Chapter 29

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Brooklyn

" W hat happened?" I ask, frowning at Bless in the kitchen as she cooks bacon and eggs. I'm baffled where they even came from because they weren't in the fridge when I put away the leftovers last night.

She sighs, swiping a hand through the air and turning back toward the pans on the stove. "I'm fine. Where's your kid?"

"Still asleep. She had a minor meltdown before bed," I admit, sliding around the island and striding until I stop at her side. "So, what happened to your face?"

"In my family, you don't talk back to your elders. Even if they happen to be misogynistic, homophobic assholes." She shrugs. "I'm fine. I could have taken his old ass out if I chose to, but my revenge is going to be even sweeter served cold." She reaches around me to grab a plate and flips the scrambled eggs out onto it. "Or lukewarm, considering how quickly the timeline keeps moving up."

My hands fist at my sides.

I hate them on her behalf.

Every single one of them needs to get what they deserve.

"What does that mean?" Noble asks, sliding around the corner and into the kitchen. He still looks rough, but his natural coloring hides some of the lesser bruising. There's also a sparkle in his eyes that's been missing since he was injured.

It makes my knees wobble as my mind replays all the ways he and Gunner owned me last night. A ridiculous shiver runs down my spine when I get to the memory of him growling against the shell of my ear as he held me to him like I was precious.

Things have sped up the last week or two, but he's been important to me for a long time.

I'm honestly surprised it took me so long to realize that seeing him was always the highlight of a long day.

I force my affection toward him in the bond.

He chuckles, winking. "What did I miss? I'm at a solid seventy percent of my former self."

"Good." Bless drops the plate on the counter and shoos me out of the way to grab the tray that I assume she's going to put the bacon on. "I brought your equipment. I'd get it put up before Libby finds her way out."

"Shit," Noble grumbles, but he holds out an arm, and I walk into it.

"I can help, if you'd like." I smile, stretching up to kiss his cheek as he palms my ass.

The sound of small feet hitting the wood flooring comes our way.

Noble twists us in that direction as Libby runs straight into Noble's shins. He keeps his arm around me but scoops her up with the other.

I frown, realizing she's not in the pajamas I put her in last night. Sometimes, she tries to be helpful and get herself dressed.

"What happened to your jammies?" I ask, kissing her cheek.

"I got dressed!" she says, nodding. "Mav needs you in the potty."

Noble snorts, holding her out, so he can study her face. "Don't tell me you tried to flush another Pull-Up…"

"I did change myself." Libby's lips push together, like she just remembered something. "It won't go down."

Noble chuckles as Bless curses under her breath about never wanting kids.

What a way to start the day.

Maverick takes Libby for a run after the bathroom nightmare. She comes back sweaty and stinky, so we share a quick shower while Gunner helps Noble go through all the stuff Bless snagged from his apartment.

I've just finished getting her dressed, and I'm in the process of pulling my dress over my head when she opens the door and runs out while I'm still not fully covered.

Maverick pops up in the doorway, grinning like the cat that got the cream while I scramble to flatten out my dress. Thank goodness I was already in my bra and underwear.

I lick my lips, studying his muscular frame while his eyes dance from my head to my bare toes.

He's wearing a backward baseball cap, and his blond waves fall around his forehead as he smirks. He hasn't shaved in the last few days, and the longer hair makes for quite the handsome scruffy beard.

I tilt my head, trying to decide if he took a shower when he got back from taking the dogs for a run.

I don't think so.

Who puts back on their sweaty clothes after a shower?

His smoky, nutty scent is even more potent than normal. My insides light up as my system screams to tackle him to the floor.

I'll lick him and wallow in his sweaty scent. Soak up all his delicious pheromones and not let him escape.

My mouth actually waters as my instincts scream to suck on his skin.

He strides over, pulling me into his chest while I'm still trying to rationalize with my instincts, so they don't make me look like a lunatic.

