Chapter 24
Violet
The past few weeks have been nothing short of amazing. Every day, I wake up so thankful for the pack I have and the life we’re building together.
We’ve settled into a nice routine. Every night, I get to be sandwiched between the men who mean the world to me and wake up with them still by my side.
They go to work, and I either hang out around the house or go with one of them.
I haven’t had much time to be bored, using whatever free time I have to mess with my room and nest, getting both of them just right.
The guys have been saints because I may have asked them to change the room color... twice. It seemed nice on the paint sample, but once it was all over the walls, it felt wrong.
I cried. Yup, full-on sobbed. I blame it on the pregnancy hormones or just my picky Omega nature for needing a perfect nest. But the guys didn’t bat an eye and jumped to work with me until we found the perfect color.
After we got the wall colors out of the way, it was getting the right furniture and its placement. Different rooms called for different things. My bedroom has a queen bed on this gorgeous bed frame, bookshelves that line the walls—which are already filled with all my books from my Calling Wood home—basic dresser, desk, and nightstands that you would find in bedrooms. But they’re all in styles and colors I like.
My nest is entirely different. It has a king size bed that takes over most of the floor space, a mini fridge in the corner, a small night table, and an obscene amount of fairy lights. That's it for furniture. I like my nests as clutter-free as possible.
Of course, that doesn’t count when it comes to blankets and pillows. I have so many that I could get lost in them for days. And every time we go out, I seem to find something new to buy and add to the collection.
I don’t remember my need for them being this bad before. Maybe it’s another pregnancy thing? I’ve read that Omegas can crave their nest more while pregnant, and boy, has that proven to be true.
The amount of times the guys find me in my nest when they come home, curled up, sleeping, or just reading a book is pretty much every time.
Honestly, I’m not even sure why I bothered letting them make one of the rooms into my very own bedroom, seeing as how I don’t think I’ve used it once.
I’m either in my nest or in the pack room.
Nolan pointed out that it would be a good thing to have because, at some point, I’m going to need my own space away from the guys and the babies.
My nest is also a space no one is allowed in. My bedroom, on the other hand, is not so strict.
I may have growled at Aiden when he came to get me for supper one time. Then I cried and felt bad, but he said he was the one who was sorry because he should have known better.
That's another thing I’ve never done before—been so territorial over my nest. Yes, it’s a sacred place that not many are welcome into. It’s my safe place for only me.
My friends have come into my nest back home a few times, and I didn’t feel like biting their heads off because I trusted them.
And I trust the guys, I do, yet I don’t want them in there. The idea of anyone coming into my nest and moving a single thing out of place makes me want to rage.
Another thought I’ve had was that all this is due to me finally having my first heat. Before, I had never truly felt all the things an Omega did. Now that I have, things have changed and are more intense?
I don’t know, and I may never know.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” I mutter, grunting as I try to pull myself out of my Jeep. Well, not my Jeep, Nolan’s Jeep, but seeing as how I’m the only one who drives it, I’ve claimed it.
Huffing, I manage to wiggle my way out of the Jeep and onto the ground. “I need to adjust the damn steering wheel,” I grumble, glaring at the wheel like it kicked my dog.
I might be a little pissy today. But I have every right to be, seeing as how it’s been a shitty day since the moment I woke up.
I’m twenty weeks pregnant now, and my belly has grown what feels like overnight. I almost can’t see my own feet, and anytime I look at myself in the mirror, I cry.
It doesn’t matter how many times the guys call me sexy and obsess over my body, I don’t feel it. I think I just need to get used to the changes.
It’s not that I think I’m ugly or anything; it’s the fact that my belly is a lot bigger than the average pregnant woman’s at twenty weeks. And I’m only halfway done with my pregnancy. How big am I going to get? Am I going to need the guys to roll me around?
The thought has angry tears springing to my eyes.
I swear if I didn’t just have my eighteen-week check-up, I’d think I was having twins or even triplets. But nope, my doctor confirmed there was still only one baby in there.
I’ve been leaning towards the baby being a girl, but I’m starting to think it’s a boy and has Aiden's or Thomas' DNA. Having over-six-foot tall, big, buff Alphas is all fun and games until you have to birth a baby made by them.
Feeling like getting out of the Jeep was a workout all on its own, I grab my purse and slam the door shut, leaning against it while I catch my breath.
I’m starting to think that just staying home would have been a better idea.
But the guys are working, leaving me on my own for the day. Plus, I was getting cabin fever, and it’s a really nice day. It’s mid-May now; the snow is pretty much gone, and Snow Valley is stunning. Every time I look out the window, I’m in awe that this is my home. I’m surrounded by mountains as far as the eye can see.
“Come on, Violet, you're being dramatic. You're pregnant, not disabled. Move your ass.” It also doesn’t help that the morning sickness—that felt the need to show up later in my pregnancy—has not left yet, and I’ve felt like shit all day.
