“Bad girls,” I sigh.
Bellamy and Abbott rejoin us, and I stay quiet about what I’ve learned. If there’s one more rough contraction, I’m picking Cassidy up and sending Abbott for Winter to head to the hospital.
Their bags have been packed for the last week and remain in the trunk of our vehicle at all times, and I’m definitely the more paranoid one out of our pack.
“I sold a painting!” Bellamy hissed excitedly, making me grin proudly.
He’s been taking a couple of personal commissions over the last few months, but this is a very big deal for him.
“Congratulations,” I say warmly.
Winter and Shiloh are talking to each other as they sidle up to join us, and we hang out together until we see Nina and Ethan walking toward us to celebrate Bellamy’s achievements. While Winter and Bellamy have hung out with Pack Thornefield a few times, we’ve been too busy to arrange much more outside of get-togethers with our core group of friends here and there.
Instead, we catch up with Nina and her pack when we go running a few times a week while our omegas sleep in. We’ve increased our run club meet ups recently, though Cassidy took a break from running once she hit her thirty-four week mark.
We didn’t tell anyone until she and Winter started showing at about seven months. It’s amazing what flowing outfits can hide. We got to enjoy the pregnancies completely, and there was no one to tell my girls what they couldn’t or could eat. They already knew because they researched it.
There was also no one to offer weird and intrusive advice. God, it’s been wonderful.
“Hi,” Nina says with a grin. “Bellamy, your paintings are beautiful. You must be so proud.”
“Thank you,” Bell says with a bashful smile. Compliments are hard for anyone to accept, but especially for him. He’s too critical of his own work.
“I also wanted to see how you and Winter are doing,” Nina says to Cassidy. “If you need help with your puppy or anything when you have your babies, I will pet sit.”
“Dad will love that,” Ethan says with a chuckle.
“Cooper will deal,” Nina says, blowing him a kiss.
“Funny thing, now that you mention it,” Winter says softly. “I’m pretty sure my water broke a few minutes ago when I went to the bathroom.”
“Winter,” Bellamy groans. “I knew there was something weird happening. My stomach won’t stop hurting.”
“Labor is going to be really interesting for you, huh?” Ethan asks, wide eyed. Pack Thornefield knows that Winter and Bell are soul bonded, as it’s difficult to hide when you’re around them for long enough.
They’re also all observant bastards.
“Being a guy isn’t going to save me from feeling the effects of childbirth," Bellamy sighs. “Hospital, Winter?”
“Yes,” Cassidy says, answering for Winter. “My contractions are getting closer too.”
“Shit. Okay, I’ll ask Henri to call you about pet sitting,” Abbott decides. “He’ll bring you Bruno.”
Bruno is our labradoodle, and is such a good boy. I fucking love our puppy. He also needs lots of walks and cuddles, which means that Pack Thornefield will have their hands full.
“Thank you,” Winter squeaks out, her eyes closing in pain.
“You’re getting a ride out of here, Beloved,” Bell says, lifting her into his arms.
“You’re wonderful,” she says softly, her brow wrinkling in pain.
“Go, go,” Nina says. “Good luck!”
“Thank you,” I say.
As a pack, we begin walking toward the door, and the guards we brought with us begin to peel off from their unobtrusive spots at the gallery.
It’s only when Mr. Duvall calls out Bellamy’s name that I realize we forgot to tell him our emergency.
