Chapter 28 - Craig
The bright white light of a snowy morning filtered through the window. Chill air on my shoulders told me that the fire had probably burned out overnight, but it was ok. I was in a cozy cocoon of warmth with my new mate.
I nuzzled into his hair and couldn’t help a soft growl. He smelled of sex and heat, and I knew it wouldn’t be long before I was inside him again.
I closed my eyes and held him close while he slept. He was mine—my mate, my omega.
My Randy.
My thoughts drifted to claiming him the night before; the way he’d screamed in ecstasy as his bonding point gave way under my teeth—how stunning the angry mark already looked on his skin.
It would fade to a beautiful silvery scar, a daily reminder of our bond.
Mine.
I shifted, keeping him spooned against me, and allowed my hand to drift to his stomach.
He’d shared his fear a few days prior that it might be difficult for him to get pregnant due to his age. But I trusted that we’d made it happen—that our first child was already growing inside him.
Randy shivered in my arms, and I nuzzled into his neck to find the skin cool.
I carefully got out of bed and cursed at the chill air that surrounded me. My cock, especially, was unhappy with being removed from its warm spot nestled against my mate’s ass. But it would be there again soon enough.
I pulled on a robe and slippers, then made my way downstairs to get the fire started again.
I wanted my mate comfortable as we enjoyed the remainder of his heat.
∞∞∞
~March~
Jessie and Yazmín’s house was filled to the brim with friends and family for her presentación. There had been a small church ceremony earlier in the day for those closest, but the party had been opened to a much larger crowd.
I couldn’t keep track of the people I’d been introduced to, and the vibe of the house could only be described as barely-controlled chaos. People called to each other in an ever-changing blend of Spanish, Spanglish, and English, while a steady stream of food came from the kitchen.
Michelle, Marco, and an assortment of cousins somehow avoided being stepped on as they played and wound through the adults. They regularly got yelled at to go play outside, but kept finding their way back in.
Yazmín relaxed on the couch, seemingly comfortable with her baby making the rounds as she was passed from person-to-person.
Kerry… was the opposite of Yazmín. He clung to his newborn and had only let the baby out of his sight a handful of times. Though I wondered how long he’d really be able to hold out against the forming line of aunties ready to get their baby fix.
An older woman—whom I believed was one of Yazmín’s abuelas—started to edge closer to Kerry, eyes on the baby.
Kerry—seemingly over being the center of attention—suddenly said something in Spanish.
Yazmín cackled at the same time that a dozen tías turned to face my omega.
I recognized the danger and scurried out of the way as they descended on Randy, hands on his stomach and at least one praying over him.
“What did you do?” Randy cried.
Kerry smirked. “Nothing much. I just told them that you’re newly pregnant, and at thirty-seven… you need all the blessings for a healthy pregnancy.”
“Why would you do that?”
“They’re your family, too,” he replied with a laugh. “Well… Kinda… Don’t you think they’d want to know?”
Randy turned to me, desperate pleading in his eyes. “Alpha…”
I shook my head and let out a nervous laugh. “I value my life, thanks. I know better than to get between a group of women and their target.”
“Good call,” Jessie said, slinging an arm across my shoulders. “Yazzy’s family are unstoppable when there’s a new baby in the mix. Randy’s in the safest possible spot, but you’d be trampled.”
“It sounds like you know,” I teased.
She snorted. “I think there are still bruises on my foot from when I didn’t get out of the way fast enough when we announced Michelle.”
I laughed.
“I hate you,” Randy grumbled. He turned to Kerry, “And you.”
Kerry burst into laughter. “I know you love me, and you love him enough that you let him mark you.”
My beautiful Randy’s face tinted pink.
“What do you want to eat, Sweetheart?” I asked. “You know if you don’t have a plate in your hand, they’re going to shove food at you now that the cat’s out of the bag.”
“They’ll shove food at him anyway,” Jessie laughed. “But it’s a good plan.”
“Anything!” Randy cried, even as he seemed to resign himself to being the center of attention.
I went to the kitchen, loaded up a plate for my pregnant omega, then returned to see him already getting inundated with old wives' tales and tips for a healthy pregnancy.
∞∞∞
~June~
“Kerry seems convinced that there’s going to be a layer of colored frosting when you cut the cake,” Joey informed me as I adjusted my tie in the mirror.
It was weird wearing a tux, but it was an important day. I was about to marry my mate.
I chuckled and turned to him. “He wanted to plan a gender reveal so bad, but both Randy and I want to be surprised.”
“Oof. Denied.”
