Page 5

Five

KIERAN

The happiness that exploded in our home was so different from anything I had ever experienced. Even growing up as a kid, our holidays were peaceful, quiet even as I learned to love the routines set forth for me. Mike, at one point in my life, had been a comfort and I think that’s why it hurt so much more seeing things turn out the way they had. He hadn’t always been this monster and I had no idea what had made him change.

Happily, I settled back in my chair at the table, watching people bustle to and from the counter, sharing and passing plates. It was chaos but it was mine. This was what true happiness looked like and for once I let myself enjoy it. I was a little out of my comfort zone, most of the guests in this house people I had never met. Granted, Isaias had asked me fifteen times before they arrived if we should host the party elsewhere.

I hadn’t minded at the time, more overwhelmed by all the decisions than anything. Leaning into my Omega biology was a bitch but at the first sign of distress, Joel shooed Isaias away. Now, though, I didn’t mind. The heady mixture of scents was a little unnerving but the way they accepted me wasn’t something I had experienced before.

I became part of the conversation as they asked about the babies and laughed about how often I used to repaint the walls. They strayed away from asking about my past before the pack, something I attributed to Isaias warning them before they came over.

Terrence was constantly squealing about every little thing, stuffing his face beside me before placing things on my plate to try as well. When it came to food, I was pretty straightforward with it but the seasoned turkey breast, mac n cheese, and cranberry sauce were a match made in heaven. The stuffing was something I could do without and the sweet potato casserole was divine.

“So, Kieran,” one of the guys in a police officer’s uniform started. I recognized him from the station. He also occasionally stopped into grandma’s coffee shop before a shift. “Think you could beat me in an arm wrestle?” Everyone burst out laughing, throwing out imaginary bets before his wife slapped him on the back.

She was a petite little thing but her smile radiated through the entire room as she looked up at her husband. “He would demolish you and we all know it. You’re just saved because he has babies to protect.” More laughter filled the room and for once in my life, I didn’t hate the fact that I wasn’t the Omega that society thought I should be.

Joel leaned over from the other side, placing a kiss on my cheek as the plates were cleared. “You’re happy?”

“ Absolutely, ” I whispered before twisting enough to catch a taste of his lips. The constant yearning to be close to all my mates but especially Joel wasn’t a chore but I was happy for it to be over. However, carting Joel off for private time was one of the things I enjoyed in the afternoons. Using our Betas as a pillow during a cat nap? Yes, please.

Joel’s hand dipped to my belly, all of our mates enjoying touching and rubbing it when they had a chance. The babies chose that time to kick, Joel’s eyes widening with surprise. “I can feel them. Fuck, I can’t wait to hold them.”

“Ahhhh, young love,” one of the attendees pushed out. The laughter continued mixed with ‘oos’ and ‘ahs’, the embarrassment that I thought would surface staying away. I felt loved as I turned to survey the kitchen, not one of them looking at me as if I didn’t belong, as if I wasn’t an Omega worth loving, as if I was an abomination. I was just… Kieran.

Heat bloomed through my chest the longer Joel’s hand stayed on my belly, his other hand gravitating toward my neck to massage the tender skin by my gland. “Stop,” I whispered, facing him again. When he didn’t listen, I placed a gentle hand on his neck, dragging him forward just enough to catch his undivided attention. “You’re going to make me drag you into my nest and not care who’s still out here to hear what I’m going to do to you.”

His cheeks pinked slightly although I could see in his eyes that he wasn’t against the idea. Still, Joel removed his hand after stealing a kiss and rushing off to the counter to help grab dessert. Isaias across from me was trying and failing to stifle his laughter, his eyes dancing as he focused on our dynamic.

Berry, apple, and sweet potato pie were brought to the table. Whip cream and ice cream were added as Ren sliced a piece of each before handing it to me. It wasn’t that I hadn’t ever eaten pie before but the company I was sharing dessert with made it feel different. New, even. I loved it. A yawn slipped out, Ren giggling.

“You’re about to crash, aren’t you?” Ren murmured so that only I could hear it.

“No,” I said a little too quickly.

Our little Alpha shrugged and helped serve everyone else as I continued to take in the Thanksgiving holiday.

Unfortunately, that made me remember just how much I had missed out on. The countless holidays I hadn’t been able to enjoy running from the man that still plagued my nightmares. The first part of this pregnancy, strange as it was, had taken my mind off of everything else. Now that I had had time to settle? That incident with Joel and Mike was all I could think about. I just hadn’t had the heart to bring it up to my mates.

The babies in my belly decided that then was a great time to have a dance party, squirming around aiming straight for my bladder. Excusing myself, I waddled to the bathroom, grateful that there were only a few more weeks of carrying them. The doctor had mentioned to be ready for anything, seeing as my heats had been irregular.

After relieving myself and washing my hands, I stared into the mirror at the gruff face looking back at me. For the most part, my reflection looked happy. The lingering anxiety behind the eyes though was what worried me. My hands dropped to my belly as I thought of our future and how I was supposed to provide for our babies when I couldn’t even deal with my ex-Alpha. Hell, I still didn’t even know why he had wanted me so badly. Every scenario I went through turned up nothing. Love and obsession didn’t seem to cover all of Mike’s behaviors.

And not knowing seemed to scare me more.

