Page 31 of All That We Keep (Always Yours #3)

Blake

The whole day has been stressful after a thorough health checkup and appointments, most of which I blocked out mentally.

All I know is that they saved three viable samples, and while the process was both embarrassing and left me ready to burrow under blankets for the rest of eternity, Luca looked happier than I've ever seen him. Luca’s face lit up when my doctor confirmed the samples were viable, like I'd just given him the greatest gift in the world.

The medical procedures weren't painful, just clinical and awkward. Having to provide samples while my pack waited in another room, knowing they could probably sense my discomfort through our bonds, made everything worse. But seeing Luca's joy made it worth the embarrassment.

Quentin also gave Luca a checkup, saying the babies were healthy and that he was ready to pop at any moment. The excitement that shot through me at those words was intense enough to overshadow anything else. Not soon enough James and Samuel will be here, in our arms, and I can’t fucking wait.

After examining us both, the doctor passed us off to Quentin who further explained that the designation dynamics of our pack will continue to fluctuate and change over the years, that the in-between designations don't always stay rigid.

"What does that mean exactly?" Maceo asked.

"It means that you might have more Alpha or Beta tendencies depending on what your pack needs," Quentin explained patiently.

"And Blake might present more as an Omega or Beta depending on those same things.

However, with Blake, it presents more noticeably as the difference between Alpha and Omega tendencies because that kind of possessiveness and protectiveness isn't common with a traditional Omega.

But it is common with a Delta." He paused, his expression growing more thoughtful.

"It's why biologically, and in some scientific communities, a pack like this is known as a golden pack.

You have uniquely what is needed to succeed.

Whatever your pack needs biologically, someone can fill in the gaps.

It doesn't come without its pitfalls, however.

Blake, you still need to be careful with stress levels.

But as a Delta, there's a lot less biological strain than there would be for an Omega in your position. "

"So, he'll be okay?" Luca asked, his voice tight with worry.

Quentin smiled reassuringly. "Your Delta is a fighter. Yes, he'll be okay, and he's going to be a great father. Now let's get you all home."

And now, I'm finishing up some of the final touches on the Starfalls expansion before it goes through Grayson's old team with Riley supervising the artwork. It feels bittersweet without Grayson there to oversee the creative process, but I know he trusts his team to execute my vision.

The video call whirs to life, my team crowded around a small table as they all talk over each, asking questions about Addie and Grayson and the future state of Keller Industries.

I just shake my head, knowing that they were all going to ask. "It's all still under investigation," I tell them. "But I'm getting ready to go to the gala for Hearthstone to figure out what's going on and hopefully put everything regarding Luca to rest."

"Good luck," Miri says earnestly. "We support you, and we want everything to work out. You’ll be at the expansion party tomorrow night, right?" I nod, because that is the plan.

"The expansion is going to be incredible," Jules adds. "Grayson's designs are some of his best work."

"He'll be back," I say with more confidence than I feel.

"Once we clear his name and figure out who's really behind all this.

" I manage a quick smile before ending the call and leaning back in my chair to survey our makeshift office setup.

Luther and I are working at the dining table, laptops and documents spread between us, while Maceo sits at a smaller desk across from us, working through legal documents and putting together a packet that will be submitted to the board to prove Grayson's innocence.

I have other plans for the board as well as additional plans for… the future, all to be revealed at that expansion party because everything is changing. I’ve lost sight of my original vision and now that I have absolutely everything that I want, it’s time to take it all back.

Maceo suddenly speaks up, breaking the focused silence. "Damien found a few connections with who had access to that account. The names would surprise you."

Luther looks up from his laptop, raising an eyebrow. "Go on."

"Obviously Blake, Grayson, and you had authorized access," Maceo continues, consulting his notes.

"Addie had access from her previous finance role that was never revoked as well as the finance director, Octavia.

But there was also a backdoor access code that had been used by one of the finance employees, who actually has an Omega from Hearthstone. "

"How did I not know this?" Luther growls out.

"Because people who get their Omegas from Hearthstone don't generally wave it around," Maceo explains. "They just take their Omegas and keep moving. It's a very hush-hush situation. He also wasn't on the donor list at all, so it must have been a private pack joining."

The implications make my stomach turn. "I hate all of this. The idea that there are people in our own company who are connected to that place, who might have been complicit in what happened to Luca or the Omegas who are still suffering without a pack."

Before anyone can respond, there's a knock at the door. The sound puts me on edge, my gaze darting to the couch where Luca’s nest is just beyond.

"What is that?" I ask, already pushing back from the table.

I rush over to the living area to check on Luca, finding him peeking over the back of the couch with wide, concerned eyes.

Maceo is already moving toward the windows to see who's outside.

Then Luther starts laughing, the sound so unexpected that we all stare at him. "It's just the suit outfitter," he muses. "I thought it might be better to have them come here than all of us walking into a store with the current state of things."

Relief floods through me so suddenly that my knees almost buckle.

"Oh right, I forgot about all of that." Between all the doctor appointments this morning and finishing up the game, I kind of forgot about dressing up for the gala.

I run a hand through my hair, trying to calm my racing heart. "Can't we just wear what we have?"