But I have things I need to get done.
My best friends are coming back in a few days for the gender reveal party, and I need to get decorations. They said to wait until they came out so they could help me, but I’m impatient and need to get out of the house anyway.
A lot of Snow Valley’s stores are found on the side of the road along the highway, but there is an actual town of Snow Valley a little ways down the mountain from where we live.
It kind of reminds me of Calling Wood, just a little bigger. There’s a hospital, grocery store, some clothing stores, a few bars, some mom-and-pop shops, stuff like that.
And an adorable little party store. “Wow,” I whisper as I step inside. It has everything you might need for any holiday or occasion. “Party city heaven,” I sigh. “Damn it, my wallet is going to hate me after this.”
Grabbing a cart, I start walking around the store. My shitty mood starts to drift away with each item I toss in the cart.
The kick to my belly has me stopping. I smile, placing my hand on my stomach and laughing. “Oh, now you wanna party? We are not telling your daddies about this. You need to behave, little one, or you're gonna hurt their feelings,” I playfully scold the baby.
For a few weeks now, I’ve been able to feel the baby kick and move around inside me. When it first happened, I got so excited that I started crying. The guys were thrilled but sad because you couldn’t feel anything on the outside of my belly.
But last week, I was lying on the couch, having a snack while Aiden made supper. Yes, I know, it defeats the purpose, but sue me, I was hungry and didn’t want to wait. And Baby Bean started kicking. My hand was resting on my belly, and I felt it. I called the guys over, but as soon as one of them tried to touch my belly, the baby stopped.
They spent hours trying to feel it, being very stubborn and very determined.
Of course, as soon as I’d get up to pee or they left, the baby would be back to partying in my belly.
It’s both funny and sad to watch. They really are pissed about it.
After a few minutes, the baby settles down again, and I continue my way around the store.
“Shoot, sorry,” I curse, stumbling to a stop when I nearly crash into another cart as I round the corner.
“Watch where you're going,” the voice snaps, and my blood runs cold. No, not right now. Not today. And god, please, why couldn’t it be anyone but her. Her eyes meet mine and narrow. “Oh. It’s you.”
Sylvia. Of course, it’s Sylvia. It’s always fucking Sylvia.
I haven’t seen her since the day she thought she had the right to fuck with my pack, but there have been whispers around town.
Not that anyone believes the bullshit she’s spewing.
“Oh, lovely,” I sigh. “It’s you.”
She crosses her arms, raising a brow at me. “You're still in town?” she asks. “Haven’t you come to your senses and left yet? You really should go back to wherever you came from.”
“Look, I’m not in the mood for this. And I’m really not in the mood to look at your face, listen to your voice, or be anywhere in your vicinity.” I sigh heavily, my good mood totally gone.
“Trust me, I don’t want to have to look at you either,” she snarks back.
“Good, then we agree on something.” I go to move the cart around her, deciding this shopping day is over. I just want to pay for my things and get in my Jeep.
The hate I have for this woman is making it very hard not to clock her in the face.
But I’m pregnant, and I’m not going to put my baby at risk for this bitch.
Of course, she’s not going to make it easy for me—because why would the crazy lady do that—and steps in front of my cart.
“Move,” I demand through gritted teeth.
She ignores me. “Look at you,” She laughs. “What are you nine months pregnant? You didn’t look that big a few weeks ago.” She gives me a pitying smile, and I’m about to slap her. “Pregnancy isn’t treating you well, honey. Me, on the other hand, I was glowing the whole time.”
“Good for you. Now, fuck off,” I snap, pulling my cart back and moving it to her other side. She blocks it again.
“It’s sad, you know,” she sighs. “That you think you’re building this big happy life with Pack Wheeler. But just you wait, they’re going to drop you just like they did me. And all for the next pretty little young thing that comes by; they’re going to forget all about you and your baby just like they did me and my son. How does it feel to be with Alphas who abandoned their own kid?”
“They are not the father of your son,” I correct her. “You got pregnant after meeting them.”
“That's what they’re telling you?” she laughs. “It’s a lie, you know. Everything they’re telling you is a lie. We were so close to becoming a pack. They were going to make me theirs. Until you came into their lives.”
“I’m not doing this with you,” I warn. Talking to her is like talking to a fucking brick wall. In her head, she believes her fantasies. Or maybe she doesn’t, and it’s all a big shout for attention. I don’t know, and I don’t care. What I do care about is getting the fuck away from her.
Turning my cart around, I head back the way I came.
“You're a home-wrecking whore, you know that, right?” she yells, trailing behind me.
“Don’t you have to follow a fucking restraining order!” I snap.
“Not for you, I don’t,” she taunts with a laugh.
