“You’re safe now,” my mother continues, completely unfazed as her thumb smooths along Lia’s temple. “You’ve got them, and you’ve got us. We’ll make sure you’re taken care of, all right? Five days, yes?”
“Yeah,” Lia croaks out.
“That’s no joke. You need rest, fluids, and heavy solid food once you can stand it,” Mom says as she looks over at me.
There’s a pride in her eyes I’ve never seen before. It makes me smile.
My father hums in agreement with her statement as he sets the bag down beside the bed. “Electrolytes and calories,” he repeats, like it’s the most important contribution in the world. “Your body needs a lot of both right now. Make sure you at least drink if you find you can’t eat.”
“It’s important,” my mother says. “Can we get you anyth?—”
When her gaze falls to Lia’s neck, she freezes. Her eyes dart over to me, and I just let her put the pieces together for herself. My mother’s always been that way. She’s always been part of the gossip mill in town. It doesn’t shock me one bit that she’s already ingratiated herself with Eli’s parents.
Her gaze flits over to Eli. Then, Knox.
“Oh my goodness,” she gasps.
I let a grin spread across my face as she stands and claps her hands together.
“Oh, my goodness! Mating marks!” she squeals before she sees my neck. She gasps and points. “She marked you!?”
Dad’s smile is proud. “And you marked her.”
“Oh, my word,” Mom says as she cups her own cheeks in shock. “Grandchildren really are in my future!”
Lia startles a bit and Knox tightens his arm around her instinctively. I can’t help the smile that crosses my face, though. For all of the meddling my parents do, they’ve always been good people.
And Lia deserves to be surrounded by good people.
“I knew it,” my mother says as she swats at my father’s chest. “I told you, didn’t I? I told you that Walker wouldn’t just hole up with some Omega for a heat with no reason at all. Didn’t I say that?”
Dad nods. “You did, sweetheart.”
Mom points at me. “See? I told you I said that.” She clasps her hands together and turns her attention to Eli. “Oh, Eli. I can’t wait to meet your daughter. Do you think she’ll like me? Do you think she’ll think of me as a grandmother? I mean, I know that might take time, but?—”
Eli, to his credit, handles that better than I expect. “I think Amber will love you, Mrs. Boone.”
“Well, of course she would,” my mother says immediately. “I’m delightful.”
Knox snorts, which causes Lia to giggle. And that sound?
Oh, that sound.
It makes my heart slam against my sternum.
“Well,” my father says, clapping his hands once and rubbing them together. “Enough standing around. Our Omega-in-law needs rest.”
“Yes,” my mother agrees, already moving again. “Which means all of you,” she points at me and Eli before motioning to the bed, “should be in that nest with her.”
I blink. “What?”
“You heard me,” she says. “She just came out of heat. She needs her Alphas close. Constant contact, steady reassurance, scent reinforcement. Honestly, Walker, I thought I taught you better than this.”
I snicker. “You did.”
She waves her hand dismissively at me. “Then why are you standing over there? You two get in this nest with her.”
“Yeah, you guys,” Knox says with a playful smile. “Get over here already.”
