8. Yun-Sun
Never in my life did I believe such a precious gift as Bailey-Rose would appear.
Her angelic face, which was so expressive when she was awake, looked so peaceful as she drooled on my arm.
It didn’t matter that it went numb an hour ago or that I was still fully dressed, only having removed my shoes at the door when I came in.
Thankfully, I’d taken off my suit jacket earlier as we talked, or I would have been sweltering.
Our little Omega was a furnace, but I would let her burn me alive just to hold her for a moment longer.
A wave of possessiveness washed over me when the bedroom door opened, and I curled around her.
When I saw it was the others who had gone to get us food, I relaxed, taking a moment to indulge myself and bury my nose in the crook of her neck.
Bailey-Rose was aptly named for her sweet floral scent that reminded me of summers at our beach house.
The whole back porch was surrounded by rose bushes, my mother’s favorite flower.
It had been ages since I last thought about that place, but only happy memories existed in that home.
“Do you think if one of us slides in to replace you, she’ll let go?” Gareth asked, looking between Ulysses and me.
“Rosie’s always been a cuddle monster, but this is a little extreme.
” Ulysses chuckled. “Normally, it was getting her to let go of Pearl, which, even dead to the world, was a struggle. Our girl has learned to sleep through pretty much anything, having spent most of her childhood in and out of the hospital.”
It broke my heart even to imagine what that must have been like for her growing up. While I envied Ulysses for knowing her as a childhood friend, I was eternally grateful that one of us knew what she’d gone through.
“I’m fine to stay here,” I shared, kissing the back of Bailey-Rose’s neck.
The others just gave me a knowing look but didn’t argue.
Ulysses managed to switch her hold from him to her stuffed octopus which I was told she always slept with.
Warrick had gone back to the house and gotten clothes for us since it looked like we wouldn’t be leaving here tonight.
While I would like to get into relaxed clothing, the sacrifice of leaving my sweet Omega wasn’t worth it.
Gareth handed me half a sandwich that made my stomach rumble with excitement. “So I think it’s safe to say we need to ask for courting leave,” he commented. “I doubt any of us are going to be of use for the next few days, and it seems Bailey-Rose is already noticing the draw to be close to us.”
“Remind me how long we get?” Warrick asked. “I know the Scent Matchers gave us a whole book on this stuff, but for the life of me, I can’t remember any of it.”
“Two weeks,” Ulysses answered. “We get two weeks for initial courting and a month after bonding. Do any of you have something in the next two weeks that would prevent us from taking our leave?”
I shook my head. “No, I finished up on my case yesterday. The others I have on my schedule aren’t pressing, and the court dates are months away.”
“Glad to see they put a priority on human rights and disabilities,” Gareth muttered. “Have you told your dad yet about Bailey?”
“When exactly would I have had time to have that lengthy conversation?” I asked, raising a brow and then looking down at Bailey-Rose.
Gareth mumbled something under his breath and wandered around the room, looking at the various paintings on the wall.
The guys knew my father and I weren’t on speaking terms since I chose to be part of this pack.
It had been arranged for me to join another group of powerful, affluent men in a sort of old-world advantageous corporate marriage.
Not only had I refused to be part of this pack my father built with his buddies, I walked away from the chance of being a partner in his law firm.
To add salt to an already angry wound, I chose to work as a public defender.
Unlike my father, I didn’t become a lawyer to make a profit.
I chose this life to help those who everyone turned their noses up at.
The disabled, immigrants, and the poor were equally deserving of my help as those who could pay a million-dollar retainer fee.
I used my time in law school to learn all I could to go toe to toe with companies like my father’s.
They were the giants that would squash the little guy with the seemingly endless supply of money and staff.
The trouble is when the opposition knows all your tactics, they don’t work as well.
However, when I did gather the mental capacity to call my father about Bailey-Rose, the only thing he would care about was her last name.
Everyone knew the Thatchers. Infinery Petroleum was a massive company that had a choke hold on many other industries.
Interestingly enough, my father had no idea I was now tied not only to the Thatchers but the Fords as well who owned the other half of Infinery.
Not to mention the Shaws through Warrick, even though his relationship with his parents was as strained as mine.
None of that mattered to me. I found the family I wanted and a job I loved which has given me the inner peace I lacked. Now to add the cherry on top of the perfect life I live was Bailey-Rose. What more could I possibly want out of life?
“Okay, so we all agree to take our courting leave, but that means we need to figure out what the fuck it means to court our Omega,” Warrick pointed out, pulling me back to the present moment. “Why do we even need to court her? It’s obvious how strong the connection is between all of us.”
