43. Kennedy
Chapter 43
Kennedy
A s much as I wanted to stay in bed the next day, moping, Charlotte was up bright and early, and I had to look after her.
I knew one of the guys would happily take over baby duty if I wanted to spend the rest of the day feeling my feelings, but I couldn’t do that to Charlotte. As much as I despised the situation I found myself in, I was a mother before I was a student.
“How about pancakes?” I cooed as I carried Charlotte to the kitchen.
Storm had an early practice, and Micha and Eli were in class, while Charlie was still fast asleep in the nest. He had crawled in there with me and Eli the night before as I sobbed myself to sleep. I’d had to practically shove Eli out of the apartment that morning because he didn't want to leave me. It took a lot of convincing, but he’d finally left, his face a mask of concern.
“Call me if you need anything,” he insisted.
“I will,” I assured him, even though I had no intention of calling him.
Charlotte had slept in later than usual. Normally, that would have been a cause for celebration because I needed any little bit of extra rest I could get. But, today, the extra time just meant that I had more time to ruminate in my own worrying thoughts.
When she finally did start to stir at around nine, I had sighed in relief and scooped her up.
I didn’t make pancakes often—they were a bit more labor intensive than our typical breakfasts—but it felt like a pancake kind of day.
Securing Charlotte in her highchair, I started flipping the pancakes, making several mini ones to give to her. I made plenty of extra, so Charlie could have some when he woke up.
It was kind of nice having breakfast with just Charlotte. I loved having my guys around, but sometimes it was nice to have a little one-on-one time with my baby, reminding me of the way things used to be.
She was growing so fast, and I wanted nothing more than to savor every moment as it passed.
Sitting at the table, feeding her mini pancakes as I nibbled on a few bites, my appetite minimal, I focused on her. She was about halfway through her mini pancake pile when the doorbell rang. I frowned at the front door. Who was ringing the doorbell at this time? Had Micha forgotten his keys again?
“Is that one of your daddies?” I asked Charlotte, rising from my seat and padding to the front door. Micha had threatened to skip classes and spend the day with me, so my money was on him being the one who’d come home early.
I swung the door open and stilled when I realized it was none of my guys at the front door. It was a tall redheaded beta woman who was wearing a simple skirt and blazer, a binder in hand.
“Kennedy Brown?” she asked, looking down at my clothing. I was wearing one of the guys’ T-shirts that I had slept in. I grabbed the hem and pulled it down a little lower.
“Yes, who are you?” I asked, confused and slightly embarrassed.
“Cassandra Lois. I’m from child protective services.”
My heart stopped.
Child protective services?
What was she doing at our apartment?
“Uh, hello?”
“Your university forwarded some troubling reports to the local authorities about what was found in your possession, and now we have to conduct an investigation. Here is my ID,” she said as she handed me her lanyard. It looked official and real.
Whatever you do, don't cry. Don't cry, don't cry.
“So, why are you here?” I asked, doing my best to keep my voice steady.
“It is standard for a home check after such troubling reports. Is it okay if I have a look around?”
I shook my head. “Now isn’t a good time. My pack isn’t all here,” I explained.
She glared at me. “You should be aware, Miss Brown, that failing to cooperate with us will go against you in your case. There is a reason our visits are unannounced—if you truly don't have anything to hide, why would you stop us from entering your home and checking that everything is okay for Charlotte?” she asked pointedly.
I didn't want to let her into my home, because she was a threat. She was here because of false information. Those drugs weren't mine, and the idea that they may be used to potentially take Charlotte away from me made panic grip my chest, making me want to burst into messy sobs.
Charlotte was my daughter, and no one was going to take her away from me. I couldn’t let that happen.
I had to think rationally about this. There was nothing to hide. Charlotte had a wonderful home here, and we did everything we could for her. If I sent the social worker away, would she really think I was hiding something more nefarious?
“You can come in,” a voice behind me said in a serious voice. I turned to find a very sleepy-looking Charlie glaring at the worker. He was wearing a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt, so he must have heard me opening the door.
“C—” I started to speak, but he smiled, a look that didn’t reach his eyes.
“Come on, princess, it's not like we have anything to hide.”
Cassandra’s eyes narrowed. “I thought you said your pack wasn’t here,” she accused.
“The other three members of our pack are currently either at hockey practice or in class. I was sleeping in while Charlotte and Kennedy were having breakfast.” He kept his voice level. “I assure you, the rest of my pack mates will be home momentarily.”
Had he already texted the guys? I silently thanked my lucky stars that he had heard me, because I had been seconds away from slamming the door in her smug face.
