Alpha Queen (Claimed by Wolves #4) - Callie Rose Page 0,83
As I take my time with the kiss, one by one, the other alphas shift back to human form and come to gather around us. They embrace us and add their love to the mix while I drop to my knees, wrap my arms around Sable’s waist, and press my forehead to her belly.
Her skin is soft beneath my fingertips, and I breathe in her scent as her fingers delve into my hair.
My entire future exists in this family we’ve made together.
In the men who have become like brothers to me. In this woman who’s stolen my heart. And in the baby growing inside her.
30
Sable
I bend over the table set up in the middle of the street and point at an empty lot on the outskirts of the blueprints’ dark lines. “Couldn’t we fit another house here? A small family home. There’s plenty of space.”
Ridge squints at the plans, then raises his gaze to the row of old East Pack homes. “Yeah, you know, I think we could. Maybe even two. What do you think?” He glances at Archer. “You know this land better than I do. Is it stable?”
“It’s stable,” Archer agrees thoughtfully. “Rock and dirt. Maybe not great for growing crops, but good for building. But they’d have to be small houses. Really small.”
“I think small houses would be nice for new families,” I offer. “Rather than having to live in the apartments with all the bachelors. Kids deserve a yard to play in, even if it’s tiny.” My hand drifts to my abdomen. Even though the baby isn’t starting to show yet, I’m vividly aware of the little life growing inside me, and how I want to raise our child and provide for it. He or she will have a yard to play in, toys to play with, and friends all around.
A life much, much different from the one I had growing up.
Construction’s already started on the other side of the village, and it’s moving swiftly. The apartment building is a shell with a roof, ready for drywall and carpet, and there are twelve new cabins built down near the meeting house. We’re finalizing plans for the second phase of building, and I still feel like the newly renamed Montana Pack village needs more homes.
We aren’t exactly small anymore.
Amora leans over and points to another place on the blueprints, her dark hair swinging forward in her face. “Here too. There’s plenty of room between the last row of houses and the trees to add another street.” She looks up at me and winks. “They just need fresh eyes, don’t they?”
I return her grin with one of my own. “Too worried about aesthetics to worry about the fact we need to house way more people. Should we walk over there and do some looking around?”
Trystan grabs my arm and shakes his head sternly. “You’ve done enough walking for the day. You need to go put your feet up. For the baby. I’ll make you some lunch while these guys go check out the land.”
“You’re just trying to get her alone,” Dare accuses with a smirk. “I would much rather ‘make lunch’ than walk in the weeds.”
“I’m thinking of the baby,” Trystan shoots back with mock disgust. “Camilla said for her not to overdo it.”
I roll my eyes, and my gaze lands on Amora, who’s holding back laughter.
“Do you see what I have to deal with?” I shake my head in mock indignation. “The minute Camilla confirmed the pregnancy, I lost all free will. They’d carry me around on a cushion if I let them.”
“That’s an exaggeration,” Archer says as he rolls up the blueprints and slides the sheets back into the plastic tube for safekeeping. Then he hesitates, grinning slightly. “But I do think Trystan’s right. Go sit down and eat lunch. Don’t forget to take your vitamins when you’re done eating.”
I gesture toward my mates and look exasperatedly back at Amora. “See? Exhibit A. They’re even dictating what foods I eat. It’s like they think I can’t take care of myself!”
“We’re just thinking of the—”
“Yes, the baby, I know.” I sigh and wag my finger playfully at Archer. “I’m pregnant, not an invalid. I can help with building and plans, and I’m definitely capable of walking farther than the distance from the couch to the kitchen.”
Ridge leans over and kisses my forehead. “We know. But you don’t have to do those things when you have us to do them for you.”