"Fuck," he growls, dipping his cheek to rub against mine. "I hope you look at me like that for the rest of our lives." Once both cheeks are fully marked with a hit of his pheromones, he pushes his lips to mine.

He's playful and teasing.

It makes my chest feel warm and fuzzy as he nips at Noble's bondmark. My foot bounces against the carpet covering the bedroom floor as he pulls back.

He laughs, squeezing my ass. "I'm a little jealous I didn't move faster. I would have loved to have my bite on your lip. Anyway, our deliveries arrived, and we need you and Libby to open them before Bless kills us for packing even more shit into her house."

I give a shaky nod as my fingers tangle in his T-shirt. I never had anywhere close to this type of reaction with Avan's pheromones. Maybe part of it is pregnancy or the bond, but it feels like a giant piece I didn't know was missing clicked into place when I found them.

Now, I just have to make sure they stay safe as we deal with the huge problem of my asshole ex.

There's a decent size pile of boxes sitting on the coffee table as Maverick guides me into the living room.

Libby is stretched out on Noble's lap while he sits in one of the club chairs. She leans forward, and Noble's hand tightens on her middle to keep her from tumbling out, face-first.

"Mommy, we gots gifts," she says, smiling like a fiend.

"I can see that," I agree, smiling back.

Damn.

I wish I had my phone.

I'd snap a picture of Noble and Libby.

"Come on. You can sit between me and Gunner." Maverick guides us over to the couch and leads me to take the middle seat.

Nova and Haze lay across the wood flooring that lines the dining room rather than the rug in the living room. I'll bet it's cooler, and they look beat.

"Did you torture them?" I ask, pointing at the dogs.

Maverick and Gunner snort simultaneously.

"Nah, they're just in vacation mode." Maverick shrugs. "They usually do three to five miles a day, but that's been tough in the city. They did three miles this morning, and they're acting like they've been deeply betrayed." He laughs. "Well, Nova is. Haze probably had another couple of miles in him."

Gunner's hand lands on my thigh as he stretches to grab two small boxes on top. He lays one in my lap and stretches to hand the second box to Noble, who places it on Libby's thighs.

"I can open it?" she screeches.

"Yes," Noble agrees. "But keep the screaming to a minimum. My brain is still healing."

Libby frowns over her shoulder. "Sorry, Noble."

"It's all good, shortstack. Open your first courting gift." He smiles at me. "You too, Mama."

"This is from the three of us," Gunner says, smiling as he nods to my lap.

I focus back on the gift, trying not to get emotional. It feels like they've done so much for me, but I have no way of paying back their kindness.

"Here, I'll help," Maverick says, shaking the box. It's an easy-pull-off lid, and once it's off, my head tilts.

"It's a book…" Libby says, sounding confused. "I think."

If she got the same thing I did, then it's a catalog. My jaw falls when I see the name emboldened on the front.

Um, holy shit.

The Divine Omega is a specialty shop for omegas. They do everything from heat boxes, filled with must-have favorites, to picnic baskets that are supposed to have treats that help with post-heat cramps. What I'm looking at says "Nest Exclusives."

"If we settle at our house in Virginia," Gunner says, brushing his fingers over my thigh as I tug the catalog out, "we have six bedrooms, including a pack bedroom. It has a full nest, which you'll need to set up to your liking."

My eyes fly to Noble, but he's holding Libby's catalog and pointing at something. "Look at this one; it's a princess bed."

"It's for me?" she asks, squinting at the page. It makes her nose wrinkle, and it's so cute that I find myself laughing.

"Unless you like this one." He taps the other page. "I don't know. Personally, I like the treehouse."

"Yes, I do," she says, nodding with wide eyes. "Can I have it now?"

"Once we all move in together," Maverick says, stretching around me. "You can decorate your bedroom however you want."

"Nova and Haze can sleep with me?" Libby asks, tilting her head and fluttering her long dark lashes for good measure.

"Nova will," Gunner says, smiling. "Haze likes to pace the house all night to make sure it's safe while we're sleeping."