“I need to go grab Charlotte,” I mumbled, hurrying off to the kitchen, where she was still chomping on her pancakes.
All I could see as I walked through the apartment were the dirty dishes in the sink from the night before, the T-shirts that we had left strewn over the back of the sofa. The house wasn’t filthy, by any means, but it wasn't immaculate, either.
“So, this is your permanent residence?” Cassandra asked as she followed me to the kitchen.
“Yes. We decided as a pack it was best that I stay here toward the end of my pregnancy so my alphas can support me after I give birth.”
“Do you rely heavily on their help?” she asked.
Charlie, who was standing behind her, looked livid. “She doesn’t. In fact, before us, Kennedy did everything on her own. She's a fantastic mother, and the suggestion that she isn't is, frankly, offensive.”
“And what is your name? I need it for my files.”
“Charlie Levinson,” he supplied.
“There is no record of Kennedy having an official pack. Care to explain that?” she asked, looking between us.
“Kennedy is pregnant. We live together as a family, and there was no need to rush an official bond. We plan to bond in our own time once the babies are a bit older. Surely, I don't have to explain to you that bonding close to pregnancy isn't the safest.”
“No, I suppose not, but usually omegas opt to bond before having babies.”
“Well, we didn’t,” I said. Her attitude was angering me further by the second. Picking Charlotte up, I grabbed a cloth and started wiping her mucky hands.
“Fine, well, I need to see all the bedrooms and kitchen, check that you have running water and plenty of food for the child. Also, you will need to submit to a drug test. I have the kit in my vehicle to test you.”
“No.” Charlie shook his head. “Kennedy will happily submit to a drug test, but it will be at a licensed facility. Nowhere else.”
“That would mean more work for us,” she pointed out.
“I don’t care. It’s worth it to ensure Kennedy is treated fairly. Follow me, I’ll give you the tour,” Charlie said. “Kennedy can finish feeding Charlotte her breakfast.” He nodded at me before leading Cassandra away.
The moment she was out of the room, I took a deep breath. My phone was in the nest, so I couldn't even grab it and text the guys. The idea that that woman would be in my nest, and Charlotte’s nursery, felt like a gross violation.
I focused on cleaning up Charlotte, getting all the bits of pancake out of her hair. Of all the days for her to eat like a mess monster, she had to pick today.
Doing my best to temper my breathing, I focused on cleaning up breakfast, trying to get all the dishes in the dishwasher before she came back.
“The bedroom is adequate,” Cassandra said as she strode into the kitchen, hardly giving me a second glance. Without bothering to ask, she opened the fridge and started rummaging through it.
“A lot of take-out containers,” she commented.
“Yes, well, four adult alphas live here, so we do tend to have takeout every now and again. If you check the cabinet to your right, you'll find all of Charlotte's formula there, and the bottom drawer of the fridge contains all the fresh produce. She’s a big fan of mashed banana, at the moment.”
She righted herself, turning her gaze to me. “Can I take a look at the baby?” Cassandra asked, holding out her arms expectantly.
“No,” I growled.
Her fake smile dropped, and she glowered at me. “Now, Miss Brow?—”
“I’m going to stop you right there,” Charlie thundered. “We have given you access to our home and allowed you to look through our things. You are not stupid enough to try and take a child out of the arms of her omega mother, who you have been causing considerable stress to with your line of questioning, are you? A heavily pregnant omega, at that?”
“I am well within my right—” she started to say indignantly.
“No, you’re not. Now, we have cameras in all the common rooms of this house, and we will happily give the footage to your superiors, if you want to claim Kennedy is being uncooperative.”
“Well…if you're not going to cooperate any further, I guess that's all I can do for today. My office will be in touch shortly,” she snipped as Charlie happily led her to the door.
He didn't even bother to say goodbye; he simply closed the door on her and locked it before returning to the kitchen, where I was sitting on one of the chairs with Charlotte in my lap, desperately clutching my baby to me. All the emotions I'd been working so hard to contain over the last twenty minutes came bursting out in the form of messy, body-racking sobs.
It was one thing for my academic career to be in danger, but for the custody of my daughter to be at risk? That was a whole new level of terror gripping my chest. What could I do? Could I take Charlotte and run? They would find me if I did that. With the new baby due soon, I would never be able to get far.
I didn’t know how long I sobbed for, but Charlie pulled me into his arms at some point. Charlotte was plucked out of my arms as Storm tugged me against his chest, stroking my hair and repeatedly telling me everything was going to be okay.
My pack had come home, but I had been so busy sobbing, I hadn’t even noticed.
Despite their support, I couldn't imagine any way the situation could get worse.