Chapter 37 Hailey
Hailey
The level of tired I’d reached probably needed to be researched in a lab somewhere. The baby was sucking all of my energy, and I was still attempting to work. I was determined to work until I couldn’t any more. There was no doubt I was struggling, though.
A lot.
I was only four and a half months pregnant, but it felt more like a million months already.
All week, I'd been looking forward to Sunday, the one day I had off to just lie in bed and sleep. I had already told the guys that all I was going to do was be lazy and eat food. They'd all wholeheartedly agreed that I should because they wanted me to relax.
Yet, when Sunday morning rolled around, I was up bright and early for some God-awful reason.
“Hey, what are you doing up? I was gonna bring you breakfast in bed,” Wilder said as I padded into the kitchen.
“I need to go shopping,” I muttered, not entirely thinking that through.
“Uh, why?” Wilder frowned, his brow creasing as he turned to face me, setting down a plate of food on the counter. “I can run to the grocery store if you're craving any snacks in particular.”
“No, it's not that. I just realized that I'm halfway through this darn pregnancy, and I don't have any baby clothes. Or baby items. At all.” My heart was beating fast, and I felt that telltale prickle in my eyes. “We haven't even decided where the baby is going to go!”
My voice took on a shrill tone, and I plopped into a chair at the kitchen table.
Understanding dawned on Wilder's face. “Are you feeling like nesting for the baby?”
I nodded. “I can't explain it. I just need to start organizing things. I've been putting it off for so long, and now it feels so urgent. Only, I decided to wait and open that stupid envelope when Preston gets back, so I don’t even know what I’m gestating right now!”
“Hey, it’s all right. I’m here.” Wilder paused, thought rumbling behind his brows.
“Well, we can work with what we’ve got. For now, we can buy everything neutral.
Keep it simple and just general baby-centric.
How about I get everyone together? We can drive into the city and start setting up the nursery when we get home with the stuff? ”
“You would do that?” I asked in a small voice.
I felt stupid. I knew my desires weren't exactly logical right now. We were falling into a good routine, and I was disrupting it with my desperate need to go shopping for all the things. But knowing something was being guided by hormone-fueled emotions didn’t actually stop those hormones from fueling them.
“Of course!”
“But Merrick is working…” I couldn’t explain why, but I wanted all my alphas. I needed them to help me make the house ready for the baby.
Wilder snorted. “That's easily solved.”
As he spoke, he pulled out his phone. I spluttered as he brought it to his ear, refusing to believe what he was doing as my cheeks heated, and I buried my face in my hands.
“Hey, man. Can you come home today? Our girl wants to start preparing for the baby. I think we're gonna take a drive into the city. As a pack.”
“You can't ask him to leave work to go shopping!” I hissed, grabbing Wilder’s arm.
He didn't respond, though, simply held his arm higher so I couldn't get hold of his cell phone, grinning at me happily.
“Yeah. Sure thing. See you then.” He hung up, putting his cell in his back pocket and turning to me. “He will be home shortly. Do you want to go wake Nolan, or shall I?”
I was flabbergasted. “You butt! I don't want to wake him! I can’t believe you called Merrick!”
Wilder’s grin turned mischievous. “Well, it's gonna be you or me, cutie, and I think he would much prefer to be woken up by you. As for Merrick, he was more than happy to come home.”
Knowing my psychotic pack mate, he would probably wake Nolan up by throwing a bottle of water over him or something equally as college dormitory-level nuts.
“It's not even eight a.m.,” I whined.
He shrugged. “See, he's practically gotten to sleep in.”
I didn't think that was quite how it worked, but all I could do was shoot him a glare before padding toward the stairs. If the choices were between me and whatever Wilder was going to cook up, I would do it.
And apologize profusely afterward.
I pushed open the door, knocking lightly.
The lump on the bed didn’t move an inch.
Sighing to myself, I shuffled into the room.
Nolan was sleeping like a starfish, lying on his front with his limbs taking up the entire bed.
