Chapter 24
Grace
A fter Drew moved away, I’d never really put much stock into pack life and what it meant to bond. Sure, I knew the basics as an omega, but beyond that, I never wanted to dive deeper.
Now, I was learning that simply being around my pack, especially with their bites marking me, meant that I could feel them all the time. Our bond was growing stronger the more we tapped into each other.
Right now, my chest was lit up with four strands of contentment. We weren’t even doing anything exciting. Drew and Spencer cooked us all breakfast, Cade and I cleaned up, while Beckett worked on plans for the house.
Drew had drawn up several ideas and blueprints, and he was simply tweaking them, adding his own touches and making sure that everyone had a hand in the pack house.
While he worked, he’d look up, asking questions now and then, getting our opinions and advice before adjusting it.
From the man I first met to now, he was so different. I don’t know how I ever thought he looked intimidating at all.
A loud honk outside was followed by what sounded like a diesel moving closer, the loud, rumbling engine stealing the quiet of the moment.
“Oh, the movers are here,” Spencer said as he looked out one of the large windows.
Cade and I both dropped our rags and rushed out after him to see a huge moving truck backing into the parking lot, lining up toward the front door.
Since they were keeping their penthouse in the city, I assumed they wouldn’t have much to bring.
Clearly, I’d assumed wrong.
Beck looked at Drew, running a hand over his stubble. I’d only ever seen him clean-shaven, but I kind of liked the rugged look it gave him.
“We didn’t have time to paint the rooms or redo the flooring up there,” Drew reminded him. “It might be best to have them unload into the garage, and then we take it from there.”
Cade groaned. “Wasn’t that the whole point of hiring movers? So we didn’t have to lug that stuff around?”
“A little hard work will do us some good,” Spencer laughed, clapping the pouting beta on the shoulder. “And the sooner we get it all done, the sooner you can get your hands on a studio space.”
That had Cade biting his tongue, though he still looked reluctant.
I knew damn well they weren’t going to let me lift a finger to move anything.
“You know, we could spend the extra money, hire someone to come in and do all the flooring, all the painting, give them our plans and then come back a week later to enjoy it,” Beckett hedged.
“Not a chance,” Drew protested, throwing his hands up, but he was biting back a laugh.
“Come on, you soft, city boys! This is our chance to provide a home, one that we used our own hands to help build. There’s something to be said for that.
You have an entire week off, and I will concede, whatever doesn’t get done, we can hire in help when you go back to work. ”
The alpha sighed but nodded, knowing Drew was partially right. Even I’d put in work before we’d found out I was pregnant.
The protests were cut off as they got to work. Then it was a flurry of movers carrying in box after box for the guys, and then they moved on to furniture. Pretty soon, most of the bay was full of their things.
It only had me wanting to get my own. I couldn’t wait to see this place transformed. But Drew was right, there was a certain kind of pride that came with turning your house into a home, and not just having someone do it for you.
He’d already taught me how to use power tools, and I was just getting started. They would just have to handle their pregnant omega lending a hand in smaller ways.
Plus, I made safety goggles and face masks look adorable.
Within an hour, the movers were finally done, and we were left with just us again. I was thankful that it wasn’t awkward when we were alone. It had settled into something new and strange, but still comfortable.
The bonding only helped that along.
“Looks like we’re going to be roommates sharing that big old bed a little bit longer,” Spencer said with fake sadness that had me laughing.
Such a hardship.
“That’s fine by me,” I answered, a little shudder running through me at the thought of that bed that we had properly christened the night before.
Before I could get caught up in their charms, I hurried to the kitchen to finish up the dishes.
Our big kitchen was still outdated, but Drew had brought home a catalog from the local appliance store. I’d already circled some of my favorites, and hopefully, in a few days, we’d have the replacements delivered and our old ones hauled away.
Little by little, this firehouse was becoming a pack house. It was so much better than I ever imagined. The little flares of character, like the exposed bricks and the fire pole, were still some of my favorite features.
Though, we might have to figure something out when we had this baby crawling around. Thank god we had Drew who was handy with tools. He could build some kind of barrier around the pole.
