“What is that?”
“The gender of our baby! I waited to find out. Merrick is waking the others. We’ll find out as a pack.”
Preston’s eyes widened. “You waited for me?”
I nodded. “It felt right to wait until we were all together.
“What’s with the three a.m. wake-up call?” Nolan grumbled, scratching his head as he walked into my room wearing nothing but gym shorts. Wilder was bounding ahead of him, smiling. He was like a toddler that could wake up instantly, that one.
“I wanted you all here for this,” I explained, holding up the envelope.
The tiredness dissipated from Nolan’s eyes, and a smile spread across his face as Wilder hooted with joy, jumping into the nest.
All my alphas piled in. Thankfully, my new nest was large enough that they could fit comfortably.
I sat in the center, my legs slung over Merrick's lap, Preston's hand on my thigh. Nolan settled behind me, wrapping an arm around my waist, and Wilder practically laid his head in my lap. It was an awkward position, but I fucking loved it.
For the first time ever, I had my entire pack in my nest, and everything felt right in the world. The hollow ache in my chest that had been dulled by my multiple bonds was finally whole. I wasn’t missing a thing.
For once I was…complete.
Things with Preston still needed discussing. I wasn’t over what had happened between us, but the middle of the night, when I was tired and hormonal was not the time. My happiness over him being back was at war with my lingering irritation at my whole situation.
That was a problem for tomorrow.
For now, I wanted to bask in my omega joy from having all my alphas in one place finally.
Plus, I was really freaking excited to open the damn envelope.
Tears gathered in the corners of my eyes as that realization hit me with shocking force.
“Hails?” Merrick asked.
I shook my head. “This is good… I like having you all here.”
“Wealllike being here,” Nolan assured me.
I gripped the envelope in two hands. “Shall we do this? I know it’s not important. We’ll love any baby, boy or girl. We just want a healthy baby, and all that jazz…”
“But I want to know!” Merrick laughed.
I looked each of them in the eye, hoping that my love and happiness was clear in my gaze. Lifting the flap of the envelope, I pulled out the slip of paper.
“It’s a boy!” I choked out a sob, tears coming thick and fast.
I was smothered with hugs so fast, my head was spinning. I couldn’t make out the words the alphas started babbling off, either, all of them talking at once. It was chaos and cuddles and I adored it.
We were having a boy. My first baby would be a boy, and I already loved him.
“Oh, wow,” Wilder said as the others settled—a tiny bit. “We need a name. We can think on it, but Wilder Junior has a nice ring to it.”
Pillows hit his face in no time, and I just laughed, settling back against Nolan. Stillness crowded in alongside everyone, and that exhaustion I’d been fighting roared back to life as the relief and happiness took hold.
“Slumber party?” Wilder suggested.
I giggled, deliriously excited at the prospect of falling asleep surrounded by all my alphas
I nodded, closing my eyes. “Fuck yes.”