Chapter Twenty-One #2
Because even though brightness shines off the pretty Omega's face, I can see the fine lines of trauma still there. They may be faint, possibly dulled by the love she has been shown but it is still there. A wound that won’t ever truly be healed, but one she will learn to live alongside. Just like mine.
Jax leans forward slightly, still holding Kennedy tightly in his embrace. My hands become drawn to where they move in a loving caress over her stomach.
My jaw drops as I look up at Kennedy who is smiling at her Alphas.
“We are having a baby,” Jax says proudly.
Immediately, cheers erupt from Vic, Olis and Conall. The latter, while holding me tightly in his arms, shoots up out of his seat. I squeal as he spins us around.
His laughter is infectious as he holds me tightly before pulling away to look at me.
“I’m going to be a grandpa.”
There are tears in his eyes as he looks at me, like the thrill is going to be taken away from him too soon.
“You are going to be a grandpa,” I reiterate, reminding him that it's real.
Eventually, he places me down but hesitates for a moment, looking at where Olis and Vic are already hugging their sons and daughter-in-law.
I nudge him with my shoulder. “Go over there and celebrate with your family.”
He looks down at me, a small smile on his face. “You are our family as well, Little Devil.”
My breath hitches as Cal drags me over to the group.
As Kennedy pulls away from Olis’ embrace, her eyes catch mine. I feel like a deer in the headlights for a moment before her head tilts. There is an almost sad smile on her face as she takes a step towards me.
“I know things are really new with you guys but I could really use a mothers help with this journey.”
I don’t know how this woman was able to bring me to the point of tears with a single sentence, but here we are.
“I would love to be there for you,” I whisper, doing my best not to choke on the sob that threatens me.
I do lose though as Kennedy engulfs me in a tight embrace. The sound of her tears are the only comfort I have that it's not a ‘just me’ moment.
“Mommy, why is everyone crying?”
I pull away from the embrace and look down to find a very worried looking Amity. Her eyes dart between myself and Kennedy, the distress on her face evident.
It's obvious that her Alpha qualities are rearing their head. Alphas never cope well when Omegas are in distress. Their need to fix the situation overwhelms them. Their primal need to protect driving their instincts.
Bending down to my daughter's level, I reach out, grabbing her hands to hold them in mine.
“Do you know how sometimes you can get so happy about something that it makes you cry?”
She thinks for a moment before nodding.
“This is one of those moments. We are crying happy tears because Kennedy is going to be a mommy.”
It takes a moment for my words to sink in but when they do, it makes my eyes tear up that little bit more.
“Do you mean I am going to have a little baby to play with?” she gasps and looks up at Olis who kneels down beside me.
I go to speak but I am cut off.
“It means that you are going to have a little niece or nephew to play with. You are going to be Aunty Amity.”
My gasp of surprise has nothing on Amity’s as she launches herself at Kennedy who quickly returns the excited three-year-old’s embrace.
I stand to full height, continuing to gape at Olis who just smiles at me. There is an almost innocent look on his face, one that I call bullshit on. He knows exactly what he did.
“You can’t just tell her things like that, Olis. Because if this doesn’t work between us, she is going to have her heart broken. I…”
Olis cuts me off with a tug on my arm. I stumble into him, my hands land on his chest to help stabilize myself because my legs are sure as shit useless.
“Who ever said anything about this not working out between us? I don’t know how clear the three of us need to be. You are ours. Amity is ours. There is no leaving. No ‘things not working out’.”
He holds up a hand between us and points between the both of us.
“This thing between us, it's real. It may be new but I am done with allowing what I want to slip through my fingers.
“From that first moment I saw you in the park, I knew I had to have you. Then when I found out my pack brothers were just as infatuated with you as I am, I knew that this thing was real.”
This time, the tears that fall aren’t led by one emotion. They drip down my face in heartbreak, fear, anger, terror, hope—and surprisingly—adoration.
“I know that you aren’t there yet and that’s okay. But just know that we have got you.”
Olis raises an eyebrow waiting for me to answer. All I can manage through my tears is a whispered “okay” and a nod.
He seems happy enough with my response, pulling me into his chest, his scent flooding my senses and instantly calms the chaos running a muck in my brain.
After one too many tears—majority being from Cal surprisingly—we say our goodbyes to the younger Duran pack who seem eager to get Kennedy home.
Before her men can get her through the door, Kennedy hands me her phone.
“I already have a million and one questions to ask you about motherhood and parenting. Is it okay if we meet up one day for coffee? Maybe have just a girls day out?”
Her Alphas complain behind her, the men clearly overprotective.
“I would love to.”
I hand back her phone after putting in my number and sending myself a message so I can also have her number.
We hug again before saying goodbye.
Once the doors close, I feel as though I can deflate.
The ringing of a phone makes me jump. My eyes dart up to Olis who is already frowning down at the offending device.
Gone is the gentle man that I was becoming to know. In his place is the Capo that Conall was telling me about. His entire demeanor becomes complete business as he answers the phone.
With a simple and straight to the point greeting, he answers the phone, listening for a moment before stiffening. His head shoots up and I know that his eyes lock on Vic’s.
Turning to look at the other Alpha, I instantly get a feeling of dread wash over me.
After what feels like a lifetime, Olis eventually hangs up the phone.
“Some of the soldiers were doing security on Flame. They found the dead body of an Omega behind a dumpster.”
I gasp, clutching my chest as I look at him in horror.
Immediately, the three Alphas jump into action.
Conall grabs my hand and pulls me towards the door.
I go to protest, trying to remind him that Amity is still inside.
I find that I don’t need to as I see Olis carrying her down the stairs in front of us before handing her off to a waiting Kennedy.
The Omega nods at me and I breathe a little easier knowing that she is going to be well looked after.
Something in me tells me I can trust Kennedy.
I do my best to keep up with the three Alphas but being five foot five, my shorter legs can’t seem to keep up with them.
Conall must be able to tell my struggle as he abruptly stops. He doesn’t give me a chance to ask him to slow down or even process what he is doing before my body is flung over his shoulder.
I squeal, gripping the waistband of his pants, trying to find some kind of grip on him.
“Let me down, Cal!”
The Alpha just laughs, a hand slapping down on my ass making me squeal again.
“There is a reason why I call you Little Devil, baby. While I am obsessed with those legs of yours, they are just a little short.”
A growl rumbles in my throat and I bring my hand back, slapping it down on Conall’s jean clad ass, paying him back for the snarky comment.
He just laughs, doing nothing but adding fuel to the fire.
I expected this kind of cave man bullshit from Vic. I am finding though that I should expect the unexpected. Especially with these three.