40. Zara

The tomato and basil aroma fills the kitchen, soothing my jangled nerves. Ben is in the dining room, setting the table, and each clink of cutlery is a reminder that our little unit is functioning and that there's normalcy in the chaos of our emotions.

Henry dishes up the soup, and Liam brings over the tray of bread and butter, which looks like slices of pure heaven.

"This is simple, but so fucking good," I say with a smile at Henry, who beams.

"You ain't seen nothing yet," he says.

Smiling, we join Ben in the dining room and sit down to bowls of the steaming soup.

"So, how was work today?" I ask, forcing casualness into my tone. It's important to keep things light, to not let the weight of what's looming dampen every interaction.

Liam chuckles softly. "Same old, same old. Though Gareth managed to spill coffee on his pants and spent half the day looking like he'd had an accident."

I giggle at the image. "Poor bloke. Could he not have used the hand dryer in the loo?"

"Paper towels, so he was shit out of luck," Ben says, trying to sound casual, but I can see the tension in his eyes.

We find comfort in the domestic simplicity of sharing a meal. As we eat, a peaceful silence envelops us. It's not awkward or strained, but rather a moment of stillness before the impending storm, which we all know is my heat. I can already feel the hot soup flushing my skin as my pre-heat simmers under the surface.

Henry leans back, watching me with a keen yet gentle gaze. "Are you feeling alright?" he inquires, his voice laced with concern but not pushing too hard. He seems to have mastered the skill of knowing just how far to prod without it being too much.

I nod. "Yeah, just a little warm is all. Now that I'm not distracted, it's hitting me again."

Liam reaches across the table and hands me a glass of water. "Here, this might help cool you down a bit."

I take a few sips, grateful for the cold liquid soothing my throat. The truth is, the heat is like an itch I can't scratch yet, an anticipatory buzz under my skin that's powerful and exhilarating.

We finish our meal with light banter, but I can tell the alphas are glancing at each other when they think I'm not looking. They're worried about how things will go when my heat arrives in full force. But for now, they're doing their best to keep things normal.

After dinner is cleared away and the dishwasher hums in the background, we hover awkwardly.

"I guess, I'll head up. Mia will be waking soon," I murmur.

Ben nods, looking like he wants to say something but can't quite find the words. "I'll come with you, give her a cuddle before she goes back down."

"Okay," I murmur, having hoped I could make a great escape from the strain I can feel building as my scent gets more potent around these alphas.

We make our way upstairs, the creak of each step punctuating the silence that has settled between us. As we enter Mia's nursery, the soft glow of the nightlight casts dancing shadows across the room. Mia stirs in her crib, her little fists clenched as if she's dreaming about gripping something tightly.

I pick her up gently, cradling her in my arms as she nuzzles into my chest, still half-asleep. Ben stands next to me, his hand lightly touching Mia's back, his expression softening with every tiny sigh she makes.

"She's precious," he whispers, his gaze not leaving Mia. "Thanks for being here for both of us, Zara."

I look up at him, seeing the vulnerability behind his strength. "I wouldn't want to be anywhere else."

We stand like that for a while, lost in the tranquillity of the moment. Eventually, Mia has had enough of waiting for her bottle and grunts in annoyance. Chuckling softly, Ben goes to prep while I sit in the armchair, getting her comfortable.

Ben hands me the bottle and I take it, placing it to Mia's lips. She latches on and soon is suckling, fast asleep in that wondrous way that babies have.

Ben crouches next to us, his scent filling my senses as he watches us.

"I think I'd like to try to be more for you," he says hesitantly. "For us. It scares the shit out of me, but I don't want to run anymore."

My heart does a little leap at his words. "There's no need to rush forward, Ben. I'm not going anywhere."

"I know," Ben says with a nod. "But look at you."

I stare into his eyes, filled with tears, but happy ones, as he shakes his head slightly. "You are more a mother to her than sheever was. She adores you, and I know you love her. What more could I ask for?"

