Page 36 of An Alpha’s Guide to Finding the One

“If this goes sideways I’m throwing you under the bus,” Wyatt mutters under his breath. He knows I can hear him, he just doesn’t want anyone else to. He has to maintain that good guy persona somehow, and casual murder would really harsh his vibe.

A flash of bright yellow catches my eye, and I spot her sweat suit before I actually spot my girl. She has the best taste in clothing and decor, often choosing bright colors and patterns that draw your eye. This outfit is no exception. Her sweatshirt and sweats are two different shades of yellow, and she’s sporting a hot pink headband and matching slipper boots that I always forget the name of. But I tried them on one time and they’re comfy as hell, so I am going to have her help me pick out my own pair to wear after games and practice when my feet are killing me from being in cleats for hours at a time.

“Lainey!” I shout. She’s standing outside the library talking to who I am guessing is Posey, based on the pink hair, but she turns an icy glare on me as her eyes dart around, likely embarrassed I’m drawing so much attention to her.

Pregnant omega’s aren’t a rarity on campus, but a pregnancy being claimed by two of the most popular guys on campus? Yeah, that’s stirring up some shit. We have tried to shield her from as much of it as we can, but neither of us can be with her 24/7 and I know she has been catching some shit from some of the girls on campus. Probably some of the guys, too. Though those comments tend to lean more towards the lewd side and I can usually solve it with a fist to their face.

Not that I’ve done that. I can’t risk my throwing arm when the draft is so close, so I drop a photo to Rhys and he comes to campus to put the fear of god in anyone with the audacity to badmouth our omega.

Thankfully, it hasn’t been many people. Mostly they’re just curious and want to know everything they can about Lainey, the babies, and our relationship. The last thing I am more than happy to answer questions about, because getting to tell people I fell in love at first sight and found her again by accident is fun and makes for a pretty kick ass love story.

“Lucky,” she hisses the moment we’re within hearing range. “What have I said about inviting unnecessary attention to us?”

I draw a blank. “Umm…” I glance to Wyatt, but he’s too busy chuckling to be of any help.

Lainey huffs, crossing her arms and resting them on top of her bump that is now visible through her hoodie. “I said don’t fucking do it. I’m already the size of the Goodyear blimp, I really do not need even more people staring at me.”

“First of all,” I boop her nose, grinning when she smacks my hand away. “You are beautiful. Your body is incredible and the fact that you are creating not one, but two human beings from scratch right now? These looky-loos should be putting you on a literal pedestal and offering cinnamon rolls of praise for the sheer magnificence of what your body is doing right now.”

Her lips part, but no words come out so I take that as my sign to keep talking. “But since that probably won’t happen because I would scare off any person that came near you with mystery food, we have a little surprise to show you just how proud we are to have you as our omega.”

Wyatt and I whip open our jackets in sync and wait for her to process everything we’re showing her. I made our pack matching t-shirts with Lainey’s face on them and under that are the words, “don’t get too close, my omega bites.” I had the idea before I scheduled my tattoo and realistically I could have just done the shirt thing, but I have always been a firm believer in the “go big or go home” ideology. Doubly so when it comes to my omega.

Naturally, my shirt is cropped to show off the lower half of my stomach, and my jeans today are low-slung to appropriately show off my new tattoo. The words “Lainey’s Luck” are emblazoned in bold font just above the waistband of my boxer briefs, which sit ever so slightly higher than my jeans. She told me not to get “property of Lainey” so I did the next best thing.

“Oh. My. God.” Her hand fly up to cover her mouth in shock, but I wait, subtly nudging Wyatt with my elbow when the breeze shifts and wafts her sweetening scent our way. He owes me ten bucks.

Posey giggles, placing a hand on Lainey’s shoulder. “On that note, I’m gonna go. Maybe see if I can convince my alphas to get a tattoo for me,” she winks at me, and I feel like a king. Lainey’s best friend, my friend approves of my decision, which feels like a battle won. I know my omega holds her opinion in the highest regard and she’s been nothing but kind to me when she could have been awful and made this whole situation harder than it needed to be, but she hasn’t. She’s been a total gem and even though we only share the one class together this semester, she has gone out of her way to make me feel included in their friend group. More so than I already was. It probably helps that Jude, Posey’s alpha and our professor last semester, has lightened up significantly since it came out that I’m the father of Lainey’s babies and no longer a threat to his omega.

