Chapter 30
Chapter Thirty
“How are we feeling this morning?” Manny leans against the back of the couch, watching as I cuddle my little man. He woke me an hour ago, hungry and angry that I wasn’t feeding him quickly enough.
“We’re great.”
“Tired? My sisters and cousins were always tired during the first year of their kids’ lives.” One of his fingers runs over the baby’s head, flattening his messy hair. “Do you need anything? I have an hour before I have to leave. I could make breakfast, or get you a cup of coffee?”
He’s sweet, and a great cook, if the beef stir-fry he’d made last night is any testament.
“Sit with me? I’m not hungry yet, and I had a coffee earlier.
” I scoot my feet closer to my body, making room for him to claim the spot beside me.
His white tea and sage scent fills my senses, acting like the world’s best anti-anxiety medicine.
There’s something about the smooth, earthy notes that makes my brain turn to mush.
When I’d suggested Manny as Foster’s heat helper, I felt drawn to the loneliness I saw in his eyes, as it’s how I’ve felt fighting to survive in my father’s cult for the past five years.
I never expected my Omega to fall in love with him; nor did I imagine Shepherd would feel the same pull.
Meeting him after hearing so much about him from my mates, I thought I would be jealous or nervous that he would replace me.
What I didn’t anticipate was feeling drawn to him the same way they are.
There’s something magnetic about the dark-haired man with the vibrant bluish-purple eyes.
Being pregnant and now with a new baby, I don’t know how to go about building a relationship with him. Not one with the intimacy he shares with our other mates.
“Can I hold him?” I’m pulled from my thoughts when Manny’s arm bumps mine.
A smile stretches across my lips as I nod and shift the baby into his waiting arms. He holds him like he’s done this a million times, which isn’t surprising since he told me he has a huge family and tons of littles running around.
My heart flutters in my chest, so full of emotion as I watch him gently soothe my son.
“Have you picked out a name? Foster said you were close-lipped about it. I can help if you are stuck between options. The one thing I don’t recommend is starting a tradition of naming children after their fathers.
My cousin is named after my Tío Luis, and all his children share the same name, regardless of their genders. ”
I snort out a laugh, cheeks heating at the loud sound in the quiet room. “That sounds awful for your nieces and nephews. Do they all respond when one of their parents calls for them?”
Manny grins. “The kids came up with nicknames when they were younger, and they only respond to them. My cousin was mad about it for a bit, but he eventually admitted it was easier doing things their way.”
The baby shifts, eyes blinking open slowly. Leaning my head on Manny’s shoulder, I watch him study the world. “I have an idea for a name, but I’m… nervous? Worried it would be too much?”
“Why do you think it might be an issue?”
I shift my head to look up at him and inhale sharply when I realize our faces are only inches apart.
The purple in his eyes is much more distinct this close.
Periwinkle blue starbursts frame his pupil, pushing violet waves outward in an almost ombre effect.
I thought the color was pretty before, but they’re much more beautiful when you see how intricate their design is.
Long lashes brush against his chestnut skin as he blinks.
I can barely think straight, too lost in the rapid beat of my heart and the thrum of longing whipping through my body.
“E-Everett,” I whisper. “I want to name him after Foster’s brother.”
Warmth fills his eyes, and his plush lips quirk into a half-smile. “That’s a beautiful idea, Mi Corazón. Our Omega will be honored that you thought of his brother when naming your child. I don’t think you would be overstepping. You are their Beta, even if they haven’t physically claimed you yet.”
Swallowing thickly, I snuggle against his side and focus back on the baby. “Everett Alexander Wilson,” I whisper the name, loving the way it rolls off my tongue.
“This is the sight I want to wake up to every morning!” Foster saunters out of the bedroom, giving us a soft look as he collapses onto the couch on Manny’s other side. “My Betas holding our baby and cuddling.”
“You’re up early,” Manny comments, shifting Everett to one arm so he can run his hand over Foster’s hair.
Our Omega purrs, tucking himself closer to Manny’s side. “Wanted to see you before you go to work. Are you coming back tonight?”
