Chapter Eight

Nina fidgeted as she got out of the helicopter. It was a short jaunt across the islands, and Kimo wanted to get them out and back as quickly as possible.

The landing area on the third island in the Wonder range was open and ready for them. Drake was up front with the pilot. Kimo held her hand as they settled.

When they were down, she rubbed her hands nervously on her thighs. “Do I look okay?”

Drake laughed. “You look amazing.”

Kimo kissed her cheek. “You are stunning. Come on.”

They left the helicopter and walked toward a vehicle that looked very futuristic. Kimo smiled. “Wonder uses all environmentally friendly tech that they can get a hold of. That includes hovercraft.”

“Oh. Wow.”

He chuckled. “If you want one, you can have one, but we will have to run rails under the roads. They work on a magnetic levitation principle.”

“Oh. That’s a lot of fuss.”

“I agree, but we can ask the research centre to come up with something.” He kept his hand on her back.

She fidgeted, and Drake smiled. “You look great. Where did you get the jewellery?”

Nina touched her bracelet and choker with a necklace. “Um, Kimo had a craft attack.”

“They are from my stash. She looks lovely in black pearls, doesn’t she?” Kimo helped her step up onto the hovercraft. “She picked them out herself.”

Nina blinked. “Is that what I was doing?”

“Yes. You don’t like pink.”

“I like pink; I just prefer black.”

He laughed, and Drake watched the driver as they got underway.

The path to wherever they were going was gorgeous. Trees, mountains, and views of bays and inlets were down a hill, but the home they approached could see it all.

Kimo whispered, “Just breathe, Nerina.”

They stopped in front of a house where three alphas and one beta emerged.

Drake bounded out of the vehicle and walked to the house eagerly. Nina could hear the introductions as Drake met their grandparents. There was a lot of hugging going on.

As Nina approached, she felt the eyes of her grandparents on her. “Um. Hi. I am Nerina. Well, Nina.” She stuck her hand out.

Her grandfather shook her hand. “Hello, little beta. I am Noa. This is Halia. Your aunt’s name is Iolana.”

“Oh, this is my mate, Kimo.”

Noa hugged him, as did Halia. They thanked him for bringing their grandson home.

Drake had been talking to their uncle and paused.

“Grandson and granddaughter.”

Nina swallowed. “It’s okay. They know how Mom and Dad treated you... and not me.”

Iolana smiled and put her hand on Drake’s arm. “We know how hostile my brother is to alphas. You have your true family now.”

Kimo looked at Noa. “Is this true? You only care for Drake’s reunion?”

“My son only wanted beta children. His eldest likely benefited from that.”

Drake pushed away from the others and wrapped his arms around Nina, making her squeak. “She came to every game, got a part-time job to buy me my sporting equipment, she made extra food for me when our parents cut back on what they fed me. When she was attacked by an alpha, our parents turned their backs on her. It was nice to meet you, but I am taking my family and going.”

Drake turned her and simply lifted her as he walked toward the hovercraft and the startled pilot. Nina whispered, “What’s the plan?”

“I am hoping they come to their senses.”

Halia called out, “Wait!”

Drake slumped in relief. He whispered, “Cross your fingers.”

Halia was next to her a moment later and looked at her face. Nina blinked in surprise. She had Halia’s features. “Huh, I wondered where my face came from.”

“You look like an omega.”

“It’s just the clothing that Kimo would like me to wear.”

Drake smiled. “She used to live in leggings and tees. This is a refreshing change.”

Kimo came over. “Hand her over, Drake. You can’t just run off with her when things get rough.”

“She tried to run off with me a few times, but her fireman’s carry is weak now.” He let Kimo take her.

Halia smiled. “You carried him?”

“He got drunk, and we had a curfew. I had to haul him inside, or he would get grounded, and he had sports to play.” She wanted to crawl into Kimo and hide.

Drake chuckled. “It happened a few times, and she saved me from them every time. I feel bad about how much effort she had to put out for me.”

Noa called out, “Let’s get something to drink and have a proper conversation.”

Nina looked up at Kimo, and he nodded. “Sure.”

They entered the enormous house, and he set her on her feet when they were inside.

