Chapter 23
Merrick
“Hey, boss.” I smiled as I walked into Walker’s office.
Hailey had been fast asleep, taking an afternoon nap, so I thought I would take the opportunity to quickly run to the firehouse.
It was as good a time as any, and I wouldn’t have to bother her.
She had drastically cut back on work, citing sickness, even though we knew that it was the separation and the baby taking it out of her.
Sunny was sitting on the edge of the desk, chattering away as she cradled their daughter in her arms.
“Hey, you're back. Are you okay?” Walker asked, his brows knitting together.
When Hailey and I had bonded, I’d simply texted him that I wasn't feeling very well, and I would give him an update when I could. Thankfully, Walker was an understanding boss and abundantly chill.
“I’m completely okay, better than okay, actually. How are you guys?”
“We are amazing.” Sunny beamed, sliding off the desk and padding over to me with baby Abigail in her arms. “Want a cuddle?”
Normally, I would have said no and attempted to maintain some sort of professionalism, but the knowledge that, pretty soon, Hailey would be having a baby made me all the more eager.
“Gimme,” I said, holding out my hands. A second later, the newborn baby was popped into my arms, and I was cradling her in that specific way that supported her head.
“You're a natural,” Sunny commented, taking a step back and grinning.
Their baby girl was the sweetest thing. She was still so little that she didn't have many distinguishable facial features, other than chubby cheeks and very wide eyes.
Still, she was adorable.
What would Hailey's baby look like? Would they look like her or this mysterious Preston I'd never met? Personally, I was hoping they would look like her.
A delicate blonde baby with green blue eyes would be absolutely to die for.
I could picture having a mini Hailey running around too.
There was no doubt they would have us wrapped around their finger. Considering her mother was one of the spiciest omegas I'd ever met, with a spine of steel while also being one of the sweetest people on the planet, it meant that her child was probably going to be a force to be reckoned with.
“How are you feeling?” I asked Sunny.
“Good.” She smiled serenely. “It’s been a dream, honestly. I've been getting so much sleep. And, of course, Luka loves having a baby sister.”
Sunny had been a single mother to a little boy when she was in a house fire and came to our station to stay for a few days, which ultimately turned into our captain and his pack falling madly in love with her.
Now, they were blissfully happy together and had welcomed their first daughter.
The first time around, Sunny had been completely on her own, doing all the night feeds and all the stressful parenting things on her own. This time, she was supported by three alphas who were there for her whenever she needed them.
Hailey was also going to get that level of support.
I would make sure she got it all. Even if the others didn't provide it, I would do everything in my power to guarantee that Hailey had the easiest birth and postpartum experience possible.
“She is adorable,” I cooed, looking down at the sleeping baby who was oblivious to what was going on around her.
“She's not quite as adorable when she's screaming at four in the morning because she wants my boobs, but I still love her.”
“Did you come in here for a reason, or did you just want to see the cute baby?” Walker asked with a laugh. “I wouldn’t blame you.”
“Well, the baby would be reason enough, but I wanted to come and tell you in person…”
“Do I need to go?” Sunny said, sensing my shift in tone. “If you guys need to talk, I can take the baby and wander around the firehouse. I'm sure there's plenty of rugged firefighters who could do with some baby cuddles.”
She wasn't wrong there. I was actually kind of surprised that she was holding the baby when I came. Half the firefighters either already had children or desperately wanted them, so babies were prized cuddle bugs around these parts.
“Not at all,” I insisted, waving away her concern.
I was also under no illusions that the moment I told Walker about bonding with Hailey, he would tell his omega. Word spread in packs like wildfire.
“Well, out with it, then.” Walker gestured for me to continue.
“I wanted to let you know that you may have to find cover for me for another week or so because I need to go on official bonding leave.”
A smile slowly spread across my face. There was no hiding how happy I was, and I didn’t even bother.
“Oh my God!” Sunny pulled me into a hug, doing her best to avoid squishing Abigail. “I am so excited for you!”
“I know it's not optimal timing,” I said, turning my gaze to Walker.
We were already slightly short-staffed, and with the wildfires going on, we had been spread pretty thin.