"That's fine." She pats Noble's thigh. "Turn the page."

"Yours is so much bigger," Gunner says close to my ear. "Because there are samples of every fabric and little color cards for other things, like the dressers and other furniture."

"We want you to go wild and pick whatever you want to make both the pack bedroom and the nest your own," Maverick says from my other side.

My eyes ache as I flip open the cover to browse. I really wish we were there now. Virginia seems so far from New York that it instantly feels safer.

"I love this," I say when I can finally form words without being concerned I'm going to burst into tears.

"Next gift." Gunner grabs two more boxes, passing one to Libby. Maverick grabs the catalog, and Gunner puts the next gift down on my lap.

I glance over, and our boxes are once again about the same size.

Libby rips open her lid with a little help from Noble. She tugs out several sets of markers and special paper.

"Same as last time, kiddo. Those only work on that paper," Maverick says with a laugh.

"I didn't know you got that kind." Smiling, I pat his thigh. "I briefly considered making you pry them away from her."

Gunner chuckles. "We learned that lesson with my sisters' kids."

"I love it," Libby declares, sliding off Noble's lap. "I want to play now."

"Here. I'll help. Pick which set you want to open first," Gunner says, leaning forward to help her get the package open.

She picks one, and he hands her back the coloring book and works on ripping open the markers.

Noble holds out the lid of the box, and Gunner drops them inside.

Libby stretches out on the floor, looking through the pictures.

"Thank you all." I swallow around the lump in my throat. "These were perfect courting gifts."

Noble leans forward, resting his wrists on his knees as he smirks. "The pile isn't gone yet."

"Get to it, or Maverick will open them for you," Gunner jokes. "He's terrible about waiting for someone to open their gifts. I'm surprised he hasn't blabbed about what they are."

I focus back on the box in my lap, pulling off the lid.

The photo album on top says "Established in" and the year. It has a place in the middle to add a picture of your pack, and on the bottom, you can add the pack name.

The album under that makes my heart race. It's a new baby photo album. Flipping it open, there are spots to place the baby's first picture and footprints. There are lines for all the important information and extra pages for pictures and to fill in milestones.

"No pressure," Gunner says, squeezing my knee. "But if you're okay with it…there's one more underneath."

Folded in the bottom of the box is a pink T-shirt in Libby's size that says "I'm the Big Sister."

I don't know why panic claws at my chest from the inside out. My eyes cut to Libby, but she's happily coloring as Noble points to something on the page.

She's my entire world.

And I know the new baby will be too.

It's just…

I don't know how to explain it.

There's such an emotional disconnect with this pregnancy that I didn't experience with Libby.

It's likely a result of pure terror after long months of worrying what Avan would do when he found out. Hiding my pregnancy from the world took its own emotional toll.

Then, not even being able to prep Libby for the upcoming changes.

It all makes me feel like a complete failure. Like I'm not only failing Libby but also the new baby.

And I am excited.

Libby is going to be a great big sister. I know she'll be helpful and want to do everything she can to participate…

And my fear of what would happen when Avan found out robbed her of so many months to come to terms with all the changes.

She's used to being an only child with all my attention.

"Hey," Maverick says, tilting my face to his. "We can close the box and revisit this one later."

My head shakes.

I think it's time.

Avan has controlled our lives for long enough.

It's hard to be a good parent when you live in constant fear of the other parent's wrath.

"No," I say, running my fingers over the soft material of the T-shirt. "It's time."

Despite my massive declaration, I don't actually call Libby over. I give her a few minutes to color in peace as I flip through the baby book and pack photo album.

Libby hops up a few minutes later and brings her coloring book over for us to look at.

Maverick grabs the box with the T-shirt and drops it onto the table. "That's so pretty. You made that?"

"I did," she says, nodding.

"It's great," Gunner says, tickling her side.

"You want to come sit with me, Mama?" Noble asks.

I nod, making sure to give Gunner and Maverick a kiss on the cheek before I go.