A smiling beta said, “What can I get for everyone?”

The guys ordered beers, Iolana and Halia ordered wine, and when the curious eyes reached her, she asked softly, “Juice?”

Drake howled and lunged over to pick her up and swing her around. “I’m going to be an uncle!”

Noa and Halia stared at them. Kimo slid his arm around her waist.

Iolana smiled. “Congratulations, Kimo.”

Drake snorted. “Fuck Kimo; congratulations to Nina. She’s an amazing mom; take it from someone she has raised.”

Iolana inclined her head. “Congratulations, niece.”

“Nina. My name is Nina. You are more intelligent than a beta. I am sure you can manage it. Two syllables. Nee-nah.”

Iolana blinked, and a slow smile spread across her lips. “Nina. Congratulations. My lack of children has always been a painful experience for me.”

“Why don’t you adopt? Go via IVF and a surrogate? You and your husband get a beta who’s bi? There are options.”

Everyone was staring at her. She looked around. “What? I hang around with a lot of women who hang around with a lot of alphas. Not all the alphas are male. Some are female and just missing a family.”

Iolana blinked. “That is... interesting.”

“There is one excellent clinic in the city. Since we have a ton of weird alphas there and more are coming now that word of the specific betas is spreading, the fertility industry is booming.”

Kimo chuckled. “Not all of us are smart enough to go looking for a match.”

Noa frowned at Nina. “You don’t mean you are one of these specific betas?”

“Uh, yeah. Kimo recognized the mark because he isn’t blind.”

Kimo chuckled.

Their drinks arrived, and Nina kept the glass of juice between her palms.

Noa asked her, “May I see the mark?”

“Did you see my back?”

“The tattoo with the waves?”

“It’s not a tattoo.”

She put her glass down, opened the outer wrap, and lowered the gauze to her hips, turning toward her newly found relatives.

Iolana gasped. “It’s moving.”

She nodded and put her wrap back in place. “Yeah, in time to his—” She jerked a thumb at Kimo. “Moods. The link has the same kind of echo.”

Kimo chuckled. “It’s comforting. I am teaching her to dive. She has an interest in treasure hunting.”

Noa chuckled. “Of course she does.”

Now, it was Kimo’s turn to look at the elder. “What do you mean by that?”

Noa smirked. “She has landed one of the most eligible bachelors in the islands, if not the most eligible. Fortunehunting is probably near and dear to her heart.”

Kimo nodded and got to his feet. “That concludes the visit.”

Halia stood. “No. Please. He just has biases against betas since our son married that little bitch and took him away.”

Drake froze and got up slowly. “Kimo?”

“Yes, we are going.” Kimo picked Nina up.

Iolana looked at them. “You are going already?”

Drake said, “Nina has spearheaded the search for family, especially after she was disowned by our parents for nearly being murdered by an alpha. How dare she tutor and help me socialize with other alphas under her watchful gaze? Of course, one of them was going to try something with her and hospitalize her for months.”

Nina heard him telling the story as Kimo got her out of there. He sighed. “They seemed so nice on the phone.”

“They were talking to you and not me.”

“Yeah. I get that. So, we are going to visit my parents right now. Right fucking now.” He took out his phone and made a call, balancing her in his arms.

“Hey, Dad. I want to bring Nina in for a meal and a hug. She definitely needs a hug.”

Nina looked back, and Iolana was talking with Drake. He had his phone out, and then he put it away and joined them at the hovercraft. The startled driver took them back to the helipad, and the pilot took off as soon as they were strapped in. They flew up and away, and Nina tried not to cry.

Kimo held her hand and squeezed it. She swallowed and smiled at him. She sent reassurance through their link.

He looked at her and pulled her in to kiss her forehead.

Their flight was short, and they landed in a flattened area near an area coated with grapevines. It was a vineyard.

A smiling woman came out to them, and Kimo grinned. “Mom!”

Nina hung back with Drake after the last fiasco.

The woman walked quickly toward Kimo, pushed him aside, and then wrapped Nina in her arms. “Aw, poor, little chicken. Have the alphas been mean to you?”

Nina blinked, and then she laughed and sniffled at the same time. “Yes and no. Kimo is great. This is my brother, Drake. I just met some family members, and they don’t have any use for betas.”