The sheets were pulled around his waist, and because he was topless, I could make out all the muscles in his back.
Leaning forward, I gently placed my hand on his shoulder, shaking it ever so slightly.
“Nolan?” I asked softly, channeling all those serene vibes so as not to scare the shit out of him.
He didn't budge.
I called his name again, and before I could pull my hand away, his arm darted out. I didn’t even get a word out before I was suddenly in bed with him.
“Nolan!” I cried.
“Snuggly,” he grumbled in that sleepy, raspy voice, rubbing his chin on the top of my head and inhaling deeply.
It would have been creepy if it wasn’t for the fact I want to do the exact same thing to him because he smelled so good.
“I’m meant to be waking you up.” I laughed.
“No awake. Cuddles,” he rumbled, keeping me wrapped up tightly in his arms.
His morning wood pressed against my ass, the thick feeling of it making my core wake up.
I couldn’t help myself—I wiggled.
Nolan’s hands tightened around me. “Are you sure you want to do that?” he asked roughly.
I didn’t say anything in response, just pressed back against him even more.
“Mmmm…” Nolan breathed deeply, reaching between us and grabbing his erection to rub it against my ass cheek.
Suddenly, shopping was second on the priority list, and I helped Nolan to work down my leggings so that he could get at me. I was already slick, and Nolan’s cock slid between my thighs.
He pumped in and out, coating himself in my arousal before angling himself so that the blunt head of his erection nudged between my folds. Like that, he was gliding in and out of me, groaning low right into my ear.
“Well, this was not what I thought was going to happen.” My breathing hitched as he hit that perfect spot, and we slowly built up our rhythm, all languid and sleepy.
“It’s the best damn wake-up call around.” Nolan kissed my neck as he pushed all the way in, up to his knot. “Damn, Hailey, I’m already so close. You drive me wild.”
His hand came to rest on my bump, and Nolan stroked inside me two more times before he pulled all the way out, and I whined.
“Hey, where are you going?”
Chuckling, Nolan smoothed himself between my ass cheeks again. “You got me thinking, little omega. Now I can’t resist.”
I didn’t quite understand what he meant, but that confusion was ended abruptly as Nolan began to slide himself back into me
“Oh!” I cried, the rougher entry making my nerves come alight.
The heat within me boomed, and I moaned into the pillow as Nolan began to take me from behind like this, my leggings bunched around my knees, the rasp of his boxers against me as his cock stuck out through the hole.
It was wild for first thing in the morning.
I loved it, though, and as we built up that rhythm again, I reached around for his hip, pulling him closer as I whispered, “Knot me. Oh God, knot me now.”
Nolan growled in my ear softly, pushing in until at once he was fully seated in my pussy. I gasped lightly, my pussy clamping down as it enjoyed the sensations rushing through my body.
It didn’t take long before I was coming, whimpering into my fist as I tried not to make too much noise. I wanted to keep this moment for just Nolan and me for now.
“That’s it, pretty girl. Ugh, you feel fucking fantastic.” Nolan nuzzled into my neck, and I could feel his cock thicken even more, his knot pulsing. “Do you want me to fill you up?”
“Yesss…”
And then he was tipping over the edge as my release claimed me, both of us throbbing, my pussy fluttering as Nolan did just that, filled me up with his cum and his knot.
After a moment, Nolan stretched behind me ever so slightly, both of us gasping a little as his knot was still locked in.
“Now I’m ready to face whatever the day holds.”
I laughed, turning over my shoulder at him. “Shopping. It holds shopping, dearest.”
“Which crib do you want?” Merrick asked as we walked through the store, holding hands.
The baby store was gigantic, and there were so many options, I was struggling to settle on what would be best for the nursery.
“I thought I knew what I wanted, but now I'm not so sure…” I admitted, staring at the shelves overwhelmed.
“Well, we don't have to pick out any of these soft furnishings today unless you really like them. We could just focus on getting the basics like the furniture.”
I nodded. “Yeah, that makes sense. I was picturing like pine or a lighter wood.”
