Chapter 26 Aspen
Aspen
“Shit,” I said, practically sprinting towards the kitchen with them on my heels. The door slammed open hard enough it sounded like a crack of thunder.
North startled when we walked in, clutching his chest. His eyes were wild but calmed at the sight of us. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”
“We thought you went into heat,” I gasped as we took in the assortment of gingerbread, each one carefully cut into shapes.
He rolled his eyes. “I was thinking it might be fun to do some gingerbread houses.” He gestured at the carefully cut treats and back to us.
“We were on the same wavelength, baby,” Jack said as he went over and pulled North into a kiss.
When they broke apart, he ran his nose over our omega’s neck and cheek, scent marking him. They were adorable, though I almost pouted because nobody was scent marking me.
“Oh, I think our omega is jealous, boys,” Jack said.
“I am not,” I lied quickly, eyes widening as they all ran for me at once.
Cole moved behind me, pulling me against his chest. My heart slammed against my ribcage as Jack slotted himself right in front, close enough that their arms were brushing as they rubbed their cheeks over mine. North filled in the open gap, forcing his way in and doing the same.
I swear my heart might burst right now from happiness.
Our moment broke as the oven timer went off, a fresh wave of gingerbread wafting in the air as North rushed to retrieve it before it could burn.
His tongue poked out as he focused on the gingerbread, cutting it carefully into triangles, rectangles, and squares.
There were two huge mixing bowls full of frosting and an assortment of little candies, all in festive colors. This was up there with the pictures with Santa, something I’ve never done before. He must’ve noted the excitement on my face.
“So, it wasn’t a cheesy, lame idea?” North questioned.
I blinked away the tears, the ones who were definitely giving him anxiety.
“It’s perfect,” I managed to choke out. “You guys just keep coming up with the sweetest ways of making this Christmas special. I’ve never made one before.”
He gave me that cute, lopsided grin of his as Jack sat at the kitchen island to watch our omega work.
“I was thinking of us doing dinner tonight, but maybe we should order in again.”
North shook his head in protest.
“Absolutely not. I think I’ve had just about enough takeout. We need some real food.” He shot a sideeye towards Jack as if he saw right through his plans. “Let me guess, you want fried chicken?”
Jack nodded his head, causing his thick, wavy hair to fall over his eyes.
“Hell yeah, maybe with some mashed potatoes.”
Cole groaned. “I don’t think I’ve had mashed potatoes and fried chicken since I left. I second this plan.”
“You could have,” North said, giving him a half-hearted glare. “Someone decided to not join us.”
“I was a stupid, stupid alpha,” Cole agreed, doing his best to look repentant.
“You were,” North agreed playfully.
“Can I help? I’ve always wanted to learn how to do some good homemade cooking,” I said.
North’s face lit up. “Yes, of course. I would love it if we could cook together as a pack,” he said, giving Cole a pointed look.
My alpha winced, but didn’t protest. Especially seeing how both of us were excited.
“Sure,” he hedged. “Don’t expect it to be any good.”
“That’s what you have us for,” North reminded him. “Then yes, we can definitely make that.”
We took over the kitchen, Karina still making herself scarce, of course. It was a little different than we expected, but Jack brought in a TV to play It’s a Wonderful Life while we talked and cooked together.
North was so patient with both Cole and I, giving gentle corrections and instructions, making sure everything was properly seasoned and cooked. Never once did I feel self-conscious about what I didn’t know how to do. He was too good of a teacher for that.
The movie was still going by the time we had devoured the meal and washed the dishes.
“Now, sit down,” North demanded, pointing at the kitchen island. He quickly set us up with the frosting he made earlier and gingerbread shapes. I took my time picking the right gingerbread pieces, carefully piping frosting in between the layers like cement, hoping to hold it together.
I’d been so focused on mine that when I leaned up to stretch and peeked over at Cole’s house, I burst out into laughter. His house was a mess. It was honestly more of a tent than a house. Its walls leaning together with gobs of frosting and candies dripping down into a lake around it.
“It’s an A-frame,” he deadpanned, trying to hold his laughter back.
“It has character,” North tried to offer, but Jack, true to himself, barked out a startled laugh. That only made us all crack up, even Cole who knew it was hopeless.
“I never claimed to be an artist.”
I tilted my head, smiling at the glorious monstrosity.
“I kind of like it,” I said decidedly.
“I think you have us beat, baby girl,” Jack said, looking from mine to the others. North’s was the closest. It was simple, but well done. Just not decorated outside a candy doorknob.
I’d gone for more decorations, making mine a cozy cottage with burse of colors and swirls of frosting.
Jack tried but gave up, his icing also dripping down like his brother’s. He’d just used a whole lot less of it.
Cole swiped a hand over his face, not realizing there was frosting on his hands.
A bright green streak rested on his cheek.
I started to say something then simply leaned in.
Cole’s eyes darkened when I was inches away, then startled as I darted my tongue out and licked it up.
He made a choking sound and swiped at his wet face.
“What are you doing, Chaos?”
I kissed him before he could complain, the frosting making it sweet.
“Here I thought you found me so delicious you couldn’t resist,” Cole said, shaking his head.
“I mean, you were delicious.”
When I started to walk away, he snatched me back, hands wrapping around my waist and pulling me into his lap. He buried his face in my neck, taking in deep breaths of my scent, the way I’ve done to him every time.
I wanted to suggest that we take this to my nest, but a huge yawn had the words dying on my lips.
“I think it’s time to get our omega off to bed,” Jack said.
“Can’t complain,” my voice almost slurred with how tired I was. I swear it hit me like a ton of bricks the moment I relaxed into Cole’s embrace. “But we can’t go in my nest.”
“Why not, baby girl?” Jack asked, amused.
“Doesn’t smell like you.”
He looked at the others. “I think we can fix that. Why don’t we take our omega to her nest, make it smell all like us and we can just sleep. Nothing else.”
I started to protest, but yet another yawn cut me off, and he laughed.
“We have the rest of our lives to make you feel good, omega. Tonight’s just about resting. You barely got any sleep last night, and neither did we.”
“He’s right,” North sighed, my yawn spreading to him.
It was the last thing I wanted to do, but he was, unfortunately, right. Not wanting to hear any more protest, Cole scooped me up into his arms, carrying me like I was a princess up to our wing.
The common room smelled like all of us, the way my nest should smell. I wrinkled my nose when we reached the new nest that was still drenched in professional de-scenting spray.
My alpha laid me right in the middle before stripping down to his boxers and joining me. My omega perked up at that but he gave me a stern look.
They were going to stick to their word, even if it killed me.
A long suffering sigh was my response to that, though I didn’t protest any further as Jack and North stripped down to their boxers and joined us. Every one of their scents filled my nest, chasing away the industrial scents that were there moments ago.
I burrowed into the sea of blankets, my pack moving closer so they were all touching me in different ways. A hand on my ankle, someone’s arm across my chest, and Cole’s fingers trailing up and down my arm.
This Christmas could truly never be topped. I was the luckiest omega in the world and I had a pack that adored me, constantly making sure I was content and taken care of, even in ways that I didn’t realize I needed.
Pine Ridge was where our pack belonged. I felt it in my bones. Every day here only solidified that.
Now I had a pending job and a home.
There might be sacrifices to get us here full time, but that was what made this connection real. We didn’t care what it cost, as long as our pack was settled and happy at the end of the day.