Page 47 of An Alpha’s Guide to Finding the One

Lucky groans, burying his face into my neck. “I’m trying so hard to be patient, kitten. But you’re making is so damn hard.”

Playing dumb seems like the option most likely to get me what I want, so that’s what I do. “What do you mean?”

He growls, but it’s more playful than threatening. “Lawson bonds you out of necessity.” His teeth nip at Law’s bond mark on my neck before soothing it with a kiss. “Then Rhys pulls the meet-the-parents card and you bond him.” One hand reaches around to squeeze my butt. “And tonight. Tonight you disappear with my best friend for hours and come back smelling like sex with a fresh bond where every-damn-one and their mother can see it.” He laps at Wyatt’s bond, making my hips buck up into his as a moan tears out of me. It’s fresh and still so sensitive. I feel Wyatt checking in, but when I send him calm back, he lets it go. “I will wait forever if you ask me to, Lainey. But you need to know that I’m here, and I am not going anywhere. Be as mean to me as you want. Steal all my money, hit me with my own car, I’ll go down with a smile on my face. But,” he exhales a harsh breath. “the minute you’re ready, I’m here. I am here, and I’m yours.” His hand rests on my belly, stroking reverently. “I’m theirs.”

My eyes mist over, but I refuse to let the tears fall. Instead I drag his face to mine and crash our mouths together in a messy semblance of a kiss. He groans, nipping my bottom lip hard enough to sting, and keeps kissing me when I pull back. My cheek, temple, forehead, any piece of skin he can reach. And while he’s distracted, I line my mouth up with the front of his throat, and I strike, biting harder than is probably necessary, but my omega preens when we taste the metallic tang of his blood. I feel the start of Lucky slipping into place beside the others, but before I can drop into the sensation, Lucky leans down and bites in the exact spot I bit him.

The bond snaps into place like a crack of lightning, and Lucky’s cocky sweetness finally completes our pack. I feel the others rejoicing in my chest, little zips of energy firing between their bonds with each other and with me, and a peace I’ve never known settles over me like a sleepy fog, pulling me under.

For better or worse, Pack Daire is officially mine.

“I swear, we will be fine.” My efforts to cajole Lucky into leaving the house have been less than successful, but everyone else has already left and I could use an hour to myself for once. This will be the first time I have been completely alone in the house since I moved in months ago, and while my omega is in complete opposition, my forebrain is demanding a few minutes to be an independent bad bitch again. My hands cradle by heavy belly, hiding the wince I feel from one of the twins kicking something vital. “I still have six weeks to go, ball boy. I promise you, I will do absolutely nothing but sit on the couch and mope over no longer being able to see my toes.”

Lucky chuckles and takes a step forward before wrapping himself around me like a boa constrictor. “The closer we get to meeting these little bees the more my alpha wants to keep you wrapped up in a bubble and never leave your side.”

My nose roots around his shirt without conscious thought, trying to find where his sweet peppermint scent is strongest. “I know, but a little separation is good for us. After the babies are born I’ll practically never be alone again, so it will be good for me to soak up a little me time before I become someone’s mom.”

He smiles down at me and the tenderness in his eyes leaves me breathless. “I can’t wait to see you become a mom, kitten.” His breath coasts over my face as he lets out a heavy sigh. “Alright. I guess I can go throw a ball around for a few hours.”

My bright laugh echoes around the room. “You mean football practice? The thing you will eventually be paid to do?”

He shrugs. “Semantics.”

I smirk, lightly flicking his nose. “Big word for a dumb jock.”

His head tips back as he groans. “I fucking love it when you’re mean to me, kitten.”

Another laugh, but this time I follow it with a gentle shove towards the front door. “Go before you’re late.”

As he’s grabbing his gear bag, he pauses to look at me with a surprisingly shy smile. “Hey. You know I love you, right?”

Butterflies cascade through my belly, vying for space with the babies. “I love you, too.”

He leaves with a skip in his step and I practically float up the stairs only to stop on the first landing when I hear the front door open. “Forget something? Or did you need one more kiss?” I call with a laugh.

There’s no answer, but the door slams shut.

“Lucky?” I call. Still no answer, and a hint of fear slithers through my chest. I feel four pings of concern down the pack bond, and I send worry back, because if this isn’t Lucky playing a joke…

“Hello?”

“Hello, daughter.” The words are nothing more than a hiss from behind me, and I spin around with a gasp when I see Laura standing not even three feet away.

“Wh-what are you doing here?” My voice trembles, and I hate it. The last thing I want is for her to know she still has a hold over me.

“I received a letter from our old health insurance company the other day,” she starts, completely ignoring me. “I was understandably shocked to find my daughter had filed a restraining order against me with the help of the local sheriff’s department. Your pack was listed in the paperwork as witnesses and point of contact. Pack Daire, if I recall correctly.”

My stomach drops when she says our pack name, but she isn’t done. “I was even more surprised to find you had somehow weaseled your way into a wealthy pack with not one, but two athletes and a world-renowned artist.” Her muddy brown eyes scan down my body with clear derision. “And apparently you were smart enough to trap them with your only asset.”

As soon as she describes my alphas, all of my fear melts away. My spine snaps straight, ice sliding through my veins and hardening my heart against anything she might say. Laura can come at me all she wants, but I won’t let her near my alphas.

“Believe it or not, Mom, some of us don’t have to trap men into staying. Some of us actually have redeeming qualities instead of being nothing but a miserable old bitch.”

Instead of balking like I had expected, Laura grins. It’s a vicious, sharp thing that sends a bolt of fear straight through my chest. I shove my panic down the bond, feeling my alphas worry compounding in response. “Oh look who decided to grow a backbone after all these years? Well too little, too late Magdalene.”

The knowing taunt in her words makes me nauseous but before I can turn to run, she grabs my arm so tight I feel her sharp nails draw blood. “You see, I finally figured out a way to make you useful. Once I realized who your pack are, I knew I could get something out of this. A little thank you for raising you all those years.”

That ice in my veins spreads further, settling into a numbness that terrifies me. I have to get out of this. Have to protect my babies from this psychopath that birthed me. “I saw a recent photo of you on some fan website and realized kidnapping you for ransom wasn’t an option, so I took out a little life insurance policy on you. To everyone else, it will just look like clumsy Lainey fell running up the stairs. And you’ll be gone, so, no one will ever know the truth. I’ll make off with a couple million dollars, and your pack will be able to move on and find someone better. If you think about it, I’m doing us all a favor.”