Chapter 8 Vera
Vera
It’s dark in the nest, and when I look out the window, it’s still dark outside too. So, I have no idea what the time is. We could have slept for two hours or through most of the night. Then, I feel a slight movement in the nest, and Jorge’s cedar pheromones reach me.
“Go back to sleep.” Jorge reaches for me from Mathew’s other side, and he softly touches my cheek. “I didn’t mean to wake you up. You were all sleeping so sweetly. I just wanted to join you.”
I nuzzle his hand, then sit up, rubbing my eyes. “Where are Caleb and Riley?”
“Downstairs. I tried to get them to bed, but I think they’re still too wound up.” He chuckles, then carefully makes himself comfortable at Mathew’s side, making sure not to touch his injured hip.
For a moment, I want to tell him what happened here, that we could feel Mathew’s little girl, but I’m sure that Mathew will tell him once he wakes up. If Jorge doesn’t figure it out on his own before then.
“I think I’m going to see if I can get them to bed. Sleep well.” I carefully crawl past Luca, who luckily stays soundly asleep.
It was scary for a moment, when he seemed to fall apart as we held him in the shower. We quickly realised that he wasn’t in a bad place, but a good place in his head. So we cut the shower as short as possible, moving to the nest instead.
I close the door to the nest almost all the way, leaving a small gap, so it stays as cosy and dark inside as possible, but not fully closed off.
Then I pull on a fluffy bathrobe —Mathew’s specifically, because I want to wrap myself in his wisteria scent right now, prolonging this happy feeling inside— before I make my way down the stairs.
My last two Alphas are exactly where I expect them to be, in Mathew’s office. We should really call it something else, since most of us work in there a lot, but it’s still very much the place where Mathew takes care of his organisation stuff, like meeting with clients and such.
Caleb is sitting on the couch and Riley is sitting in front of the couch, both working on their laptops, their focus fully on what they’re doing. Not paying attention to anything else.
I think it’s kind of interesting that Riley always sits in front of the couch, rarely on it, unless it’s for a couple of moments, but not for long stretches of time.
She seems to be more comfortable on the floor, maybe something about being able to sit in whatever position she likes, or it might be a sensory thing.
Maybe the floor just feels safer, just like she likes to hide away in the closet in her room.
Neither Alpha seems to notice me until I’m only a few steps away from the couch and their heads whip in my direction, almost in unison, clearly startled. Yeah, they really should get some sleep...
I can’t help my laugh as I crawl onto the couch, sitting behind Riley, against Caleb’s side. “What are you two doing? What’s keeping you up so late?”
Riley turns so she can look at me, a soft smile on her lips. “Reviewing the reports from the teams and keeping an eye on what’s being reported online and such.” She reaches up, running her warm hand over my leg. “I thought you were asleep?”
“Woke up when Jorge crawled in. The other two are still sleeping, though.” Then I look to Caleb. “What are you working on?”
He lets out a deep breath and kisses the top of my head.
“Reports. Communication with Erika’s people.
Making sure the kids are okay.” He gives another kiss.
“And they are. The kids all arrived in their temporary homes. They’ll be able to stay there until we find someone from their family to take them in, or, if we can’t find anyone, a more permanent foster family. ”
“That means you’re both not doing anything urgent and can both come to bed.” I flash them my best smile. “Everything is fine and settled. There won’t be much news until the morning. And, if something does happen, Mathew’s people can take care of things until you’re awake again.”
“Or, you can cuddle with us here.” Caleb slides his hand under the robe, pulling me closer to him. When he smells whose robe I put on, he lets out a deep laugh. “Especially when you smell so tasty.”
I nudge him, shooting him a glare. “Nope. We’re going upstairs, to bed. You’re going to be really unhappy if you fall asleep here.”
“The cutie has a point. The bed is way more comfortable.” Riley stands up, stretching, giving me a good look at her delicious body, my pheromones flaring.
The Alphas laugh and Caleb also gets up, lifting me with him as he does, keeping me against his side, just the way I love.
“You’re right. The bed is way more comfortable than the couch.” His voice is a sexy rumble and I shoot him another glare.
“Sleep! We’re going to sleep!” No matter how good my mates look, or smell, I’m too exhausted for sex right now. I might have slept a little, but by far not enough to do anything after having been awake for nearly two days straight.
“Yes, yes.” Riley kisses my cheek, then she turns the lights in the office off behind us, and follows us up the stairs.
My mates are incorrigible. While I’ve got quite the libido, not everything is about sex. And, right now, I need comfort and cuddling, things that give me energy, not things that exhaust me.
