Chapter 44 Macha
Macha
Kol
We sleep well into the next day. Well, the pack does. I rise with the sun and cover the skylight so everyone can sleep longer. I have a lot of work to do.
The floors are going in today, along with the kitchen counters. I need to return some things to the store. I also wanted to pick up breakfast.
Now that we have the girl, I need to change some things about the place. There’s already a room for her, but everything else was designed for five, not six. Not six and a baby.
A baby.
I’m going to be a dad.
I’ve wanted to be a father for a long time. My dad was amazing. Still is. He did right by me as much as he could, even if I still turned into a shyster.
Raising a baby in a pack is an alpha’s dream.
I’m glad I ordered carpet for a lot of the bedrooms. It will make it much quieter there with the baby.
Is it too soon to buy a crib? I want to start buying blankets, onesies, a high chair…
but instead of that, as I wait in line for our coffees and pastries.
I add Acadia and Aurora to the bank accounts using my phone while I wait.
I get the omegas herbal tea lattes and iced Americanos for Oscar and me.
Locke thinks he likes macha, but he just likes saying “macha.” I get him one anyway.
For Mads, I get him a dirty chai latte. It was between that and a cappuccino.
Hopefully, he likes it. When I get home, Locke and Oscar are up. They meet me in the unfinished kitchen.
“How are the girls?” I ask. Oscar and Locke are both wearing sweats. Oscar is in burgundy sweats, and Locke is in gold with one of his floral shirts open, showing off his bare chest. They both look so handsome and still kind of tired.
Mads comes out of the hallway, walking heavily with his cane. He’s also in the same attire, but his sweats are gray. His bleached hair is all messy, and I just want to mess it up more. He takes his coffee, sips it, and rewards me with a beautiful smile.
“Thanks, My Dark Beast.” I trip on my own feet while standing, like a cartoon character. Locke snickers at me. Locke knows I have a thing for verbal play.
I don’t let Mads get away with it. I rush to the space between his arms and grab his face and kiss him.
Oscar groans and leaves to get a coffee from the cabinet with no countertop. Locke makes obscene noises.
I pull away, and he says, “Am I supposed to call you Daddy now?”
Without missing a beat, I retort, “I’ve always preferred it.”
I melt into him and then scent him with our necks, rubbing our skin together, both of us clearly needing a good shave. His arm is out wide, holding his coffee. I don’t care. I need him to smell like me, and right now, he only smells like the little omega.
This insane feeling of fear takes over me as I rub against my beta.
I’m suddenly very aware of how much I love him.
I love his beard stubble. His dark roots.
His perfect height. His curly lips and their smile.
I love how funny he’s gotten lately. I love that he’s such a huge part of my pack.
I absolutely cannot wait to work with him more. This feeling is actually terrifying.
Oscar comes up behind me and places his hand on my back.
“Kol?”
“Yeah,” I sigh and stop moving.
“It’s going to be ok.”
I turn, and he pulls me into his arms and away from Mads. He strokes my head, and it helps ease me and my overwhelming feelings. Oscar knows what I need.
“Are you ok?” Mads asks.
“Yeah, I’m fine. I’m just a big feeler.” I choke up on the last word and let Oscar hold me tighter.
“You big softie,” he says with so much tenderness.
I look up just in time to see Locke. He takes a sip of his macha, and his face screws up like he thinks it’s gross, but then he takes a second sip. And he still thinks it’s gross. That silly alpha. He sets it down and looks over at us.
“Thanks, Kol, for getting breakfast. I’ll go see if the girls want their tea. You know I love you, right?”
“I know.”
Locke grabs the teas and touches me with his shoulder on his way out.
I shut my eyes, and Oscar continues to provide a safe space for me to breathe. I seek out the healed mark on my pack lead’s arm, and while it’s no longer visible, I know where it used to be. I run my thumb over it, and it also helps release some of my feelings.
“I’m just so happy,” I admit.
“Me too,” Oscar says. “I’m also afraid.”
I laugh and pull away, wiping my face. We lean against the cabinets and have our breakfast. I keep stealing glances at Mads.
Finally, I work up the courage to ask him something important.
“Mads?”
His eyebrows kick up. “Yes?”
“Locke is taking Cadi on a date tomorrow night. He’s taking her to that club to see Delta Delta Delta.”
Locke texted the alpha group chat about their plans, and I read through it while at the bank.
“Oh, that’s so great.”
“Yeah, she said we could all come. I was wondering if you’d go as my date.”
His gorgeous smile spreads wide.
“You want to take me on a date?”
“I’d like to take you out, yes.”
With his toothy smile and shiny eyes, he says, “I’d love to.”
Not that I thought he’d say no, but hearing him say yes is such a relief. He waves me over, and I make my way back into his body to kiss him on the cheek.
“We will have a lot of fun.”
“Are you going to wear your muzzle?”
“Do you want me to?”
He makes a “mmm” noise and then says, “If you have a leather chest harness, even better.”
This fucking beta.