A soft knock came on the door before it opened, Isaias’ face peering in the mirror. “Sweetheart, are you alright?” He stepped inside and closed the door behind him, waiting for me to respond. Our Alpha had become a little more timid over the last couple of months and I blamed that on myself, on not being able to tell him what I wanted. I hated leaning on people for things and after years of doing everything myself, asking took effort.

He opened his arms wide and I turned to step into his embrace, my shoulder leaning against his chest. Isaias pressed a kiss to my cheek as his arms went around me, one of his hands resting on my belly. “You alright?” I nodded but knew that wasn’t enough. “And you know that you can come to me, to us if there’s something wrong?” Again, I nodded. “Kieran…”

It was a soft command, gently asking for me to open up and for some reason, I couldn’t hold back anymore. “What if we can’t protect them?” I hung my head, clinging to the hand on my belly as a tear ran down my cheek.

“Fuck, sweetheart. How long have you been thinking about this?”

I didn’t answer that but my silence was answer enough. He held me as I gave in, my body shaking with silent sobs. Maybe this was all I needed—to just let go. To give in and let my mates help carry the burden I had taken on. I wasn’t alone anymore and while I hadn’t been enough to stay Michael’s advances, my family was.

I wasn’t sure how long we stayed there but when we emerged, the kitchen was quiet, food packaged, and our mates snuggled into a corner of the couch. Joel was actively sucking on Ren’s ear, our little Alpha squirming as he tried to eat the last of his pie.

“Where did they all go?” I asked quietly.

Ren looked up, the biggest smile on his face. He was practically glowing. “I kicked them out. No! Don’t worry, I gave everyone food and grandma always opens the shop for a late-night coffee thing.”

“A late-night coffee thing?” Was he making that up to make me feel better for kicking everyone out?

Joel snorted, assuaging my fears with his next words. “Babe, it’s not like that. We noticed you getting tired but everyone usually leaves after dessert or takes it with them.”

Isaias guided me to the couch, taking up the same position I had directed earlier. He sat first and then pulled me between his legs so that my back was against his chest, his arms settled around the bottom curve of my belly. Ren dashed off to the kitchen after stuffing the rest of his pie into his mouth. Several minutes passed before he returned with four cups of hot chocolate, each with marshmallows and crusted sugar.

Joel swiped one, took a sip, and immediately gagged. “Ren, what the fuck is in this?”

He snorted, covering his mouth with his hand as he tried to keep in the giggles. “That one is Kieran’s.” Ren stole the cup back and handed it to me with a wide smile.

“Doesn’t answer my question, little Alpha,” Joel purred.

“They’re marshmallows. Cheesy ones.”

Isaias tensed behind me, “Where the fuck did you find cheesy marshmallows ?” Our Alpha said it like it was an abomination. And it was. It was also a pregnancy craving and Ren was nothing if not accommodating. The combination was heavy on my tongue as I took a sip, my mates watching with a mixture of disgust and wonder.

Ren handed our Alpha his own cup, Isaias shifting me to the side so he could take a healthy swig of his before setting it down on an armrest one cushion over. “Kieran, would you like to put a movie on or something?” Frowning, I twisted toward him, munching on one of those marshmallows as it exploded in my mouth. Cheese, sugar, and chocolate. If I wasn’t pregnant, I would have gagged as well. “You’re about to crash, sweetheart. Something a little less stimulating is probably best.”

I didn’t want to watch a movie though. Thinking through my options, knowing that my mates wouldn’t let me do anything strenuous, I found something a little more interesting, something that would keep my mind off Michael. “I want to know how you guys met.”

Silence met my soft demand and then Isaias groaned, his head dipping so he could nip at my shoulder. He shifted beneath me, almost as if he was uncomfortable with telling me. “It’s just…” he started and then stopped. “We met at ranger school and that was that.”

Joel barked out a laugh, stealing my full attention. He drew Ren to his side, Ren’s wild smile as he covered it with his mug telling me that there was way more to the story. Our Beta grinned as he met my gaze. “It wasn’t just that. Isaias and Ren fucked like rabbits every time they thought no one was watching. God, watching Ren get stuck on Isaias’ knot…” Joel stuffed his face in the curve of Ren’s neck, taking a deep sniff of his scent. “I nearly busted a nut.

His words hit me all at once as I looked at Ren, sitting up just slightly. “Wait, Isaias knotted another Alpha?” In the realm of possibilities, that had never occurred to me. Ren had more than once brought up some of the moments he had shared with Isaias, including the closet of toys I still hadn’t seen. I knew our little Alpha was still healing but the way his eyes glittered as he spoke about the scenes told me how much he missed them.

Ren’s face warmed as he clung to his mug a little tighter. “Yeah… it… we used to.” He squirmed in his spot on the couch, making me remember that he was still wearing that butt plug. God, that had to be uncomfortable. “Is that-” His face contorted with a mixture of confusion and shame.

I set down my mug and opened my arms, Ren scooting close enough to snuggle up against my side. Isaias wrapped an arm around the both of us, Joel moving to set my feet on his lap, his thumbs immediately digging into the arch.

Once everyone was settled, I asked my next question. “How did it feel?” I was genuinely curious. Alphas and Betas weren’t meant to take a knot although I knew Joel had. I just hadn’t known Ren had done the same thing and loved it.

“Glorious,” he whispered.