"Someone to love you?"

He pauses. "Yeah, that too."

We sit in silence, the only sound is Mia's contented feeding, her little body warm against my chest. It feels like we're a complete picture, a puzzle that's slowly fitting together. Ben's vulnerability is beautiful and terrifying all at once. It's a new layer to our relationship, one filled with the promise of what could be.

Ben's smile is tentative but genuine. He reaches out to stroke Mia's cheek and then surprises me by lifting his hand to cup my face. "I guess I've been a right prat, haven't I? Running scared when what I want is right here."

I nod. "It's okay to be scared. It just means that what you stand to lose or gain matters."

He sighs, his shoulders relaxing as he accepts my words. "I will be there for you," he says firmly.

"And I'll be here when you're ready," I assure him. "No pressure."

"No, Zara," he says, shaking his head as I misunderstand. "I will be there for you during your heat if you'll have me."

"I'd like that," I murmur, feeling my cheeks heat up.

Mia finishes her bottle, and I set it aside, burping her gently before laying her back in her cot. She snuggles into her blanket, and I smile at the peace she embodies.

As we leave the nursery, Ben's hand finds mine, a silent thank you and a promise all at once. He pulls me closer and kisses the top of my head. "Get some sleep."

"You too," I murmur, and we part ways, my heart thumping loudly. This day has been bizarre, but I'm sure fate is having a fucking party right now. My crazy heat that wasn't a heat has drawn us all together in an effort to endure when my heat does hit for real, we all know where we stand.

Who the fuck would've thought that was possible?

Before today, I'd have said no, but now, I'm a believer. I slip into my room and collapse into my nest, missing my blanket from Henry, which is still in the dryer. A soft knock on the door alerts me to Henry's presence on the other side.

"Yeah?" I call out.

The door opens, and Henry peeks around, carrying my blanket fresh from the dryer, warmth radiating from it like a hug waiting to happen. He's barefoot, dressed in black joggers and a white tee, his blond hair tousled and gorgeous.

"I figured you'd be missing this," he says, draping the blanket over me. The scent of laundry detergent mixes with his own unique aroma, and it's comforting. "Or hoped, rather."

"I was, but I was too lazy to move to get it. Thank you. You're going to spoil me, aren't you?"

Henry shrugs as he hovers on the edge of my nest. "Someone has to. You take care of everyone else."

Sitting up, I reach out and grab his hand, giving it a squeeze. Henry's an alpha through and through, but he doesn't need to strut around proving it like Eddie used to. He has that quiet confidence in every move he makes, and it's suddenly sexy as fuck as he stares down at me, those blue eyes full of heat and something akin to awe.

He squeezes back, his thumb rubbing circles on the back of my hand.

"Can I stay? Just for a bit?" Henry's voice is low, a touch of uncertainty threading through his usual confidence.

"Yeah, of course," I murmur. "Join me?" The idea of having him nearby is comforting in ways I'm only just starting to understand. He doesn't wait for another invitation; he eases down beside me in my nest, his body a strong line of warmth against my side.

"Are you okay?" he asks, his voice laced with genuine concern. He knows how close I am to my heat, and the tension that comes with it is almost tangible.

"Yeah, just tired," I admit, fighting off a yawn with little success. "It's been a long day."

He nods in understanding, then his eyes soften even more, if that's possible. "That it has. Sleep now, sweetheart. I'll see to Mia when she wakes."

"Could you be more perfect?" I mutter as sleep is beckoning me.

"Only for you." He kisses the top of my head.

I smile, feeling the tension bleed out of my body.

With him by my side, I feel a sense of calm wash over me, easing my worries about the impending heat that awaits us.

Henry's hand continues its gentle caress until I'm teetering on the edge of sleep, his steady breathing syncing with mine.

"What about you, though?" I mumble, half-asleep. "Don't you need to rest, too?"

"I will," he whispers back, "but right now, I've got you."