Chapter 10 Vera
Vera
“Let’s see if this fits you.” Riley pulls another shirt from the shelves.
We’re in a storage room, trying to find gear that I can wear.
Trying to find gear for my height is already hard enough, but now I’m pregnant, I need more space around the waist and chest area, which makes it even more complicated.
I pull the shirt off, it really wasn’t going over my boobs, and try the one on that Riley’s holding out to me. It goes over my boobs, barely, and is still too tight. And it’s too long.
“Okay, one more size up. Once we’ve found one that can fit over your chest, I’ll shorten whatever needs shortening.” She pulls another shirt from the shelves.
This one I can pull on, and fits pretty well, apart from the length.
“That’s better.” Riley looks at the shelves. “Now the rest of stuff.”
I groan, just as my phone rings.
Erika!
I quickly pick up, glad to have a distraction for a couple of moments. “You didn’t pack an extra set of gear in your size by any chance, did you?”
Erika laughs. “No, I’m sorry. And I’m pretty sure you’re a lot bigger in the chest right now, so it wouldn’t have fitted anyway. Where are you?”
“Training complex, looking for gear that fits me.” I try to turn away from Riley, but she grabs my hips to stop me, before quickly pinning the bottom of the shirt.
“I’ll be right there. I want to see what train wreck you’re getting yourself into.” And with that, she disconnects the call.
What?!
She’s already here? I had no idea anyone had left to pick her up yet. I wanted to pick her up from the airport too.
“Stay still for just a few moments, or I’ll accidentally poke you.” Riley grabs my hips again. “I only need a few seconds.” She turns me a couple of times, making sure that the bottom hem is straight. “Does this seem like the right length?” She looks up at me.
I reach down, pulling on it slightly, then look at how Riley’s shirt fits her. “Should be alright, I guess?”
“Okay. Then put on your normal shirt and we’ll get you the rest of the gear once you’ve greeted Erika.” She grins. “We can’t wait too long, because I’m pretty sure I’m going to have to modify everything. And that’s going to take time.”
I lean over so I can give my sweet Alpha a kiss. “Thank you. I know I’m being all over the place and you’re being very patient with me. Thanks.”
She wraps her arms around me and pulls me close, grinning up at me. “I’m happy to help. Plus, if we don’t get this all done, then I’d also be in trouble, since we’re teamed up. And, if you’re not comfortable in your gear, that’s going to affect both of us.”
She flinches as she lets go of me and I see one of the pins is stuck to her shirt. “Now, swap your shirt, so you can greet Erika without poking holes in her.”
“Right away.” I carefully lift the shirt over my head, making sure none of the pins get stuck in me or the compression bra I’m wearing.
We found a pattern for a home-made compression bra online and decided to try our hands at it.
Riley and I are both wearing our home-made compression bras, since they’re actually pretty comfortable and we need to wear them for a bit to make sure that we can properly move and breathe in them.
We don’t want to run into trouble during the raid.
There’s a knock at the door. “Can I come in?” Erika sounds amused.
“A moment!” I grab my normal shirt from the nearby table, pull it on, and hop over the piles of discarded pieces of gear on the floor. We’re definitely going to have to clean this place up once we’ve found gear that fits me as best as possible.
I open the door and Erika immediately hugs me.
“It’s so good to see you again.” Her voice is warm. Then she pulls away slightly and looks me up and down. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m good. Come on in.” I pull her inside and close the door behind her. “If I step out, Riley is going to get upset with me because I still need to try on more gear.”
“That’s not what I said.” Riley gets up and gives Erika a hug. “Welcome. I hope everything went well getting here?”
“Yeah, smooth travels. Not much to complain about.” She smiles and then looks to the mess on the floor. “I presume none of these fit?”
Riley picks up a few things, putting them on the table. “We were looking for the smallest sizes they’ve got. They should fit her normally, but with her pregnancy, not so much.”
Erika grins as she eyes me. “Well, I know that problem. Been through that myself too. I’ll help.”
“Thanks.” I start folding up some of the gear they’ve put on the table, so it’s not just in a big pile.
Finding gear that fits me wasn’t really something on my mind these last weeks. I’ve been way too busy with the rest of the preparations for the raid to think about details like this. But, with the raid only two days away, we can’t put it off any longer.
