“Mrs. Sørensen, this food is incredible,” I tell her, making sure to not talk with my mouth full. Forrest is next to me, also shoveling food in his face, but I can’t tell if it’s because he’s starving or he feels uncomfortable with Claire’s family. It’s more than likely a mixture of both.
“Thank you. You can call me Liv. We’re about to be a family, after all.” She sighs dreamily. “It’s a precious experiencewatching your children grow up into these incredible humans and watching them find the love you know they deserve.”
As she says the words, Axel quietly leaves the table and Liv gives us a small smile.
“If you’ll excuse me,” she says as she follows her middle son.
Dean, Claire’s father, who has said little, finally speaks. “Do you plan on spending all your time in New Hampshire?” he asks, and I can tell the thought of it hurts him.
I come from a loving home, but it’s clear that Claire’s family is very tightly knit.
“Of course not, Dad. We’ll only be a few hours away. You’re always welcome to visit and I know we’ll be visiting too,” Claire assures him and her dad clears his throat.
Claire is the youngest, the last one to leave the nest, and it’s clear that it’s a hard concept for her parents to accept.
“We’ll take the best care of her, sir, I promise,” I reassure him.
The man gives me a tight smile and digs back into his food.
“Alright, so tell us everything that happened on board,” Shiloh says, changing the conversation, like any good best friend would.
The rest of the night goes smoothly, and her family grows less intimidating, but by the end of the night, Claire can barely hold her eyes open.
“Come on, sweetheart, let’s get you to bed,” I tell her; Forrest is in complete agreement, the man is definitely people’d out.
When we step into her bedroom, I realize now just how exceptionally ugly the Under the Sea suite was and I’m happy she’s back into her life of luxury.
Forrest and I will make sure that she always has whatever she needs to feel comfortable at all times. It felt real when we were on the ship, but now that we’re a few steps closer to being back home, it’s all really clicking.
We have an Omega. I have a pack.
I grin to myself as I undress down to my underwear and slip into Claire’s soft, luxurious sheets. Forrest helps Claire get her clothes off, and she crawls into bed with me, and I wrap my arms around her and squeeze her tight.
“I like your family,” I tell her honestly and she smiles into my neck.
“You’re my family too,” she says softly, and my heart pumps a little harder as I kiss the top of her head.
We don’t need a bond mark to make it official, but I can’t deny that I’m longing for the moment we’re connected in a deeply intrinsic way only a bond can create.
“I love you, Claire,” I tell her, no longer able to keep the words inside me.
“Love you too, Wells,” she whispers.
“I’m so happy we’re going home and starting our pack,” I reply, hugging her so tight like I’m trying to get inside her skin.
Forrest stands at the end of the bed, having heard the whole conversation. There isn’t jealousy, just pure awe as he gives me a small smile, his dark brown eyes a little glassy as he gets into bed with us. He kisses Claire’s head and pets down my hair in an affectionate embrace.
I feel wholly loved, and it’s all I ever wanted.
Chapter 33
Elliot
Forrest and Wellstake Claire to bed, and I’m left with the Sørensen gang. Which isn’t anything unusual, however, this is the first time that I’m with them as Claire’s Alpha, not Jonah’s and Axel’s friend.
I’m a part of Claire’s pack and I’m not sure how this will change the dynamic.
Axel is nowhere to be found as Liv comes up and squeezes my arm. “I knew this was going to happen, it was just a matter of time,” she says, glancing at her Alpha, Dean, and giving him a wink. He shakes his head at her, but wraps his arms around her. “Your mom is just as thrilled as me.”