10. Lucky
Lainey’s scent is all over the pack house, and I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy, or horny, in my life.
When Lawson sent me to fetch her for our little shopping adventure, I honestly thought he was crazy.
It’s clear she isn’t all that comfortable with me right now, but maybe he knows that and is playing mediator.
Wyatt is usually the one to settle disputes in our pack, but everything is changing now that we have Lainey, so maybe that is too.
I bound up the stairs three at a time, the knowledge that I actually found my scent match making me feel like I chased three lines with a Red Bull.
I have spent the last three months looking for this girl, and now she’s here.
In my house . It doesn’t feel real. And not only that, but she’s pregnant.
We created an actual human life together.
If that doesn’t prove scent theory I don’t know what does.
So yeah, maybe my kitten isn’t super comfortable with me yet, but I plan to do everything in my power to change that, starting with getting her everything she and the baby could possibly need.
Knocking on the door, I don’t wait before barging in like I own the place. “Hey sleepy kitten. Have a nice nap?” I can’t know for sure that she slept, but based on the lines on her face and sleepy flush to her cheeks, I would be willing to bet she did.
Those brown eyes immediately glare daggers at me, making me laugh.
She’s so goddamn cute when she’s in angry kitten mode.
“Oh, got it. So we’re not a morning person.
I wouldn’t know since I’ve never actually seen you wake up before.
” I wink at her so she knows I’m just kidding, but it only makes her lips pucker in a pout.
Fuck, that’s almost as cute as her glare.
“Careful, ball boy,” she warns in a raspy voice that has my dick jumping to attention. She tosses another warning out, something about seeing her tired, but she called me ball boy and now all my mind can focus on is the last time she called me that.
Clearing my throat, I shift to the side and pray my erection isn’t too obvious.
The last thing she needs in this moment is me panting after her like a horny dog.
I can wait to do that until after I am back in her good graces.
“Don’t tempt me with a good time, gorgeous.
” Moving closer to the bed, I get within arms reach and because I just cannot resist, I smack her on the ass.
She squeaks, and it takes considerable effort to bite back another chuckle.
“But we don’t have time to play right now. It’s time to take you shopping!”
She groans, burying her head in the pillow like she can’t believe this is happening.
Everything she does is my new favorite thing, and I absently wonder if this level of obsession is healthy.
I just want to squeeze her . That’s a thing, right?
Cuteness aggression? I will have to be extra careful to not actually squeeze her in case it hurts her or the baby.
“Unless you would like me to carry your fine ass out to the car I suggest you get a move on, kitten.”
There’s some muffled grumbling but otherwise she doesn’t move.
I shrug even though she can’t see me. “Alright, up you go!” Before she realizes what I’m doing, I toss her over my shoulder, careful to not put pressure on her belly.
Her scent is absurdly strong this close, but there’s a tinge to it that wasn’t there before.
Almost a minty scent that’s a little like mine, but not quite. But I get distracted when she wiggles.
“Hey!” Lainey screeches, pounding on my back and the top of my butt with her small fists. I would laugh, but I really don’t want to jostle her too much more. Now that she’s up there, it doesn’t seem like one of my smartest ideas.
“I warned you, and you chose to ignore it. Can’t blame a guy for following through.”
She harrumphs, like I’ve made a point and she isn’t happy about it.
It sends a thrill through me. I have a feeling my girl doesn’t miss the chance to retort very often, so I plan to enjoy each time I manage to stump her.
Her elbows dig into my shoulder blades as she props herself up, twisting to face me as much as she can as we descend the stairs. “Where are we going, anyway?”
I bite my lip to contain my stupid grin at her acquiescence and pray she can’t hear the smugness in my voice when I respond.
“There’s a huge mall a couple of towns over, so I figure we will start there and see how much we can find there.
Then we can hit up the large nesting store in Ellsworth and get you properly outfitted. ”
Her scent dips slightly before growing somehow even sweeter. “I get a nest?”
My lips seal themselves shut as my scent takes a nosedive, the peppermint going stale with distress. I wait until we’re outside next to the car before sliding her off my shoulder and cupping her soft cheeks in my hands. “Lainey, why wouldn’t you get a nest?”
She shakes her head, but I firm my grip and hold her gaze until she relents.
The start of what I think is a whine ekes out before it’s swallowed back.
“I’ve never had a real nest before,” she whispers, scent darkening with shame.
“In our old apartment, it was a windowless closet that was so tiny I had to sleep curled in a ball. And then in the dorm, it was the space beneath my bunk. I just… I wasn’t expecting you all to give me a nest. Not when you barely know me and don’t know how long I will be here. ”
I don’t even know where to begin. She’s breaking my heart with each new thing I discover about her.
How could anyone not adore this sweet omega?
“Kitten, a nest is one of the most important things an omega can possibly have.” I watch her mouth open, likely to argue, but Wyatt cuts her off by brushing a few strands of hair out of her face.
“He’s right, honey. A nest is vital to an omega’s wellbeing.
Not only because they are often used as a safe place to ride out heats, but also because they assist with emotional regulation, can lower your heart rate, and decrease stress hormone levels that can harm you and the baby.