Once I'm within reach, Noble pulls me into his lap, facing the room. He wraps his long arms around me from behind, sending steady comfort in the bond.

"Okay, so, we have one more for each of you." Gunner grabs the big box.

"Why don't you sit with me and Mommy, so we can help you open it?" Noble offers, grabbing the box and setting it on the arm of the chair.

"Okay!" Libby turns around, dropping the coloring book. She runs over and climbs up next to me. "Mommy, we gots so many gifts." She rests her head on my boob, and I lean down to kiss the top of her head.

"We do," I choke out. "We should say thank you. "

"Thank you," she squeals, clapping. "Can I have my big one?"

Noble laughs. "Here you go, shortstack." He puts it down in my lap, but it's long enough to cover me and Libby. "Do you like babies?"

My heart races.

I don't even know what's in the box.

"Well, this is something special," Maverick says.

My eyes dart to him, and he gives an encouraging smile.

"Go on," Gunner says.

Libby doesn't need any additional permission. She rips into the wrapping paper covering the box. The top of the box says "New Baby Care Center." It has a high chair, a changing table, even a washer for clothes. It's pretty big, by the looks of it.

"For my baby doll?" Libby gasps. "I'm gonna get her." She shoves the box out of the way, slides down Noble's lap, and books it toward the bedroom.

"You can still change your mind." Noble kisses my temple, palming my stomach.

My hand lands over his, giving it a squeeze. "Will one of you throw me the shirt?"

Gunner reaches forward, grabs it, balls it up, and tosses it to me.

I shake it out as Noble places the toy on the floor next to the chair.

Libby comes back, pushing the stroller Maverick got her at full speed. She gets to us and tugs out her baby.

"That one is going to have to be put together." Maverick grimaces, pushing himself off the couch. "But we'll start now."

Gunner grabs the box as Libby crawls back into my lap.

"I love my baby, Noble," she says, kneeling on my thigh to stretch to kiss his cheek.

"I'm glad." He pats her back. "Why don't you sit down?"

"Okay." She gets situated, leaning her back against my chest.

I rub my hand over her tummy as she pulls the doll up, giving it a kiss.

I scoot her over a little until she's in the crook of my arm.

"You know the story where Selena gets a baby sister?" I blurt out before I can chicken out.

It's a book I grabbed a couple of months ago that I saw recommended for getting small children used to the idea of pregnancy and adding a new baby to the family. I've read it to her more than a few times.

"I like that one," Libby says, nodding.

My hand runs over her arm. "Selena was a great big sister. Do you remember how much baby Kathy loved her?"

"Yes." Libby frowns, turning to face me.

"There's a baby brother or sister in my tummy right now, and they can't wait to meet you."

Libby drops her doll on her lap and points at my stomach. "In there?"

"Y-Yes," I agree. "We won't be able to meet him or her until it gets cooler outside. We still have a little while left to go."

Libby puts her hand on my stomach and turns to kneel on my thigh. "I don't see him."

Noble snorts. "Not yet. He or she has to finish growing."

"Oh," Libby says, frowning even harder.

"But that means you're going to be a big sister," Noble says, grabbing the shirt. "So, you get this."

"Thanks," Libby says, grabbing it and holding it to her chest. She keeps feeling around my stomach with the other hand. "I can play with my toys?"

I blink and blink some more.

Okay, so, she clearly has no idea what's going on, but we broke the ice.

"It's got a few more steps left," Gunner says. "But you can put your baby in the high chair. It's all put together."

"Can I have a kiss?" I ask as she moves to climb down.

Libby lays a slobbery kiss right on my lips and abandons me to check out her new toys.

"See," Noble murmurs close to my ear. "The mind has a way of making everything seem more catastrophic than it really is."

I nod, running my hand over my stomach.

Holy shit.

Libby knows.

She might not fully comprehend it yet, but I no longer feel like the weight of the world is constantly sitting on my chest.

I'm not built for deception. And keeping this huge secret weighed on me more than I liked to admit.