“I have a late night at the studio, and an early start tomorrow.” When Foster starts to pout, he kisses him, teeth nipping at his bottom lip. “I’ll be back this weekend.”
“Well, I have good news on that front,” Shepherd announces as he joins us, slipping a shirt over his head and hiding his sculpted pecs.
I glance at Manny, giggling when I see matching frowns on his and Foster’s faces.
They are not happy our Alpha is covering up.
“The realtor called; our bid for the house in Starburgh was accepted.”
It’s my turn to frown. A few days before I’d gone into labor, he and Foster had announced they had found our dream home.
Neither of them will tell me anything about it, except that it’s perfect.
Not that I feel like I need to be included in the decision, I just feel weird about the secrecy.
I trust them, and I know they would never buy a house in disrepair.
“Fuck yes!” Foster cheers, startling Everett where he was sleeping in Manny’s arms. “Sorry, Little Man,” he coos, stealing him and walking him back and forth behind the couch.
He’s too cute, even if having a baby has been an adjustment.
Despite his work at the community center, Foster doesn’t have much experience with babies.
Everett has already peed on him twice during diaper changes, which was amusing for the rest of us. Not so much for my Omega.
Manny’s watch beeps several times, and a glance at the clock tells me it’s time for him to leave.
I’m sad he won’t be here tonight, wanting to enjoy these peaceful moments with him a bit longer, but I understand how rough the commute from here to Starburgh is when he works late.
He silences the alarm and scoots to the front of the couch.
Violet eyes turn to me. I watch as he swallows thickly.
“Would you let me cook you dinner Saturday night? The two of us, and the baby. Shepherd and Foster are taking Kaitlin to the library for their superhero event, and I would like a chance to get to know you better.”
He wants to take me on a date? Well, an at-home date with a needy baby third-wheeling, but still. “I’d love that,” I answer shyly, cheeks burning when he feathers his lips over my cheek.
“Saturday, then.” I can’t hide my smile as he kisses Shepherd and Foster before heading to work, leaving us staring after him, our joint longing filling the air.
“When can we move into the new house?” Foster grumbles. “I need that man with us permanently.”
Shepherd laughs, patting him on the shoulder on his way into the kitchen. “If they push the paperwork through, next weekend.”
A little over a week until this mystery home is revealed, and we finally have enough space for our whole pack. I can’t wait.
My phone rings in the early afternoon with a video chat from my sister.
When Shepherd had called Donovan from the hospital to deliver our good news about the baby, he’d informed us that Omen had gone into heat.
She’s glowing with happiness, and a little exhausted, with her long black and purple hair pulled into a messy bun. “Hello, Gremlin! How was your heat?”
“It was exhausting, but nice.” Red covers her face and ears as she thinks about the past few days.
I’m thrilled to see her so happy. Ever since her mates started to make amends, to prove that they aren’t going to reject her again, she’s regained the spark their original rejection extinguished.
She deserves to be loved and cherished, and it’s nice that Pack Graves has stepped up to be that for her.
Omen focuses back on me, eyes flooding with tears. “I’m sorry I missed-”
I cut her off. No way is she going to apologize for being in heat when I went into labor. “I know you would have been here if you could have been. Plus, you’ve never witnessed a woman giving birth before, so I’m not sure you would have enjoyed it. It’s gross.”
“Beautiful! She means beautiful,” Foster calls from the kitchen, where he’s washing up from lunch with Kaitlin’s help. I roll my eyes, not disagreeing with him. Labor is both gross and beautiful.
“Have you spoken with Donovan at all?” I ask, wanting to know what she’s heard.
The day she went into heat, our brother and a group of mercenaries broke into their house to kidnap her.
Pack Graves and their security team stopped them, and Ben was finally arrested.
Omen was coherent for that part, but everything else would have been found out while she was in heat.
So, I’m not surprised when she says she called me first. Avoiding our family is something she’s learned to excel at.
A sigh slips through my lips before I can stop it, wishing one of us had insider information to share. “They haven’t told me much yet, but Shepherd has been an overprotective menace for… well, ever, but even more so than usual over the past week.”