underlining it. She licks her lips and pulls her hand away.
“You got this right after everything happened at Lavender Moon?” she says, her big gray eyes meeting mine.
“When you kicked us out of the nest, I knew I needed to prove to you that we were all in. This was something I promised you, and I wanted you to know we were serious.”
She grabs the blanket, bringing it up to her chin, staring back down at the tattoo.
“Seeing them, the things they said, the way they looked at me, it brought back a lot of bad memories. In my head, it made sense that it showed you I wasn’t good enough for your pack.
” I go to interrupt her and she shakes her head.
“I’m not saying it’s rational. I don’t feel that way now.
It’s clear that I was in pre-heat and not thinking clearly.
But this”—She touches the tattoo lightly—“You’ve always been that sure, and now it’s time for me to do the same. ”
I smile, bundling her up even more and holding her against my chest.
“So…what do I do now?” she asks.
“What do you mean?” I ask her with my brows furrowed.
“Like, what do you guys expect out of an Omega? My mom went to all her Alpha’s functions.
She was the perfect respectable center of their pack.
She planned dinner parties and worked with a few organizations.
To anyone outside looking in, she was the perfect humanitarian Omega, and it made sense why her pack was so big. ”
I squeeze her tight, resting my chin on the top of her head.
“We don’t have any expectations.” I clear my throat, wondering how to word this. “I know you mentioned this morning that you were going to be leaving Lavender Moon to explore this. We’d never tell you what you can and can’t do with your body but the idea—”
She cuts me off, grabbing my hand, her fingers trailing over the bones of my fingers.
“I don’t want to work there if I have a pack.
I felt empowered, and I think I needed it at the time, to be honest. Designating late and figuring out who I was with all these new sensations.
But being with you guys makes me feel safe and bold in a whole different way.
I felt sick to my stomach around all those other Alpha scents my last day of work. I think I’m retired.”
I bark a laugh.
“Well, hopefully not fully retired, I did quite like my time in the VIP.”
“Maybe for times when you’re a really good boy. But seriously, what do I do with my time? What do you all want out of an Omega?”
“Whatever you want. I know Sterling would prefer if you didn’t work, but just because he’s pack lead doesn’t mean you have to do what he says. Nate and Sterling work a lot, but I only go to the tournaments I want to, so you won’t be alone often.”
She hums, her fingers still trailing patterns all over my skin. “I’ll have to think about it then. Do you think we could go to the store tomorrow to get some things for me to work on?”
“Of course, whatever you want.”
We watch the show for a bit longer and Hailey turns in my arms, kissing the underside of my chin.
“I’m really glad you walked into Lavender Moon that night and hired me to come to your tournament.”
“Me too, baby, me too.”
I lean down and kiss her, and for the first time in a very long time, I feel whole.
I’ve spent so much of my life wanting a pack, wanting a family, knowing that being a Beta would complicate things.
Sterling and Nate were the best family and lovers I could ask for.
We could have been happy all our lives, just the three of us.
But with Hailey in my arms, I know without a doubt she was the last piece in making this pack whole.
We have plenty of time to bond, but I’m hoping she wants to bond sooner than later. Once I have two Alpha bites and Hailey’s name on my chest, I’ll truly have everything I ever wanted.
“You also said you’d buy Smokey an automatic litter box,” she says, pulling away from our kiss and I laugh.
“I’ll get right on it.”
Nate and Sterling act like they’re going off to war. Hailey might be doing the same. I’ve long come to terms with the fact that they have a dangerous job, but this is all new for her.
“You’ll be safe and make good decisions?” Hailey asks them, straightening Nate’s shirt that doesn’t need straightening.
“Yes, I promise.”
She bites her lip and nods, making Nate capture her chin. “What?” he asks.
If they bonded us we would have a better idea of what was going on in her head.
We’d have a connection with Sterling and Nate and would know that they’re safe.
I don’t say the words out loud. I can’t be pushy, Hailey has to ask for the bonds, and I’m sure as fuck not going to bond them before she does.
“It’s just you had to help me when…you know…” She drifts off and I have to put a hand over my mouth. It’s almost like a taboo to bring up the time Hailey got a knot toy stuck in her and Nate was the one to arrive for the 911 call.
Nate sighs, looking over at Sterling for guidance. The large Alpha pets down her hair, rubbing his hand over her cheeks, scent marking her.
“Helping Omegas is part of the job. If a situation like yours arises, we would hopefully have another team member handle it, but there is a chance it would need to be us. You’re our Omega. We only have eyes for you. You never have to worry about that.”
Hailey rubs her arms and nods, though I can tell the idea of her Alphas around other Omegas is irritating to her. She understands that it’s part of their job.
“I understand. If um…if you are near Omegas during work, can you make sure to fully deodorize before you come home?”
Sterling grins, and I know it’s because Hailey is asking for what she wants. It’s a sign that she’s more comfortable with the idea of being our pack’s Omega.
“Of course,” Sterling agrees, kissing the top of her head.
“And can I drop off muffins at the station tomorrow morning?”
“The guys would love that, and it would be good to see you before our shift is over. We just can’t guarantee we’ll be at the station, but as long as we’re not on a call, we’ll be there,” Sterling says, and Hailey hums.
Nate leans down and kisses her. She rubs her thumb over his growing mustache, the rest of it clean cut for work.
“I like it,” she tells him.
There’s totally a mustache ride joke sitting on the top of my tongue, but I swallow it down. Sterling steps in front of her, grabbing her cheeks and kissing her.
