Chapter 35 #2
“Okay, now that introductions are over, I’m starving,” Roxie declared. “And something smells incredible. I swear these twins are eating constantly.”
“Twins?” I asked. They were both glowing. It almost made me want to consider pregnancy someday. But I’d spent all my life caring for someone, I selfishly didn’t want to share them with anyone other than Gavin now.
“Yes,” she grinned.
“She just had to show me up,” Lana teased. “You wouldn’t know I was two months farther than she is.”
Roxie rolled her eyes. “We can trade swollen ankles.”
“Nah, I’m good,” Lana snorted. She rubbed her belly again. “You know what, I’m starving, too.”
I looked over to see how food was coming along to see August putting the meat on a big platter. “You’re in luck. I think August is almost done.”
“Thank god,” Roxie said before her eyes locked in on me. “So, tell me everything about you. I’ve only heard a few bits and pieces and men are terrible at getting the details.”
Lana playfully shoved her friend. “Cool it with the reporter bullshit.”
Roxie winced and gave me an apologetic smile. “Sorry, I’m just excited and it’s hard to remember to be human.”
“It’s okay,” I said. “But there’s not much to tell. I was raising myself and learning how not to get in the way the moment I was old enough, then taking care of and protecting Gavin when he came along. There wasn’t much else other than surviving and work.”
“A blank slate,” Roxie mused. “I think we need to add some omega adventures to our to-do list, Lana.”
“Oh, definitely,” Lana agreed. “Was the nest here your first one?”
The questions were a bit more personal than I was used to, but with them, it didn’t feel judgmental. They were curious and getting to know me.
“It is. Lachlan actually put it together for me, then when Gav and I moved in they took us shopping and I added some of my own touches. I even figured out my favorite color is green.”
My cheeks flamed at admitting that out loud but both girls were smiling.
“I love that,” Lana said. The sincerity in her voice had my chest aching. I already knew I could trust them both.
Someone turned on music and our attention shifted to the guys and Gavin who were talking and laughing. Everyone looked so happy. This was the normalcy I needed.
“Look at our little group. It’s growing,” Roxie said softly. “Our babies are going to have the best village. Just like Gavin will.”
“He will,” I agreed with confidence. Conrad must have heard because he flashed me the sweetest smile.
“I’m so glad that he found you,” Lana said. “Conrad is the best, most protective brother and alpha.”
“I don’t think I would have been able to take one of those alphas that crash into your life and take over, pushing too hard or fast. He was the exact kind of alpha I needed,” I admitted.
He blinked furiously as he caught my words but my gaze was unwavering.
He should know what he was to me. How much I loved having him in my life.
“He’s got one hell of a protective side though,” Roxie said. “I’m telling you, you have nothing to worry about with him... other than your grocery bills.”
Lana and I laughed. We already knew how much alphas could eat. The deltas weren’t far behind.
“He’s the one who pays them, so he can eat whatever he wants,” I said. “Plus, he took classes to learn how to cook for me, so he’s our cook, too.”
“I can’t even imagine that,” Lana said, shaking her head.
“So,” Roxie said. “You said you were working?”
“Yeah, I had two jobs. One at the South Lake Diner, and the other was on the team cleaning the locker rooms after hours. Gavin got to play for free if I was on the team. Which is actually how I met them.”
“Oh my gosh, I can’t imagine cleaning up after all that.” Roxie wrinkled her nose.
“Well, when your pack is on the team, they don’t allow them to make the mess. It was usually pretty clean before I even got in there,” I admitted. “Though, I think I’m quitting anyway. We have a lot going on.”
The girls both let out little huffs of agreement.
“So, they moved up the trial?” Roxie asked, though I had a feeling she knew the answer.
“They did,” I confirmed, “which is honestly bullshit.”
“Yeah, it is,” Roxie agreed, “but at least it’ll be over faster.”
“And before my heat,” I admitted quietly. “I definitely do not want to go into heat in the middle of that.”
“You don’t have to,” Lana reassured me. “There’s tons of options.”
“I just went to the clinic. The issue is I’ve never had one. They’re going to have to induce it, too. That scares me even more.”
“Oh wow. I’m assuming it’ll be more intense?” Roxie asked, looking concerned. Even when she asked invasive questions, there was an undercurrent of care and understanding.
“That’s what they said. Though if I didn’t induce it would be unpredictable and the pre-heat would be beyond brutal. It was the better option. Plus, this gives us a chance to figure out where to have it. I don’t want Gavin to have to leave his home.”
