Chapter Forty-One #2
“We met overseas when we were working. After that, we kept running into each other, and then one day it became more.” Saoirse accepted a drink from Mami.
“To capture his heart, you must be incredible.” Mami smiled.
“I’d like to think so.” I pulled her to me.
“If he is not good to you, tell me and I will set him straight,” Abuelita told her conspiratorially in Spanish.
“I appreciate that. I’ll set him straight first and then I’ll send him to you for reinforcement,” Saoirse replied in Spanish with a laugh.
I knew she spoke Spanish, and I gave her a look. She smirked.
Yes. That’s my wife.
“Here, take this.” Amà handed me a platter of meat.
We got everything set up on the sideboard in the dining room. It was salvaged from a restaurant years ago and brought up piece by piece and we refinished it as a family project. Since there were so many of us, we often set everything up there.
Everyone got their food and sat down at the table, which had been artfully painted by Amà. She and Mamma were the two that had been friends with my birth mom. They met in art school.
“Are you having a mating party?” my older sister asked.
Fiona nodded. “Yes, we’ll have a great big party in the off-season after we’re officially a pack.”
“We can host a little dinner, just to have a little something sooner?” Amà offered.
Little? Sure. Their idea of little was renting a hall and inviting every relative in the state. Possibly further.
“Just so you can meet everyone,” Ma added.
“I think we should just have all the parties,” Fiona agreed.
“You mated quickly. Does that mean babies?” Abuelita asked in Spanish, eyes gleaming.
“Abuelita, we aren't even formally a pack yet. Can we wait on the babies for five minutes? Por favor?” I replied.
“I need to learn Spanish. I only know French and Italian,” Fiona confessed, getting a nod of approval from Mamma at the mention of Italian. “I want all the babies, and I want them to speak all the languages.”
“Carlos, is your mother excited? We should plan a party together,” Mamá said.
He looked abashed. “They don’t know yet. They’re on a cruise and I haven’t been able to contact them.”
Mother gave him a look. “Carlos, you need to call your mamá, even if you leave her a message. You can’t just spring this on her when she gets back.”
His head hung. “You’re right.”
She surveyed us with her hard mom stare. “Everyone else’s families know?”
“Oh, my dads know,” Fiona replied.
“I don’t really talk to my parents, but my grandfathers and brother are quite excited for us. I’d love for us all to go to Ireland to meet them at some point,” Saoirse said softly.
“You want me to meet your grandpas?” I did a happy little dance in my chair.
“I think they’ll like you.” She squeezed my hand,
“My siblings know. Two of my parents know,” Hale explained.
“How did this all even happen? I don’t understand how you just leave for a concert and come back with a pack?” one of my younger brothers asked, looking perplexed.
“Accident,” Dante coughed into his napkin. Mother glared at him.
“We had a magical Christmas. Fiona and I have been together for years. She’s been seeing Carlos for a while. Dusty and I have known each other for some time. Carlos knows Hale and one night it all came together.” Saoirse took another bite. “This is so good.”
The adults didn’t entirely believe the story. But I didn’t exactly want to bring up accidently mating because of an accidental heat caused by doing too many drugs around the dinner table.
After we finished, we helped clear everything away. Amà and Mamma cornered me in the kitchen under the premise of helping with dessert.
“I was a little concerned when you said you got yourself a pack, but I think this could work,” Mamma said.
“I like them. And I think your parents would, too,” Amà said.
“Really?” I perked.
She nodded. “Yes. A delta suits you.”
“She does it for me in a way omegas never have, but I’ll be good to everyone in the pack,” I promised.
“That’s my boy,” Mamma praised.
We had dessert and everyone chatted.
Abuelita came over to me. “She is wonderful. Remember, the way you’re going to need to be an alpha to her will be different. And yes, you have an omega in the pack, but don’t forget who your mate is.”
“Thank you.” Wise words. I could see how for many people it would be easy to let the omega’s needs steamroll everyone else’s. But that’s why this was going to work. Fiona had three people to wrap around her finger and me to make sure that everyone got what they needed.
“I think it’s going to be a girl,” she added.
Was Fiona pregnant? She’d be barely pregnant by now from her heat. Of course, she really wanted a baby, so that was all good. We could handle that. Carlos would be starting pre-season when the baby was born, but I think they got a couple games off for paternity leave.
And, well, she had us.
But how did Abuelita know? It took weeks and weeks to be able to smell it.
Never mind. It was probably mystical grandma powers.
I kept feeling something in my chest, and I rubbed it looking over at Saoirse. On the surface, she seemed to be having a good time but as I sat with the bond for a moment, I realized she was done.
Time to go. I caught Carlos’ eye and gave him the signal that meant let’s go.
“I’m having fun, we can be late for Dimitri’s party,” he said softly, joining me.
“Pretty sure Saoirse is done. Fiona might be done, too,” I replied.
Hale threw one of my nephews at Dante, who caught him.
“No throwing kids in the house,” Ma yelled.
“Sorry,” Hale called.
Yeah, we should go before something broke.
I came up behind Saoirse and wrapped my arms around her. “It’s time to go. We have another party to go to.”
A whoosh of relief shot through the bond.
She turned to my sister. “This has been lovely. I can’t wait to talk to you again.”
Yeah I needed to alpha up a little. I knew how to be an alpha–and how not to be an alphahole. But now I needed to put it into practice and be the alpha they needed.
She needed.
“I promise we’ll do something again soon,” I told everyone as we said our goodbyes.
“We’ll see you in the morning at your game,” Amà added with a wave.
We went down to the car. Hale helped Carlos and Fiona into the backseat. I opened the door for Saoirse, then got into the driver’s seat.
“Let’s go home and change. Does everyone still want to go to Dimitri’s party?” I asked. I did. But I wasn’t sure how everyone else felt.
“We can head over now if you want,” Carlos replied
“I want to change. I bought a new outfit for it, you know,” Fiona gave him a look.
“What about you?” I glanced over at Saoirse.
“I like a good party. But I’d like to go home first,” she told me.
Hale nodded. “I’m up for whatever.”
“You all were amazing back there. My family’s a lot,” I added.
“They’re fun. Hey, I promised the kids next time it rains we’d take boogie boards to the skate park,” Hale added.
“Oh, that sounds fun,” Carlos agreed. “We’re more likely to get snow this time of year.”
Hale thought for a moment. “That works.”
We drove home and everyone got out. I followed Saoirse to her room.
She gave me a look. “Can I help you?”
“You did great and they love you. I know they’re overwhelming and I’m so proud of you. At some point maybe we should make a signal for when things get overwhelming and you want to go. I don’t mind leaving whenever you’re ready,” I told her truthfully.
“I was fine,” she deflected.
My forehead pressed to hers. “Liar.”
Her look went horrified. “The bond.”
“I’m happy to leave things whenever you’re ready. Never apologize for that. My family is overwhelming. Carlos’ is overwhelming. I get the idea that Hale’s family is also overwhelming,” I assured.
“My family is terrifying and we all know what Fiona’s family is like,” she laughed.
I wrapped my arms around her. “I’m here. I understand why Fiona’s dads named you head alpha, and no one’s going to take that from you. But you don’t have to bear it alone. I can be a responsible alpha, and I promise it won’t take too much away from my fun-loving demeanor.”
“Thank you. Though if you get all growly and barky on me, I’m going to kick you in the balls.” Her eyes narrowed.
“You should absolutely do that. But I can’t be a little growly sometimes? Maybe in bed.” I waggled my eyebrows and made what I hoped was an alluring little growl.
She laughed and pushed me in the chest. “Maybe.”
Wait. Maybe? Really?