Page 89

“How are you?” I ask. “Now that you can eat again and all.”

She groans dramatically. “This little one must be using my bladder as a trampoline, which is wild since I’ve not even felt any movement yet. But other than that, I’m okay. Cravings are out of control though.”

“I’m aware,” I say, nodding to the now empty bowl in front of us. We both laugh.

Lark tilts her head at me. “I still can’t believe you’re bonded. You didn’t even mention it to me.”

“I didn’t know!”

She snorts into her strawberry lemonade. Our totally opposite approaches to life have been a running joke between us. She wants everything on her calendar. I’m more of a whatever feels right omega.

We both turn to look at our alphas scattered around the room.

Silas and Piers, deep in conversation, have claimed a place by the decanter. They both look serious and very alpha. Leith and Saint are laughing at some story Beck is telling, complete with ridiculous hand gestures and faces. Graham and Finn are huddled together, staring at something on Graham’s phone.

I narrow my eyes. “Please tell me they aren’t working right now.”

Lark blushes. “I think Graham’s showing him the baby.”

“What? You have pictures and you didn’t tell me?”

“I didn’t want tonight to be about me,” she says, waving a hand. “It’s supposed to be celebrating you and your new bonds.”

I make grabby hands at the phone that’s lying face down in front of her. “Both things can be true, babe. Gimme.”

Lark laughs and picks up her phone. She opens her photos and turns the screen toward me.

There it is. The little human she’s growing. It’s mostly a jumbled mess of gray shapes, but I still get teary-eyed the second I see it.

Lark points proudly. “Look, here’s the nose. And see—she’s sucking her thumb.”

“A girl? Fuck yeah!” I squeal, wiping at my eyes. “I’m going to buy her so many headbands.”

Lark chuckles. “I expect the baby to be the best dressed in East Rock.”

I lean my head against her shoulder for a second, still staring at the ultrasound picture. “You should name her Karen. Little Karen Caron has a nice ring to it.”

She full-out belly chuckles. “I think Silas’ mom will remain the only Karen Caron in the family.”

Lark takes the phone back and sets it down, then turns to me with a curious look. “So, what’s next for you and your pack? Are you guys thinking about babies anytime soon?”

I do my best to hide the horror I feel. It’s never good to let an expectant mother know you are appalled by the idea of pregnancy. “We’re still figuring out how to exist as a pack of five. Babies feel like a future-future thing.”

“Makes sense. Plus, it would be tough if we were out for maternity leave back-to-back.” She suddenly sits up straighter, eyes widening like she realized something. “You’re fucking loaded now. You could leave anytime. Baby or no baby.”

I sit up straighter too, suddenly uncomfortable. “I can’t be a stay-at-home omega, Lark. You know that.”

“Maybe,” she says, watching me carefully, “but I know you aren’t loving it right now. Even I’m bored of the toilet paper campaign.”

I laugh, relieved at the shift. “Yeah, I handed that off to Jazz. I couldn’t stand it anymore.”

She nods. “Good move. She seems excited about everything.”

I steer the conversation away from OmegaBox and the question of whether I’m going to leave. “Let’s talk baby names. What do you think about Wren?”

Lark’s face lights up immediately. “Wren? I love that.”

forty-two