Page 58 of The Alpha: Part Two
I nod even though they can't see it. "It was. I learned a lot about Seth last night. And the twins. And myself. But we're alright. I'll call Mateo later today and let you know what he says. Do you need anything?"
"I'm good," she tells me. "I can't wait to meet your brothers. I miss mine a lot."
I start to say that I'm going to miss mine when we leave for the east coast, but I stop myself. I'm not really ready to talk about a life away from my family. Not yet, anyway. Not out loud. Instead, I change the subject. "We could have a cookout! Benny and Michael would love that. We could invite all my brothers, Mateo’s and Sebastian's packs. There would be a ton of food. It would be fun."
There's a brief pause on their end of the call, then Corso says, "I think a gathering would be good, as long as it's safe."
That is a thought. One that I didn't consider before getting excited about the idea of a cookout with my family. I haven't seen them for longer than a few minutes since I was taken in the parking garage at the hospital. It feels like so much longer than it actually has been. I can't imagine a safer place to be than surrounded by my family, but I know that's not what Corso means. He means outside threats. It didn't seem like Flores had many, if any, friends, but he is very obviously absent, and I am very obviously no longer under his thumb. I don't think Elijah has had time to gather himself and his new pack and take control of the Flores's operation. It's entirely possible that someone looking to gain more power and control might put things together and come to retaliate before Elijah gets things settled.
"Let's talk to Seth, the twins, and Mateo. I'd really love to do something fun to celebrate coming home," I tell them. "If they decide that it's too dangerous, then we won't do it. I can always just put you in contact with Mateo and see them at home. We don't need a big gathering, I just thought it would be fun."
"It would be fun, Desir'ee," Corso says. "And I'm sure Trent would be very happy for an opportunity to stretch his stomach. We just have to make sure everyone will be safe."
"Okay. I'll text you later, Talia. Try to get some more rest, and call me if you need me."
We end the call and I go back down the hall to the warm bed waiting for me. My boys are sprawled all over it. Ben is cuddled against Seth's side and one of Michael's legs is thoroughly trapped by one of Seth's. They're adorable, but I'm not sure they would appreciate that particular compliment.
I crawl up from the foot of the bed to wriggle between Seth and Michael, smiling as they both hitch their legs over mine. It smells like home, and I close my eyes for a few long moments. This is what I've needed for so long and I finally have it.
It doesn't take long for me to be cuddled back to sleep, and when I wake up again there are two sets of eyes peering down at me.
"Hi," I say, reaching up to tuck Seth's hair behind his ear. Then I stroke down Michael's jaw.
They both bend down to kiss me, but I only have one mouth and Michael gets there first. Seth settles for brushing his lips against my temple before lifting back up. "Hi."
"I want to have a big cook out. With us and Talia's pack, and my brothers and their packs."
Seth drags his nose down the side of my neck and across the twins' marks. "We usually have a huge end of summer cookout back home. It's wild, but we'd be having something like that around now anyway. As long as it's safe."
"That's what Corso said, about it being safe. I'm going to call Mateo. I would really like as much protection for Talia as possible when she goes into labor."
Michael jerks himself up into a sitting position. "She's having the baby at the house, right? Not in the hospital?"
"Right," I say, tracing a line down his chest, "she's going to deliver at home. We're going to be there. Me inside helping her, and you guys standing guard outside the house."
He nods and settles back down beside me. "If we have a cookout with that many packs, it'll turn into a block party."
"That just means more food," Ben says, clambering over Seth to take up residence on top of me. "Cookout before the baby, though. I'll pout if you make me wait till after. I need all the grilled goodness."
"I love this," I sigh, running my nails gently across Ben's shoulders.
He laughs. "Being squished?"
"Mmhmm," I nod. Their bodies pressing against mine from every angle feels nothing less than perfect. "But if we stay like this much longer, I'll get sleepy again."
"Well, we can't have that," Michael says, sliding his fingers through my hair and turning my face towards him for a kiss. "You have calls to make." He gives me another kiss, then Seth's long fingers are turning me towards him.
"A cookout to plan," he purrs, licking across my bottom lip.
Then Ben drags a fingertip between my breasts, and I know I won't be doing any of those things until much later.
~
"I knew something wasn't right, Desie," Mateo growls. It started as a phone call, but after the first few sentences he hung up on me and showed up at our door with his pack and Sebastian's to sit around my kitchen table and all over my counters to yell at me. I understand they're upset and angry, but Amber's pregnancy is starting to show and that's all I want to talk about. I missed the first part of her pregnancy. And I missed Sebastian being officially welcomed into his pack. And I'm going to miss so much more because soon I'll be living thousands of miles away.
Ben leaves his perch on the counter to stand behind me and put his hands on my shoulders. He doesn't say anything, or tell Mateo to stop yelling at me, he just supports me while I deal with my brothers on my own. I've never needed help in this arena, and the twins have always understood that. Seth, however, looks like he wants to intervene and is having a hard time not doing it.
"Of course, you did. You always do. But I had to do what I could to keep them safe. And Elijah was helping me."
