25. Oliver

Chapter 25

Oliver

Theo was right. They agreed unconditionally. We'd barely even gathered at the amphitheater for the second day of the discussion before they made their announcement. After decades of conflict, we've ended the fighting with one of our greatest rivals.

"Are you sure this is enough chairs?" I look out over the collection of tables and chairs arranged on the lawn at the farm. People are running to and fro, tablecloths are being spread, everyone has something to do, and the entire place is a blur of activity.

"Hun, for the last time, let us handle this, please," Roman says as he finishes unfolding the last chair he'd been carrying to the table. "You should be sitting down and resting. We can handle the details."

"I'm fine," I assure him as I rest one of my hands on my pregnant belly. "We've got way too much to do for me to just sit around."

"You won't just be sitting around," he reminds me. "You're delegating. You don't have to do everything yourself. You've got the grand vision here."

I exhale and wince a little as I shift my weight from one foot to the other. I've been trying to ignore the discomfort in my feet, the ache in my back, and all the other little pains that have been accumulating over the last few hours. Being pregnant has completely deflated my ability to keep up with my alphas. I feel useless just sitting around being pampered and letting everyone do everything.

But...

"Lucas!" Roman calls out across the yard and gestures for the other alpha to join us.

"Yeah?" Lucas asks as he jogs over. "What's up?"

"Can you take Oliver inside and make sure he sits down?" Roman asks.

"I was about to ask why he was even out here," Lucas says, looking sidelong at me.

"I'm right here," I mumble, pouting.

"He's being stubborn," Roman says with a sigh. "So we need someone to make sure he's taking it easy."

"Right." Lucas nods. "Yeah, I'll do that. Theo had me looking for the tiki torches though, he said they're supposed to be in the shed behind the house."

"I'll find them and get them to him. I just finished up here."

"Got it, I'll take care of our stubborn omega then." Lucas grins.

"I am literally standing right beside you." I frown at them as Lucas turns to me.

"And you are gorgeous," he says, offering me his arm. "And now you're going to come inside with me and we're going to get you something to drink."

"I don't need to be babied," I protest while looping my arm through his.

"No, you probably don't," he agrees as he leads me toward the house. "You are strong, independent, capable, and powerful. Which is why the four of us agreed we were going to force you to take time for yourself. You could probably organize, host, and run this entire event on your own despite being heavily pregnant and unable to properly bend over. But you don't have to. We're here for you, so use us."

I can't help but smile slightly as he speaks. Maybe it won't hurt to rely on my alphas a little more than I have been. I've been forcing myself to try to keep up with them because I felt like I had to prove to everyone that I can be the strong leader they deserve. But I'm slowly starting to realize that with my alphas by my side I'm even stronger. I can't lead this pack alone, and I don't want to try.

So I let Lucas lead me into the house and settle me into one of the comfy chairs in the living room. He starts massaging my feet while I go over the mile-long to-do list that still has way too much on it.

"There you are." Mom sounds excited as she enters the living room and darts toward where I'm sitting. "I'm so glad they finally got you to sit down. You were making me tired just watching you."

"What can I say? They make it impossible to argue with them." I chuckle as she leans down to hug me. "Is everything okay?"

"Oh, yes." She nods enthusiastically. "I just thought you'd like to know that they're here. They arrived a few minutes ago and brought a bunch of things to contribute. The tables are practically overflowing with food, and someone's setting up a volleyball net over by the garden."

Lucas's eyes light up when he hears that.

I chuckle a little. "Sounds like this is turning into quite the party."

"All thanks to you," Mom says with a smile. "None of this would've been possible without your efforts…" Her voice trails off and her expression falls a little. "Honey, I've always known you would make a fantastic leader, but no one ever dreamed that something like this was even possible. We've been fighting each other for so long that we just accepted that's the way things are. And I realize now that it was because of that complacency, that attitude of just accepting that there was no alternative, that you felt like you had to leave.

"I'm just glad you came home." She reaches for my hand and squeezes it warmly. "The future is brighter now than it's ever been. Because of you and the family you created for yourself."

Sunset bathes the farm in a beautiful golden light. Strings of lights and tiki torches illuminate the front lawn that's been transformed into a bustling dining area. Wolves from both packs mingle and talk with one another. We've got music playing over a sound system, and someone started up a line dance in an open area closer to the speakers.

The atmosphere is positive, everyone's smiling, happy. Mom was right, the future is brighter now.

"I hope I'm not out of line," Rodrick, the leader of our new allies, says as he sits beside me at the far end of one of the tables. We've been talking amiably for a while now as our packs slowly warm up to one another.

"But," he continues, "I have to admit that I made some incorrect assumptions about you when I heard you were an omega. I didn't think you'd be capable of pulling together a proposal that could sway my pack favorably toward this alliance. When we first agreed to the meeting, it was simply because we wanted to get a sense of your pack's strength and to see if we had anything to worry about. We never truly intended to take your offer seriously."

"I appreciate your honesty." I smile slightly as I sip at a glass of water. "The truth is, I knew that was probably why you agreed. It was, in part, why I suggested it be an open meeting between all members of both packs. I was certain you wouldn't pass up an opportunity to get a sense of our strength."

"Very shrewd of you," Rodrick says with an approving nod. He's an older alpha, graying and gruff, but there's a kindness in his eyes that makes me think he truly cares about the wolves under his protection. "I see now how you've managed to snag four powerful alphas. Their skillsets seem to complement yours."

I smile as I glance toward the volleyball game that's underway on the far side of the lawn. My four alphas against four from Rodrick's pack. They've been at it for a while now and neither side shows signs of slowing.

"Which brings me to something important," Rodrick continues. "My omega is also pregnant. He's likely due around the same time you are."

I tilt my head slightly as he speaks. I met his omega briefly earlier today, and I think his estimate is probably correct. Since breeding season between our packs is likely similar, if not exactly the same, it would make sense.

"I don't want to do anything so formal as an arranged pairing," Rodrick says, quickly heading off my concerns. "But I'd like to raise our pups as equals. Frequent interactions, outings, get-togethers such as this one, just…give them every opportunity to form a lasting friendship. I'm old, and while I may not be dying just yet, I want this alliance to outlive me. I want that future where our pups are friends and they can rely on one another in difficult times. I want to know that the years of fighting are behind us all."

"That is a beautiful idea," I agree with a warm smile. "And I'm glad you're not suggesting we force a pairing between our children. I know that's usually the way things like this are done."

Rodrick chuckles. "It seems to me that you don't like doing things the way they're usually done. And maybe, given what you've made happen here tonight, that's not such a bad thing."