My Alpha tilts his head to the side, silent laughter rumbling through his chest. "You own a damn multimillion-dollar company. No, I can't have you walking into this event in a random suit. You need something that's fitted, something that not everybody has seen. You need to stand out."

"Or I could just wear my pajamas," I suggest hopefully.

Maceo chuckles. "I don't think that would work for infiltrating a high-society gala. Let's see if we can't find something that works for you, and then I promise to peel it off of you when we get back."

Heat flashes through me at his words, and I meet his eyes with renewed interest. "I'm holding you to that, because I'm going to be uncomfortable as fuck. I don't even want to go to this thing."

The doorbell rings again, and Luther goes to let in the design team, one that I know full well from hours of fittings in my office over the years. They enter with garment bags and equipment, making an immediate beeline for me with the kind of enthusiasm that makes me want to hide.

I groan audibly as they start circling me like sharks, taking measurements and discussing fabric choices in rapid-fire technical language. Then one of them spots Luca on the couch and his eyes light up. "Oh please, let me make clothes for your pregnant Omega as well. Damn, he's gorgeous."

"I'm off limits," Luca says immediately, his hands moving protectively over his belly. "I don't want any kind of clothes at all whatsoever." More laughter fills the room at his vehement refusal.

"Hey, I'm out of this too," Grayson announces from his position near the coffee table where Luca was curled up a few moments ago.

"I'll be needing two other suits as well," Luther tells the designers, "Three total for Blake, myself, and Maceo."

"Wait, I have to go?" Maceo asks, looking surprised.

"Absolutely. Why wouldn't you be coming? I need you as backup," Luther says firmly.

"Great, more people who are going to be uncomfortable," I mutter. "The better."

Luther's eyes flash with heat as he looks at me. "I can make you very comfortable."

"Absolutely not," I say quickly, pointing a finger at him. "Keep hands and toys away from me until this is over. Thank you."

The room erupts in laughter again, the tension breaking as we fall back into our familiar dynamic of teasing and affection.

As the designers start pulling out fabric samples and talking about options, Luca perks up from the couch. "Can I at least pick the colors?"

That’s not even a question. Of course, he can. One of the designers rolls the rack a little closer, each option some form of midnight, iridescent, or dark, intense shade of color.

Luca studies the options with intense concentration before settling on an almost iridescent black and green combination that really brings out the colors of our eyes. For Maceo, he chooses iridescent black and red, while Luther and I get matching black and green ensembles.

The fitting process is tedious and annoying but I’m so used to it that I at least have the decency to stand still, hardly recognizing the polished businessman staring back at me when a mirror is pushed in front of me.

"You look incredible," Luca says softly, his eyes warm with admiration. "Like you could take over the world."

"That's the plan," I murmur back, adjusting the jacket. It’s a bit snug but asking them to let it out around the waist means more time and more hands and I just really want to go already. “Perfect,” I tell Victor who’s working on my suit, gaining a small smile from him as he packs away his tools.

They file away in silence, almost as if they weren’t here, the last hour leaving three of us in shiny suits and two of my mates drooling. I grin at Luca, knowing that he can’t touch, his sweetened aroused scent blooming through the room. God, I just want to kiss him.

But I don’t because I can’t control myself. I also don’t want to.

Luther’s phone rings as I head for the door, my Alpha’s expression growing serious when he picks up.

"It's Damien," he whispers to us. "Hey, we're about to head out to this Hearthstone gala.

" I can't hear the other side of the conversation, but Luther's face grows increasingly grim.

Luther swallows and then puts the phone on speaker.

"I need you to be super careful. I've just got some information that it's being held at one of the biggest donors' houses."

"You got a name for me?" Luther asks.

"Actually, no, I don't. Which is the problem.

Nobody seems to know who owns the house.

Nobody's seen the owner. They just know it's at this place.

So go in, but be careful. There's a lot of weird shit going on.

As for what I found about Luca and Hudson," Damien continues, "somebody canceled the protective order.

A judge over in the next county. I'm not sure why, but it was called off.

It was said that it was no longer needed. "

"Who called it off?" Luther demands.

"I'm only so good at this, Luther. However, it was called off the day Hudson was put out on bail. I don't know who the fuck is after you, but they've got connections that I haven't seen in a while. I need you to stay safe, stay together, and nobody wander off."

The call ends as silence fills the room, all of us processing the implications of what we just heard. Someone with serious legal connections orchestrated Hudson's release and the end of our protection, timing it perfectly to coincide with this gala.

"I'm going," I say firmly before anyone can suggest otherwise. "You can't keep me here. I need to make sure that my pack is safe. And I know that while I want to stay home with Luca, I need to know that when those babies come, he's going to be okay."

Luther studies my face for a long moment before nodding. "All right, but you stay attached to my or Maceo’s side at all times."

"I will," I promise.

I rush back over to Luca and give him the kiss I was holding back, trying not to think about what it could possibly mean before following Maceo and Luther out to the car. Only once we pull out of the driveway does Maceo break the silence.

"Are we even ready for this?"

I swallow nervously, wringing my hands in my lap. "We don't really have a choice."