“Well, I am Melina, and I think that you are adorable. Kimo has been positively giddy on the phone talking about you, and he was worried that you were having a bad day. Now, who made you cry? I will kick their asses.”

Drake filled her in as they walked toward the house. “Our grandparents have a heavy alpha bias. They also called Nina a gold digger, and that is when Kimo grabbed her up, and we left.”

Kimo was next to them. “So, Mom, where’s Dad?”

“He’s getting some wine to take the edge off. You sounded tense.”

Kimo cleared his throat. “Can we also get some juice or soda? Nina isn’t feeling alcohol right now.”

Melina had an arm around Nina and asked casually. “Any particular reason?”

Nina muttered, “Is there any that you would believe?”

Melina made a high-pitched squeal and hugged Nina again. “I always wanted a daughter. Any grandchild will be a delightful blessing.”

Kimo snorted. “If Keanu can fix an error, you will soon have two. Daughters. Not grandchildren.”

“What have you boys been up to out there?”

Kimo smiled. “Well, if we can all sit and relax, I will tell you, or Nina can tell you. Or even Drake can tell you. He has been witness to far more than he would like to see.”

Drake laughed. “Oh, the horror.”

They got in the house and settled in the living room, and when Kimo’s hulking father arrived, Nina understood why Kimo looked the way he did. His dad was a cheerful giant.

Melina grinned. “Pika, this is Kimo’s mate, Nerina. This is her brother, Drake. They have had a bit of a morning.”

Nina stuck her hand out but was enveloped in a warm hug that was very careful. “Hello, daughter. Our house is your shelter.”

“Thank you, Pika. Nice to meet you.”

He chuckled and let her go.

She shook his hand, and he said, “Can I get you some wine? We have an award-winning cab sav or a respectable merlot.”

“Thank you, but no. I will stick to water or juice.”

Kimo said, “Dad. Keep it together.”

Pika was staring down at her with a dawning smile. “Really?”

Nina held up her hands. “Too early for a test, but all signs are yes.”

Melina grinned. “Juice it is. Come on, let’s get settled.”

They sat at the table while a housekeeper got the wine distributed, and Nina’s juice arrived first.

She watched Drake sip at the golden wine, and he smiled. “This is really good.”

Pika smiled proudly. “Thanks. When the boys asked us what we wanted, we said we wanted a vineyard, so they set us up here. It has been an amazing retirement.”

Melina nodded. “The only thing we had to worry about was the boys. Keanu had Ayan as a companion, but Kimo was all alone with his chickens.”

Kimo grinned. “She likes the chickens. She’s trying to name them.”

Melina looked at Nina in concern. “You know that they occasionally become dinner, right?”

“I know. But having been there for a few days, I understand that we may lose signal, and if I need to watch something for entertainment, I can turn them into a telenovela if I have put in the groundwork.”

Melina chuckled. “Fun. So, how did you meet Kimo?”

“Um, I was over at the research station and having dinner with my brother and the other guys. They were grilling, so that apparently summoned the owner of the island. I have a living mark on my back that coincides with Kimo’s special interest, and he offered to help me get my scuba situation sorted.”

Pika smiled. “How unlike him.”

Kimo grinned. “I can be generous with my time.”

Melina rolled her eyes. “All your life, you just wanted to be left alone. Oh, do you have plans for a nursery?”

Nina shrugged. “Not on my part.”

Kimo nodded. “I have a few ideas and some queries to contractors.”

Melina looked at Nina. “Why don’t you have any plans?”

“First, I am pretty sure but not positive that the next generation has started. Second, it isn’t my house.”

Kimo frowned. “Yes, it is.”

“Well, there are five more weeks on my tourist visa, and then I go home.”

Drake sighed. “She isn’t kidding. She is alarmingly rule-following. She will even swim to the ferry station if you don’t take her. She’s funny that way.”

Kimo sighed. “Immigration is on the main island of Wonder. We don’t have an office on Blackridge as the entire span is privately owned.”

She looked at him and shrugged. “Figure it out. Fast.”

He blinked and slowly grinned. “Yes, nymph.”

