Page 59 of Pucking the Enemy

“She also thinks a bag of gummy worms is a meal,” Sebastian said, a grin clear in his voice.

I looked forward, but I could feel Roman’s eyes boring into me.

“Duchess…”

“Hush. They’re delicious.”

“Yes, they’re delicious, but you’re pregnant. Please don’t tell me you think gummy bears are a whole meal.”

“Gummy worms, and no. I also have chocolate with them—don’t you two growl at me!”

As soon as the car pulled into the drive, I didn’t hesitate to open my door and stomp toward the pack house, ignoring the two alphas I was leaving behind.

“Hey, sweetness, you okay?” Cormac asked as I made a beeline for the fridge. He was walking down the stairs with an empty box in hand, clearly having just been to whatever room was going to be my nest.

“They’re ganging up on me!” I growled as I opened the fridge door with a bit more force than needed. Glancing through the shelves in between the half-eaten blocks of cheese, the protein shakes, and the vegetables, I found what I was looking for.

Chocolate.

It felt like the perfect time for a snack. Without preamble, I opened up the bar of chocolate and took a bite, turning to look at the doorway, where Roman was standing, his eyebrows raised as he took in the sight of me.

“Pregnancy cravings,” I said simply, closing the fridge door and taking another bite.

“You’re going to be a handful, aren’t you, Duchess?”

I nodded. If the alphas planned on ganging up on me, I was going to make their lives hell.

A small part of me loved the idea of having my best friend near as I went through this insane experience of living with three random alphas who got me pregnant, but now, I was beginning to see the downsides of such an arrangement.

Sebastian knew me very well, probably a little too well.

“Okay.” Cormac drew out the word. “I think it’s best I take Hazel to see her new room before you guys start snapping at each other’s throats.” As he spoke, he gently wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me toward the hallway and up the stairs. “Want to explain what’s going on there?”

“Sebastian’s telling Roman all my deep, dark secrets. Even though he hates Roman, he’s telling on me, that I ate gummy worms for dinner. That was one time! Okay, maybe two, three, at most!” I babbled.

Cormac hummed, pulling me along the hall, pushing me gently through an open door. My rambling was cut off when I took in the space.

Phillip was standing on the far side of the room, next to a very large bed that was completely bare. Next to it sat several of my nest boxes.

That wasn’t what grabbed my attention, though.

No, it was the walls.

They were beautiful.

They had been painted—recently, judging by the smell—to look like a pink and purple sky full of clouds.

The pastel clouds reminded me of a watercolor painting. It was tranquil and truly beautiful.

“Whoa,” I whispered, turning and taking in the room. Other than the walls, it was a blank canvas, and my hands were already itching to open my boxes of nesting supplies and start making the room mine.

Cormac dipped out of the room to grab another box of supplies from the car, leaving just Phillip and me.

“Do you like it?” Phillip asked, looking at the walls. “We can change it.”

“Don’t you dare change it!” My words came out in a rush. “I love it.”

A smile graced his face as he nodded happily. “Good. Are you tired? Do you want to take a nap in Roman’s room, or do you want us to help you build the nest?”

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