“Randy’s already given him the reins to the shower, though. He still won’t know the gender, but he seems happy enough.”
Joey chuckled. “You’d think he’d want to sit out planning parties for others, given that he still has a newborn of his own.”
I shrugged. “Honestly, I think he’s bored.
According to Randy, he was off every other week to some far-flung art hotspot in search of the best new artists for his clients.
He’s been home since early January. He’s working again, remotely, but already complaining that internet research isn’t good enough. ”
“What does he do?”
“Randy said he’s a fine art acquisition consultant.”
“Now in English?”
I laughed. “I think that means he helped people with way too damn much money find and purchase art for their space, without the rich people having to do the work themselves.”
“Ah.”
“It’s a planning-type job, so it makes sense for him to want to dive in and make something perfect for Randy.”
“Well… maybe planning the shower will help him get it out of his system for another month or two. Is he gonna travel with the baby?”
“I think so, for now at least. Callum worked in fine art shipping, and if I heard correctly, Kerry wants him to travel with them so that he can consult on the best ways to ensure the pieces arrive at their destinations safely. It keeps them together until they’re ready to send Rose to school.”
“Probably a good plan.”
I smiled, then the door to the groom’s suite burst open. Dad and Papa strode in, huge grins on their faces.
“There’s my boy!” Papa declared as he walked over and brushed off the shoulders of my tux jacket.
“Hey, Papa.” I turned to Dad. “Hey, Dad.”
Dad walked over and pulled me into a hug. “Hey, Son. Proud of you. Your Randy’s a good man.”
I grinned. “Thanks. He’s amazing.”
“And this venue,” Papa gushed. “I know it’s a Thursday, but even before we moved away, Heartspring was on the pricier end. How did you get it?”
I smiled. “The location portion was a gift. Randy is friends with the resort owners. They said as long as it wasn’t already booked, we could pick a day.”
“And you picked a Thursday?” Dad asked.
I nodded. “It was my idea.”
“Why’s that?” Joey asked.
I smiled. “Today is the one-year anniversary of the day I met Randy.”
There was a beat of silence before Joey said “Awww” at the same time as Papa pulled me into a crushing hug.
I laughed. “We still had to pay for other things—like the food. But they gave us a lot of discounts. It would have probably cost twice as much otherwise.”
“Remembering the date you met your omega is the sweetest,” Papa said.
“Oh…” I chuckled. “Yeah… but it helps that he could look up what day he shopped at the mill on his banking app.”
Dad roared with laughter. “That sounds more like you.”
I grinned. “I can do romantic things, as long as I know the details.”
There was a knock on the door. I turned to see the resort coordinator, Ollie, stick his head in. “They’re ready.”
I smiled. “Thanks.”
“Is that your planner?” Papa asked.
Ollie laughed. “Naw, I’m the resort’s coordinator. Usually, we require outside planners so that I can focus on the resort logistics of an event. But for something this small, I can bend the rules for. Besides… Randy’s a friend.”
“If he’s a friend, then you should be on the guest list,” Papa objected.
Ollie laughed. “Don’t worry. I’ll sit down and enjoy the ceremony, and I’ll have a bit of dinner. But I’ll play emcee as well.”
“Well, let me know if you need help,” Papa demanded.
“We’re good. Enjoy your son’s wedding,” Ollie said, then he ducked out.
Papa kissed my cheek, and Dad gave me a hug, then they escorted me down to where the ceremony space had been set out on the lawn.
It was perfect. A few rows of chairs—all that was needed for the thirty people in attendance. Then the arch was perfectly placed so that the roof of our cabin was framed in it.
I turned as the music started. Kerry was the Man of Honor. Then there was Randy—resplendent in a cream-colored tux that just showed off his developing baby bump—walking down the aisle.
I couldn’t focus on anything but the man I loved, and only remembered to repeat the vows after somebody cleared their throat.
My true promise to him had been made in a snow-covered clearing while fireworks exploded over the lake.
The vows were for everybody else.
Then we were kissing—as husbands and mates.
∞∞∞
~September~
“So, do you know what Kerry has planned for the baby shower?” I asked as Randy and I strolled together in the public park. Russy stayed close but slightly ahead of us along the path—leashed for the benefit of other dog owners.
“Not a clue,” he laughed. “But that’s fine. I trust him.”
I tangled my fingers with his. “If you trust him, then so do I.”
Randy closed the distance and rested his head on my shoulder—which was kind of a feat given his baby bump.
“Another month and a half,” I murmured.
He hummed. “Yeah.”