Pika looked at him and laughed. “Smart man. I am so proud.”

Melina rolled her eyes. “Nina, did you meet with your grandparents today?”

Their little group froze.

Melina said, “Uh-oh. That is why you needed a hug?”

“Yeah. They loved meeting Drake, though; that’s great. He needs proper family.”

Drake looked at her. “You are my proper family. They can go fuck themselves and enjoy the process.”

She sighed. “Yeah, but they were so happy to have another alpha in the family.”

Melina blinked. “Oh. Even Halia?”

“Yeah. I am guessing they see my father in me, even though my face is a dead ringer for Halia’s.”

Melina nodded. “Yes. She is a lovely woman. I meet with her for some of the island committee events. We have a women’s auxiliary.”

“Well, my grandfather is not impressed that I ended up a beta.”

Pika frowned. “You are kidding.”

Drake shook his head. “He completely ignored her. I thought it could be a female thing, but it was definitely the beta issue.”

Melina cocked her head. “How was Iolana?”

Drake looked thoughtful. “I think she was excited to have a niece, though it took a bit to get her to use Nina’s name. So, as we left, I blasted them with everything that she had done for me and what she has had done to her, and she still doesn’t hate alphas, though she had reason to.”

Pika looked surprised. “Why is that?”

Nina smiled. “I have heard this part of the story. Is it okay if I go for a walk?”

Kimo nodded. “I will show you the vineyard and the processing areas.”

She set her juice down and got up, taking his hand. They walked outside, and he showed her the vines and the grapes, and when they were out of view of the house, he picked her up and said, “Is this better?”

He wrapped his arms around her, and she looped her arms around his neck. “They seem very nice and rather huggy.”

They slowly kissed until the footfalls of someone approaching pulled them apart. Pika was there and was frowning.

Nina muttered, “Uh-oh.”

Pika asked, “May I see the mark scars?”

Nina looked at Kimo, and he nodded. “It’s okay.”

He slowly set her down, and his father approached. Nina threaded her hands in her hair and pulled them away from the very high scarring on her scalp.

Pika touched the marks and said, “I can heal that if you like. I can remove the scarring.”

“Um, sure.”

She was going to ask when, but he slid his hands into her hair, and a slow wave of ice and heat washed over her. She started shaking, but Kimo stayed in front of her, holding her and being a wall of warmth. The treatment didn’t hurt, but she felt time had passed when the cold and heat faded to a mild warmth, and Pika pulled his hands back. She released her hair and looked at him. The concern on his face was unmistakable.

“He nearly killed you, Nerina.”

She nodded. “Yup. I was there.”

Pika scowled. “You must have been terrified.”

“I was angry. I was so very angry. The police got there before I could kill him.” She blinked as it came out of her mouth.

Kimo hugged her. “There is still time.”

She glanced up at him. “He gets out in eighteen months.”

“Don’t worry about him,” Kimo murmured.

“Wait, how did you know about the bite? Kimo’s the only one I told.”

“I told Drake.”

“Oh, and he probably showed the video to Noa and Halia.”

Kimo nodded. “He sent it to them.”

“Ah.” She looked at Pika. “You saw it?”

He nodded.

“Sorry. It’s nasty.”

“That it is. I am amazed they got it recorded.”

“My building is big on security. He had to smash through a fence and my patio door. I had barely woken up when he started dragging me out. Well, you saw the rest.”

“We did. You fought like a demon.”

“I didn’t think I was going to get a second chance, so I tried to make it count.” She leaned against Kimo as the memories flared in her mind.

A cool wave came through their link, and she straightened as the memory was softened to where it didn’t make her fight-or-flight instinct kick in.

Pika smiled. “Come on, Nerina, more fruit juice awaits, but the grape juice is best avoided. Wine grapes don’t make good grape juice.”

She nodded, and Kimo picked her up, carrying her back to the house. Melina looked at her with concern. “Oh, baby. Come in, and have a seat.”

She kicked her feet. “I am on my way.”

Kimo laughed and carried her into the house.

He settled on the couch with her on his lap, and Melina brought in the juice and handed it to her.

