Page 33 of Saving Nevin
The Omega from my pack, the one at the mall. Had she kept my secret? Or had she told Rex that I was still very much alive? If she did, did Rex even care? Or did I really mean so little to him that I was nothing more than the trash he took out months ago. Maybe I was worrying myself sick for nothing, but deep down, I was afraid. I was scared that that fateful encounter with Kerri would come back to haunt me.
Truth was, I never told Kace what happened that day. I'd sworn Xan to secrecy about it too. I didn't want my Alpha to worry for nothing. Because it was probably nothing. Why would Rex want me back when I'd failed him, time and time again? Why would he even bother going through the work of hunting me down when he could just handpick another fresh young Omega from his harem, an Omega who would happily bear him strong Alpha progeny.
An Omega without the mental and emotional baggage of being barren.
I was worrying for nothing. I meant nothing to Rex Hagan. I never had.
Breathing in deeply, I held it to the count of three, then slowly exhaled. As I did, I closed my eyes and honed in on the sound of Kace's heavy breathing. Slow and deep and peaceful. It made me wish I was still asleep.
My lashes fluttered as I gazed at my mate, studying him. How beautiful he was to me, even though he was snoring and there were pressure marks on his cheek and drool bubbling at the corner of his lips. I didn't know what I did to deserve an Alpha like Kace, or to miraculously be carrying his child, but I was so damn thankful.
I blinked tears away as Kace stirred with a soft sigh. "Nev?" His voice was roughened from sleep, but his hazel eyes were suddenly locked on me, searching my face. "You okay, honey?"
"Yeah," I whispered back. "I'm fine. Just... Thinking."
"About the past?"
"Yeah." It wasn't technically a lie, after all.
"Come here, baby." He reached out his arms. I rolled into his warm embrace. I buried my face in the crook of his neck, breathing in the soft cedar of his scent as I nestled in close. For a long time, I held onto him and he held onto me, and time seemed to stand still—although the birds outside didn't quite get the memo.
Then, softly, "Are you nervous for today?" Kace asked.
"Um…” I bit down on my bottom lip, worrying it between my teeth. "What's today?"
He chuckled and kissed my forehead, then pulled back enough that we could look into each other's eyes. "We're doing dinner and game night at Mom's place tonight, remember? A bunch of pack members will be there."
"Oh." I groaned softly, suddenly remembering what I'ddefinitelyforgotten about. I'd been so worried about my past catching up with me that I'd completely spaced the pack activities Gracie had planned for this weekend.
"I forgot," I admitted with a sheepish smile. "Pregnancy brain, but yeah, now that you mention it, Iamnervous." Even months later, being around a lot of other shifters made me antsy. It wasn't so bad when it was just Kace and his family, but when the entire pack got involved? I wasn’t as comfortable.
"You'll be just fine," Kace assured me, then leaned in for a kiss, which I happily gave back.
Later that evening, we drove over to Kace's mom's place. It was a blue two-story ranch with a huge pole-barn on wooded land that she'd designated pack territory. Off the back-half of her house, she'd built her veterinary clinic, so that she could practice right out of her backyard. It was pretty ingenious, if you asked me.
Still, my stomach did a somersault when I saw how many cars were already parked on the lawn outside. So many people…
"Do we have to?" I squeaked out, rubbing at my belly.
"Yes," he replied with a smile. "You'll feel better once we go inside. C'mon."
I followed him through the yard and up the driveway. We went in through the open garage door. There was a ping-pong table set up out there, and a bunch of guys were gathered around playing, red Solo cups in hand and the radio playing something twangy. They greeted us with soft whoops, clapping Kace on the back in greeting. Slipping past them, he led me up two steps and into the house.
I breathed in and immediately, my mouth began to water. Whatever she was cooking smelledamazing. It looked like everyone brought some kind of side, too, because there were tinfoil-covered casserole dishes and plates of desserts on a card table near the dining room.
A couple of three-year-old twins were racing around the table, squealing and laughing, while their Omega father hovered in the doorway, meekly calling after them to be careful. Chaotic, but cute.
"Hey, look what the cat dragged in," came a familiar voice. "About time you two showed up."
"Bite me," Kace joked, but threw his arm around his friend Pike's shoulder in a hug. Beside him, Pike’s coyote shifter Omega stood, looking utterly exhausted. His hair, once probably a vivid blue, was faded and the roots had grown out, and he had bags beneath his eyes, but he was smiling. No doubt because of the tiny bundle wrapped in his arms.
Kace smiled brightly. "Hey, Phoenix. Aww, and you brought the little one. Let me see."
I followed his lead and sidled a little closer, to get a better look at Phoenix's baby. My heart squeezed at the sight of her round face and rosy cheeks, and the tuft of blond hair sticking up from the top of her head.
"She's beautiful," I murmured, glancing up at Phoenix. "What's her name?"
"Kestrel," he said. “We brought Griffon, too, but Quinn scooped him up the moment we got here.” He laughed softly, but he looked a little relieved. “I think she knows I’m running on fumes. Kess is a very fussy baby. She has colic and we have to give her special formula, and Griffon wasn’t too pleased about having a little sister, so he’s been exceptionally grumpy, too. It’s been a rough couple of months, to say the least.”
