Chapter 28: : Chapter 27

Kase leads me down the main stairs and around the wall that separates the entryway from the living room.

My mouth falls, and my eyes get misty.

There are all sorts of baby things assembled, and they’re all in the gray and pink pattern that I eyed at Joyce’s store. There’s the bassinet I loved, a swing, a bouncy chair, and the playard that has a built-in changing table and removable newborn sleep spot, so you don’t have to stretch all the way to the bottom to lift the baby out. It also gives them a smaller, more confined space when they’re still tiny.

Kase stands behind me, and his hands land on my hips, giving a tender squeeze. “We’ve got the real wood crib, the changing table, and the matching dresser in the garage, but that’s going to take two of us, at minimum, to put together. We’ll have to tackle that this weekend.”

“Wow,” I whisper, sniffling.

Pregnancy is so ridiculous.

Anything can send me into tears, and before I got pregnant, I wasn’t like this.

At all.

I’m happy and majorly relieved. I’ve needed to handle all this stuff. I don’t know why my eyes burn with unshed tears.

Spinning in his hold, I bury my face in his chest and breathe him in. My hands dig into his lower back as I hold on to him for dear life.

The number of times I fantasized about having Clark at my side for all this replay in my mind. He was great with computers, but probably not putting stuff together. Although, if I had him around, I would have started tackling this stuff way sooner in my pregnancy, meaning I could have helped.

Having Linc, Arden, and Kase around is a huge blessing. And I still had a terrible dream last night that Clark showed up and was hurt that I moved on so quickly.

It doesn’t make any sense.

The man broke up with me, but I also feel strongly that he only did that to protect me from having to care for him.

It’s a lot to process, and hearing there’s a package from his lawyer hit me harder than I was expecting.

Logically speaking, there’s nothing wrong with me accepting support from these guys that I genuinely like. My emotions are a hell of a lot more erratic, and I find myself bouncing between guilt and anger.

I’m still so pissed that Clark robbed me of the chance to say goodbye. Or even to get to know him on a deeper level, so I would have all the answers to the questions that will inevitably come when Luna gets older.

The closer I get to meeting our daughter, the more real it becomes that he’ll never get to experience any of these things with me.

And then there’s that whole conversation I listened in on last night. I’m all out of whack, and combined with how crappy I feel today… I’m just not sure what to do with myself.

Lincoln and I need to have a serious conversation. At the same time, all my instincts want is to have him here. That omega side of my brain says it’s normal for alphas to be fiercely protective of their omega. I’m just not sure that extends to murder.

“It’s from all three of us,” Kase says, sliding his massive palm down my spine and drawing me out of my thoughts. “We ordered it prior to our little hiccup, so don’t take it as us trying to buy your forgiveness. It’s more like us trying to quietly court you without you realizing that was happening, but now you’re bonded to Linc, so you’re kinda stuck with us either way. I don’t know why I can’t stop talking. Do you like it?”

“It’s amazing.” My face rubs around his T-shirt, searching for where his nutty, blueberry scent is strongest. “Thank you so much for taking the time to put all of this together.”

“She needs a room,” Kase says, going rigid. He sighs and shrugs. “Preferably here, in our house. There’s one other bedroom upstairs. It’s the smallest, but it would be perfect for a nursery. Arden and Linc are going to kick my ass for pushing you, but I think you’ll feel better once that’s settled. I mean, this stuff can stay down here for now, but there’s a whole lot left to assemble. It’s going to have to go somewhere.” He bends, kissing the top of my head.

I nod and try to breathe through the anxiety I’m once again smacked with.

The loud chiming of the doorbell fills the air, and Sky runs to the entryway, growling and barking.

“Shit, I forgot about that.” Kase releases me, whistling for Sky. “Get on your bed. Place, Sky.”

She runs into the living room and sits on her bed, but her head tilts, like she’s listening for any indication he wants to cancel that command.

I follow Kase to the door, and my jaw falls when I see the massive stack of boxes. Not only that, but the poor delivery guy is already back at his truck, loading even more onto the dolly.

“Yeah…” Kase chuckles awkwardly. “Like I said—we need to commit to where all this stuff is going.”

My mouth goes dry. There’s no way all of this is for Luna, right?

I was wrong.

Apparently, that mountain of boxes is what it takes to have everything on the new baby checklist.

Not that it’s overwhelming or anything.

Nope, not at all.

Kase won’t let me help him carry them at all, so they stay on the porch while we eat, and I retreat upstairs to work on the last two projects that are due before I give birth. Once these are complete, I’m done until after my maternity leave, which is an incredible feeling.

My focus isn’t the best, but the majority of the work is done. I just need to finish cleaning up a couple of files and complete the project information sheet with all the specifics on their fonts and color choices.

Then I’m free.

