I pull Perry to me and press a kiss to his lips. “So will you. I was a mess earlier.”
“It wasn’t your fault. The pheromones were heavy. It’d been a long time since I’d been in a room with an Omega giving birth. I forgot how it felt.” Perry nuzzles his head against my chest. “But I think you panicked because it was Pax and it wasn’t your Omega.”
“I think you’re right. My brain went haywire because of Aaron’s scent. While he wasn’t aggressive, his pheromones gave out ‘stay away, Alpha’ vibes.”
I kiss Perry again. I break the kiss to stare at him, searching for any hint of uncertainty. “You sure about this?” I ask, voice barely above a whisper. I rest a palm against his lower belly, not daring to press.
His hand joins mine, fingers warm. “I am. I would have liked to have waited a little longer, but I don’t think it’s a mistake. I’m twenty-eight, have an amazing business, and two mates I adore more than anything. We won’t let that bitch Anya take our Beta, and we’re going to live happily ever after together. Understand?”
“Yeah.” I grin. It’s all I’ve ever wanted.
Then, as if on cue, the kitchen explodes with the sound of shattering glass.
“I’m okay!” Abel’s voice echoes from the kitchen, a little too loud. “Just dropped a thing!”
Perry rolls his eyes and tugs me by the wrist. “Come on. He’s going to over do it if we don’t help.”
We find Abel crouched on the linoleum, picking up pieces of a glass baking dish. There’s no blood, just a white dusting of flour across his shirt and a wild, slightly guilty look in his eyes.
“Sorry. Sorry. I was rushing,” Abel says. “I wanted to get the brownies on a plate, but then I dropped them.” He straightens, cradling the shards carefully, and I take them without thinking, feeling the prickle of glass against my palm. Perry flaps a dish towel, shooing Abel away from the mess.
“Grab the stuff from the fridge,” Perry says, and Abel obeys. I sweep the glass into a dustpan, then catch Perry’s eye. He’s grinning at the domestic chaos.
“You know,” Perry says, sidling up beside me, “this place is going to be even messier in a few months.” He nudges me with his hip. “We’re going to have to baby proof everything. It’s goingto be a nightmare. Abel will research everything to death. You’ll want to overdo it, and I’ll be the only one with an ounce of common sense.”
I bark a laugh, then look over at Abel, who’s hunched over a notepad, scribbling a list with a determined frown. “We’ll need those electric socket protector cap thingys. Do we used zip ties to keep babies out of cabinets? Or are there special thingys for that? I really do need to research what we need for baby proofing. Especially for shifter babies.Tinyshifter babies.” His eyes go wide. “What if they shift and get stuck somewhere that we can’t reach them?”
“Everything is going to be okay.” I pull Abel back to his feet and hug him close. “Plus, I’ve got eight siblings, tons of nibblings, and loads of practice with tiny shifter babies. We won’t lose anyone someplace weird.” I kiss his forehead and lean back. “And if we do, there are always tricks to help them out.” I keep to myself about my niece that fell into the air vent a couple years ago. Mom was cleaning and forgot to put the vent cover back on and bloop Torrie fell right in. My arm was too big to grab her, so I leaned a stick inside and Torrie climbed right out and up my arm.
Perry chuckles. “You’re both already great dads and we’re only days into this pregnancy.” He pulls our Beta to him. “And I know you’re gonna keep me fed so well.”
Abel nods and presses his lips to Perry’s. “You’re gonna be the best fed Omega in Mink Hollow.”
The group chat buzzes again.
Aaron: Take your time. We’re not going anywhere. But seriously, the pizza is a bribe. If you bring it, the baby will love you forever.
Pax: Stop threatening our child with pizza addiction. Love you, see you soon.
“Come on, let’s go cuddle a new baby,” I say.
Pax’s eyes go wide.“Squirrel shifters are only pregnant for six months? I’m so jealous.” He rubs his stomach as he shovels another slice of pizza into his mouth. “This is so good. Thanks, guys.”
“Our pleasure,” Abel says with a mouthful of pizza. He wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. “So, whatdidyou name the baby?”
Pax gives Aaron a look that not long ago I would have begged Fate for.
“Hazel,” they say together. I know it’s not a family name on Pax’s side, neither is Willow or Forest.
Aaron nods as he takes a drink of his water. “We named her Hazel after my dad’s mom. Granny Hazel knows how to have a good time.”
Pax smirks. “That she does.”
Hazel sleeps in a travel crib between Pax and Aaron. They’ve always been protective of their babies and I don’t blame them. I’m sure I’ll be the same. I’ll probably insist on baby wearing for as long as I can get away with.
Abel keeps eyeing the baby as if he’ll snatch her up as soon as Pax and Aaron’s backs are turned. It’s adorable. I’ve never seen him like this before. He practically vibrates in his seat.
“So, Abel,” Pax starts, catching my Beta’s attention. “Aaron says the Valentine’s Day shindig is going to be epic. What do you think?”
