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“I really like this dress, Little Bird. So pretty. I’d love it even more flipped over your head-” I clear my throat, interrupting him before he can finish that sentence.
He might have been whispering, but just in case it wasn’t low enough, I think it’s best I stop him, so Ripley’s parents and whoever else is here doesn’t hear the dirty things our omega wants to do to their daughter. I hear Ripley give him a muttered ‘later’, giggling as he tries to pull her back against him and she evades him. She grabs his hand, entwining their fingers, leading him to me.
“Ready to meet the crazy? Although, it’s not completely loony toons around here until Rid and the kids show up. They’re running late, it seems.”
Meeting the family of someone I’m seeing has never been much of a nuisance to me. Nico’s dads, Liam and Jakoby, are wonderful. They’re the main ones we see regularly. My parents visit occasionally, but we’re not exactly close. They wanted me to bond with a female omega, and they weren’t exactly thrilled when I told them about River. They’ve gotten over it now, but things were rocky in the beginning. River still doesn’t like them, and I can’t say I blame him. So, yeah, we limit contact with them.
Kian’s parents are very hands off, so we rarely, if ever, see them. I think I’ve seen his mom and dad a total of three times since we all bonded. Kian said they weren’t always like that, but once he moved out after college, they kind of just went wild and threw away all of their responsibilities. Sold their family home and all its contents, their cars, cut Kian a check for six figures out of what they made from selling everything, and left him with a large envelope and a letter telling him now that he was grown, they could travel the world and see everything they’d always dreamed of seeing. After that, it was kind of like they forgot they even had a son, and it’s rare they even remember to call him. He says it doesn’t bother him, but I think he’s full of shit.
River doesn’t get along with his family at all, so we’ve never met them. We only know what he’s told us. He’s got seven older sisters and brothers, a mix of alphas and omegas, and his mom isn’t like most omega mothers. Most are caring, loving mothers. River’s mom, Jeneane, isn’t. She’s not mean or abusive, but she isn’t emotionally attached to her children. Once they were at an age that they could care for themselves, she just kind of checked out, and prior to that, she let nannies and the like raise her children. His dads aren’t much better, choosing work over their family and caring for their omega. Major workaholics. And all of his siblings scattered the minute they were of age. None of them were really close to begin with, so it’s rare River hears from any of them.
Syn’s parents are among the minority, choosing to bond as a pair rather than enter a pack. Her mom and dad we see as often as we can, mostly because Syn’s mother and father, Talia and Cal, really love their kids and can’t go longer than a few months without seeing them. So, we fly out to them a few times a year and they do the same as well when they’re not busy. They dote on their daughter and all of us as well, especially her mom. Her mom also never stops asking when we’re finally going to give her some grandbabies to spoil. Like her sister hasn’t given her two already, with another on the way.
That’s something we’ll have to think about, eventually. We always assumed Syn would carry any babies that we decided to have, but now we have Ripley. Will they both carry our babies? The image of both women together, swollen and pregnant with pieces of us inside of them, it nearly makes me growl out loud. Fuck, that’s a pretty image. It’s too soon to ask about any of that, but I can only hope one day it’s an option.
Ripley leaves me and River in the dust, heading straight for her other alphas. She stops in front of Nico and Syn, and Nico pulls her to his chest first and kisses her head. Whispering in her ear, I watch as her lips tip up at whatever he says. Syn playfully growls and steals Ripley away from Nico while he’s distracted, and he scowls at her, which only makes her smile at him tauntingly. Ripley glances at Syn and gives her a heated look, biting her lip as Syn encircles her in her arms, kissing her sweetly. I heard exactly what they were up to in the nest that day. I’ve learned Ripley isn’t quiet, and I know Syn isn’t from personal experience.
I was hard for hours after hearing them up there, my imagination running wild with ideas of what they looked like up there, tangled together. When Syn crawled in my bed later that night, smelling like a mixture of Ripley and herself, I couldn’t help myself. I pinned her to the bed and went absolutely feral, fucking her so hard into my mattress that my headboard repeatedly slammed against my wall, leaving behind chips in the paint.
