28. Twenty-Seven
Twenty-Seven
Cozette
The sensation of the cold water hitting my face is invigorating and helps to cool my flushed skin. I quickly grab the hand towel from its place and carefully pat my cheeks dry, taking a moment to study my reflection in the mirror.
A glance in the mirror reveals my eyes looking puffy and bloodshot, my cheeks blotchy and discolored, and my curls in a state of disarray. But hidden beneath it all, a spark of anticipation shines in my eyes.
I believed everything was ruined, convinced they had changed their minds after Ridge’s attack on Jeremiah. Convincing this group of men to accept Jeremiah seemed like an impossible task, especially when violence was the first thing that crossed their minds upon learning his identity. However, when Ridge came and found me in my nest, all of my fears melted away as he lovingly stroked me and whispered his apologies into my ear. When he asked all of us to come stay with them, a renewed sense of hope washed over me.
Hope that this can work.
Hope that they can all be mine, and I can be all of theirs.
Hope that we can be a family.
I try to fix myself up as best as I can before coming out of the bathroom, only to find all five men in my bedroom, their expressions filled with uncertainty. Ridge and Jeremiah keep trading glances, filling the air with tension that can be felt by everyone around them. But neither have thrown anymore punches, so that’s something. Right?
Zeke groans and throws his head back as he looks at them both with a frown and roll of his eyes.
“I canae breathe in here wi’ ye two makin’ everything so damn tense! Kiss an’ make up so my wee omega doesnae start cryin’ again.”
As he approaches me, a mischievous grin spreads across his face, accompanied by a wink that instantly brings a smile to my lips. When he finally reaches me, he wraps his arms around me tightly, lifting me off the ground and ensnaring me completely in his embrace. I sigh when he presses his nose against the crook of my neck, and I wrap my arms around his neck as I lay my head on his shoulder in contentment.
As his sugary sweet cinnamon roll scent envelops me, I find myself relaxing even more in his hold. Without thinking, I instinctively wrap my legs around his waist, craving the closeness. His hands cup my bottom for support, and my cheeks blaze at his touch, even though there’s nothing sexual about the way he’s holding me.
“All good now, Ducky?” he asks me, his voice muffled and tickling my skin.
“Ducky?” I ask with a slight giggle, and he huffs, clearing his throat.
“Well, ye dinnae like bein’ called small, so I decided tae call ye somethin’ else. Ye’re just as cute as a baby duckling, so…” he mutters, trailing off, and I notice his ears turning red and a flush running down his throat.
I smile, nuzzling my nose in the crook of his neck until he relaxes and takes a breath. It’s sweet, and I appreciate him thinking of something so sweet. Although, as much as I’ve fussed about it, I can’t say I hate Manny calling me ‘little mermaid’ or Ridge calling me Smalls. Honestly, I just kind of love that they all have a nickname for me.
“Ready tae go back down?” Zeke asks, rubbing his cheek against my head.
I nod, but my grip tightens, and a small chuckle escapes him. I can feel us moving, so I tilt my head up just enough to notice that he’s headed for my bedroom door. With a sigh, I nestle my cheek against his shoulder once more, the sound of the other’s footsteps reverberating behind us as we make our way down the stairs. When we finally reach the backdoor, Zeke’s hold on me remains unyielding, and he steps outside, keeping me securely wrapped in his embrace.
When I peek out, I can’t help but feel everyone’s gaze weighing on me, prompting me to hastily bury my face in Zeke’s neck. The sound of footsteps approach, and I tense up until I smell Mama’s familiar soothing scent, and I peek an eye out at her. She smiles at me, her eyes shimmering in the sunlight, prompting me to relax in Zeke’s arms.
“All good?” she asks me, glancing back and forth at Zeke and I with an amused smile.
“All good,” I murmur and she nods happily, glancing behind us with a sharp glare.
I glance over Zeke’s shoulder to see who she’s looking at, and when I see Ridge with hunched shoulders and a frown marring his features, I can’t help but feel this intense need to soothe and comfort him. I make a sound in the back of my throat, reaching for him, and he looks at me in surprise, freezing in place until Jeremiah huffs and shoves him in the back towards me with a roll of his eyes. I give him an admonishing look before turning my attention back to Ridge.
When he pulls me from Zeke’s arms into his, I immediately curl myself into him, letting instinct guide me. My scent is subtle as it wraps around us both, meant to soothe and calm more than to entice, something I wasn’t even aware I could do.
“You soothing me, Smalls?” Ridge asks quietly in my ear, his voice strained and holding a hint of surprise in it.