As I leave the training complex, exhausted and very much done with trying things on, I spot Nathan walking out of the house. I had no idea he was joining us too.
“Nathan!” I fast-walk to him, too tired to run.
“Hey!” He waits for me, looking at me amused. “Rough workout?” He pets my hair, making me very aware that I’m sweaty.
“Trying to find the right size gear.” I groan, trying to get my hair in order.
“Almost the same, then.” He pulls his bag over his shoulder more.
“I didn’t know you were joining us. Are Logan and Jace here too?” It wouldn’t be too strange for just Nathan to join us, but usually, all three travel and do stuff together.
“Ehh, yes.” Nathan pulls a face and I narrow my eyes at him.
“Yes, but?”
“We’ve got another pack member. He’s here with us too. He’s... not as used to all of this.” He glances to the house. “I think it might be a bit overwhelming for him.”
Okay, now I’m really getting curious. Jace joined them last year, after Nathan and Logan had been a pack since they were teens, so two new members in two years time is pretty quick for them. “Alpha, Beta, Omega? Where did you meet him?”
“Alpha. And we met him at college, just like Jace.” Nathan smiles softly. “He’s a second-year, like Nathan and me.”
“Cool. I’d like to meet him, if possible?” I poke his side and he pulls away from me, grinning.
“He’s in the library with Logan. You’ll have no problem finding him. I’m going to dump my bag at the house and then I’ll join you.” Before he walks off, he turns to me one last time. “Also, be nice to him. Don’t tease him too much. The last month has been overwhelming enough for him.”
“I’ll be nice. I promise.” I can’t wait to meet his new pack member. Nathan’s pack members are all pretty different, so I’m curious what this guy’s going to be like.
I open the door and am immediately greeted with lots and lots of voices. I recognise most of them as Erika’s pack members, people from her security team and even Logan. It’s very busy in the library and living room, apparently.
As I pass the door to the living room, I peek inside and find two of Erika’s Alphas, Sam and Kenneth, animatedly talking with Caleb. The three of them are looking excitedly at some of the work Caleb has done in the living room. Figures.
When I reach the library, it’s very busy and it takes me a few moments to find Mathew. He’s in the back, talking to Jorge, Eli, Logan and a fourth guy I don’t recognise.
I snake my way through the room, popping up between Mathew and Jorge, my arms around their waists as I check out the new guy. His eyes shoot all over the place, clearly not comfortable, until they settle on me, curious.
“Ah, this is our Omega, Vera.” Mathew pulls me from between them and wraps his arms around me, holding me close in front of him, possessive. Cute.
“Oscar. Nice to meet you.” He nods, his eyes shooting up to Mathew’s face, and then to Jorge, before going back to me, like he’s expecting one of them to bite his head off just for talking to me. “I’m with... I’m with Nathan and Logan and Jace.”
Poor guy.
To join their pack and then also get dragged to something like this, all in a month. If he wasn’t already familiar with the work Mathew and Erika do, that’s got to be quite the shock.
“Are you ready for the raid?” Logan tries to make the awkward mood go away.
“Almost. Riley need to take in some of my gear, but apart from that, I’m ready. You?”
He lets out a laugh. “From what I understand, we’ve got the easy task this time around. Not much to get ready for. I’ve got my clothes, and transport is taken care of for us. I think that’s it? What about you? Supplies? Weapons?”
“Weapons?” Oscar’s eyebrows knit together. “Does that mean you’re part of the group that’s doing the raid?”
“Yes.” I try to smile, hoping it will make him stop looking so confused, then I look to Logan. “Weapons and stuff is all taken care of. Gear was the last hurdle.”
“Even though you’re pregnant?” Oscar’s vanilla pheromones start swirling around him in distress.
“Yeah. Did you think Erika stayed at home for nine months every time she got pregnant? She didn’t stop working just because she was pregnant.
” My words might have come out a little harsher than I mean them to, and Oscar steps back, surprised.
Whoops. “Mathew and I are both going in. We’re not so far along that it’s much of an issue. ”
“Is it safe?” That seems to be a genuine question.
“It’s never safe. Pregnant or not. But my mates are going in, they need all the help they can get, so I don’t see a reason to stay back just because I’m pregnant.”
My mates need me and they’re more important than anything else in the world, so I’ll do —just about— anything for them.