Chapter 27
Grace
T welve weeks of pregnancy came and went with the worst morning sickness I’d experienced yet. Except it was closer to all-day sickness.
Sometimes, I was lucky if I could even get down one solid meal a day. Most of the time, I had to graze throughout the day to keep my energy up.
Of course, the guys were obsessed with making sure I stayed hydrated. It was nice to have them here. I don’t know if I would’ve been able to get through this alone.
I’d finally heard from my sister, too. She was excitedly telling me every detail of her wedding and trip, sending me all the pictures to the point that I didn’t even get a chance to tell her I was pregnant.
Now that it had gone on this long, I knew she was going to kill me when she found out I’d kept it from her.
It was on my list of things to do this week, along with about a million other things.
The guys had been so worried about our pictures being posted, but I hadn’t received many negative comments.
I guess because I was still a nobody in most people’s eyes.
Sure, there were the occasional petty bitches complaining that some of the most eligible bachelors were taken, but those were to be expected.
My hands were full of laundry as I walked out of my room, my phone ringing in my pocket. I ignored it for now as I headed down the stairs toward the laundry room. It was one of the first purchases we had to make as a pack. With five people, the dirty clothes piled up fast.
Beck, Spencer, and Cade were elbow-deep in getting the local office up and running for PackSense. Beck made sure the guys had an office before going back to work so he could work from home, too.
Drew was retired now, and though the work on the house was hard on his body, he kept at it. Now that the guys weren’t there to help, we had to hire a few people to get the job done. Thanks to the pregnancy, we had a looming deadline.
Now, the bedrooms were done, we had offices and a fully fixed kitchen.
The living room, some landscaping outside, and a few rooms downstairs were still in progress, but it was all starting to come together.
I had just put the laundry basket down when my phone started ringing again. Pulling it out of my pocket, I saw Sidney’s face lighting up the screen and answered quickly.
“Hey, Sid, what’s up?”
“I’m going to guess that you have not seen,” she said, almost breathless.
My entire body tensed, but I tried to play it off. “No… what should I have seen?” I asked.
Before she even spoke, I knew damn well what it was.
“The pictures.”
“Some of the shittier tabloids have gotten a hold of you specifically,” she admitted. “I’m sending some links over so you can see them. Do you want me to stay on the phone?”
“No,” I said. “It’s fine. Just send them over.”
Then I hung up. I didn’t want to break down in front of my best friend.
The messages pinged through a second later. I sat down in a chair in the kitchen as I passed through, opening one up and clicking the link.
I was greeted with possibly one of the worst pictures of me of all time. It was like they’d taken a video and paused it at one of the most awkward moments. I was making a face that made no sense, and the way it was blurred made me look like I had no definition in my face, it was just a blob.
To say it was unflattering would be a vast understatement.
I started to read through the article, my stomach sinking.
They talked about my work as a graphic designer and how I had coerced the pack into being with me.
They made up lies about how we met, saying I orchestrated the whole thing.
This is what the pack had been worried about.
I said I’d be fine, but apparently, the hormones decided otherwise.
With a sigh of defeat, I opened the second one.
It was more of the same, almost identical to the first. Though this photo was clearly from my college days, I was standing with men that were not my pack, and I was obviously years younger.
You could see it in the length of my hair and everything else.
Then I saw the comments. People saying it had to be an arranged mating and that no one would want to be with a nobody like me. The insults went on and on, everything from my education, to my looks, to my town.
I wanted to vomit.
Drew was in the room before I even realized it, scooping me into his arms and sitting in the chair, placing me on the table so he was standing between my knees, leaning forward and wrapping his arms around me.
“Don’t you fucking listen to that shit. You know it’s bad. Those are all lies. Nothing they say about you changes how we feel about you, or how you feel about us.”
“I know, I just—” The tears fell before I could get the rest of the words out.
“It’s like they picked every insecurity I’ve ever had and just blasted it online. People are going to read this, Drew. We’re going to walk into events together, and I’m just going to tank their image by just existing.”
“No, you aren’t,” he said, shaking his head. “Those aren’t the only articles. I saved one the other day. Here.”
He opened it up and handed over his phone. It was a cute picture of me holding Drew’s hand, leaning into him as we laughed together. One of those candid shots that somehow captured a perfect moment.
The title read: Former Football Player Finds His Mate
It was an article talking about how happy he looked, about his career, and how he had talked about wanting to find the mate he lost a long time ago.
“That was one of the last interviews I did,” he said.
“I already knew I was going to find you, Grace, and I did. Don’t let those assholes get to you.
They mean nothing . I guarantee it’s just some petty ex trying to spread misinformation about you to feel better.
At the end of the day, who got those men? ”
“Me,” I said, a smile tipping the edge of my lips. “You’re all mine.”
“Damn straight we are,” he said. “You landed a former football player and three of the most successful businessmen in the state. Hell, in the country. Let the petty, miserable, jealous omegas say what they want. It doesn’t change a damn thing.”
I let out a sigh and leaned forward, resting my forehead against his and breathing in his earthy scent. It helped settle me even more. I didn’t feel like crying anymore. Even the anger had simmered down.
It was crazy how just being in their presence, breathing them in, and letting our bonds stay open always settled me so quickly.
