Chapter 34
THIRTY-FOUR
NEW YEAR’S EVE
I wake up blissed out, my body deliciously used. Two bonds have taken up residence inside my chest, filling me with joy and love in a way I never thought I would find.
I had resigned myself to a life on my own, pining after Clara, and now she smells like chocolate cookies, her scent already changing to mark her as mine.
She’s curled up in my arms, small snores sneaking out every few seconds.
I know my heat can’t have been easy on her.
Support roles often bear the brunt of things as they try to balance Alphas and Omegas and ensure they receive everything they need.
Not only was she there for me sexually, she also made sure Gabriel and I ate and drank enough. She’s the one who washed me and eased my pain so Gabriel could get a slight reprieve from me on my neediest days.
My Alpha’s breath ghosts across my ear as he sleeps behind me. His legs tangle with mine, and I smell his peppermint scent sweetened by milk chocolate. They both smell like me, and it makes my Omega hindbrain preen. They’re mine, and everyone is going to know it.
Plus, I put their bonds in impossible to miss spots. Any time they shake hands with someone, that person is going to know that they’re coming home to me.
I untangle myself from them, trying not to wake them up. They need to rest, and I need to check the date.
After scrabbling around for my phone and finding out that, holy shit, I was in heat for six days, I rush through a shower. It’s New Year’s Eve, and we missed out on our Christmas dinner. I don’t want to take another holiday away from them.
By the time Gabriel and Clara come stumbling into the kitchen, blurry-eyed and summoned by the scent of coffee, I’ve already placed an order for grocery delivery and have started a load of laundry and washed the dishes.
“You should be resting,” my Alpha admonishes, kissing my cheek as he happily accepts the coffee I hand him. “You must be exhausted.”
“Actually, I feel great,” I admit, and it’s not a lie. I feel incredible. I know I should be wrung out and exhausted, but I’m not. “Now, come eat breakfast.”
It’s nine o’clock, almost on the dot, when the doorbell rings. I jump up from the cuddle pile on the couch and pull the door open. Immediately, I’m barrelled over by Rooster, Gabriel’s massive husky.
“Thanks for letting me borrow him for a few days,” Mitchell, the CEO of my company, aka my boss’s boss and my Alpha’s best friend, says as he slips into my home, like it’s a totally normal thing. “The girls loved playing with him.”
“I was wondering who was taking care of him,” I laugh as the overly friendly dog licks my face.
“Mitchell’s nieces love the big brute,” Gabriel says, getting off the couch and giving the other Alpha a bro-hug. “So I am selfless enough to let him borrow Rooster every time they’re in town.”
“And it was no trouble to keep him a couple of extra days for you guys.” Mitchell sets a bottle of champagne down on the counter as I clamor to my feet, and I hold my hand out to shake his in greeting.
Though he clasps my hand, he doesn’t let me get away with just a handshake. Instead, he pulls me into a hug.
“Congratulations!” He pats me on the back like we’re old friends. “I’m so glad I don’t have to listen to that asshole pine after you anymore.”
Gabriel glares at him. “Nope. Now you’ll get to hear all the mushy stuff.”
“Clara!” Mitchell says, pushing his way past Gabriel, ignoring my Alpha in favor of my Beta. “Good to see you again!”
She smiles as she stands and gives him a little wave.
She was hesitant about having a little gathering tonight, worried that it would be too taxing for me, but when I promised her this is what I wanted, she dressed in a pair of tight jeans and a sequined blouse and allowed herself to get excited about it.
“It’s nice to see you again, too,” she says, accepting his hug.
Before we can get settled, the door cracks open and Hazel sticks her head through the crack. She’s gorgeous, as always, with her lips painted deep red and her hair falling around her like a curtain.
“Is everyone decent?” she says, making a show of covering her eyes. “I don’t want to see any of you naked.”
Clara scoffs and pulls the door open, wrapping Hazel up in her arms. “Shut up.”
“Let me see it,” Hazel requests, holding her hand out. Clara rests her arm, wrist up, in her friend’s hand. The Alpha’s face splits with a broad smile. “Well, look at that. You idiots finally took your heads out of your asses.”
“Thank you for your heartfelt congratulations, Hazel.” I don’t try to keep the sarcasm from my voice.
She shrugs. “I thought I was going to go insane listening to her deny her feelings for you. I probably deserve hazard pay for that.”
The female Alpha wraps her arms around Mitchell’s waist, kissing him on the cheek. “Hey, Mitch.”
“Are they together?” I ask Gabriel as he moves to my side and pulls me close to him.
He chuckles. “Nope. Best friends.”
“But they’re in love, right?”
“Not everyone harbors secret feelings for their best friend like you and Clara,” Hazel says, pulling away from Mitchell. “If I loved him, I’d tell him. But I have no interest in Alphas.”
“And I have no interest in someone so high-maintenance.” Mitchell playfully pushes Hazel, and she teeters on her too-high heels. “Plus, she’s my employee. I’m not wading in those waters.”
Gabriel and I exchange a look, and our boss chuckles. “You two are fine. Scent matches are exemptions to those rules.”
I didn’t realize how much I needed to hear him say that. I was terrified of losing my job, but Gabriel would’ve been worth it.
“Okay, can we get out of the doorway and open up this,” Hazel picks up the bottle of champagne Mitchell brought, “very expensive champagne?”
The mood is light as Rooster runs around the apartment, enjoying all the unfamiliar smells, and the five of us laugh and joke and get to know each other better. My heart is so full that I can hardly stand it.
I never thought that I would get everything I wanted under my Christmas tree, but I did, and now I have two people to kiss as we ring in the new year.
What could be better than this?