The fact that you have been all but deprived of an actual nest until now is abhorrent, but you won’t be ever again if we have a say. ”
Wide brown eyes stare at him in surprise, and he just huffs bashfully.
His cheeks are turning that adorable shade of pink they always do when he’s embarrassed or put on the spot, and Lainey practically has heart eyes watching it happen.
“I’m pre-med. We just did a unit on omega health.
And I may have read a little further ahead than we were supposed to so I could ensure we can properly care for you. ”
Well damn. I figured he would do something like that, but Lainey is looking at my best friend like he hung the moon. I didn’t think I would ever be jealous of one of my pack mates, but in this moment I kind of am. I want her to look at me like that.
“We need to get on the road if we are going to get everything done today,” Law shouts from the driver’s seat of our massive SUV. When he first bought this thing, I thought he was an idiot. Now that there are five of us, soon to be six, I’m grateful for my older brother’s forethought.
We pile into the car, Law and Rhys in the front, while Wyatt and I squish Lainey into the middle seat between us.
Could one or both of us have climbed into the third row to give her space?
Sure. Was I about to miss an opportunity to have my omega plastered to my side for thirty minutes? Absolutely not.
Wanting to push my luck, I thread my fingers through Laineys as Wy buckles her seatbelt for her. I can tell she’s a little taken aback by the gesture, but she doesn’t stop him. He seems to realize what he’s doing too late and blushes again. “S-sorry,” he stutters. “Was that okay?”
Lainey bites down on her plush bottom lip and nods, drawing my attention to the way her perfume fills the car. She also hasn’t let go of my hand, which feels like a major win right now.
The drive to the mall is over all too soon and before Lainey has the chance to let go, I tug her out through my side, keeping a solid hold on her fingers.
She shakes her head but doesn’t argue, letting me hold her hand all the way to the massive entrance until she gets too distracted looking around us to keep up with my long strides.
Rhys hangs back so she doesn’t end up alone, watching her with a soft look on his face I have never seen before.
Normally when we go shopping as a pack, we all split up and kind of wander off to do our own thing.
Or Wyatt follows me around as I spend way too long trying on clothes.
Not today. Today, the four of us stick within touching distance of our omega, orbiting around her like she has her own gravitational pull designed specifically for her alphas.
If this is how intense we all are on day one, I can’t imagine how much worse we’ll be if she ever lets us bond her.
We make it about two hours into our outing before Lainey’s stomach is growling loud enough to be heard throughout the department store and Lawson freaks out, demanding we feed her.
I toss an arm around her shoulder and pull her into my side, and a thrill rushes through me when she gives me a side-eye.
I love it when she’s mean to me. Yeah, I want her to want my affection, but it’s also pretty hot when she gets all fired up.
I love her sassy mouth, and no matter how many barbs she aims my way, my dick doesn’t get the memo that she isn’t trying to turn us on.
It seems like she has a ten foot wall up around her heart, and every attempt to poke at it is met with irritation.
Like she’s wearing a security blanket of hostility.
It only makes me more determined to tear it apart.
Then she can be mean to me all she wants while also being my girlfriend and accepting my affection without a fight.
I push my luck even further and nuzzle my nose into the top of her head, taking in the deliciously rich scent of huckleberry pie and that puzzling touch of mint. Lainey cuddles further into my side, and my heart soars. “Are you having any cravings yet? That’s a pregnancy thing, right?”
Her nose wrinkles. “I think so. And it would make sense as to why I feel like throwing a tantrum for a cinnamon roll is a perfectly valid thing to do as a grown adult woman.”
I bark a laugh, not bothering to hide it. “You’re right. That is a perfectly valid emotional response to cinnamon rolls.”
Lawson growls, crossing his arms. “You need to eat real food, omega.”
Lainey turns a vicious glare on my brother, and it’s a wonder his balls don’t shrivel up on the spot.
“Did you not just hear me say I want a cinnamon roll?” I know now that despite all the ways she has sniped at me, Lainey was never truly irritated with me.
This tone that she’s taking with my brother?
That tone would send a lesser alpha to his knees to beg for forgiveness despite having done nothing wrong.
Rhys, sensing our head alpha is in dangerous waters, steps in like the Dom he is.
One hand caresses her hair before cupping her cheek and drawing her eyes up to meet his, while the other lands flat on her belly.
“Darlin’,” he drawls in a tone so smooth butter wouldn’t melt.
“Your body is building an entire human from scratch right now. This little love needs more than just sugar to grow, don’t you think?
” She immediately offers a dazed nod that makes him smile.
“Is there something else we can get to fill your belly before all that sugar hits it?”
A heavy sigh. “I guess I could go for some dumplings.”
Rhys beams, pecking her on the nose. “Atta girl.”
Lainey’s scent sweetens infinitely, and my cock thickens behind my jeans.
Maybe I should have worn underwear today for an extra layer between my skin and the cold metal zipper, but that would also have been an extra layer between me and my omega.
One thing is for sure, if our girl is going to keep smelling like my favorite dessert and greatest wish all rolled into one, I am going to need to learn to get ahold of my hormones.
Ha, as if .