Page 111 of Pucking the Enemy

Her eyes were still hooded with sleep. She looked absolutely beautiful in a matching pink T-shirt-and-shorts pajama set that stretched over her belly.

“Hey, Duchess,” I greeted her warmly. Instead of getting out of my bed to hug her, I pulled the comforter back, silently inviting her to join me.

Without a word, she padded across my room and crawled into bed, snuggling into my side. In the early morning, her sweet cherry scent was all the more potent.

“I’m sorry this is happening,” I told her, planting a kiss on the top of her head.

“They’re just jealous.” She shrugged.

“Still, it’s not nice.”

“They’re mean, petty, vindictive bitches who are losing three of their favorite toys. Give them some time, and they’ll settle down. There’s not much I can do about it. It doesn’t feel great… but it’s not like you’re going to leave me for them. Right?” Anxiety laced her voice.

“No way in hell.” I snorted lightly. “You’re it for us.”

“It would be nice to make it official at some point.”

“As soon as you’ve given birth and are healthy, I fully intend to bite you, marry you, and file official pack papers, like we did for Seb. Ideally, all at once, but I don’t think a wedding officiant should get to see you naked. That’s just for us!”

As much as I wanted to bond with her immediately, it was best to bond during heats. It was stronger that way, and she’d had so many life changes in the last few months. There was no rush. We weren’t going anywhere, and we sure as fuck weren’t letting her go.

Hazel snorted lightly.

“You’re taking this shockingly well,” Phillip remarked. “Even when you first saw the posts this morning, you were relaxed.”

“I’m too tired to take it any other way.” She sighed, burying her nose in my skin, taking deep breaths.

I slowly ran my hand through her hair, and she hummed in pleasure, snuggling deeper into my side. A lazy morning in bed with my omega was the best way to spend my time, but usually, we would be in the nest.

Since Hazel was already passed out in her nest when I had been ready to sleep last night, and I hadn’t wanted to disturb her, I’d climbed into my own bed.

“How about we spend the day shopping for the nursery?” I asked, looking down at the sleepy omega.

“After a nap?”

“Yes, after a nap,” I agreed.

That small nap ended up being several hours, and by the time we finally left the house, it was well into the afternoon.

Hazel’s exhaustion vanished the moment we stepped into the furniture store. All of the lists she had made of nursery furniture and design choices were swiftly forgotten as she tore through the store, looking at everything they had to offer, a vision quickly taking root.

“I want color! Lots of color,” she had insisted as she rummaged through the various piles of linens for the baby’s bed.

Turned out, there were two kinds of beds the baby needed. There was a bassinet for when they were little, and then the crib for when they were slightly bigger.

And naturally, both needed several sets of sheets.

She had picked out a variety of pastel colors. Blues, greens, pinks, yellows—she didn’t discriminate.

“Isn’t it supposed to be blue for a boy and pink for a girl?” Cormac asked, watching her pile items into the cart.

“Our child isn’t going to be restricted by something as boring as color!” Hazel declared, grabbing several overly stuffed pillows. “They deserve a whole rainbow!”

It took everything in me to suppress my giggles at her behavior; it was just so damn adorable. I did get the distinct impression, though, that if I did comment on it, she would pelt me with various pieces of bedding.

“You know, if you decided to find out what the gender is, you would be able to decorate the nursery accordingly,” Cormac said, once again putting his foot in it.

Hazel whirled around glare at him. “You listen here, Presley. We decided as a pack that we would be surprised at the birth. Don’t think my child’s genitalia holds any sway over how I decorate their room.”

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