Chapter 97
Sarah threw up again when she smelled the scrambled eggs.
So that’s a no. I swap her out with my waffle since the syrup hasn’t been added yet, and I figure it might be easier on her stomach since it’s just bread.
She’s keeping it down, but she’s also curled up on the couch in what’s left of her nest blankets right now.
The guys should be here soon, so I call Adam and Lily back to keep an eye on her while I recruit some of the other guards to help me take her stuff down to the storage unit.
Coincidentally, it’s the same one we put Teddy’s stuff in when he moved out last year.
My boss isn’t super happy about my leaving on such short notice, but she knows that being mated to an omega meant we might have a pack eventually, and I would have to leave.
She’s been super supportive about the whole thing, and mostly seems annoyed that she lost the excuse to throw me a going-away party.
I swear that woman finds any reason to bring cake into the break room.
Mitch gives me a bro hug while I get a high five and congratulations from Atticus as we’re moving the last few boxes.
I didn’t realize that I had gotten somewhat attached to these guys in my time working here.
We never hung out, and I always just considered them acquaintances, but they were the first two who volunteered when I said I needed help moving Sarah’s stuff, and they both insisted on getting my email address before we parted ways.
I don’t know if I’ll ever hear from them again, but I’m still thankful for it.
My phone pings me at exactly nine A.M. to let me know that our pack is sitting in the parking lot with the moving van. Had they gotten here half an hour earlier, we could have just loaded everything straight up.
This is even more awkward when Spence climbs out of the cab of the truck.
“Hey, we’re sorry if we woke you up. We’ve been hanging out here for the last hour and a half, but Al was getting antsy about the drive.
Did we wake you up? I’m sorry.” My loud bark of laughter surprises even me, but I never know what’s going to come out of this alpha when he opens his mouth. At least my life will be interesting.
“No, me and the guys just got done putting everything in storage. If y’all want to help me move it into the truck, we can go round up our girl and get on the road.
We’ll need to turn all our keys and stuff in at the office, but then we’ll be good to go.
” The big guy looks at the keys that Paul is holding, and his brow creases.
“Their keys, for their dorm room, as well as his security badge, I suspect,” Paul clarifies before Spence can give voice to any confusion.
“Probably also some last-minute paperwork, if I had to guess.” I nod again, forgetting that he’s a police officer and probably used to all the flaming hoops of bureaucracy he has to jump through on the regular.
“Yeah, Sarah has a few more things she needs to take care of, but we’re just about ready.
So no need to stress.” It’s hard for me to bite my tongue, but it’s not my place to tell the alphas her news…
our news? I was part of her heat too, so the little bean could belong to any of us, and doesn’t that just make my chest feel tight.
We finish loading the truck up and get Bs on the trailer that’s hitched to it, so it’s after nine-thirty when we start across campus towards the dorms. I messaged Sarah so she could get Shaggy ready to go, and she’s sitting on the steps, laughing with Adam when we walk up.
Lily is sitting behind the two of them, her fingers in the bars of Shaggy’s carrier.
I can see her lips move as she speaks softly to the fluff-nugget, but it’s too quiet for me to make anything out.
Sarah sees us and hops up, all her earlier signs of fatigue gone now that she’s had some solid food and rested again, or it could just be the sight of her mates that fills her with a sudden burst of energy.
She didn’t sleep well last night, and I fully expect her to nod off once we’re on the road.
Al’s assured me that we’ll be stopping regularly at hotels and rest stops on the way back so Shaggy can have time to get his wiggles out.
She’s barely made it to us when Spence scoops her up, and I expect I’ll have to warn him not to squeeze her, but instead he cradles her gently in his arms, his purr starting up as he presses kisses all over her hair and face.
Part of me was worried I’d be jealous of them now that they’re officially together and not just for her heat, but I’m not.
I know she loves me, and I heard her tell Spence that she loves him last night.
I’m pretty sure she’s already gone for the other two as well, even if the words haven’t come out—I can see the way she looks at them.
Adam stands and crosses the space between us, his hand coming out to shake first Al’s then Paul’s. He looks at Spence, but since his arms are full of Sarah, Adam just smiles and nods.
