I feel so whole having them here, but I’m exhausted.
The moment they go to bed, I’m putting on one of Elliot’s shirts and heading to my nest. I barely even sleep in my designated bedroom. It’s mostly become a massive closet at this point. Some nights are pack nights, others are individual, and others are free for all. We don’t really have a schedule, but I can usually tell down the bond when someone needs a little extra attention, and tonight I can feel Forrest needs time with me.
As if I conjured him through the bond, his comforting ginger and lemon scent makes an appearance. He lies down on the nest bed next to me, his large arms circling me tightly.
I turn into his arms and inhale his scent deeply, pushing his hair behind his ears. I’m not sure how I got blessed with a pack full of luscious heads of hair, but I know one day our kids will all have gorgeous locks no matter whose they are biologically.
Andie has me thinking about my time line. I knew I wanted children, but I still want time with my pack and for us to smooth out all our edges.
“What’s wrong?” I whisper to him and he clears his throat.
“Is it wrong to feel jealous?” he says, and I look at him softly.
“You’re jealous they’re having a baby?”
“It’s like ever since we’ve bonded, this switch in me has flipped and all I can think about is getting you pregnant.” As he says it, he nuzzles his head into the crook of my neck.
I pet his hair down and kiss his head. “It’s okay to feel jealous as long as you’re still happy for them. Andie’s a few years older than me. Their pack was already together before they met her on the ship. I’m just not ready yet.”
“I know. I’d never pressure you. Ever.”
“I know, For. I’ll make you a deal. As soon as I decide when I’m ready, you’ll be the first to know, and we can practice as much as we’d like before then,” I tell him and he pulls back, kissing me on my lips.
“Your next heat is coming up soon,” he whispers against my mouth.
“And you can play pretend as much as you like. I’m sure I’ll love it while I’m in heat.”
He laughs at that and kisses me again.
“Who are we eating? Our lovely Omega?” Wells’ voice says. I didn’t even hear him come through the door as he plops down beside us, jostling me on the nest bed, which is the softest bed in the world. Elliot follows suit, joining us on the bed, and I let out a happy sigh.
I love having all my pack together like this, especially when it’s everyone’s choice.
“Scoot over,” Elliot complains behind him, but when my Beta doesn’t move an inch, Elliot moves him just enough so that he can reach across him to put a hand on my hip.
They’re basically cuddling and it’s precious to me.
“Thank you for getting Andie and Shiloh out here. It was an amazing surprise,” I say to all of them.
“I like having them here too. But nothing beats this,” Wells says, happily nestling his face into my hair.
Isn’t that the damn truth? Everything I ever wanted sits in this room and it’s all because I took a chance on a high seas heat experience. I said I was leaving that ship with a pack come hell or high water and I truly got my wish. The three men in my dream nest are my personal slice of heaven and I would go through all the sea sickness, heartache, and even the Under the Seas suite if it led me into their arms again.
I’m exactly where I belong.
Chapter 41
Claire
Epilogue 1
“Pizza Elliot! Fucking Pizza,”Wells yells down the bunny slope to Elliot.
“I am pizza-ing motherfucker,” Elliot snaps back.
He’s definitely doing French fry as he zooms down the mountain on his custom skis Wells got him for Christmas. The skis have some gaming references I don’t understand. Meanwhile, mine are precious with pink and purple gummy bears all on them.
Wells trails after Elliot, as Forrest comes to stand by me on the mountain. You would think with how big he is, he wouldn’t be agile, but he’s pretty impressive on skis.