“You pulled double and even triple shifts to help cover when Sunny and I bonded. If I said anything right now, I’d be the biggest hypocrite in existence. What's her name?”
“Yes. What's her name? Is she coming to the firehouse? I really want to meet her!” Sunny squealed softly, to not disturb the baby.
“It's Hailey,” I admitted, watching shock and then that “of course” look flash over their faces.
Still, Sunny's smile slipped, but only for a fraction of a second. If I hadn't been watching, I wouldn't have believed it happened.
“Congratulations!” Walker stood up from his desk and walked over to us. “That’s amazing. How is she doing?”
“Really well. We kind of bonded over helping her get better and, well…one thing led to another.”
“We are well aware of how that works.” Walker chuckled. He’d accidentally bonded with Sunny, but it had been the best thing to ever happen to him. His words, not mine.
“Well, that was it. I just wanted you to know. I actually need to get back to her now.”
Walker slapped a hand down on my shoulder. “Take care of your omega, and let us know if you need anything.”
We hugged, and I nodded with that permanent smile on my face. “I will. Thank you.”
“Merrick!” Sunny hissed, grabbing my arm. “What the hell?”
“What the hell?” I asked, turning to her with wide eyes as I froze in front of the door to leave.
I couldn't think of a single good reason that my boss’s omega would be cornering me in the hallway with that tone.
“You bonded with Hailey. What about her…situation?” She said the last word in such a quiet whisper that I almost didn't hear.
“Situation?” I asked, playing dumb.
It was at that moment I realized I hadn’t told Hailey that I was going to the firehouse, and because she and Sunny were friends, they must have discussed this. But I had no idea how much Sunny knew.
“Don't play coy with me, Merrick. I know she accidentally bonded that convict firefighter. So, why are you two suddenly bonded?”
“Ugh, right. Well, she had separation sickness because he had to run back to the convict camp. You saw how unwell she's been lately.”
Sunny agreed. “She said it was the flu, but…it just wasn't getting any better. We were all getting concerned.”
“Well, it was basically the same thing that you had after bonding with Walker. Only, you could spend more time with your alphas and she can't. She came to me a few days ago and had a complete breakdown over the situation, and I…admitted that I had feelings for her.”
Sunny’s eyes flared. “You admitted you have feelings for her?”
I nodded. “I’d been doing my best to just keep going, but as soon as I saw her in my house, crying over her situation, I knew I would do anything to make her feel better.
Including bonding into a pack that I knew nothing about.
This way, she has a lot of skin-to-skin contact with me, and she's getting better. She already looks twenty times healthier.”
“That's good. Gosh, this is such a mess. I've been really worried about her.”
“I'm keeping her safe, I promise. Now that she's got a bonded alpha nearby, the pregnancy is making her a lot less sick.”
Sunny's eyes went comically wide, her voice strangled when she spoke. “Pregnancy?”
Shit.
“Crap, I didn't realize you didn't know. Hailey is keeping it all very quiet at the moment. Please, don’t spread this around.”
Sunny’s eyes filled with tears before she quickly wiped them away. “She must be so scared! Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Be there for her? She just needs time to figure it all out.” I sagged, running a hand through my hair. “Sunny, I hate asking this, but can you hold off from telling Walker?”
Sunny cocked her head to the side. “I know she's worried about her job. I won't say anything, but if he directly asks me, I'm not going to lie.”
That was the best I could hope for. There was an openness to bonded relationships. I would never ask someone to outright lie to their bonded partner.
“I appreciate that, and I know that Hailey will as well.”
“Get back to her. Tell her I’m here for her. I’ll reach out soon. Please, Merrick, just make sure she’s okay.”
“Of course. Nothing matters to me more.”
Sunny nodded again, something in her expression telling me that she’d determined something. She stepped forward and took my hand.
“You’re a good guy, Merrick. I know you’ll be there for her. And congrats. Truly.”
I smiled back at her. “It’s a little wild, but that leads to the best endings, doesn’t it?”
Sunny laughed, eyes rolling as she undoubtedly remembered her own situation.
“Yes. Yes, it does.”