Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
D axton
“I’m really not sure about this,” Harper says, threading the buttons on her baggy cardigan. A cardigan that’s necessary, because even though Harper is only seven weeks’ pregnant, she already has the slightest of baby bumps.
It’s ridiculously sexy. I’ve spent hours examining it, kissing it, stroking it. I know I’m designed to find a pregnant omega hot – but my omega. Holy fuck, it’s so hot it’s off the scale.
“It is a good idea,” I say, resting my hands on her shoulders and kissing her nose as she grimaces at me.
“Better we get this out in the open and face it head on,” Owen says. “The longer we sneak around–”
“–The bigger your belly grows,” I say, poking her belly button.
“The more outrageous the rumors will get.”
“I know you’re right,” she concedes with a sigh, “but trust me, you have no idea what omegas are like–”
“I have a fair idea,” I growl, kissing the spot under her ear that makes her knees weak.
“You don’t understand about their powers of gossip. They’re supernatural.”
“Harper, your mom, Dax’s dad and Molly and her pack will be there.”
“Molly’s bringing her brothers and sister-in-law as back up too.”
“Well, there you go,” I say, “united front. We’re going to be fine.”
Harper takes a deep breath in, turning to the mirror and adjusting her hair.
“You look beautiful,” I tell her. “You always do.”
She gazes at the three of us. “You all look pretty damn good yourselves. Are you sure we couldn’t just stay here and–”
I take her by the hand.
“Actually, we bought you something that might make you feel better about tonight.”
“You did?” she says, crinkling her brow.
Wyatt ducks inside our wardrobe and pulls out a large shoe box.
“What is it?” she says.
“Open it and see,” Wyatt says.
Peering around at us with curiosity, she lifts the box. Underneath are a pair of brown knee-high suede boots with a heel and tassels.
“They’re lucky boots,” Owen tells her. “Perfect for some country dancing.”
“These look expensive,” she says.
“They were,” I tell her. “But you will be the only omega there tonight wearing sneakers. Want to try them on?”
She nods eagerly, then leans on me as she pulls first the left boot on over her pant legs, and then the right.
“What do you think?” she asks, spinning around.
“Damn sexy,” Owen says, “and very lucky. You’ll be unstoppable in those.”
“Come on.” I lead her out of the guest house (the location we’ve been camped out in for the last couple of weeks) and into the main house where Melanie and my dad are waiting for us.
“You look beautiful,” I tell my step-mom.
“Are we ready?” my dad asks, taking his wife’s hand in his.
“As ready as we’ll ever be,” Owen says.
On the drive to the latest alpha and omega event, you can tell we’re all nervous, although Owen tries to cover it up by chatting away merrily as if our family isn’t about to walk into the lion’s den.
The event tonight is a fall-themed dinner dance, this time on a farm bordering the edge of the city. It’s owned by one of the rich packs and is said to be one of several farms they own. They also have a ranch, a ski lodge and a beach house.
It’s the kind of information that would have had me feeling inadequate several weeks ago. I mean our house is big, it has to be when three alphas are living together and plan to raise a family there. But we’ve never been able to compete with the likes of these alphas.
Luckily, we no longer have to. We have our omega. We have our family.
Owen parks up at the temporary lot out in front of the farm and we all climb out, peering across to where a giant marquee has been erected on a well-manicured lawn, bales of hay positioned as places for people to sit and the place decorated with pumpkins and multi-colored foliage.
Country music wafts our way accompanied by the smell of roasting corn and warm cider.
I offer my hand to Harper.
She stares down at it looking even more nervous than she did in the car.
“If I take your hand, it’s going to make it really obvious to everyone that we’re together.”
“That’s the idea,” I tell her. “I don’t want to leave anyone in any doubt.”
She takes another of those settling inhales and then we set off. Melanie and Ethan leading the way and Owen and Wyatt flanking us.
As we draw closer, I can hear the murmuring of voices and I see just how many people are here this evening – seems like every single one of the city’s omegas and alphas have made it out to the farm tonight.
“I’m so nervous, I think I may throw up,” Harper mumbles. I squeeze her hand.
The voices grow louder the nearer we walk and soon we’re right in the middle of everyone. Right where everyone can see us.
Me, Harper, Owen and Wyatt.
Harper’s hand in mine, Owen’s arm slung around her neck.
It’s pretty obvious we’re together and everyone swings their heads to stare at us. I swear even the music cuts out and the guests take a collective gasp.
Then silence. Silence and everyone staring.
“Oh shit,” Harper murmurs without moving her lips.
Several people are frowning. The hostess, a tiny omega in her late sixties who some say can ride a horse backwards, glares at us. For one terrible moment, I think we’re going to be ejected from the gathering. That or torn to shreds by the crowd.
But then a female voice calls out from the crowd.
“Harper!” and her friend Molly comes barreling through, followed by three alphas. “I’m so glad you’re here – and you brought your pack with you too. Congratulations, again, sweetie,” she says, winking at me, as she throws her arms around Harper’s neck and kisses her cheek.
Her pack, two men I don’t know and one I most definitely do – the racing driver River Caspian – shake our hands firmly and congratulate us in loud voices that carry to everyone still standing and staring. Then they move on to Ethan and Melanie, congratulating them both on such a happy union.
When I look round, the crowd is still gathered, but perhaps something has shifted. The older woman schools her features and hurries forward.
“Is this true, Harper? You’re joining Pack Stanton?”