It’s hard to focus with the throbbing ache in my lower back, but I manage. Sending them off feels really good, but now, my instincts are obsessed with what’s in the boxes.

I’d love to have the chance to examine everything and put it away in its own place. I’m still not sure where exactly home is, which is hard, because I’m bonded, but I also freaked out on Lincoln last night.

Setting my laptop aside, I bury my face in my hands. They were so nonchalant about murder. Normal people don’t casually discuss killing someone…right? I think it’s just part of their world, so it comes off as normal to them.

At the same time, they’ve treated me better than anyone ever has. Lincoln and I are now permanently tethered, and there’s no taking that back.

The door opens and closes, and like I summoned him with my thoughts, Lincoln swaggers closer.

His long brown hair falls over his forehead as he approaches.

The way his pointy canines dig into his lower lip makes my brain melty. He’s in a short-sleeve black Shadow Security T-shirt that shows off his multitude of tattoos. They cover both arms and even peek out around the neckline.

Seriously, did he make sure to look extra sexy before coming in here? The way his jeans mold to his thighs like they were made for him reminds me that I’m ridiculously pregnant. It’s kind of a miracle he’s attracted to me at all, but I don’t doubt that he is. The bond may be to thank for that, but I appreciate the reassurance it offers.

“Hey,” he says in a low, growly tone that sends a freaking shiver down my spine. His apprehension fills the link between us, and my head tilts. He takes a seat facing me on the edge of the mattress. “I missed you today.”

“Me too,” I admit. “Did you have a good day?”

Oh. My. God.

This is so awkward.

“I did, but I rushed through my work, so I could get home to you.” He pulls a veiny hand over, swipes back the comforter, and teases it over my stomach.

My cheeks heat when I realize I’m in his T-shirt that I stole last night to stash in my nest.

“I’m sorry.” He speaks before I have the chance. “I should have told you about the full scope of what we do before tying you to me for life.” His sincerity radiates in the bond, and my chest gets tight.

I’ve heard stories of alphas and omegas bonding before names were even exchanged, but I never thought I’d be one of those omegas who ended up with a claiming bite quite so fast.

“I agree that you should have,” I admit, because the last thing I want to do is start a habit of lying about important feelings. “I also understand why you didn’t, and I’m sorry I rushed you into bonding me.”

“I’m not,” he says, staring straight into my eyes. “I get that it’s quick, but my instincts didn’t want to risk letting you get away.” He twists even farther, bringing his other hand up to brush my cheek. “All I want is to be here for you. You just have to let me.”

My heart thumps so rapidly that I feel like it should be possible to see it smacking against my skin from the inside out.

“I also understand why that’s hard for you,” he says. “I told you about how I grew up. I’d never wish that on anyone. I spent so many hours daydreaming about what life would have been like if I’d grown up in a pack. That way, maybe one of my nonexistent other dads could have stopped him. Or even if they didn’t, I still would have had someone left to take care of me. I want you and the baby to have that kind of support.”

“I want that too.” My hand lands over his on my cheek, giving him a squeeze. “And I’m so sorry you went through so much as a kid.”

He shrugs, glancing away for the first time. “I survived. I need you to understand, I’m nothing like him. I would never hurt you.”

“Lincoln…” God, I’ve been so focused on my own hurts that I didn’t stop to contemplate the trauma he carries. “That never even crossed my mind.” His blue eyes fly back to stare into mine. “I’m serious. I’m not afraid of you. I’m afraid of something happening to you.”

I honestly would have thought Arden relayed all of this to him, but I repeat my fears the same way I did last night when I was considering sneaking out.

“Sweetheart,” he murmurs, dipping his head to mine. “I’m not going to take any unnecessary risks. I spent the day feeling like I was about to crawl out of my fucking skin. All I wanted was to get home to check on you.”

His hand slides into the hair at the base of my skull, and he pushes his lips to mine.

I can safely say I’ve never been kissed the way Lincoln kisses me. It’s slow and needy, like he can’t get enough of the contact. Sensing his emotions fill the bond makes the moment even more intimate. Bonding doesn’t come with an instruction manual, but I do my best to send my feelings in return.

It’s hard to decipher, but it feels like he yearns to be wanted. For someone to choose him and not to walk away when things get tough. It’s humbling to be able to sense all of that.

A bond really is unfettered access to another person’s thoughts and emotions. It might be quick, but the link between us makes me feel connected to him in a way I’ve never experienced.

I pull back from the kiss, heaving for air.

Lincoln chuckles and palms my stomach. The look on his face takes my breath away as my eyes pop open. There are things we still have to figure out with their profession, but this fine hunk of alpha is mine.

Linc, Arden, and Kase are the best thing that’s happened to me in a long time. And I don’t intend to squander the gift the universe gave me.