I bury my face in his throat, feeling him shiver as my breaths fan out against the side of his neck and unable to hold back the smile that pulls at my lips.
“Yeah, I guess I am.”
He presses a kiss to my cheek with a chuckle, and my heart warms. It’s fit to burst right now, and I’m not sure how to really handle these feelings that this lot of alphas seem to bring out in me. I can’t say I don’t like it, though.
“Aww, you guys are so cute!” I hear hollered out, and when I lift my head, I see Ripley standing not far away with the biggest grin.
“Shut up, you little shit,” Ridge grumbles back at her as he moves to sit in one of the many chairs around the patio, which only seems to make her grin widen.
When he sits down, I go to get up, but he holds me in place until I relax back against him with a contented sigh. The rest of the guys take up seats around us, Jeremiah moving his chair closer to where Ridge and I are, which makes me giggle. He looks at me with a raised brow and a smirk.
“Something to say, Dove?”
“Nope,” I quip, miming zipping my lips.
With a shake of his head and a quiet laugh, he eases into his seat. Dragging River behind her, Ripley makes her way over to us, her determined steps reverberating in the air. River comes to a halt as they stand in front of Jeremiah, and I observe how the strong and dominant alpha that I’ve claimed for my own becomes tense. As River holds his hand out, Jeremiah’s gaze shifts upwards, his expression filled with astonishment, as if the notion of someone wanting to shake his hand in peace is utterly unimaginable.
My poor alpha has spent his entire life as the outcast, being seen as a monster, and now that he’s not being treated like one, I fear he doesn’t know what to do.
“Shake his hand, Jeremiah. He won’t bite… you,” I murmur to him with an airy laugh, shocking everyone with my little joke.
Ripley snorts and holds her hand out for a high-five, and I oblige.
“That was a good one,” she laughs, shaking her head before we both look back at Jeremiah and River.
I breathe a sigh of relief when Jeremiah finally reaches out and grasps River’s hand in his much larger one. As he nods at River, a gentle smile curves his lips, reflecting the warmth in his heart. It’s a symbol that represents the fresh start we’ve all been waiting for.
Once they drop each other’s hands, River and Ripley continue moving until they reach an empty chair. She throws him into one across from us and climbs into his lap, looking at all the guys with a big smile before locking eyes with me. She’s practically vibrating in River’s lap with excitement, making the corners of my lips curl up involuntarily.
“So… Everybody looks to still have all their limbs connected to their bodies. Can I assume you’ve all worked it out and you’ll officially be my sister sometime soon?”
I can feel my cheeks flush with heat, and in response, my body instinctively curls more into Ridge’s embrace. As his arms tighten around me, I can feel the warmth of his embrace and the tenderness of the kiss he places on the top of my head, causing a surge of emotions to stir inside me. Being held by him makes me feel cherished and safe, as if I’m the most important person in the world.
“Och! Ye wee brat. Leave her be before ye scare her away from us. We’re walkin’ a tightrope right now, eh?” Zeke mock whispers to Ripley with a silly grin and a wink aimed my way.
With a mischievous grin, Ripley sticks her tongue out at him, and I can’t help but chuckle at their playful exchange.
“They asked us to move in,” I tell her quietly, biting my bottom lip.
With a gasp, Ripley’s excitement fills the air as she lets out a high-pitched squeal. Excited, she jumps out of her seat and excitedly grabs my hand, practically yanking me up from Ridge’s lap. Ridge reluctantly releases his grip with a low grumble, and as I stand up, Ripley wraps her arms around me, bouncing up and down, causing me to burst into laughter. When she calms down, she releases her grip on me, and Ridge swiftly pulls me back into his lap, his arm securely wrapped around my waist as he plants a gentle kiss on my exposed shoulder, sending a delightful shudder through my body.
Mama walks over and joins us when she hears all the commotion, her eyes twinkling as she looks at me and winks.
“What’s with all the screaming?” she asks with a grin, her hands on her hips.
Ridge shifts beneath me, clearing his throat.
“We asked them to move in,” he tells his mom, and her arms drop as a pout forms on her lips.
“You’re leaving me? So soon?” she asks me, and I feel a pang in my heart.
This woman, this amazing, thoughtful person, opened her home for me. Took me in and has been so instrumental in my healing process. She’s my mother in every sense of the word, and I love her so much for everything she’s done for me.
“Uh-oh. What’s wrong, my love?” Damien asks Mama Valley as he comes up behind her, wrapping his arms around her and kissing her cheek.
“She’s leaving us,” Mama tells him, a hint of sorrow in her tone.
“Ah. It’s okay, Angel. It’s not like she’ll be far, and you knew it’d happen, eventually. This will be good for all of them.”