I’m pulled from the memory I absolutely should not be reminiscing about, given our current location, when Ripley’s mom comes over to stand by me. It’s now that I realize River abandoned me. I catch him at the table mingling with the other alphas I saw earlier. One of them must be Ripley’s brother. Kian has joined him, and the others have migrated over to Ripley’s dads, chatting with them while they grill. Looks like I’m the odd man out standing by myself, lost in naughty memories and exciting future possibilities. They probably think I’m rude as hell.
Nope, just fantasizing about your daughter, naked and swollen with our fictional baby.
Valley is a tiny woman, barely reaching my chest, but I don’t imagine her size stops her from running her alphas like she’s ten feet tall. Ripley resembles her a lot, only taller and with more curves. Her lavender and chamomile scent is subtle, but pleasantly calming and not irritating.
“It’s Knight, isn’t it?” Her voice is soft, motherly, and she smiles warmly up at me.
I clear my throat awkwardly and nod sheepishly. “Yes, ma’am.”
“I’ve heard a lot about you. Well, all of you really, when I actually see her. That sweet omega of yours is a stingy little thing, isn’t he?” she chuckles, her eyes twinkling in amusement.
I laugh, because she’s not wrong. We’ve all tried talking to him about it, but it hasn’t helped, obviously.
“You have no idea, Valley. Syn and Nico have been going head-to-head with him for their own time with Ripley. I fear we’re going to need a scheduling sheet before long.” I joke.
She smiles, looking over at River as he works his charms on who I assume is Ripley’s brother. The giant red head next to him laughs loudly, letting me know he’s at least winning someone over with his wit and charm.
“You guys will get the hang of it. You’re already used to pack life with an omega. Now, you just need to accommodate and use your omega knowledge, since you’re adding an extra one in. I don’t fault him for keeping her to himself so much, you know. He’s in love and wants all of her time. It’s adorable, really.”
I look at her wide eyed. Love? He’s there already? I mean, I knew it wouldn’t be long before it happened after that first run in with her at the festival. He’s been smitten with her from the moment he caught her scent. Meeting her hammered it in that he wanted her. And I knew spending all this time with her was bound to lead to him falling in love.
I smile in delight at this little revelation.
“And her? Do you think she loves him, too?” I ask Valley curiously.
She smiles at me, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “Yeah. My daughter is very much in love with your omega, Knight. She might not realize it yet, but she will. They both will. I figure sooner than any of you think. The right moment will happen, and it’s just going to hit her, like it did River when he fell in love with all of you and me when I fell for my alphas. It takes us all by surprise how effortlessly it happens. I hope you all will be careful with her heart. I know that you’re all traveling uncharted terrain and it’s a little crazy at times, but she trusts all of you. I think, on some level, she even loves the rest of you.”
My eyes find Ripley, curled up in Nico’s lap with her head against his chest at the table River is at. Syn’s hand is gripped in hers, a serene smile on both of their faces. Nico is talking to the redhead over Ripley’s head, laughing and looking the most relaxed he’s ever been. Syn chimes in on River and the other two men’s conversation every now and again, her eyes light and peaceful. Kian sits on Nico and Ripley’s other side, listening to the conversations happening around him. His eyes track back to Ripley every few seconds, like he can’t help himself. I suspect Ripley knows and likes it as she glances at him out of the corner of her eye and one side of her lips tips up.
Seeing them all together, relaxed and carefree, surrounding this one little omega, I think they might all be a little in love with her as well. She stumbled into our lives and took us all by surprise. None of us have an answer why exactly we’re all so drawn to her, and at this point I don’t think any of us really give a shit.
“Valley, I don’t think you need to worry about Ripley. We’re all falling for her. I don’t think any of us could let her go now if we tried.” I don’t take my eyes from Ripley when I tell her this.
Ripley must sense my eyes on her because she glances over and catches me staring. She smiles and waves me over, scowling when I don’t give in immediately. I quirk a brow at her and smirk when she narrows her eyes.
“Good. Now get over there to my daughter. She looks like she’s close to storming over here and dragging you away.”
Valley drifts away over to her own bonded, and I watch as all three men surround her instantly. The giggle she lets loose is reminiscent of a much younger pack, just starting out on their own and full of love for each other. To see that after all this time, raising children and growing together, that they still have so much love for each other is inspiring. I can only hope that our lives with River, and now Ripley, will be the same.
