Chapter 40
Claire
“You shouldn’t make a grovel list if you’re not going to actually do the items on the list,” I say as I adjust Elliot’s sweater.
He grumbles something, but now that we’re bonded, I know he’s happy to be here, that he loves how happy he’s making me.
“Alright, let’s go tallest to shortest in a prom pose,” the photographer says and I grin.
Forrest and Elliot give each other a look that they now use to communicate with each other when Wells and I are doing too much, but don’t verbally complain as they stand next to one another.
Wells happily wraps his arms around my waist and rests his chin on my shoulder.
“Don’t get any ideas, Elliot,” he jokes, as my Alpha places a hand on his hip and Forrest does the same behind him.
“Alright, now I want you all to look like you’re looking into the sun stoically,” the photographer directs, and we do.
I just know this one is going to be framed and hung right above the fireplace.
“Now let’s stack everyone’s heads on top of one another.”
We go in the same order, shortest to tallest, with our hands on our chin and I can’t help but laugh, imagining what Elliot and Forrest look like right now.
I get a few individual shots with each of them.
Specifically, making Elliot do the one where I hold his ankles and he does a wheelbarrow-like pose.
Wells and I do one where he’s wrapped around my leg on the floor and I’m petting his head.
Forrest gives me a piggyback ride in his.
By the end of the photoshoot none of them can deny it was in fact a good time.
“Let’s go get lunch,” I suggest, and Elliot blinks at me.
“Dressed like this?” he says while tugging at his tight black sweater, accented with a fanny pack and gold chain.
“Awww, El, are you worried about what people will think of you?” Wells teases him, before attempting to wrap an arm around his pack mate’s waist.
“Get off of me,” Elliot complains and Wells just tries to give him another hug.
“Where do you want to eat, princess?” Forrest says; the large Alpha finds it hard to deny me anything, as it should be.
“Oh, that place on Main with the lobster rolls.”
“I think that place is perfect,” Forrest agrees with what I swear is a glint in his eye. I don’t question him about it, high off our pack portraits. Those pictures are totally going to be on our Christmas card, too. They just don’t know it yet.
It’s fall in New Hampshire and it’s beautiful.
Now and then I get the itch to go into the city.
More often than not, Wells or Elliot is the one to take me on a trip back home, but I’ve found living here and visiting the city is the perfect balance.
My parents come to visit and I do the same.
Shiloh and I also trade off on visiting one another too, with the added bonus of seeing my brother.
Axel has been aloof lately, even though he did visit me once. Though it definitely felt like he only visited to hang out with Elliot, not to see me. I know that Wells will be able to lure him back into town once winter hits. He can’t turn down good skiing no matter what foul mood he’s in.
The hostess’ name is Gretchen. She leads us to the back of the restaurant and when I see a wild head of red curls, my lips part and I nearly squeal when I see that Andie and her pack are here.
My Omega friend is up out of her seat and we’re embracing each other in a long hug before she pulls away.
“What in the fuck are you wearing?” she asks, looking at my pack.
“We had family portraits done,” I tell her excitedly.
“Oh, we are so copying that idea,” Andie muses and I swear one of her Alphas groans.
“What are you all doing here?”
“Wells invited us, he said besides winter that fall was the best time to visit. Apparently there’s a mountain coaster and a ropes course we have to try out,” Andie says.
“We’re not going back to the ropes course,” Elliot corrects.
“The ropes course is still a bit of a sore spot. But there’s plenty else we can do. I can’t believe you kept this a secret from me.”
“There’s another secret too,” she says, pulling out a small square piece of paper from her pocket.
It’s identifiable immediately and my eyes well with joyous tears as I see the grainy black-and-white image on the screen.
“You’re pregnant?” I rasp out and she nods.
“Only a few weeks. That’s another reason we’re here. Trying to get as much traveling in before the little guy comes.”
“You know it’s a boy?” I say in awe.
