Chapter 12
Violet
All three of them stand there, eyes wide and lips parted as they stare at me in shock.
The longer they stay silent, the more the panic within me grows. This was a bad idea. I should have waited a little bit longer.
But they took me by surprise. I had no idea they would show up on my doorstep. How did they even know I was back?
Everything happened so fast. Aiden kissing me, Thomas explaining to me everything Sylvia told me was a lie, and that she wasn’t their anything nor was her baby theirs.
God, I’m so stupid. If I would have just gone back into the room that morning and woke the guys up, demanding answers, all of this could have been avoided.
Then again, what was I supposed to think? They were strangers, scent matches or not.
My heart races as the nausea turns in my stomach. “Say something, please?”
“You’re... pregnant?” Nolan questions, blinking a few times.
“Yes.” I bite my lip. “Please don’t be mad.”
“Mad?” Aiden barks out a laugh as he runs his hands through his wavy blond locks, a massive grin spreading across his handsome face. “Trust me, Little One, we are anything but mad.”
I let out a little squeak as Aiden rushes over and sweeps me into his arms, spinning me around before placing me back down on my feet. “A baby,” he breathes out, cupping my face. “We’re having a baby?”
“Yes.” I nod, tears filling my eyes as relief rushes through me. He’s happy. My eyes look to Nolan and Thomas to see what they think, but then I’m surrounded.
“We’re gonna be papas,” Thomas cheers, voice thick with emotion.
“About time, old man.” Nolan laughs, grinning as tears leave his eyes.
“So you're happy about this?” I ask.
“We’re fucking ecstatic.” Thomas grips my chin, tilting my head back to look at him. God, he’s so damn hot. They all are.
Biting my lips, my eyes flick between his, and my cheeks pinken as my perfume fills the air around us. The Alphas growl while Nolan groans. “Sorry,” I whisper.
“Never be sorry, Sweets.” Nolan leans in, pressing a kiss to my lips.
“It’s the hormones,” I insist. It’s not a complete lie. Being pregnant means I’m a lot more aroused than I used to be. Add in the fact that I’m drowning in my Alphas’ scents, and I’m surprised that I’m not naked right now, begging them to take me.
Now is not the time, though. While I’m glad this moment has had the best outcome I could think of, the fact is, so much has happened in the past few months, and we have a lot to talk about.
Not to mention that they are still strangers.
“Would it be safe to say that you’re mine? My Alphas?” I look between Thomas and Aiden, then to Nolan. “My Beta?”
“I think it’s adorable that you think you had a choice,” Aiden chuckles. “But yes, Little One, we’re yours. Wholly and completely.”
“We wouldn’t have it any other way,” Thomas adds. “You’re our Omega, and like we’ve said before, we’re never letting you go.”
“Consent is key, you know,” Jenny’s voice sounds from behind us, and I freeze, eyes closing as I remember my besties are here with me. I’m not going to tell them I totally forgot about them.
The guys stand tall, almost pushing me behind them as if they are trying to protect me. Cute. But these three are the last people in the world I’d need protection from.
“Who are you?” Aiden growls. Peeking around Nolan, I see Jenny, Jenna, and Rylee step into the living room.
Jenny smirks, crossing her arms as she raises a brow. “Down, boy. No need to go all Alpha-dog on me. I’m not a threat.”
Deciding to step in and introduce the girls before my Alphas and my best friend get into a pissing match, I move past the guys.
“It’s okay,” I tell the guys. “These are my friends.”
Aiden’s eyes snap down to me. “The ones you mentioned?”
I smile softly. “Yeah. Although, I’d say they’re more like my sisters really.”
Aiden licks his lips, nodding. “Then I guess we owe you a lot.”
“For what?” Jenna asks.
“For keeping our Omega safe,” Thomas replies.
Rylee snorts. “Don’t need to thank us for that. She’s our girl. We would have been there for her either way, seeing as how we were ready to step in and be that baby’s daddies if you refused to, I think that proves just how much we love our girl.”
“Guys,” I sniff. “Stop, you're going to make me cry, and I’m already a hot mess as it is.”
“You're gorgeous,” Nolan comments, wrapping his arms around me from behind. He kisses my cheek before placing his chin on my shoulder.