“Something like this, then?” Merrick asked, gesturing to a light wooden crib.
I padded over to it, running my hand along the surface. “Oooh. I like this. It's not too tall, but it looks like it could be tricky to build.”
Merrick snorted, smiling. “I think between the three alphas, we’ll be able to do it.”
I raised a brow. “Are you sure about that?”
He considered for a moment. “If we can't, I'll just take the thing to the fire station, and the entire crew will figure it out together. That's what we had to do for Walker. Those three bought a fancy crib for Baby Abigail and couldn't put it together, so I had to help.”
“So you're experienced in crib building? Good to know,” I said, playfully tapping my chin in a fake pensive gesture.
“I'm experienced in many things,” he said, his voice deepening. Despite the immense pleasure I’d had with Nolan that morning, my body still stood at attention for that grumbly sound.
I wasn't sure if it was pregnancy hormones or just the fact that I had three bonded alphas that was making me so needy.
“Well, then, I think I’ll get this crib.” I smiled, sliding up to him.
Merrick took out his phone and scanned the little tag so we could order the crib.
“I found baby mattresses!” Wilder declared as he bounded over with an armful of goodies. “I also found pacifiers and burp cloths. I assume you can never have enough of those.”
Giggling, I nodded. “From what my friends have told me, there is definitely no such thing as too many burp cloths.”
“Good, because I grabbed a fuckton. Now you need to take a look at the onesies. There are some adorable ones covered in bunnies and puppies. I think Nolan is still over there, cooing over the little tiny hats.”
“Aww. Okay, I'll be over there. I just want to find the matching changing table.”
“It should be right over here,” Merrick said, placing his hand on the small of my back and guiding me around the corner. Wilder muttered something before vanishing to find a cart to put all his goodies in.
“I knew babies needed a lot of things, but this is a lot. Like, a lot a lot,” I whispered as I walked through the store.
“It is, but we can afford it. Plus, you've got plenty of space for a nursery, so you can pick whatever furniture you want.”
“It feels weird just buying whatever I want. I'm so used to sticking to a strict budget.”
Merrick gazed at me, offering that warm look. “So enjoy it. Actually enjoy it. Don't just buy loads out of spite on Preston's credit card. Get the things you’ve always dreamed of.”
“But that was so fun.” I chuckled. “Though I do feel a teeny tiny bit guilty now that I know he's actually a decent guy, and I put him in thousands of dollars of credit card debt because of my shopping spree.”
“He'll be able to pay it off as soon as he gets out. Hell, I'm pretty sure that Wilder or Nolan could pay it for him. They're just choosing to punish his dumb ass.”
“I would also be pissed if I were in their shoes. Hell, I’m pissed in my own shoes.” I giggled as I started looking through the changing tables.
“Oooh, look! This one changes height!” I said excitedly.
Even though I wasn't a short woman, my alphas were considerably taller than me, so having a table that was adjustable would probably be a lifesaver.
Or a backsaver.
There were so many choices to make, and only weeks to make them. My omega wasn’t happy about that, but having all the guys here to help me, knowing that we didn’t have to stress about a budget, helped.
A lot.
As I was looking over the different changing tables, a swift movement in my stomach made me halt.
“Hailey, is everything okay?” Merrick asked. Everyone else paused to look at me.
“Y-yeah,” I stammered, my hand going to my belly. “I think the baby is moving?”
Merrick’s eyes widened, a smile spreading across his face. “Can I?” he asked, holding out a hand.
“Go for it—man, they are wriggling!” I muttered as they moved once again.
Merrick’s hand rested on my stomach, his eyes filling with amazement when they kicked again. “That is insane.”
“Trust me, it feels even more insane from where I’m standing!” I laughed.
Nolan and Wilder joined us, taking turns touching my bump, muttering sweet words to the baby. It was wonderful to see them interacting with the little nugget with such excitement. Despite all the chaos, I was convinced they would make good dads.
“Okay, Mama is tired now, let’s get some ice cream and have a nap!” I laughed, dragging my alphas toward the checkout.