Page 42 of And Omega Makes Four
Several weeks have passed since the peak of the breeding season. The pack has calmed down and normalcy has returned.
Mostly...
My muscles ache as I take a moment to rest on the stump of a tree. The sun is beating down mercilessly, but as I look around at the other wolves helping me clear the ground for a new garden, everyone is smiling.
"How's it going, babe?" Frankie approaches me with a canteen of water.
"Good, and thanks." I gratefully accept the drink, realizing just how thirsty I am. "Hopefully, we'll be able to finish this before the end of the summer."
The project has taken longer than anticipated, but I'm confident we'll be able to make full use of the new garden space in the spring.
"That's good." Frankie takes a look around, a sense of pride in his stance. "We're getting there."
"How's everything else coming along?" I ask, looking at him carefully.
"It's going well." Frankie turns back to me with a grin. "We've got several new people interested in learning more about farming and gardening. We’re even pulling together a group that'll be taking some classes at the community college."
The college campus is a few hours away, so anyone taking classes will be in for a long commute several times a week. But hopefully, it'll all pay off in the end.
"That's great. I'm glad you're making progress."
Frankie truly seems happy now, and it’s great to see. "Yeah. Me too. It's been a lot of work, but..." His voice trails off as he catches sight of River and Devon approaching from the main compound.
"Hey, sexy alphas." River waggles his eyebrows, being silly as he greets us. "How's it going?"
"Amazing.” I stand up and dust myself off. "We're making good progress." I can't help but gently rub his belly as I give him a kiss. He's only barely starting to show, but like most of the mated omegas in the pack now, he's got a baby bump.
"That’s great." River reaches for Devon’s hand then leans on his side. "We just wanted to take a little walk to see how things are coming along."
"I'm glad you did." I give Devon a kiss too, always happy when all my men are within arm’s reach. "I've missed you both."
River places his hand over mine, holding it in place. "We’ve missed you both too."
Frankie kisses Devon’s cheek and then River. "How are you feeling, baby?"
"I'm okay." River shrugs and exhales dramatically. "A little nauseous sometimes, but otherwise, I feel fine."
"Don't worry." Devon kisses the side of River’s head as he speaks to me and Frankie. "I'm making sure he stays hydrated and is taking care of himself."
River laughs. "I don't need all this babysitting. I'm doing just fine."
"We'd be poor mates if we didn't fuss over you. Besides, you're carrying our pup. We're gonna be extra protective of you." Frankie cups his face with his strong hands and peppers him with kisses.
River rolls his eyes but smiles affectionately. "Fine, fine. I'll let you fuss over me now, but after the baby comes, that’s where all the attention needs to be."
"No promises, baby," Devon says. "But at least it’ll be shared."
"Is it wrong to hope for triplets?" River shakes his head, only half joking.
I slip my hands into my pockets, looking over toward the compound. "How are things going with the pack? Any problems?"
River shrugs casually. "Not really. People are still adjusting to the changes, but I think they're happy. We've got a few more wolves working in town now, bringing in money. We're also looking into adding some more housing since all our little families will be outgrowing their current homes soon. We're still figuring out how to make it all work, but I think we're on the right track."
"It seems like it.” I’m so damn proud of the leader he’s become. "I'm glad you're happy."
River grins, tucking his chin. "I really am."
"Now, let's get out of the sun." Frankie nods toward the kitchen. "And when was the last time you ate, Ky?"