“Yes, I’ll be moving in with them later this week.”
The woman’s eyes, framed by heavy false eyelashes, flick between me and Harper and I stare at her, daring her to say a word.
She doesn’t. Instead, she kisses the air by Harper’s cheek, mumbles her congratulations and hurries away.
It sets off a wave. Other packs and older couples step forward to congratulate us. No one mentions the step-sibling situation, even if it’s front and center of their minds.
Harper visibly relaxes and soon Molly and her sister-in-law have tempted her onto the make-shift dance floor for some country dancing.
I go in search of a much needed beer, finding the bar inside the quiet marquee.
However, it doesn’t remain quiet for long. When I turn back around, I find myself face to face with Cindy, hands on her hips, pissed-off expression on her face. She looks like an angry Jack Russel terrier. One that might nip at my ankles.
“You’re dating her?! Harper Hall?!”
“Yes,” I say, calmly taking a swig of my beer. “But it’s more serious than that.”
“Can’t be that serious,” she snorts, “you haven’t even claimed her.”
Her words irritate me and my fingers tighten around the bottle in my hand.
“This isn’t just dating. She’s moving in with us.”
And she’s having our baby. Although, I fail to mention that. One step at a time. One piece of scandal at a time.
“Your sister?!” Cindy snarls, her lips curling in disgust.
“She’s my step-sister and our parents didn’t marry until–”
“That’s really freaking sick.” She swishes her hair over her shoulder in annoyance. “And everybody’s saying it – even if they’re being nice to you to your face.”
I shrug. I don’t care what they think or say behind our backs, as long as they’re polite to Harper in person.
“No one is going to want to be treated by a doctor like you.”
“I am an ER doctor, Cindy. Most of my patients are unconscious and don’t have a choice.”
“You’ll be barred from future events like this.”
“You think I care what people think?” I smile at her. “We’ve found our omega. She’s the love of my fucking life.”
“Her?” She snorts. “She has a big nose, wonky teeth and she squints all the time.”
“I know. She’s beautiful.”
Cindy makes a sound like a dying goose, swishes her hair again, mutters something like ‘I don’t believe you’d choose someone like her over me’ and storms off.
I take a deep sigh of relief. That girl can talk the hind legs off a donkey. I was worried I’d be trapped listening to her garbage for hours.
I make my way out of the marquee, scanning the crowd for the rest of my pack and catching Cindy’s eyes again. She’s already huddled in a corner with three other omegas and it’s clear they’re talking about us.
In a way, I feel sorry for them. They’re jealous after all and I know what that feels like. To want what we have. It’s what everyone dreams of – alphas, betas and omegas alike.
I ignore my little crowd of disapprovers and keep searching for my pack. I spot Owen in the center of the dance floor, making Harper, Molly and Molly’s sister-in-law howl with laughter at his exaggerated dance moves. Wyatt I find by the edge of the dance floor, deep in conversation with the racing driver.
I start to make my way towards them when I’m intercepted again. This time by Brian Hoover. He’s an alpha from one of the old-money packs. He’s also chair of the Board of the hospital.
“Daxton,” he says, landing his hand on my shoulder and making my stomach plummet.
It had been going so well.
From the corner of my eye, I see Cindy smirking and I wonder if she’s been whispering in Brian’s ear.
“Brian,” I say, trying to keep my voice neutral, calm, friendly. “I didn’t know you’d be here tonight.”
“Yeah, I can’t stand these things.” He chuckles. “But Belinda wanted to come and there’s no way to say no to that woman.” He chuckles a second time. It makes me irrationally nervous. “I think she wanted to check out this place. She’s been saying for a long time we should buy a farm like this. But I don’t know,” he rubs at his chin, gazing out over the recently harvested fields, “I think there’s no money to be made in farming these days.”
I’m pretty sure he and his pack have no need for any more wealth.
“I wouldn’t know,” I mumble.
He drags his gaze back to me and examines my face. “Everyone’s talking about you and your pack this evening.”
“Are they?”
“They’re saying you’ve found your pack omega,” he chuckles once more, “that’s big news in omega circles. Who’s the lucky girl?”
I take a needed swig of my beer. “Harper, Harper Hall.”
“Harper …” he says. “The name is familiar … No, I don’t think I know the girl.” I have to stop myself from groaning in relief. He squeezes my shoulder. “I’m sure you’ll be very happy together.”
“We will,” I say.
He nods, going to turn away but then I stop him. He’s going to find out, one way or the other he’s going to hear the truth eventually. I’d rather know now if I’m going to be fired, better than hanging about in never-ending misery waiting for my fate to be decided.
“Brian?”
“Yes.”
“The reason everyone’s talking about this news is …” I scratch the back of my neck. I feel like a little kid going to the principal to confess I’ve cheated in an exam. “The omega. She’s my step-sister.”
“Ahhhhhh,” Brian says, that one syllable seeming to drag on for eternity. “Melanie’s girl. I knew I knew the name from somewhere. Well, if she’s anything like her mother, I know you will be very happy. Just better get on and make it official – claim her before someone else does.”
He smiles at me and this time succeeds in turning away.
I stand there, mouth hanging open, staring at the space he’s just vacated.
All this worry, all this angst, very nearly losing each other forever and … that’s it?
That is it?
A giggle bubbles in my throat, gaining momentum and force, until my body shakes with laughter and I’m wiping tears from my face.
Maybe happy endings can happen in real life after all because it seems I’m going to get to keep my job and the omega.