Page 15 of Heat Haven Holidays

Ithoughtlastyearwas going to be the best Christmas we had as a pack. As much as I bitched and complained about wearing matching pajamas. Here I sit in our new suburban house with my family, all of us in matching pajamas. This time the shirt says, “Addie’s First Christmas.” Freddie said it would be wasteful to not wear the same pants as last year.

Our daughter is wrapped in Emily’s arms. Her bright red onesie reading ‘My First Christmas.’ With pants that match our own. She also has a ridiculously enormous bow in her black hair, almost dwarfing her small three-month-old frame.

My bonded Omega beams at our daughter. Her face is free of makeup, she’s a little tired, but we all are. At least with five people, it makes everything far more manageable.

I lean over, rubbing my hand over our baby’s belly, her brown eyes blinking at me as she grabs my finger. I thought that I would be jealous. She’s very obviously Kenji’s biological daughter. But all I felt was overwhelming joy and love for this precious tiny thing that has only made our life better.

I don’t have to ask as Emily hands her over to me. Gently, I hold her under her arms and support her head with my hands.

“Who is the most prettiest Christmas baby there ever was?” I coo at her, earning me a toothless smile. “That’s right, it’s you, Adeline Amelia Miller-Ito,” I say before pressing a kiss to her chubby cheek. I swear baby scent is like crack. I inhale and sigh.

I can feel the joy and happiness down the bond, our pack feeling overwhelmingly full of love.

“Stop being a baby hog. Let me hold my baby girl,” Dion says. As much as I don’t want to give her up, it’s only fair.

I grunt but hand over Addie to Dion. His voice immediately rises multiple octaves as he speaks to her. “What do you think Santa brought you, sweet Addie?” he asks her. She blinks at him, her tiny fists gripping his shirt as he cradles her in the crook of his arm.

Thankfully, it seems that Addie did not inherit Kenji’s temper. She’s even-keeled as a baby can be. Definitely more like Dion, Freddie, or Emily. Dion holds her close to his chest and I look over at the pile of presents under the tree. It’s nearly a mountain. I know we all probably got a little out of hand when it comes to gift giving this year. For both Addie and Emily.

We all were completely dedicated and in love with Emily before she was pregnant or having a baby. But watching how much she glowed and thrived while becoming a mom was something else. The birth was eventful. Thinking about it makes me smile.

“I swear to fucking god if you don’t go down there and tell them to give me an epidural I will lose my fucking mind,” Emily hisses at Kenji, who looks at her wide eyed. Apparently, pain also brings the cursing out of Emily. The need to comfort her is overwhelming; I know we’re all feeling it. How can we make this better for her? While we do our best to reassure her, I’m sure we’re all mentally trying to reassure ourselves as well.

“Okay, I’ll get the nurse.” Kenji leaves the room and Emily sets her gaze on Freddie.

“Ice chips,” she says.

“Of course, darling,” Freddie says, leaving the room to do our bonded’s bidding.

“I need comfy socks,” she says, and Dion is immediately digging into her bag to find what she wants.

I push her hair from her face. Her eyes are wide. I don’t think I’ve seen Emily this afraid except for the elevator incidents.

“You’re going to do great, sweetheart. You’re so strong and brave. You’re amazing,” I tell her.

She fists my shirt, taking in my scent and bringing me close to her. “I’m scared,” she whispers.

I pet her hair and massage the base of her neck. “I know, honey. We’re all here. The doctors are the best. We made sure of it. You’re going to get your epidural and feel so much better.”

She nods and sniffles next to my throat. Emily gets her epidural, and we welcomed our baby girl three hours later.

Emily has clearly forgotten about the pain and the whole ordeal because she’s already mentioned that she would like to try again during her next heat. Who knows when that will be since she is breastfeeding? We all decided that four would be the limit. We need to have one more parent than there are children.

The future is far brighter than I ever imagined it could be.

Kenji grabs a small red box and smirks as he hands it to Emily. She reads the label and I can see tears well in her eyes.

“I took her to the store to pick it out,” Kenji jokes.

“To Mommy, from Addie,” Emily reads out loud for us. I give Kenji a look. I’m more so pissed I didn’t think of it. Smart fucker.

She opens the box, pulling out a small gold bracelet. The elephants are delicate as a smaller one trails a larger one. A charm with a small A attached to the smaller elephant. Emily tears up, putting it around her delicate wrist before getting on her tiptoes to kiss Kenji.

“Come here, bug,” she says to Addie, cradling our daughter against her chest. Dion swoops in and gets a kiss when they transfer the precious cargo.

You know when you think your heart reaches maximum capacity? I thought I did, but at this moment I feel like I want to fucking cry at how pure and amazing this moment is.

“Family picture?” Freddie asks. Leaning down and grabbing a kiss from Emily and placing a gentle peck on Addie’s forehead. Now I’m getting jealous about all the kisses being handed out.

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