I have known since the night we first met that Lainey was it for me, but hopefully now everyone else will know what I have known for months. Lainey Ryan owns me.

Lucky, Wyatt, and Rhys are leaving for the weekend, and my omega is about to throw a whole dang fit about it. “Remind me again where you’re all going?” I’m not proud of the whine in my voice, but I’m choosing to blame it on the hormones.

Wyatt kisses the side of my head while Lucky scoots closer on my other side and Rhys slides forward until his knees touch mine from his spot on the coffee table. He pushes reassurance through our bond and it helps, but not enough. My omega is convinced if we also had bonds with Lucky and Wyatt them leaving for the weekend wouldn’t feel so catastrophic.

There’s also the teeny tiny fact that I will be alone with Lawson. I have barely seen him since I moved in since he is almost always coming or going from work, but he took the entire weekend off so I wouldn’t be alone in the house and hearing that gave me stupid butterflies. I go back and forth between lusting over the broody sheriff and being incredibly hurt that he seems to want nothing to do with me outside of our arrangement.

And really, now that I am bonded to Rhys there’s no reason for us to interact at all if he doesn’t want to.

I rub at my chest, trying to soothe away the ache of the silent bond, and the guys notice. They don’t say anything, but based on the way their scents nosedive they know exactly what I’m feeling and why I seem quieter than usual.

“I have an expo in Seattle,” Rhys starts, taking one of my hands in his and stroking his thumb along the back. He sends so much emotion down the bond it’s hard to pick out individual feelings, but the overall gist is affection and concern. “If I hadn’t signed a contract last year I would have cancelled. But people made appointments and this event is the largest one I have ever been invited to, so…”

I smile, hoping he can read the sincerity I shove at him through our link. “You have to go, Rhys. It’s going to be so fun and it sounds like a huge opportunity. Maybe it’s weird, but I’m really proud of you.”

And then Rhys Rivers does something I never thought I would see. He blushes. “Thanks, darlin’. Means a lot.”

With that settled, I glance back and forth between my ball boys. Lucky surprises me by speaking first. “We have back to back games in Boston and Providence. So we won’t be nearly as far away as Rhys, but we also can’t really be on our phones during games and practice unless it’s an absolute emergency.” He peeks at Wyatt. “You gave her all the important numbers?”

Wyatt nods, and I snort. “And several I will likely never need. I’m covered in case of an emergency, and Lawson will be here. Logically, I know I will be absolutely fine. I have spent a lot of time alone in my life and it never bothered me before. But my instincts are screaming at me saying I shouldn’t let you guys be so far away.”

Wyatt smoothes my hair back, a concerned frown tipping his lips. “It’s most likely the pregnancy. Your omega knows we’re your scent-matched, and in Rhys’s case bonded, alphas and you will probably want to keep us close to you the further your pregnancy progresses. The fact that you have two babies only amps up that instinct to protect what’s yours.”

I nod slowly. His words make sense, but logic isn’t helping to make that ache go away. The guys exchange another look. “Maybe I should stay back.” Wyatt says hesitantly. “I’m not the one going pro, and Rhys cannot miss his expo, so that leaves me as the most logical choice. I don’t know that leaving her with Law is the best idea right now. Not when he’s⁠—”

“She is right here.” I snap. “And I don’t need a babysitter.” I also don’t need to hear their insider knowledge of Lawson’s distaste for me. I am imagining enough with how distant he’s been, but hearing them confirm it would be like a knife to the heart. Bonds are for life, and the idea of being bonded to someone that hates me is more than I can handle right now.

Sighing, I drag my hands through my hair and use the tie on my wrist to throw it up into a messy bun. They normally keep the house pretty cool but it is sweltering today and this pregnancy has been making me run extra hot pretty much all the time. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to snap, I’m just not used to feeling so many feelings and it’s making me cranky. Not to mention the heartburn, lack of sleep, changing body, and knowing I am going to have two tiny humans to keep alive in the next four months.”