Vili shocked me by smacking Warrick upside the head. “How dare you say such thing.”
Our cheerful Numolandian was never one to get upset about things. He was the one we could always count on to take the worst situation in stride with a smile, finding the silver lining. Clearly, when it came to our Omega, the rules had changed.
“She deserves it all,” Vili announced. “To be wooed, dazzled, showered with gifts, and treated like a princess. No, I will not hear you speak about not courting.”
Warrick rubbed the back of his head, looking a little dazed and utterly confused at the outburst. “Hey, chill, V. I didn’t say we shouldn’t court her, I just wasn’t sure what that looked like.
Most things I remember about courting in the books was building the connection between the pack and their new Omega.
Seeing as she wouldn’t let us leave tonight, I’d say we’re well ahead in that department. ”
“I see what you’re saying, but just because we connect through scent does not mean she will be happy.
Our precious flower must be comfortable in our home, delighted with the nest which we do not have, and build trust with us as her Alphas.
This take time, you no rush something so important,” Vili explained.
As if a lightbulb of understanding flicked on in Warrick’s head, his eyes widened, and he nodded. “Oooh. Now I get it. This isn’t about making sure we’re the right match for her and vice versa, it’s about figuring out how to build a life together.”
“Exakt,” Vili cheered.
The outburst caused Bailey-Rose to make the most adorable sleepy grumbles as she released my arm and rolled over.
With Pearl in her grasp, she curled around the stuffed octopus like an anaconda burrowing into the pillows.
Free, I shifted away slightly, tucking a soft lavender blanket around her, ignoring the pain of my arm coming back to life.
Once I was sure she would stay asleep, I slipped off the bed.
“I sorry,” Vili apologized in a low whisper. “Sometimes my head forgets, and the words rush out before I even think.”
Clapping him on the back, I gave him a reassuring smile. “It’s fine. I wasn’t willing to make her move and risk waking her up, but I really wanted to get out of these clothes.”
Not a moment later, Ulysses was handing me my clothes and pointing. “Her bathroom is through there.”
I took my time, splashing water on my face and using the facilities as my bladder screamed at me now that I was standing. Once refreshed and relaxed, I joined the others in her sitting area where the food was located.
“Vili made a good point,” Ulysses said, breaking the comfortable silence.
“We don’t have the nest set up, but in a way, I feel like that is a good thing.
Rosie is one Omega I know who’s as particular as hell about how her space is set up.
Setting up the nest together might be a good group bonding activity. ”
Warrick’s hand shot up like a child in a classroom. We all just looked at him for a moment, but when it was clear he wouldn’t speak unless we called on him, Gareth took pity on the man.
“Yes, Warrick, I see that hand. Did you have something to add?” Gareth teased.
The raised hand turned quickly into flipping Gareth off as Warrick lowered the limb. “As a matter of fact, I do. I think the group idea is great, Lys, but how do we all feel about taking Bailey-Rose out on individual dates?”
We thought that over for a moment, but I didn’t need to think about it all that much. To me, it made perfect sense. Bailey-Rose needed time to get to know each of us as a person and as a pack. It would also be a great way to show her things that made us individuals.
“I’m all for it,” I stated.
Vili nodded excitedly. “Yes, I love this plan. I have many ideas that most of you would hate, but maybe she like, yah?”
“What if our idea means taking her out of the city and would need to stay overnight?” Gareth asked. “Do we all go?”
That question had me scratching my jaw as I turned over all the different angles of that question.
“I think that depends on Bailey-Rose,” I reasoned.
“If she doesn’t want to be away from us that long since the codependency is the worst during the time before bonding, it might be best for us to come.
However, I believe we’re all adult enough to give you two space and entertain ourselves. ”
Everyone added their agreement to what I’d just said, which seemed to relieve Gareth. “Great, because I was thinking of taking her out to the original Watson Ranch for a day or two.”
“Hey, two birds, one stone. None of us have been out there either,” Ulysses added with a grin. “Then we can meet your grandmother you talk about all the time and see where you grew up.”
“I’ve been meaning to have you guys come out one weekend, but it just never seemed to work out. Oh, and trust me when I say, once you’ve tasted my grannie’s cooking, you’ll never want to leave,” Gareth warned as he sat back in his seat with a proud smile.
“Then it’s settled. Tomorrow we will ask for our leave so we can focus all our attention on Bailey-Rose for the next two weeks,” I confirmed then proceeded to dig into the plate of food waiting in my lap.