Lily slowly creeps up behind him, looking over his shoulder at my pack—and doesn’t that feel strange.
Her hands are both on the handle of Mr. Shaggbutt’s carrier so she doesn’t feel like she needs to offer them to anyone.
She looks from Paul to Spence, and finally settles her gaze on Al before her nostrils flare and she ducks behind her bonded mate.
Her voice is quiet as she whispers in his ear, and he chuckles.
All of our eyes turn to them, but he doesn’t notice at first, staring raptly at the love of his life.
When he finally turns back, he addresses Sarah, still perched in Spence’s arms. “She says they don’t look scary, and she’s happy for you.
” His eyes turn to Al, all humor leaving them.
“But you…you smell different. Not quite right, there’s something…
nutty in the way. But close. It doesn’t matter, anyway.
I’m glad that Sarah found you. Congratulations. ”
Al looks affronted; he flicks up the collar of his shirt, sniffing at it once before dropping it with a sour look on his face.
“Ugh, Ben. Sorry, my brothers are assholes. He’s never been able to wear my clothes, but that hasn’t stopped him from trying.
Remind me to check for popped seams when we get home.
Like his arms would ever fit into anything I own.
” This last part is directed at Paul, who nods thoughtfully.
They don’t hug. Even after being around omegas for this long, I still wonder about their lack of affection towards anyone but their mates.
Sarah slaps Adam on the back—hard if his grunt is any indication—and pulls Lily down to kiss her on the forehead, causing the other woman to smile raptly up at her.
Sarah told me she doesn’t have any family but Adam, and I rarely think about how that means she’s probably lacked a lot of affection in her life.
The fact that my girl tries to show it, even in small ways, makes me smile.
We head towards the front office, ready to turn everything in and get on the road when Sarah asks Spence to put her down. She takes my hand, walking backwards so she can look at her alphas. “None of you want to be pack-lead, right? You should just put me down for it.”
Paul shrugs in agreement while Spence just keeps smiling like all is right with the world.
Al looks petulant for a moment. Before giving in.
“Yeah, that’s sounds fine. But if this is just a ploy to get out of the name change paperwork, forget it.
I’m not going through that again. Otherwise I have no problem with that. ”
Sarah beams at them as she continues walking backwards, and I see the mischief in her eyes. “So, I’ve been thinking, since my heat, I might have come up with some new names for you all. Wanna hear?” Paul smiles at her, and Al nods, probably tired of being saddled with Teach.
Spence frows a bit, a crease forming between his brows. “But I like Moose, it’s what you call me. Do we have to change it?”
Her grin is huge as she reaches for the big alpha, almost making me trip over my own feet trying to watch both of our steps at the same time.
“Of course not, you’ll always be my Moose.
” He smiles like the top of his big head is gonna fall off and she turns to the other two, pointing first at Al.
“I think from now on you can be King.” The little alpha looks smug at his new moniker and I kind of want to laugh out loud at the situation, because I have a pretty good idea what’s coming next.
Sarah points at Paul, her lips turning up at the corners. “And you can be Daddy.”
The blond man chokes and makes a gargling noise.
For a second, I’m worried he might have swallowed his tongue.
Before I can react, Spencer is scooping his packmate up and throwing him over his shoulder like a sack of grain.
His voice is a calm rumble, and I wonder if he’s caught on yet.
“It’s ok, he’s just excited. I got this. ”
I turn to look, and Al is standing there on the sidewalk behind us.
He hasn’t moved, as if his feet are stuck to the ground; the look of shock and reverence in his eyes as he stares at Sarah is a little concerning.
My feet stop, bringing the whole procession to a halt before I turn to Spence.
“You might want to grab Al too. Looks like he’s about to pass out.
” The big alpha looks surprised, but doesn’t say anything as he scoops the smaller man up and deposits him over his other shoulder.
He leans down enough to whisper at Sarah, “Don’t let me bonk their heads on the door, ok? I don’t want to concuss them or anything.” Then we’re at the main office checking out. It’s probably a good thing the big guy hasn’t caught on yet. I don’t think any of us could drag his giant body, anyway.