As we settled into organizing the chaos, I couldn’t take the silence any longer.
“So, who’s ready to talk about their families? Their past? We really don’t know enough about each other.”
“We did dive right in, didn’t we?” Cade agreed as he settled in beside me, drying the dishes I handed over.
“Well, I’m an open book. My family and I really aren’t close.
They weren’t bad parents, they were just caught up in each other.
My siblings all kind of moved on after we were old enough and didn’t really look back. Everybody’s fine with it that way.”
He shrugged like it was no big deal, but I hated it. The feeling of knowing you just didn’t belong was one I was familiar with.
Drew looked at me. “You already know my family. They’re definitely the big and loud type, but they moved away around the same time I did. Mom thought I was crazy when I didn’t go back for you. I guess she was right. Maybe it’s time to give her a call.”
“I always did like her,” I grinned, giving him a wink. “Does she still make that incredible blueberry crumble?”
“You know my mom never stopped cooking,” Drew laughed before turning to the others. “Just wait till Thanksgiving. That woman can knock you out for days with the amount of food she’ll make.”
“Sounds amazing,” Beckett said with a chuckle. “My dad was always very career-oriented. He was a lawyer and my mom died when I was young. I think he married his job instead, and that’s the only reason he survived. It just didn’t leave time to be a father.”
“I’m so sorry,” I said, feeling a twinge of sadness in the bond and sending back my own brand of love to counteract it.
“It was hard. Mom and I were close. She was this ball of sunshine, his complete opposite in every way,” he admitted with a wistful smile.
“She always smelled like wildflowers, partly because she spent all day outside. Her only frustration was my dad’s job.
It was always pulling him away. But that just meant it was me and her a lot.
No siblings. I was an only child. Maybe that was why I dove into pack life so easily.
I was craving that sibling-like connection. ”
“I’m so sorry, Beck. That’s devastating,” Drew said, frowning now.
“It was,” he admitted, “but I guess I’m like my dad in the way that I persevere. I met these guys in college, and we stuck together. Realized we were a pack. I guess we just didn’t realize we weren’t a complete pack.”
“It really did come together easier than I thought. Back at that resort I was more than a little nervous,” Cade said, giving Beck a pointed look. The alpha simply ignored him.
“My parents were a little Alpha-obsessed,” Spencer admitted, taking over the conversation.
“My brother was their golden child in just about every way. He was outgoing and charming, designated as alpha, and found himself a pretty, little omega to settle down with. I was the opposite. Threw myself head first into my education and learning. I was too quiet, too standoffish. They didn’t really know how to connect with me.
They tried in their own ways. They just couldn’t figure me out. ”
“That’s their loss,” I said stubbornly. “I learned a long time ago that family is what you make it. I found my family here in Rockwood Valley with the Whitakers, with all my best friends and their packs. Hopefully, you guys can find that same kind of peace here.”
“We only got to see a little bit of it last night, but it seems like a perfect town. Adorable, even,” Cade said. “Change might be good for us. We were lost in our work and the city. Here it feels like it’s safe to just… be.”
“That’s how I always felt. There’s so much more character than you think,” I said, warming up just at the thought of sharing this piece of my life with them.
“There are all these cute, little stores, but they have just about everything you could want. Cade, you’ll have to check out the art store, it’s incredible.
They just moved into a new shop so they could expand, and they have a huge selection.
Plus, there’s this amazing art and pottery studio that we do for wine and craft nights at.
It’s so much fun, although I guess I won’t be drinking much wine now. ”
I glanced down, rubbing my stomach that hadn’t changed much.
“I can’t wait to see your stomach swell with our baby,” Beck said, his voice a low growl as he came over, placing his hands on my flat stomach and pressing himself into my back. I could feel him grow harder at just the thought, and that was wild to me.
“You mean when I’m waddling around here?” I joked.
The alpha let out a low growl in my ear. “That better not be you talking bad about my omega.”
“It’s not. I’m just stating facts,” I argued stubbornly. “At some point in pregnancy, you definitely start to waddle. I’ve seen it a few times firsthand.”