Page 5 of Bite of Spice

I cackled on my way back to the kitchen, excited to see this day unfold with my mates.

Five

KIERAN

The happiness that exploded in our home was so different from anything I had ever experienced. Even growing up as a kid, our holidays were peaceful, quiet even as I learned to love the routines set forth for me. Mike, at one point in my life, had been a comfort and I think that’s why it hurt so much more seeing things turn out the way they had. He hadn’t always been this monster and I had no idea what had made him change.

Happily, I settled back in my chair at the table, watching people bustle to and from the counter, sharing and passingplates. It was chaos but it was mine.Thiswas what true happiness looked like and for once I let myself enjoy it. I was a little out of my comfort zone, most of the guests in this house people I had never met. Granted, Isaias had asked me fifteen times before they arrived if we should host the party elsewhere.

I hadn’t minded at the time, more overwhelmed by all the decisions than anything. Leaning into my Omega biology was a bitch but at the first sign of distress, Joel shooed Isaias away. Now, though, I didn’t mind. The heady mixture of scents was a little unnerving but the way they accepted me wasn’t something I had experienced before.

I became part of the conversation as they asked about the babies and laughed about how often I used to repaint the walls. They strayed away from asking about my past before the pack, something I attributed to Isaias warning them before they came over.

Terrence was constantly squealing about every little thing, stuffing his face beside me before placing things on my plate to try as well. When it came to food, I was pretty straightforward with it but the seasoned turkey breast, mac n cheese, and cranberry sauce were a match made in heaven. The stuffing was something I could do without and the sweet potato casserole was divine.

“So, Kieran,” one of the guys in a police officer’s uniform started. I recognized him from the station. He also occasionally stopped into grandma’s coffee shop before a shift. “Think you could beat me in an arm wrestle?” Everyone burst out laughing, throwing out imaginary bets before his wife slapped him on the back.

She was a petite little thing but her smile radiated through the entire room as she looked up at her husband. “He would demolish you and we all know it. You’re just saved because he has babies to protect.” More laughter filled the room and foronce in my life, I didn’t hate the fact that I wasn’t the Omega that society thought I should be.

Joel leaned over from the other side, placing a kiss on my cheek as the plates were cleared. “You’re happy?”

“Absolutely,” I whispered before twisting enough to catch a taste of his lips. The constant yearning to be close to all my mates but especially Joel wasn’t a chore but I was happy for it to be over. However, carting Joel off for private time was one of the things I enjoyed in the afternoons. Using our Betas as a pillow during a cat nap? Yes, please.

Joel’s hand dipped to my belly, all of our mates enjoying touching and rubbing it when they had a chance. The babies chose that time to kick, Joel’s eyes widening with surprise. “I can feel them. Fuck, I can’t wait to hold them.”

“Ahhhh, young love,” one of the attendees pushed out. The laughter continued mixed with ‘oos’ and ‘ahs’, the embarrassment that I thought would surface staying away. I felt loved as I turned to survey the kitchen, not one of them looking at me as if I didn’t belong, as if I wasn’t an Omega worth loving, as if I was anabomination.I was just… Kieran.

Heat bloomed through my chest the longer Joel’s hand stayed on my belly, his other hand gravitating toward my neck to massage the tender skin by my gland. “Stop,” I whispered, facing him again. When he didn’t listen, I placed a gentle hand on his neck, dragging him forward just enough to catch his undivided attention. “You’re going to make me drag you into my nest and not care who’s still out here to hear what I’m going to do to you.”

His cheeks pinked slightly although I could see in his eyes that he wasn’t against the idea. Still, Joel removed his hand after stealing a kiss and rushing off to the counter to help grab dessert. Isaias across from me was trying and failing to stifle his laughter, his eyes dancing as he focused on our dynamic.

Berry, apple, and sweet potato pie were brought to the table. Whip cream and ice cream were added as Ren sliced a piece of each before handing it to me. It wasn’t that I hadn’t ever eaten pie before but the company I was sharing dessert with made it feel different. New, even. I loved it. A yawn slipped out, Ren giggling.

“You’re about to crash, aren’t you?” Ren murmured so that only I could hear it.

“No,” I said a little too quickly.

Our little Alpha shrugged and helped serve everyone else as I continued to take in the Thanksgiving holiday.

Unfortunately, that made me remember just how much I had missed out on. The countless holidays Ihadn’tbeen able to enjoy running from the man that still plagued my nightmares. The first part of this pregnancy, strange as it was, had taken my mind off of everything else. Now that I had had time to settle? That incident with Joel and Mike was all I could think about. I just hadn’t had the heart to bring it up to my mates.

The babies in my belly decided that then was a great time to have a dance party, squirming around aiming straight for my bladder. Excusing myself, I waddled to the bathroom, grateful that there were only a few more weeks of carrying them. The doctor had mentioned to be ready for anything, seeing as my heats had been irregular.

After relieving myself and washing my hands, I stared into the mirror at the gruff face looking back at me. For the most part, my reflection looked happy. The lingering anxiety behind the eyes though was what worried me. My hands dropped to my belly as I thought of our future and how I was supposed to provide for our babies when I couldn’t even deal with my ex-Alpha. Hell, I still didn’t even know why he had wanted me so badly. Every scenario I went through turned up nothing. Love and obsession didn’t seem to cover all of Mike’s behaviors.

And not knowing seemed to scare me more.

A soft knock came on the door before it opened, Isaias’ face peering in the mirror. “Sweetheart, are you alright?” He stepped inside and closed the door behind him, waiting for me to respond. Our Alpha had become a little more timid over the last couple of months and I blamed that on myself, on not being able to tell him what I wanted. I hated leaning on people for things and after years of doing everything myself, asking took effort.

He opened his arms wide and I turned to step into his embrace, my shoulder leaning against his chest. Isaias pressed a kiss to my cheek as his arms went around me, one of his hands resting on my belly. “You alright?” I nodded but knew that wasn’t enough. “And you know that you can come to me, to us if there’s something wrong?” Again, I nodded. “Kieran…”

It was a soft command, gently asking for me to open up and for some reason, I couldn’t hold back anymore. “What if we can’t protect them?” I hung my head, clinging to the hand on my belly as a tear ran down my cheek.

“Fuck, sweetheart. How long have you been thinking about this?”

I didn’t answer that but my silence was answer enough. He held me as I gave in, my body shaking with silent sobs. Maybe this was all I needed—to just let go. To give in and let my mates help carry the burden I had taken on. I wasn’t alone anymore and whileIhadn’t been enough to stay Michael’s advances, my family was.

I wasn’t sure how long we stayed there but when we emerged, the kitchen was quiet, food packaged, and our mates snuggled into a corner of the couch. Joel was actively sucking on Ren’s ear, our little Alpha squirming as he tried to eat the last of his pie.

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