Chapter 37: : Chapter 36

The hospital feels like a super safe little bubble that we get to stay in for a few days. Luna was born Sunday morning, and they release us on Tuesday. There was a quick conversation about letting us go on Monday, since it was a middle-of-the-night delivery, but we had to stay an extra day to get the birth certificate sorted.

Luna Clark Baxter was lucky enough to have all three guys fighting for the chance to sign first. Apparently, it’s a gray area, since we had no legal pack commitment paperwork to prove all three were legally obligated to sign. But Arden explained that our bites were still fresh, and they would have the pack paperwork done immediately upon us being released. I’m still surprised it worked, but they’re all listed on her birth certificate.

Kase’s mom asked around and found us a lovely practice with multiple pediatricians that Luna saw every day in the hospital. We’ll have to follow up with them on Thursday for our first checkup at their office.

The drive home is terrifying, but Luna sleeps through the entire ordeal. She sits in her seat in the back with Kase and doesn’t even wake up when my alpha lifts the seat out of the SUV. Watching him hold her and the heavy seat like they weigh nothing makes my heart race. And it pounds even more erratically when he spins around, holding out his free hand for me.

Sometimes it’s hard to believe I got this lucky, but I’m no longer waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Kase’s mom is a saint. She left a massive welcome home basket on the table with a bunch of other things she wanted us to have but couldn’t fit in the first basket she gave me. She tidied up the house, left several casseroles and party trays of sandwiches and fruits in the fridge, and did the dishes.

But it was the note that brought me to tears. It said that she didn’t want to overwhelm us with company, but she wanted us to know she’s available day or night if we need a break or even if we have questions. I’m not up for company just yet, but I want to make a point of inviting her over in a few days, along with Arden’s family. Linc’s family basically is Kase’s family, so that will be handled all in one.

Lincoln bounds down the stairs with the bassinet under one arm and enough diapers to last until Luna switches to size one from newborn under the other. Kase is in the kitchen making everyone plates for a late lunch and hopefully remembering to refill my cup.

I’m not exactly succeeding at breastfeeding yet, but I am trying, and it makes me unnaturally thirsty.

Arden sits at my side with his arm looped under mine as I hold Luna. She seemed to be giving hunger cues, like thrashing her little face around, but as soon as she latched on to my boob, she passed right out.

“It appears she’s using you as a pacifier.” Arden chuckles, brushing his pointer finger over her chubby cheek.

“Where do you want it?” Linc drops the box of diapers by the TV and brings over the bassinet, placing it next to the couch. He tugs out the circular pillow that fits around a person’s waist.

It finally clicks that he wasn’t talking about the bassinet but rather the breastfeeding pillow I asked him to retrieve. In my defense, I haven’t slept more than two hours in a row since Luna was born.

“On my lap, please,” I say, giving him a tired smile.

“You got it.” Linc beams.

Arden helps me lift her high enough to make it possible to put the pillow under her, and my back aches significantly less with the added support.

“Goddamn, she’s the cutest.” Linc laughs, bending to kiss her chubby forehead.

I’ve got her in the football hold, but my boobs majorly overreact at even the slight brush of his head against my skin.

He only touched the one. There’s no reason for them both to throb, but this is an ongoing thing with them. I’m hopeful the lactation consultant was right, and it’ll settle down over the next week or two.

“I’ve got to run over and grab Sky.” Linc kisses my cheek. “Don’t worry. I’ll keep her on the harness while she sniffs everything, but I think she’ll be pretty chill. This is when it comes in handy that she’s out of her puppy stage.”

Sky runs into the living room, and my head tilts.

“Your dog must have heard you parking or something, because she spent the last half an hour barking and whining at the door,” Easton says, following her into the room.

“Would you hand me that?” I ask Arden, pointing at the baby blanket. He complies, covering me up.

Sky comes over, sniffing me before moving to scent Arden. Once she’s done, she runs over to Linc for scratches.

My little lady is knocked out, so I tug her off my boob, pull her free of the blanket, and hand her to Arden. He takes her with confidence I’d expect to see in a third or fourth-time father.

I get my bra fixed into place and readjust my top while Lincoln talks to his boss.

