Page 67 of The Beta: Part Three
I have enjoyed spending time with every single one of the people crowded around the table in this dining room, but it's time for them to leave. I love Reid's mother and his aunt. I haven't met another female alpha that I identify with as much as I identify with Josephine. I adore every tiny inch of Corso's mother, and every crumb of food she has cooked. I think the world of Alex's parents simply because I can feel how much Talia loves them. I have even thoroughly enjoyed watching the friendship between Elizabet and Devon's mother, Merris, blooming. These are all wonderful things. And they all need to pack up their leftovers and get the fuck out of here.
I'd never say that aloud. Of course they can stay until Talia and Jasper have had enough of them. Jasper's being spoiled as much as Talia. Alex's parents in particular have gone out of their way to talk to him and ask him questions. But Talia is exhausted. I've exchanged several texts with the others and we all agree that this shindig needs to be wrapped up. I wonder what would happen if I just stood up and announced that my omega is too tired, overwhelmed, and emotional to continue the visit. They'd all probably feel like shit and trample each other to get out the door. Then Talia would be pissed at me.
“What are you over there sighing about?” Jamie asks as he pours Talia and Jasper tea from the fancy ass tea set Marcus rolled in here.
“She's tired, but she won't admit it. And she won't go up to bed because she knows that everyone will leave once she does.”
Jamie hums and holds up a finger before he carries the tea to the couch Talia and Jasper are curled up on. They're listening to Reid's mother talk about when he was little, and they're not likely to break free of that spell until it's finished. When he comes back, he sits on the stair next to me and stretches out his legs in front of him. “It's a shame Joplin couldn't make it. I was looking forward to seeing her again.”
“You were looking forward to getting laid,” I snort.
“That too. I can see how tired my sister is, but I can't feel her the way you do. I do know exactly how goddamned stubborn she is, though. Want me to make an ass of myself and require more than Obi to escort me out of here? That would break up the party and keep Talia from blowing up at you.”
I sigh for the hundredth time since dinner. “You're a good man, Daniel. I appreciate the offer, but she'll let us know when she's ready. I just have to exercise a little more patience than I anticipated.”
Ultimately, I only have to exercise my ability to contain relief because Corso calls an end to the evening himself. He even announces it in such a way that dares Talia to argue. It's either that it's so rare that he actually puts his foot down or that she's just that exhausted, but she doesn't complain about sending everyone home. She frowns a little bit, but when people start making for the door she doesn't get up from the couch.
Once the door shuts for the last time she asks if she can't just sleep right there on the couch. Corso clucks his tongue and scoops her up, only taking pause at the foot of the stairs to tell everyone within ear shot that he thinks Talia would like it very much if we all slept in the same room tonight. That's just about what I had in mind, anyway, and we all end up sleeping piled on top of each other in the nest in Nathan's room.
“I wanted to show Cassandra the other nest,” Talia yawns after Trent turns off the light once we're all settled.
“You can show her another time, bella. She'll be back often now that she knows what our pack is like together,” Corso says before he begins to purr. I don't think twelve seconds pass before both Talia and Jasper are asleep to the point of snoring; which is funny and adorable and probably the biggest secret we'll ever keep from them.
~
Obi comes by at least once a week to check on Talia and the babies. She's only got four weeks left in the pregnancy and everything is progressing perfectly as far as Obi can tell. Her belly isn't as huge as I thought it would be while carrying three babies. She looks like any other pregnant omega that's nearly to term; maybe a little bigger, but not dramatically bigger like I expected. Obi says it's because the babies are smaller, but I think he's just as surprised as I am.
We're as prepared for them to be here as well as we can be. They'll all three fit in the big cradle Reid's family brought while they're tiny, but we've got cribs and pods and hammocks and whatever else ready to go for when they're bigger. The cabinets are full of bottles and formula in case Talia needs to supplement, which Obi says is a definite possibility with three babies. We've even got various grandmothers, aunts, uncles, and siblings lined up in case we need help. Everything is going to be okay. Everything is fine.
Until it isn't.
Seth fucking Pratchett is calling me at one in the morning. He's either terrified or delusional. Probably both.
“Kaleb. Hurry. Get her out of there. They know. I didn't tell them. I didn't say a single word, but they know. I tried to stall. I tried to lie, but they know. They're coming. You have to get her out of there, get her somewhere safe. Take her to Alpha Johnson's. Go now.” He's whispering into the phone so fast and frantically and I'm having a hard time piecing everything together.
“Who? What are you talking about? Who is coming?”
There's a jostling and the sound of him breathing into the phone, but after a few breaths he answers. “The rogues. They're the ones watching me. They were watching when we had that call. I snuck in here to call you so you could get her out. They know she's pregnant, Kaleb. They think the baby might be Jasper's and they want it. Some guy...” he stops talking and I hear some people calling to each other in the background. When he comes back on the phone he's even quieter. “I've heard the name Minos a few times, and the name Cobb. It doesn't matter right now. Just get her out. They're coming tonight.”
I'm sitting straight up in bed now. I've got him on speaker and I'm texting Devon and Corso. Can't we catch a break? For fuck sake, Talia's just a few weeks away from giving birth, and Jasper is even less than that before his next heat. “How do you know they're coming?”
“They fucking told me. Taunted me with it while they beat the shit out of me. I wouldn't tell them anything, I didn't tell them she was or wasn't. I didn't say a word, Kaleb. I swear. Shit.” The line goes silent for a few moments. I can almost hear his pulse thunking against the receiver, or maybe it's mine. I can't believe more people are coming after Talia. It's ridiculous. I don't know anyone with the name Cobb, and the only Minos I've ever heard of is some prick on the west coast council. I don't even think he's a major player over there, barely worth the mention.
“I've got to go,” Seth hisses into the phone. “I have to move before they catch me. Get her out of there. They're coming. Hurry.” Then he hangs up. Fuck.
“What is it?” Devon's expression is stark. He isn't surprised. He isn't angry. He's just ready to deal with whatever it is. Corso is right behind him, but a little less collected.
“Seth called.”
Stoic or not, Corso lets out a line of curses before I can finish the explanation.
“What happened?” Devon begins his customary pacing in front of my dresser.
“He says to get Talia out of here. He says rogues are coming for her because she's pregnant and they think it's Jasper's baby.” I get up and start pulling on clothes and shoes. Reid and Trent come in as I'm finishing up my laces.
“Of course he told them. But how did he know? Other than our families, we haven't really put it out there. And he's locked down in a fucking rehab facility,” Trent rakes his hands through his hair.
Most of my weapons are in my closet and Devon helps me get them on the bed while I talk. “He says he didn't tell anyone anything. He told me the rogues have infiltrated the staff where he is and beat the shit out of him because he wouldn't tell them anything about her. He was hiding somewhere to make the call. He said to hurry. We can't take her out of here, I won't be caught out on the road. What's the plan?”