The front door opened and the rest of my mates came in. Beck was rubbing his chest, and the other two were looking around, almost frantic.
“We felt something through the bonds,” Beckett said as he came forward. “What happened?”
I looked at Drew and nodded for him to go ahead. He explained quickly about the tabloids, my reaction, and his reassurances.
“You are ours, Grace. And nothing is changing that,” Beckett said. “I’ll keep telling you as many times as you need to hear it.”
“Well, now that we’ve left the business in the capable hands of our assistant, I say we play hooky for the rest of the day,” Cade said. “I needed out of that building in the worst way. And our omega might need some cheering up.”
“You know what sounds so good right now?” I said, rubbing my stomach. I wasn’t far enough along to really be showing, I just looked a little bloated, but it was a habit I found myself doing more and more.
“Tell me it’s a craving, finally ,” Spencer said, lighting up. That man couldn’t wait for me to have one.
“Actually, yes,” I admitted. “I am dying for some mozzarella sticks and cheesecake. I swear I don’t want to eat them together , I just want them both.”
“We can make that happen. How about we go out to eat?”
“Perfect,” I said, lighting up. I rushed upstairs to get ready, putting on another sundress, extremely happy I had a whole closet full of them. At least until it got colder. Then it was big, fluffy sweaters all the way.
We were out the door in five minutes, my stomach rumbling and ready for the treat.
We were about halfway through the yard when I heard it. A tiny mewing, high-pitched and distressed. I froze, the guys still talking and not noticing at first that I’d fallen behind.
Spencer was the first to turn around and walk back toward me, looking confused. I held a finger to my lips, and he walked up silently, looking around and listening.
Then we both heard it. His eyes widened, and we started looking around, trying to find the source.
We began walking toward the big backyard that backed into the nearby field. There were a few fallen logs near the edge. I walked that way first, thinking they might need somewhere to hide.
There, nestled in a hollow portion, was a torn burlap sack. It had been torn open and three little kittens blinked up at me.
From their skin and bones bodies, they definitely needed some help.
“Do you think they have a mama nearby?” I asked, glancing around.
I hadn’t realized the guys had come up behind me, but Drew gave me a reassuring squeeze. “I’ll call the local shelter and see if they picked up a pregnant cat.”
He stepped away to make the phone call while Beckett gently dragged me back.
“You don’t need to get all scratched up, omega. Let us handle this part.”
The babies were small enough that they still had a little stumble to their steps as they tried to run away. Thankfully, my betas were faster, gently scooping them up and passing them off to Beckett.
“What am I supposed to do with them?” he panicked, though he still held them tight, even as they wiggled to break free.
“Try purring,” I suggested, curious if it would actually help.
Sure enough, the moment the alpha started to purr, the kitten settled instantly, clinging to his suit jacket for dear life.
Once they finally grabbed the third one he was rushing inside, the rest of us on his heels.
“I’ll find a box or something to put them in for now,” I said, grabbing one of the empty ones from the bay, then a towel from the laundry room, spreading it out on the bottom so they could go inside.
“Aren’t firehouses supposed to have dogs?” Beckett deadpanned.
“Don’t tell me you’re afraid of cats, alpha,” I teased.
“I’ve just… never been around animals much,” he admitted.
Drew walked in before I could tease him further, but the somber look on his face instantly wiped the humor away.
“They did pick up a pregnant cat,” he said quietly. “They looked around for babies but couldn’t find them. However… Mama didn’t make it,” he admitted, reluctantly, like he was afraid to tell me.
Tears burned in my eyes, and I tried my best to blink them away, my heart breaking for these little babies.
“I told them we had some kittens but no mother around. They’re sending someone out now to help us take care of them. I assume they’re staying here, right?”
“Oh yeah,” Cade and Spencer said at the same time.
“She’s already in love,” Cade added, nudging me gently.
It wasn’t even five minutes later when one of the shelter workers arrived. She had a whole bag of supplies that she sat on the table before inspecting the kittens.
“They caught me on the way out, but I’m a vet,” she explained.
“So, I brought the standard meds and vaccines they’ll probably need.
Looking at these babies, I don’t think you’ll have to bring them in just yet, unless you have issues.
It seems their mama managed to get them through the nursing stage, so we lucked out there. ”
We watched silently as she inspected each kitten. They looked so tiny, and their little protesting meows were killing me.
“Well, congrats. You’ve got all girls,” she said, putting the last kitten in the box.
“They look healthy, and I don’t think we have any major concerns.
I’ll leave my card with you. You should schedule with the clinic.
They’ll explain how many visits, at what weeks, all of that.
I’d say we’re looking at six to eight week old kittens here.
You’ll need to give them that information as well, and I’ll turn in my own report.
” She rattled off a bit more information and what food to give them before standing up to leave.
“Thank you so much for coming out,” I said, soaking in every word. So much for going out for my craving. I knew I wasn’t about to leave these babies right now.
Honestly, I was glad we were the ones to find them and not some wild animal roaming around out there. This really was the perfect place for them to run and play once they were older.
“Well,” Beck said, clapping his hands together. “Someone needs to stay on kitten duty while the rest of us go out shopping and secure our girl her cheese sticks and cheesecake.”
I wrinkled my nose. “That sounds terrible. I changed my mind.”