Arden hooks his fingers around Luna’s face and cradles her in his palm as he burps her.

I’m convinced there’s nothing he can’t do while looking devastatingly handsome.

Now, if he could just bite me sometime soon, that would be great. I’ve had so much going on that it was barely a thought in my mind, but the urge to complete my pack washes over me from out of nowhere.

Linc swipes a hand over his face and nods at me and Arden. Sky runs off toward the kitchen, like she smells the lunch Kase is busy preparing.

Easton, the guy who owns Shadow Security, comes closer. He’s clearly an alpha. It’s impossible to miss, from his height to the broad shoulders, but something about him sets me on edge.

If it wouldn’t suck to stand up right now, I’d probably bolt. Maybe relocate into the kitchen with Kase to put some distance between me and this guy. Or just run right up the stairs to my nest.

He comes to a stop in front of Arden and me, and his eyes stay on Luna as he reaches into his back pocket. He gives me an envelope that isn’t sealed and pats my hand.

“We intercepted the package from Clark Raynor as soon as it was delivered.” The man has the good sense to grimace as my jaw falls open.

Arden curses under his breath, but he keeps his tone soft, likely to avoid waking Luna.

“We swept the case and its contents,” Easton says, nodding at the envelope in my hand. “That’s to you. I didn’t read it, but my tech guy scanned it for any hidden codes or instructions. There was nothing.”

“You read my letter?” I shriek.

My body tenses as my head flies to check on my daughter, but Arden has her up on his chest. She lets out a tiny fuss, but her eyes stay closed.

“It couldn’t be avoided,” the dick says, shrugging.

I’m surprised the top of my head doesn’t pop off as my teeth grind together. “You had no right to do that.”

“As I said, I didn’t view the contents.” Easton swipes his dark hair back from his face. “Calder is a professional. If he hadn’t scanned it, your new pack would have. Time would have been wasted as the package sat unopened. Your alphas were unaware. I made that call. Don’t take it out on them.”

My gaze moves to the thick white envelope, and I brush my fingers over the open flap. So many thoughts cross my mind that I barely have the chance to think any of them through. I’ve been in a better headspace the last few days, and I’m worried opening Clark’s letter will bring all those emotions back in full force.

Sky makes her way back into the living room, coming to my side. She rests her head on my thigh until I set the letter down and pet her.

“You and I will discuss this later,” Arden growls, pointing at Easton.

The unfamiliar alpha snorts. “It’s not all bad news. We located the thumb drives, and he was thorough. We now have an original and a backup. It took Calder half a day to unencrypt the files, which is basically unheard of.” He stretches back, pulling something out of his other pocket.

God, I don’t want that information anywhere near us. All it will do is draw the bad guys to us. “Can’t you just turn it in to the government? Like the FBI or something?”

“Cute.” Easton chuckles, trying to hand me a baby pink envelope that’s shaped like the ones a card comes in. “Don’t worry about the Manzos or Sammy. They’re no longer under the mistaken impression that you have what they’re looking for.” He shakes the card until I take it. “They’ve been informed that I have their records and where they can retrieve them if they’re interested. You should focus on surviving the first few weeks with your daughter. I have a bone to pick with Titus Manzo, anyway.” He claps. “The trunk with everything else Clark sent is on the porch. Lincoln is going to help me carry that in, and we’ll be out of your hair. Feel free to keep the furniture or have it picked up and disposed of by the trash service. I don’t care.” He nods at the pink card in my hand. “That is from us. Congratulations on the birth of your child. We’ll be leaving tomorrow.”

“You came for an entire week to sit in Chelsea’s house?” Arden asks, sounding exasperated.

“We came to watch your back. Also, Briar was about to run, and I needed an excuse to get her out of town with me.” Easton shrugs. “Now that I have what I came for, and I’m no longer worried the Manzos will bother you, our job here is done.” He takes off toward the door, and Lincoln and Sky follow him until I can no longer see them.

“Are you okay?” Arden asks, tucking my hair behind my ear.

“I will be.” I nod, twisting to study him as he gently rocks Luna. “With that no longer looming over our heads, it feels like a weight was lifted off of my chest.”

The letter from Clark feels like another, but I’m not in the right headspace to open it right now.