Chapter 46 Thea
THEA
I’m so comfy I don’t want to move. Everything feels so close to complete, but I don’t know why. Someone is shaking my shoulder and I just turn into my pillow more. “Ten more minutes,” I mumble.
A chorus of chuckles sounds around me. I don’t remember going to bed with Keelan and Parker, and that sounded like the whole pack. Thinking about how I got in bed, it all comes back—my talk with Keelan, sex, heat cramps. Ugh can’t these mini heats stop? I get it, I fucked up.
Opening my eyes, I see Liam’s face staring back at me. He looks both amused and concerned. I swear he’s the only person capable of pulling off both.
“C’mon sleepyhead, we got food for you. Better eat it before Keelan does.
” I hear Parker say from behind me. No wonder I feel so warm, he always ends up clinging onto me when we sleep.
A scoff sounds at his comment, no doubt from Keelan.
He’d never eat my food unless I offered it to him and even then, he’d grumble that I need food.
I sit up, first shocked to see we’re in the pack bedroom on the third floor, and second, that everyone is here.
Wait, no Micah isn’t. But I thought I smelled his scent.
A tray is handed from Keelan to Liam and placed in front of me.
There’s so much on here, more than I’d eat considering how dark it still is outside, it must be the middle of the night.
I let out a little happy squeak when I see the chocolate chip pancakes.
Diving right into them, I let out a moan at the first bite.
“These are the best chocolate chip pancakes I’ve ever had.
Whoever made these is the designated pancake maker in the house.
” There are a couple chuckles and I expect someone to say they cooked these, but no one does.
“Or did you find some twenty-four-hour diner in the middle of the Adirondacks?”
That gets some laughs before Keelan says, “No Baby Girl we didn’t. Micah cooked all of that for you.” My mouth literally drops open, not the most attractive sight mid chew but my shock cannot be contained. Why would he of all people cook me food, especially my favorite.
“Did someone tell him these were my favorite?” There are nos and head shakes all around. I must have mentioned them at some point, but he heard and remembered. That alpha is beyond frustrating and confusing.
Deciding to put that whole situation out of my head for now, I continue enjoying the food.
The guys talk a little, but I kind of tune them out.
I still feel super tired. Once I finish, I look to Keelan questioningly.
He knows, of course. Sighing from where he sits at the end of the bed, he fills me in on what happened.
I’m so angry that happened in the middle of us having sex for the first time since we bonded and after that talk, and for Gods’ sake I told him I love him.
Way to ruin the moment, Thea. My anger must travel down the bond because I see Keelan actually flinch as I ruminate on my anger.
“I’m so sorry Keelan, I didn’t mean to ruin our night together. ”
Confusion then quickly anger of his own floods the bond. “You have nothing to be sorry about, we knew a mini heat could happen at any moment. It did and we took care of you. We have time for everything else, remember?” he reassures.
I push my love down the bond and feel his in return. Looking around, Liam, Eli, and Ben are to my right and Parker and Jake are to my left. “Are you all staying up here tonight?” I ask.
“If you’re okay with that we will,” Jake responds. Smiling, I nod.
Looking at the positions, I clap my hands and say, “Okay swap out.” They have no idea what I mean. Rolling my eyes, I say again, “Swap positions. Parker and Liam were next to me when I woke up so the rest of the night should be Eli and Jake’s turn.”
Eli is grinning from ear to ear. Ben is even smiling softly at that as he says, “You heard the boss, get a move on.” I laugh.
Parker pouts a little but it’s just his way to get an extra long hug.
As if I won’t see him in a few hours. Keelan doesn’t say anything but I have a feeling he was also cuddled into me, since his scent and Parker’s are the strongest on my shirt.
I lie back down this time, facing to my left, Jake.
Eli wastes no time in spooning me from behind.
His scent and the joy it brings feels so comforting after all the heaviness of tonight.
Jake is kinda far, so I scoot a little closer, Eli following me. “Is this okay?” I whisper to Jake.
He looks like he’s really thinking about it before he answers, “More than okay.” Then he leans over and kisses me so softly I’d second guess if he did it. “Please don’t ever scare me like that again,” he adds.
“I’ll try,” I say since that’s all I can do. If my mini heats are this bad, Liam is definitely right to be worried about when my actual heat hits. Problem for future Thea, present me has enough to worry about at the moment.
When I wake next everyone is still asleep from what I can see.
Based on the light streaming in from the massive floor to ceiling windows taking up the wall opposite the bed, it’s very early in the morning.
The sun is just starting to rise. The sky has that beautiful blend of oranges, pinks, and purples as the moon sets and the sun rises.
Very slowly, I climb out of the massive bed and tangle of limbs.
I’m going to assume this skill is one I’ll acquire over time.
Walking over to the windows, I gaze at the sky.
This view really is amazing, the lake glistening in this light and the frost that accumulated overnight clinging to the grass in the backyard.
I look back at the bed, noticing that Liam is missing.
Maybe he gets up earlier in order to be at the office by a certain time?
Even though I’ve lived here for a few weeks I still haven’t figured out their day-to-day schedules.
Deciding to go looking for him, especially after last night, I quietly leave the room and go down to the main floor of the house.
Coffee is where most of these men begin their mornings so it’s a safe bet the kitchen is a good place to check.
As I get closer there’s music playing. It’s instrumental, very ambient.
It makes me think of a magical forest. This grumpy doctor continues to surprise me.
Rounding the corner into the kitchen I see him there in a white t-shirt and sweats, sitting at the kitchen island on his laptop.
I try to sneak up on him but being so sensitive to scents can make that nearly impossible.
As I approach him he turns his head, likely picking up my scent.
“Are you feeling okay?” he asked worriedly.
“I’m fine, just woke up and saw you were gone. I searched all over the house, even the basement, it’s spooky down there,” I say theatrically, wondering if he’ll take the bait.
He raises an eyebrow. “You know the basement is a walk out and gets a ton of natural light, right? Doesn’t scream dark and scary.”
“You could play along to the bit just once.” I lean into his side.
His laptop has some research articles about omega heats.
He’s up at the crack of dawn researching about my medical issues.
He may be a little prickly but he’s sweet where it counts.
“C’mon, you need a break,” I say as I close his laptop.
“Thea, you can’t—”
“Work isn’t everything and you’ve researched everything possible that relates to my heat. Let’s just enjoy this ridiculously early morning and the quiet of the house,” I say pleadingly.
Sighing, he gets up from his seat, grabbing my hand and walking me away from the island to a more open area of the kitchen.
Placing his other hand on my lower back, he pulls me in close.
Is he? Holy shit, he begins to sway and move us with the music.
The biggest smile spreads across my face.
Liam is dancing with me. He moves us around the kitchen at one point twirling me, making me laugh as he does.
His smile joins mine. He has such a nice one, I want to see it more.
He’s always so serious. There’s nothing wrong with that but smiling every now and then is important.
His green eyes are alight with happiness.
I rest my head against his chest as we slow to a gentle swaying.
A light purr begins in his chest, I feel it vibrate against where my head is resting.
I feel so relaxed and at peace in this moment with him.
I hope Connor is watching this—he was secretly a sap for romantic moments.
He’d probably be mad he didn’t think to do it.
“Sweetheart?”
“Mhm?”
“Do you want to go out with me this week?”
I tilt my head back to look up at him. He looks nervous.
I’m starting to understand my grumpy doctor’s emotional communication skills are a bit rusty.
I actually like his ways. I tighten my arms that are already around him, smiling, I say, “Yeah I’d like that,” before resting my head back on his chest and swaying to the music as the sky melts from pink to orange to blue.