“Stay with Hayes, get settled in. You can text us, but it just might take a while for us to get back to you,” Sterling tells her and Hailey nods, kissing him back. I get my own quick two kisses from the Alphas, before they turn and leave the house for work.
As soon as they leave the house, Hailey turns to me with tears in her eyes.
“Oh, baby. Come here,” I tell her and hug her close to my chest.
“It gets easier, I promise. Once we’re bonded, you’ll be able to feel them too,” I throw that little tidbit in. I know I said I wouldn’t be pushy, and I’m not, that’s just facts.
“Rationally, I knew what they did for work. I know they work long shifts.”
“But now that you live here, that they’re your Alphas, it’s different. I get it. What can I do to keep your mind off it?”
“Let’s go to the craft store and the grocery store so I can make the station muffins for tomorrow,” she says, wiping her face.
I grab the keys to her new BMW and hand them to her.
“I’ve hardly gotten to even enjoy her,” she says, glancing down at the key fob.
“Well, let’s take her for a spin then.”
Her smile is beaming as she slips on her shoes, and we head out for the day. She drives like a fucking lunatic all the way to the store, and I know the moment Sterling sees the way she drives, he’s going to ban her from being behind the wheel.
“It’s amazing,” she says, her hair in a frenzy around her face from the wind.
“I’m glad you like it. Now, what kind of supplies are we getting?”
“I’m going to have to start over with my stained-glass supplies. There’s no way I’m going to my mom’s house and asking for it all back,” she says, holding my hand as we walk into the store.
“Whatever you need,” I tell her and I regret the words as she puts a soldering iron in the cart.
The firefighters are going to lose their fucking minds over the fire hazard. Regardless, we buy everything she needs for her stained glass along with some other projects.
“So, what do you usually do when they’re at work?” Hailey asks.
I shrug. “Do things around the house, go to the casino, work out.”
Hailey hums. “A workout sounds nice. The pole kept me in amazing shape, and I’d like to maintain that.”
“That it did,” I say, as my hand shifts down to her ass for a squeeze. She doesn’t bat me away, just gives me a saucy look over her shoulder. “Maybe a pole at the house wouldn’t be such a bad idea.”
“I could absolutely teach you some moves,” she says with a laugh.
“I think I’ll stick to being a very horny patron of watching you on the pole.”
My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I smile as I read the text.
“What has you smiling?” she says, stretching her neck to look over my arm.
“How do you feel about meeting my mom and stepdad tomorrow?” I ask.
Her cheeks immediately heat and she stumbles over her words. “Oh, your…um…your mom?”
“The one and only,” I reply and I grab her hand and give it a squeeze. “They’ll love you, I promise. Mine and Sterling’s families will welcome you with open arms.”
“Nate’s?” she questions.
“Estranged like yours,” I say.
She nods, but her brows furrow. “I guess I never really thought about it in those terms, but I suppose it fits. I want nothing to do with her or her pack. It’s just weird to not have a family to take your partners to go meet.”
I grab her wrist, tugging her toward me. “We’re your family now, and by extension mine and Sterling’s family.”
“Okay, I’d love to meet them.”
Hailey dropped her muffins off at the station, and she’s obviously upset the guys weren’t there. They were on a call. We waited for a half-hour and then decided to call it and head to my mom’s house.
I drive there so that we don’t die, and when we reach the house with a literal white picket fence, Hailey smiles.
“This is where you grew up?”
“Yup. I tried to buy them something nicer, but this is where they wanted to stay. It’s paid off and I handle the property tax every year,” I tell her.
“You’re a good son,” she says, taking my hand as I open the front door.
The minute we’re inside, my mom is on Hailey like a woman possessed.
“Oh my goodness, Paxy, she’s gorgeous,” she says, wrapping her arms around Hailey and hugging her tight. Hailey hugs her back, but looks at me with wide eyes.
“Natalie, give the girl some air to breathe,” my stepdad says, and my mom pulls away a little to hold Hailey by the shoulders.
Tears fill my mom’s eyes and Hailey looks over at me concerned.
“Sorry. It’s just always been Paxton’s dream to have a pack. When he was a little boy, he would play house with the other kids. He was usually the designated Omega though.”
“Mom,” I hiss her name.
Hailey just grins. “That’s very adorable.”
“Come. Come. We have plenty of snacks. Oh my goodness, would you like to see pictures of Paxton as a baby?”
“I would love that,” Hailey says as my mom takes her over to the couch, stacks of albums on the table.
“You did good, son,” Hank says, gripping my shoulder.
Hank Hayes was the man who made me who I am today.
Without him, I’m sure I’d grown up to be an angry as hell kid turned adult.
My dad was a piece of shit. Paxton was a family name on his side.
It doesn’t bother my mother, so I let her use it, but it’s why I don’t let anyone else call me by it.
Being called Hayes made sense. It’s who I always felt like I was.
Hank might have only adopted me at thirteen, but he was my true family.
“Thanks, Dad,” I say, and he takes a deep inhale. I realize I don’t call him that enough.
“Oh my god, you were so fucking cute,” Hailey says looking at a picture of me in one of my Halloween costumes. “I’m so sorry, excuse my language.”
My mom barks out a laugh. “No, you’re right, he really was fucking cute.”
I grin as I watch my mom and Hailey chat. It makes me realize just how true my words to Hailey were. That we’re her family now, and we’ll never let her down the same way her biological family did.
I love the Omega laughing on my mom’s couch so much, and I hope one day she’ll feel the same way toward me.