“No, but we just have a feeling,” her Beta mate, Moses, says and I look back down at the paper.
“I’m going to need to go back to New York soon. I need to do baby shopping. Congratulations to all of you,” I say, giving Andie another tight hug.
I still can’t believe we both found what we were looking for on that ship, or that we found each other. I was someone who felt I didn’t have true friends often, or that people who loved me did because I was family, but my friendships with Shiloh and Andie have brought me endless joy.
As if my thoughts manifested her, my gorgeous best-friend walks through the door, my brother at her back. I’m out of my chair and squeezing her tight in an instant.
“I swear she forgets we’re related,” Jonah complains and I pull away from Shiloh to hug my brother and greet her other two pack mates. “You look very cute, Elliot,” Jonah says and I poke him in the ribs. It doesn’t do much, but it earns me amusement from Elliot down the bond.
“What are you doing here?” I say excitedly.
“You said you wanted Andie and I to meet and Elliot mentioned it to Jonah and here we are. I missed you,” she says, giving me another hug.
I introduce my two best-friends to one another. Shiloh and I both gush over the fact that Andie is pregnant, and it’s seamless the way they get along. I knew they would. We basically ignore our packs all dinner, but they don’t seem to mind.
Not wanting the night to end and wanting Andie to see our home, we head back to our place.
I set up snacks on the dining room table Forrest built. It’s huge and perfect in every way. When I look down at the shiny wood I always think about the first time we said I love you to one another and how he knew he was ready to be pack lead.
Hosting people at our house has become something I love and tonight is no different. After we’re full we all decide to head upstairs.
Shiloh heads with my brother and her pack to the game room where I’m sure some sort of competition is bound to start. Meanwhile I show Andie my nest. Shiloh has already seen it in person and was a big help in finding some antiques I needed for the space.
The difference between when I first walked into this house and how my nest looks now is night and day.
This nest is my dream. A collection of vintage pieces, soft blushes and golds.
“It’s stunning, Claire. A far cry from the Under the Sea suite,” she says and I groan.
“Don’t remind me.”
Andie laughs, and I swear her skin looks clearer than ever. What they say about a pregnancy glow is real.
“So, has it been everything you dreamed?”
“It has,” I tell her with a smile.
There’s a loud booing sound from the game room and I roll my eyes while Andie raises a brow. I wave a hand at her to follow me.
“You’re a dirty little cheater, Wells Torrin,” Elliot’s booms.
“Moi? A cheater, never. It’s not my fault that you don’t know how to play the game,” Wells snaps back.
Andie looks over at me and I shrug.
“I didn’t see him cheat,” Jonah unhelpfully adds, and Elliot points at him.
“Stay out of it, S?rensen.”
Jonah just laughs, leaning back into the couch.
I stare at my two mates lovingly as they argue over a game of shuffleboard.
Shiloh and her pack along with Forrest look unphased while Andie’s pack looks confused, but I just bask in how far we’ve come.
Especially when Elliot rounds the shuffleboard table and starts tickling Wells, who I’ve come to learn is exceptionally ticklish.
It sends my Beta to the floor, and Elliot is relentless as he tickles his ribs.
“Fuck. Okay. I cheated,” Wells pants out between laughter. “Just stop tickling. Please.”
Elliot releases him and points a finger at him. “I’m going to get you back, Torrin, just you wait.”
“I’m pissing my pants over it. And it’s Smith-Torrin” Wells says, shoving at Elliot’s unsuspecting shoulder, before slapping his ass and coming to the hallway. “Excuse our Alpha, he’s rather immature,” he tells Andie with a wide grin, kissing the side of my head.
Elliot just shakes his head, but I can see a smile on his lips. This was always the way he played with my brothers and it’s a wonderful feeling knowing that he’s found a real home here. He’s no longer just here for me. He cares about Wells and Forrest too.