Happiness explodes inside me as I lean back into his touch, basking in the warmth of his body pressing against mine.
It feels right.
“Violet.” Jenny grins.
“Huh?” I blink, not realizing my eyes were shut.
“Look!” Rylee whines, slapping Jenny and Jenna’s arms as she grins at me. “They’re so cute.”
Laughing, I step out of Nolan’s hold. “Guys, this is Jenny. She’s an Alpha. As I’m sure you can all tell.” I shake my head, grinning as the three Alphas continue to stare each other down.
They’re going to have to take a step back because this isn’t their territory. It’s mine. So no Alpha can lay claim to me right now.
“It’s nice to meet the fathers of my niece or nephew. Jury’s still out concerning how I feel about you being my girl’s mates, though.”
“Jenny,” I sigh, giving her a look.
“No, it’s okay,” Thomas says. “She has the right to be wary of us, seeing as how her impression of us before today wasn’t very positive.”
Guilt swarms my stomach.
“I’m–”
“Don’t even finish that apology, Baby Girl,” Thomas growls, and damn it, my nipples harden against my bra. I bite my lip as I try to discreetly clench my thighs.
Who am I fooling, though, because the whole damn room can smell me right now. I really need to get it the fuck together before I cream my damn pants. It’s bad enough slick is filling my scent-blocking panties.
“You’re important to Violet. You want to make sure that when you leave her, she’s going to be safe and well taken care of. And I can guarantee that will be the case,” Aiden vows.
When they leave.
I know, at this moment, that I’m not going back to Calling Wood with them. I can’t. I owe it to myself and our baby to stay here and see where things go. I want to be with them, to have the pack I’ve dreamed of, the family I’ve always wanted.
Knowing that now is not the time to let that thought sink in, I go to introduce Rylee, but my feisty friend steps forward.
“I’m Rylee. Omega. Don’t worry, I’m not going to jump your bones or anything.” She grins. “I mean, sure, you’re all hot and whatnot, but god, your scents.” She scrunches up her nose.
Nolan snorts, biting his lower lip as my eyes widen. “Rylee!”
“What? It’s true.” She shrugs. “Sorry, no offense.”
“None taken,” Aiden mutters, sounding like he’s a bit offended.
“Oh, and for the record, I was very much on board with her coming here and telling that chick to get fucked and take her Alphas back.”
“Oh my god,” I groan, covering my face with my hands.
“Okay, I like her,” Nolan comments with amusement. “Wanna be my friend too?” he jokes.
“I don’t know.” She narrows her eyes. “Depends.”
“On what?”
I watch the two of them banter, and my heart swells. “Pineapple on pizza. Yes or no?”
“Yes,” Nolan answers without hesitation. “But anchovies, on the other hand...” Nolan wrinkles his nose as he shakes his head. “I’d rather die.”
“Sorry, Letty. I think you're about to be replaced as one of my top three besties.”
“Oh no. Whatever shall I do,” I say dryly.
She only grins wider.
“So let me get this straight. You three do not already have a woman and a baby on the way?” Jenny asks, clarifying.
“No,” Thomas says firmly. “The woman who was at the door when Violet answered is Sylvia. She’s a Beta we saw last year. We only went out on a few dates—had sex once—well before she was even pregnant. After that, we broke things off. She wasn’t right for us. Sadly, she didn’t like that answer and has been harassing us ever since.”
“So she is pregnant? Just not with your baby?” Jenna asks.
Aiden nods. “Yes.”
The idea of them sleeping with her, sleeping with anyone, makes my gut turn. They are mine. My Alphas. I know at their age, they’re sure to have a past. But I don’t want to know anything else involving previous relationships.
“You okay, Sweets?” Nolan asks, moving his head to catch my eyes.
“Yup.” I plaster on a fake smile.
Rylee snorts. “No, she’s not. She’s jealous as fuck.”
“Shut up!” I hiss, shooting her a glare.
“You have nothing to be jealous over,” Thomas reassures, pulling me into his arms. I melt into his touch, swallowing a whimper as his comforting peppermint and orange scent fills my nose.
The overwhelming need to cry again takes over. I didn’t realize how much I craved physical touch until right now. I want the three of them to surround and hold me forever.