I shouldn’t have worried.
As soon as we got to the bedroom, Caleb put me on the bed, tucking the blankets around me, as the two alphas changed into their pyjamas and joined me, leaving the other three mates fast asleep in the nest. We didn’t want to disturb them.
With Mathew’s hip and everyone’s bruises and other smaller injuries, giving everyone as much space as possible, so we don’t constantly bump against each other while we move in our sleep, is probably a good idea.
At some point during the night, the other three joined us in the bed.
So, when I wake up the next morning, Mathew is wrapped around me tightly, while I’ve apparently been squashing my face into Riley’s boobs.
Well, that’s definitely a fun position to wake up in. And while I’d love to stay like this until the end of time, my bladder objects.
As I carefully crawl from between my mates, trying not to wake either of them up, Mathew won’t let me go, letting out what sounds like a low whine as I move.
I look behind me and he’s giving me a slow and sleepy smile. “I would like to get out. I need the loo.”
“Can I get a kiss first?” His smile grows and I lean into him so I can kiss him. He’s so clingy. Not that I don’t enjoy it, but sometimes it still feels strange because it clashes so much with the rest of his looks and personality.
When he doesn’t let me go, I give him another kiss, and another.
Third time is the charm as he finally lets me go and I slide off the bed, making my way to the bathroom.
I’m sure trips like this are going to get more and more frequent in the coming months. I’m not looking forward to it.
When I leave the bathroom, I notice Mathew got out of bed too and is dressed in one of his more casual suits.
Yes, casual suit. It’s a really soft and comfy linen suit in a deep charcoal colour and he’s wearing a dark red cotton button up under it.
He tries to keep most of his weight off his bad leg as he motions for me to come over.
When I’m in reach, he immediately wraps me in his arms, pulling me close. “Will you do my hair? It’s a mess right now, since I fell asleep while it was still wet. And you’re way better at it than me.”
Like he has to ask, he knows I love doing his hair. It’s so soft and pretty and I love the way it flows down his back. I also love to care for him like this, to pamper him, to make him all beautiful. To love on my amazing Omega mate.
I nudge him in the direction of the chairs next to the window, since he’s way too tall for me to do his hair while he’s standing.
Then I grab his brush from the bathroom and step behind him.
The rising sun reflects beautifully on his black hair as I slowly run the brush through it.
Mathew is one of those lucky few whose hair is smooth enough that it doesn’t tangle much, unlike my hair.
The downside is that it’s also really straight and he needs to do a lot with it if he wants to do anything more than have his hair straight down or a straight down ponytail.
But in situations like this, during brushing or washing, it’s so much easier to have such straight hair.
I take a section of his hair and slowly brush the ends and then further and further up, until I’ve brushed it all. It’s not that important with his hair, since it’s so smooth, but I love doing it. It’s so soothing.
When I’m nearly done, I notice that his wisteria scent is all around us, and when he turns to me, his eyes are all hazy, his face flushed. Well, yes, that’s also part of it. He loves it when I brush his hair.
He takes me in his arms, keeping me against his side, leaning against me.
I give him a quick kiss on his hair, he’s being so cute. “I’m going to braid your hair now, or would you like it loose today?”
Reluctantly, he lets me go. “With how busy today is probably going to be. I think a braid would be a good idea. Keeps things out of the way.”
“I’ll be right back.” I give him another kiss, his fingers lingering on my waist.
But, right before he lets go of me, he stills, then holds me tighter, his hand on my lower belly. He lets out a surprised sound, beaming up at me.
I put my hand next to his, and the next time my little boy moves, I can feel it against my hand too. It’s not as obvious as with Mathew, since I’ve got more of a cushion around my waist, he’s all skin and muscle, but it’s definitely there.
Wow.
I’ve gotten used to feeling the little boy move on the inside, especially when he seems to be having a party. The movements aren’t that strong yet, and sometimes I don’t even notice them unless I pay attention. But he’s getting strong enough to feel from the outside.
I had no idea.
Mathew leans close, kissing my tummy. “I knew that you wouldn’t want to lag behind your sister.” He glances up at me, his eyes shining. “With a mother like Vera, I’m sure that you’ll have one hell of a competitive spirit, probably even before you’re out.”
I grin, ruffling Mathew’s hair, making it spill all over his face. “You’re one to talk.”
Wow.
This is another one of those pregnancy milestones, being able to feel the baby from the outside.
It’s hard to believe we’re already there, but we are.