Andie yawns, and her pack is next to her in a second. “I think we’re going to call it a night, but we’ll see you tomorrow morning?”
“Can’t wait,” I tell her honestly as we bid them goodnight. Forrest put them up at one of his chalets on the resort.
Jonah, Shiloh, Mack, and Cole stay a little later, the guys playing a myriad of games. Most of them stop playing video games because Mack kicks all their asses.
Shiloh and I just watch on as we chit chat.
“Has Axel come to visit lately?” I ask her, knowing that she won’t rat to my brother about meddling in our brother’s business.
“No, but I heard him on the phone with Jonah,” she whispers softly, making sure her Alpha doesn’t hear. “Something about a clinical trial.”
My brows furrow and before I can ask her more about it, her quietest pack mate Mack is looking at her with pleading eyes.
“I think we’re going to head off to bed. I’ll see you for breakfast,” she says and I give her a nod.
They’re family and they stay in our pack guest room. I ponder her words about my brother, but let them go.
I feel so whole having them here, but I’m exhausted.
The moment they go to bed, I’m putting on one of Elliot’s shirts and heading to my nest. I barely even sleep in my designated bedroom.
It’s mostly become a massive closet at this point.
Some nights are pack nights, others are individual, and others are free for all.
We don’t really have a schedule, but I can usually tell down the bond when someone needs a little extra attention, and tonight I can feel Forrest needs time with me.
As if I conjured him through the bond, his comforting ginger and lemon scent makes an appearance. He lies down on the nest bed next to me, his large arms circling me tightly.
I turn into his arms and inhale his scent deeply, pushing his hair behind his ears. I’m not sure how I got blessed with a pack full of luscious heads of hair, but I know one day our kids will all have gorgeous locks no matter whose they are biologically.
Andie has me thinking about my time line. I knew I wanted children, but I still want time with my pack and for us to smooth out all our edges.
“What’s wrong?” I whisper to him and he clears his throat.
“Is it wrong to feel jealous?” he says, and I look at him softly.
“You’re jealous they’re having a baby?”
“It’s like ever since we’ve bonded, this switch in me has flipped and all I can think about is getting you pregnant.” As he says it, he nuzzles his head into the crook of my neck.
I pet his hair down and kiss his head. “It’s okay to feel jealous as long as you’re still happy for them. Andie’s a few years older than me. Their pack was already together before they met her on the ship. I’m just not ready yet.”
“I know. I’d never pressure you. Ever.”
“I know, For. I’ll make you a deal. As soon as I decide when I’m ready, you’ll be the first to know, and we can practice as much as we’d like before then,” I tell him and he pulls back, kissing me on my lips.
“Your next heat is coming up soon,” he whispers against my mouth.
“And you can play pretend as much as you like. I’m sure I’ll love it while I’m in heat.”
He laughs at that and kisses me again.
“Who are we eating? Our lovely Omega?” Wells’ voice says. I didn’t even hear him come through the door as he plops down beside us, jostling me on the nest bed, which is the softest bed in the world. Elliot follows suit, joining us on the bed, and I let out a happy sigh.
I love having all my pack together like this, especially when it’s everyone’s choice.
“Scoot over,” Elliot complains behind him, but when my Beta doesn’t move an inch, Elliot moves him just enough so that he can reach across him to put a hand on my hip.
They’re basically cuddling and it’s precious to me.
“Thank you for getting Andie and Shiloh out here. It was an amazing surprise,” I say to all of them.
“I like having them here too. But nothing beats this,” Wells says, happily nestling his face into my hair.
Isn’t that the damn truth? Everything I ever wanted sits in this room and it’s all because I took a chance on a high seas heat experience.
I said I was leaving that ship with a pack come hell or high water and I truly got my wish.
The three men in my dream nest are my personal slice of heaven and I would go through all the sea sickness, heartache, and even the Under the Seas suite if it led me into their arms again.
I’m exactly where I belong.