“You should be comfortable wherever you decide to have it,” Lana said. “I suggest not the clinic.”
“Agreed,” Roxie seconded that motion. “Why don’t you guys just rent a cabin? This area has tons of those.”
“That sounds perfect,” Lana agreed. “You’d be in the middle of the woods, not having to worry about anybody being too close. The guys could relax.”
“That would be perfect,” Conrad said as he walked up.
“See? Nobody wants to be in the clinic,” Roxie reassured me.
“A cabin does sound nice,” I admitted. “I’ve never stayed in one so it will be something new, too.”
“Why don’t you guys get on that?” Lana said, giving her brother a look.
“Already on it,” Conrad said, tapping at his phone. Likely already texting the group chat.
Could it really be that easy?
“They’ll probably need time to prepare. If we’re already going to be in town because of the trial, then it sounds like the perfect time to have a girls’ outing,” Roxie said excitedly.
“What exactly does that entail?” I questioned.
“Whatever you want,” Lana reassured me. “Not booze since we’re both pregnant as fuck, but usually Roxie and I just pick a restaurant that has good food and drinks. We eat more than we should and gossip until our packs come pick us up later.”
“It’s the best,” Roxie agrees. “You’ll love it.”
“That sounds kind of nice,” I admitted as I took a sip of my own drink.
It was sweet, tart, and perfect. The sun was warming the fall air, and everything seemed to be falling into place.
I’d never had friends before.
Roxie and Lana were so different, but they also fit perfectly into place. Lana was soft and sweet, and Roxie was the take-no-shit kind of omega. Together they were funny and teasing and I felt like I belonged. Both made me feel seen when they talked to me.
Gavin came to join us with his plate as the packs made plates for us omegas, then themselves. We ate and listened to music, chatted, and simply had a normal afternoon surrounded by the village we were creating.
By the time the sun dipped behind the trees, Gavin was drooping. Roxie, Lana, and their packs said goodbye for now while I got Gavin upstairs to bed.
As I stepped into the hallway Lachlan was there waiting. He reached for me and pulled me close.
“How are you feeling after all that?”
“They didn’t drain me like I expected. Lana and Roxie were amazing and Gavin had a blast,” I admitted as I wrapped my arms around his neck. His face was inches from mine, his usual smile softer as we spoke quietly.
“They’re all great. It’s nice to know we can give you guys a family like this,” he said gently, kissing the corner of my mouth. “Are you too tired to come relax with me? I want some alone time. The others are handling cleanup.”
“That sounds amazing,” I agreed, leaning in and kissing him this time. “Where should we go?”
I’d already fucked both our packmates. Let them claim me as much as I claimed them. Now, I needed Lachlan with that same desperation. I wanted my entire pack before my heat. Wanted to know what they felt like, what they liked.
Maybe some part of me thought if my omega knew them well she’d be more confident during the heat. I could almost feel her indignation. She’d been confident all along, it was my overthinking brain that caused the issue.
Lachlan’s room was different from the others. Conrad had his in creams and light blues, serene and calming. Meticulously clean.
August was chaotic but homey. He went for a dark den and his room was cluttered in dark furniture, books, clothes, and a music system that he wasn’t afraid to blast when he felt like it.
Lachlan was somewhere in between. It wasn’t meticulously clean, nor was it cluttered.
He had a bookshelf stuffed full of books that were organized by color.
There was a fluffy couch next to it and a TV across from it.
A plush rug sat in between. I could picture quiet nights sitting there together, my feet on his lap, a book in both of our hands.
“I didn’t realize you were a reader,” I said as I ran my finger over each title as I read them.
“Mainly thrillers and mystery. I needed something to pass time on the away game trips and it escalated into a full collection.”
He reached over me and pulled one from the shelf. “This was my very first, so it’s my favorite. I bought it at the Milwaukee airport.”
I took it from his hands and read the back. It was easy to see why he’d chosen it, I was already curious just from that.
“It sounds good,” I mused as I turned to look up at him.
“It really is. There’s some good twists if you’re interested. If not, I get it, you’ve got enough crazy people in your life,” he said as he wrapped his arms around me.
“Yes, but in the books they usually end with justice, right?”
“Not all,” he mused. “But this one. Yes.”
“I’ll have to read it sometime,” I said as I put it back in its place.
“I already knew you were my dream omega but this just solidifies it. I’m going to need your reactions as you read,” he said. This delta was adorable. I couldn’t help but lean up and give him a kiss.