“Pika’s healing can be jarring, but he can only do it for family, so congratulations, and Kimo, you have to watch out for her. It’s not going to be easy. You two were intensely unpleasant.”

Kimo nodded. “I remember. I hear it every Mother’s Day.”

Nina laughed. “At least the twin thing is on her side of the family.”

Melina snorted. “Don’t remind me. Fraternal is the way to go. You can tell the little buggers apart at a glance.”

Drake cleared his throat. “Uh, sis, Iolana and Dad were twins.”

The laughter left her face. “No way.”

“Way, and Mom and Auntie Leanne were twins.”

“That isn’t funny.”

Drake held his hands up in surrender. “I did that family line project when we were kids, remember? She died at fifteen, but she and Mom had the same birthday.”

“Oh, shoot.” She eyed her belly suspiciously. “Let’s hope that it skips a generation.”

Drake laughed until he doubled over. When he straightened, he wheezed. “Still you, Neener.”

She frowned. “What?”

“You weren’t a twin. I wasn’t a twin, but Mom was, and great grandma was.”

“Damn it.” She stared at her stomach like she could see through it.

“We won’t know for a few weeks.”

She stared at Kimo in shock. “What, do they take you aside in alpha school and teach you about gestation stages?”

He shrugged. “Dad did.”

She looked at Pika, and he stood with his arm around his wife and a slight smile on his lips. “We home-schooled a bit, and he needed a project.”

“Uh, that assignment was turned in, right?” She looked at Kimo warily.

He grinned. “I got a hundred percent.”

“Oh, good. Comforting. At least we have plenty of oxygen for thirty-nine weeks from now.”

Melia smiled. “We will show up to help in the last few weeks.”

“Um. Okay. I still don’t have an official confirmation.”

Pika shrugged. “You do. I couldn’t have healed you if you weren’t family. It goes beyond the link with Kimo. You are family, Nerina.”

She smiled. “Yay.”

Melia grinned. “So, we are going to be popping in with notice for visiting, and you are welcome here anytime. Oh, and the housekeeper has dinner nearly ready. Would you care for some snacks?”

Pika smiled. “This is very exciting. So, when are we planning the wedding for?”

Kimo rubbed his head on the top of Nina’s head. “I thought we could have it here in two weeks. Is that possible?”

Melia chuckled. “It’s a good thing I am a florist. Yes, we can do it in two weeks. We could do it in two days, but I want to take Nerina shopping.”

“What is the obsession with this family and shopping?”

Melia smiled. “When it is for someone who is coming in with very little, it is fun to help even the playing field. We will just boost you up until you have the same resources as the rest of us, and then we will let you do your own thing.”

Nina looked at Kimo and furrowed her brow.

He grinned. “I just make the money and dump it into the family coffers. Everyone just takes what they want, and profits go back in. Only take what you are willing to risk. We all get reports, and it is all above board. We even have annual meetings.”

“Oh.” She paused. “Wait. Wedding?”

Kimo chuckled. “You aren’t a registered omega, so I can marry you just as my dad married my mom and my grandfather married my grandmother. The only reason we need two weeks is to get friends and family here.”

“So, are we waiting until Keanu and Violet are here?”

He grinned. “My brother had better move fast because in two weeks, the wedding will happen, and the honeymoon can begin.”

“I thought that is how I ended up in this situation.”

“Nerina, that was just practice. The main event will be after you are legally mine until death do us part.”

“Sounds ominous.”

Kimo kissed her softly. “You will be safe with me.”

“I know. I knew it when you flirted with my tattoo.”

He laughed and hugged her. She looked over at Drake, and he wiped a tear from his eye.

She wrapped an arm around Kimo’s neck and let the waves move between them.

* * * *

The prison guards stopped outside the cell and stared at the corpse who had drowned on dry land. The guard who had found him sniffed and could swear he caught a whiff of the ocean. “Looks like the early parole is cancelled.”

* * * *

Nerina smiled as the test strip finally showed positive pregnancy. It also indicated that she was two weeks along. She exhaled and felt lighter. It was like she no longer had anything to worry about.

Now, she had to go show Kimo the thing that she had peed on and see if he could contain himself. She rather liked it when he let things go. The best things happened when he did.