“I’ll have to change that then,” I mutter.
“I’m not the bad guy, you know. They are. They’re the ones who make you fall for them, give you everything you want, and then take it all away.”
I spin around, forgetting all about my cart, and get in her face. The bitch grins like this is what she wanted. Loving the fact that she’s getting a reaction out of me. “If they’re so awful, then why the fuck do you want them back so bad?”
“What can I say?” She shrugs. “The heart wants what it wants. And I want to give my son the family he deserves.”
“Then try asking his real father,” I retort.
“I have!” she shouts back in my face. “But they won’t give me the time of day because of you .” She digs into her purse and pulls something out. “How much?”
“What?” I ask, brows furrowing.
“How much money will it take for you to get in your car and leave Snow Valley right now.”
My eyes widen, letting out a laugh of disbelief. “You’re joking, right?”
She just stands there, checkbook in hand. Oh, fuck, she’s being serious right now.
“Ten thousand sound good?” she asks.
“You're crazy.” I shake my head.
“Twenty?” she asks so casually it’s concerning.
“I’m done. I’m out.” I turn, grab my cart, and take it up to the counter. The cashier watches me with concern. “Hi, I need to leave. Would you be able to hold this stuff for me, and I’ll come back for it later?”
“Of course.”’ She nods.
“Thanks.”
Grabbing my purse, I head towards the exit, vibrating with anger. I’m so pissed off that I want to cry.
This woman is crazy, fucking nuts. And she doesn’t take a hint because the crazy bat follows me out. Yup, I’m getting that restraining order as soon as I can.
“Fifty thousand?” she calls out from behind me. She fucking follows me to my Jeep. “And, if your baby is a girl, I’ll give you another fifty if you sign over your rights to me and the guys.”
I let out a disbelieving laugh. This girl is seriously mentally ill. She needs to be locked up.
“Don’t do this the hard way, Violet. I have money, and a lot of it. I’ll use it all to fight you in court. That baby will be mine—ours—my pack’s one way or another. And Pack Wheeler is mine. Those bite marks on your neck mean nothing. They’re just marks. Anyone can bite another person. What matters is what‘s in the heart, and I’m in theirs. They’re just mad at me. But as soon as they see reason, they will leave you and come running back to me.”
Didn’t she tell me they would leave me for someone younger and better? Girl can’t even keep her delusions straight.
And she’s wrong. So fucking wrong. She has no idea how powerful scent bonds are. It’s not something you can just forget about and move on from. My pack and I have felt the pain of being away from your mate, and it’s something we would never wish on another person. Okay, maybe on Miss De-lu-lu over here, but not anyone else.
But I know better than to argue with a crazy person, so instead of telling her all of that, I walk over to the passenger side door.
She continues to follow me, blabbing on and on about how my men are hers and the same old thing. She’s just talking in circles at this point.
“Two hundred thousand, that's my final offer. Don’t be stupid, Violet. Take the money and go. They’re not worth it. Think of all the things you could do with that kind of money.”
Pulling the door open, I reach into the glove compartment and do something I’ve never had to do but have been trained to.
The cool metal feels foreign against my palm as I pull it out and spin around. I aim the gun at Sylvia. It’s loaded, but the safety is still on. I don’t plan on using it, not unless she puts her hands on me. And that’s only because I won’t risk her hurting my baby.
But maybe this bitch needs a good scare to see the error of her ways.
“Back the fuck up,” I say, oddly calm. My heart is pounding so damn fast right now, but I’m fueled by adrenaline and anger, so much so that my hand isn’t even shaking. I‘m surprised because inside, I’m freaking the fuck out.
She backs up, eyes wide. “You're insane!” she shouts.
I laugh, like really laugh. “You're one to talk. You're here trying to buy my fucking baby. Are you stupid? No amount of money in the world would make me give up my child or my pack. So take your fucking checkbook and shove it up your ass. Come near me, my baby, or my pack again, and I will shoot you in self-defense. Do you understand me?”
She backs up more, and I make my way around the Jeep, making sure to keep the gun on her until I open the door.
Quickly, I get in and place the gun on the passenger seat. “You will be hearing from my lawyer!” she shouts.
I roll down my window.“Good!” I shout back as I slowly drive by her. “I can tell them how much of a fucking nutcase their client is!”
It’s not until I’m down the road, pulling into The Hearty Bean, that I finally lose it.
Nothing could ever make me leave the guys, but this, this can’t keep going on. Something needs to be done about her. I will not live in fear, and the idea that she’s willing to even mention buying my baby has me fearing for Baby Bean’s life, too.
Parking the car, my body shakes as deep, heavy sobs leave my body. I need my pack right now. I feel like I can’t breathe.
“Violet?” Nolan’s voice sounds, and I look up, seeing him rushing to the car.
Then I lose it all over again.