“I hate having an empty nest,” she grumbles with a sigh, and my lips quirk up at her petulant tone.
“Don’t worry. She was a big baby when I moved out, too,” Ripley whispers at me, laughing when Mama swats her shoulder.
With a sigh, Mama walks over and bends down, her hands reaching out to hold my face as she gazes into my eyes. She must see what she’s looking for because she eventually nods in defeat before giving me an encouraging smile.
“I am so proud of you, sweetheart,” she murmurs before kissing my forehead and standing up.
As tears well up, my eyes sting, but I fight back the urge to cry by blinking rapidly. The day is filled with possibilities, and there’s no more room for tears.
The rest of the day becomes a blur of musical chairs as I’m passed from one alpha to another, each vying for a chance to hold me. While some of them assist the dads with the food, the majority of us remain rooted in our current positions, unwilling to venture elsewhere.
Over time, the others outside find their way to us, grabbing extra chairs to join in the socializing. Jeremiah gets caught up in a conversation with Nico, where the topic of tattoos and related subjects takes center stage, while Micah talks with Kian and Syn. My heart warms seeing these two men being welcomed into the fold so easily after the earlier drama, and for the first time in a long time, I’m completely relaxed around so many people.
Hours pass as we eat, talk, and spend time with everyone. The sun eventually sinks down to make way for the moon and stars, and although I get caught up in my own conversations with everyone, I still continue to watch the changing sky. By the time everyone starts saying their goodbyes, I’m yawning in Emmanuel’s lap, fighting to keep my eyes open.
“Tired, Sirenita ?” he murmurs in my ear, bringing a smile to my lips at the nickname he’s coined for me.
I nod sleepily, curling more into his lap and breathing in his spicy mango scent that makes my nose tickle slightly.
“Do you want to come home with us tonight? Or wait until tomorrow?”
I make a sound in the back of my throat, almost a whine, and Manny’s arms tighten around me as the other alphas glance over at us. The thought of any of them leaving me for the night when today has been almost perfect makes me sad. I’m not ready to be apart from them now after spending an entire day in each of their arms.
“Would you all stay here with me tonight? We could all… cuddle in the nest, maybe? I don’t think my bed would fit all of you,” I mutter with a frown.
Manny chuckles, kissing the top of my head like they’ve all been doing so much today.
“If that’s what you want. Come on, let’s get you to bed before you fall out right here.”
Instead of helping me stand like I expect, Manny gets up from his seat with me still curled in his arms, and I don’t fight it, too tired to even concern myself with how much these men seem to like to carry me around. The others follow us as we head inside, telling everyone goodnight, and once we’re in my room, Manny heads straight for my closet, kicking his shoes off before stepping into my nest.
He doesn’t put me down until we’re inside, and I scramble into the mini fort I built during my heat, grabbing my favorite bat plush. My nose wrinkles when I realize Jeremiah’s scent has completely faded, and I look up at him as he enters with wide eyes. Holding it out for him with a pout, he chuckles and takes it.
“Doesn’t smell like you anymore,” I grumble, and he climbs in with me, pecking me on the lips before he gets comfortable with the bat in his arms.
“I’ve got you, Dove.”
“Wait! He gets a stuffed animal tae snuggle tonight? What about me, Ducky?” Zeke asks as he climbs in next to Jeremiah, taking up the empty space in front of me.
I laugh and grab several of my other plushies in my arms, holding them out for him to choose one. He picks the pink yeti, giving me a wink, and despite how comical he appears, I can’t resist smiling when he flashes a wide grin at me, embracing the plush toy tightly and settling in comfortably. I turn to look at Manny, Ridge, and Micah, nibbling on my lip.
“Will you…?”
“Like you’ve even got to ask, Smalls. Gimme the blue yeti,” Ridge says with a smile, holding his hand out.
I pass it to him and watch as he gets comfortable near my feet, facing me as he puts the plush beneath his head like a pillow. Micah and Manny each take their own plushies, finding a spot and laying down. Manny settles in on my other side, his presence warm and comforting, and Micah takes a spot next to him. As I finally lay back, Manny gently turns me to my side so that he can spoon me, and I find myself facing Zeke and Jeremiah, both already fast asleep.
“ Dulces sue?os, Sirenita, ” Manny mumbles sleepily at my back, and I close my eyes at the way my heart flutters.
Sweet dreams, Little Mermaid.
“Goodnight,” I whisper back, my body relaxing completely with him wrapped around me.
I fall asleep quickly, and for once, my dreams aren’t fueled by nightmares. It’s the best sleep I’ve had in ages.