“You're ours, baby. Nothing will change that. We’re so fucking happy you decided to come back.” He pulls back and grins down at me. “Pregnant,” he whispers. “We’re really having a baby?”
“Yeah.” I nod, smiling up at him with so much damn joy I’m nearly vibrating.
I came here ready for the worst outcome—to go back home with my friends and raise this baby alone.
Now, things have gone better than I could have expected because they were never hers. That was never their baby.
They want me. Want our baby.
This changes everything.
“This Sylvia chick, if she’s been harassing you, how can we expect that Violet will be safe?”
“Because,” Aiden starts. “We’ve got a restraining order on her. She’s not allowed to come on our property and has to be at least a hundred feet away in public spaces.”
“And how long have you had that?” Jenna asks.
“A year,” Thomas adds.
“So she broke it by coming to the house that day?” Rylee asks.
“Yes,” Aiden sighs.
“But she was charged for it. If she does it again, she goes to jail,” Thomas interjects.
“So Violet is safe?” Jenna asks.
“With us, always,” Thomas growls in promise.
“Good. Because there’s no way I’m leaving my girl here unless I know she’s going to be okay.”
“Soooo,” Rylee says, swinging her arms back and forth. “What happens now?”
We all kind of just look at one another.
“Well, I’m having a baby,” I throw in, looking at my best friends. “These are my scent matches. The fathers of my kid. I don’t want to be away from them again.” I bite my lower lip, tears welling in my eyes. I turn to the guys. “But I have a job, a life back in Calling Wood. I don’t know if I can just give it up.”
“You can, and you will.” Jenny nods her head. “You know Tia has been doing amazing at helping out. She will be more than happy to take on your job until they find someone to replace you.”
Tia is a sweet, feisty little red-headed Omega that reminds me a lot of Jenny. She’s also pregnant, due to have her first soon. She’s been attending Calling Wood well past the first year most Omega’s who find their packs do.
She’s one of the rare ones who wants to get an education and stand on their own. I admire that, and she has a pack that’s super supportive of her wants and dreams.
Her Beta, Knox, used to work with Jenna. So, we’ve seen each other outside of school on a few occasions.
When I brought up the plans I had to change, to improve, the matching program Tia was interested in helping me.
She’s been working for me part time ever since. I don’t think she’s going to make a career out of it like I have, but I could see her sticking with it while she’s at Calling Wood.
“But what about you girls?” I ask, tears breaking free. I don’t want to leave my friends. They’re a very big part of my life. Hell, they are my life.
Now, I have new people to make a life with. My pack. Fuck. They are part of my pack in some ways, right? We’ve made our own little family.
But it’s not the pack we all need in the end. I know Rylee wants her own Alphas, Jenna is aching to join a pack, and Jenny is an amazing Alpha. Any Omega would be lucky to have her as theirs.
I can’t hold onto them like this forever. Our friendship won’t change if I’m not there every day, it’s too strong for that.
“It’s not like you’re never going to see us again. Hope you don’t mind, but we plan on coming back here and living in this cabin during the summer months and any breaks.” Rylee shrugs. “You’re stuck with us, babe. We’re not going anywhere.”
“Spring break is only what, a month or two away. Then it’s another two months without seeing one another, then we get you for a whole summer,” Jenna says.
“And you know we’re going to come back once this baby is born,” Jenny reminds.
“I love you,” I sob, stepping out of Thomas’ hold to give my girls a group hug.
I don’t deserve them, but I’m so damn lucky I have them.
“Come, sit,” Jenna instructs. “You’ve had a long day, lots of emotions.”
“And you haven’t been able to keep anything down. I’ll make you some soup,” Jenny says, stepping forward.
“I’ll do it,” Both Thomas and Aiden say.
Jenny stops, cocking a brow at the two Alphas in a stare-off. “Bit of advice. Don’t fight over taking care of your Omega. It’s only going to upset her. Just take turns.”
“Fine,” Thomas says. “You can make the food.”
Aiden grins, puffing out his chest. I smile, loving how happy he is just to make me food.
“Because I get cuddles,” Thomas chuckles, scooping me up. I laugh, wrapping my arms around his shoulders as he brings me over to the couch, sitting me down on his lap.
Grinning like a love-sick fool, I snuggle into Thomas. I don’t realize I’m rubbing my cheek against his chest until I see Nolan looking at me with soft adoration. “What?” I ask him, smiling.
“You’re scenting him,” Nolan chuckles.
“And she can do it as much as she pleases,” Thomas defends, his chest vibrating with his husky voice.
I could listen to them talk all day.
I think it’s safe to say I’m hooked.
As much as I’m pissed at myself for leaving that morning, and as much as it hurt being away from them, I’m glad I came back. I’m glad I’m carrying their baby.
Part of me doesn’t want to get my hopes up because right now, my literal dream is coming true, and the last time I got excited about that, everything came crashing down around me.
I can’t think that way, though. I already know being away from them was hell, and I never want to do it again.
Especially not now. I look up at Thomas, finding him watching me. I smile, reaching up to run my fingers through his copper beard.
His eyes flutter closed and my smile widens as a deep purr starts up in his chest, a soft sigh passing his lips.
“You found his weak spot,” Nolan chuckles.
“Mhhhmmm,” Thomas hums, leaning into my touch as his eyes open. This time they’re swimming with something darker. I bite my lip, clenching my thighs together.
“I’ve never smelled so much apple pie in my life,” Rylee groans. I look over to see her grabbing a pillow and shoving it in her face.
“Get used to it,” Jenna chuckles. “Because I have a feeling everything’s going to smell like it from now on.”
“You know what, I’m not even sorry.” I stick my tongue out at her, and she flips me off, but I can tell she’s smiling behind the pillow.
“So, what are your plans now?” Nolan asks the girls. “I’m assuming you came here as a support team for Violet.”
“I mean, we’re already here,” Jenny says. “And we’re still owed that week off we didn’t get because of the storm. May as well call the school and take our vacation time.”
“The ski resort is still open,” Aiden informs, joining us. He places a bowl of steaming hot soup on the table. I move to go and eat it, but Aiden shakes his head. “Still too hot,” he tells me as he takes a seat on Thomas’ other side, then pulls me into his lap. Butterflies bounce around in my stomach as he wraps his arms around me. He kisses the top of my head, his lips lingering a moment before continuing what he was saying to the girls. “You can still go skiing. There’s still a lot of snow higher up the mountain too, so going on the snowmobiles is also an option. There’s a gorgeous lake up there. Not a lot of people know about it; it’s not advertised to tourists, a bit of a local secret. We go skating in the winter and swimming in the summer.”
“Swimming isn’t always the best idea.” Nolan laughs. “It’s fucking freezing. But it makes for good fishing. We take the ATVs up there. Camping too.”
“Woah,” Rylee says, eyes widening with excitement. “I wanna do all of that!”
“I should have known,” Jenny sighs. “Fine. May as well make use of our time here.”
“We’re going to have to come back in the summer for the other stuff,” Jenna says. “Sounds like fun.”
Rylee grew up on a farm. She loves anything outdoorsy. Every summer she makes us go camping for a week. We hike, fish, and do the trails with ATVs.
I grew up in the city, only ever coming to this cabin as a kid. But I loved the summers the girls and I spent together.
And I’m excited to see what it’s like to live in a small town in the mountains.
“I wanna do some of that with you,” I pout. “But I can’t skate.”
“Not while pregnant,” Aiden agrees. “Not worth the risk.”
Thoman leans forward, grabbing the soup. He takes a spoonful and blows on it before touching it lightly with his lips. “It’s cool enough,” Thomas declares, bringing the bowl closer to me. With the spoon still in his hand, he offers me a bite.
Part of me wants to say I can feed myself, but I like the idea of my Alphas taking care of me.
Holding his eyes, I lean forward, wrapping my lips around the spoon. His eyes grow lidded in approval, an echoing rumble coming from the two Alphas.
“It’s like watching a porno,” Rylee whispers.
Nolan snorts. “Best porno ever.”
I groan in satisfaction at the taste of the soup. Even if it’s canned, whatever Aiden did to it made it taste so damn good.
For the next few hours, we all hang out, the girls telling the guys all my embarrassing stories. I don’t even care or get embarrassed because I’m so ecstatic.
My Alphas, my best friends, my baby, my family.
My life.