When She Needs Them Most
: Chapter 38

The days pass with exceptional speed. There’s no doubt in my mind that single couple pairings must struggle when bringing home a new baby. Well, unless they have a village of support, which every new family should. It’s complicated with four of us. Although, I feel guilty admitting how exhausted we all are, especially since it’s the most miraculous time of my life. Nearly three weeks have passed since we brought Luna home from the hospital, and every day seems to be a new adventure. Linc, Kase, and I have started taking turns addressing work issues, but one of us is always home with Chelsea.

Chelsea and I end a voice call with my family, and I collect Luna to place her in the downstairs bassinet. Yes, we ended up buying a second, so we could have one upstairs and another down here.

Overall, Chelsea seems to have found some level of peace after reading Clark’s letters. There was one more page that she missed at the end, which chronicled a bit about the mess he found himself in while trying to help his brother. It listed an agent Clark thought would be safe for her to turn the information over to.

I settle back on the long end of the sectional sofa next to my omega. I’ve had the nearly uncontrollable urge to bite her, and it’s only getting worse the longer that passes.

Chelsea twists to face me, and she smiles, fluttering her long lashes. “Thank you. She never seems to sleep through the transition when I put her down.”

“Ahh, that’s just because Mommy cuddles are the best.” I chuckle and push my mouth to hers for a tender kiss. I do my best to keep things chaste, because my cock doesn’t seem to understand that she’s still healing.

Chelsea buries her fingers in the hair at the back of my neck and tugs me until we’re once again nose to nose. “Are you ever going to bond me? Because I feel like I’ve been patient, but it’s kinda starting to drive me crazy.”

“Oh, love,” I growl, licking the seam of her lips. She opens for me, and my tongue teases around hers. I try to keep my weight off her breasts as I lean over her, caressing her cheek. Tugging her lower lip with my teeth produces a muffled moan, and on the next go round, I dig my canines into her lower lip.

Her fingers tighten on my neck as the bond floods in. There wasn’t even a second of hesitation on her part, and it fills my chest with warmth.

I retract my teeth and swipe over the bite to clean and seal it. Chelsea smiles against my lips, and my heart soars. It’s probably way too soon, but I’m already head-over-dick gone for this woman and the family we’re building.

Chelsea sits at the formal dining room, working on Luna’s scrapbook while Kase lies on the floor next to Luna, who is not enjoying her tummy time if the fussy grunts are anything to go by. Or maybe she’s just a very chatty girl.

Lincoln has his laptop on his lap while the TV plays some baby show with classical music. I have no idea what the benefits of that might be, but Kase is obsessed with playing an episode a day while Luna gets a little time on her tummy.

Sky noses her ball toward Luna, like she’s asking the tiny human to toss it for her. Kase chuckles, grabs it, and chucks it toward the dining room before the entire process repeats.

The doorbell rings, and my head tilts. We’re not expecting anyone. Shoving myself out of the chair I’ve been sitting in, I assure the others that I’ve got it.

I don’t bother with the peephole and instead pull it open to find the younger Raynor standing on our front porch.

It’s rare that I freeze, but we’ve all locked up our weapons now that we have a baby in the house. There’s no doubt in my mind that I could break the man in two with my bare hands, but Chelsea appears at my side.

A soft gasp escapes her lips when she catches sight of her ex’s brother. “What are you doing here? How did you even find me?”

“We don’t have what you’re looking for,” I growl, pulling Chelsea close to my side.

“No, I know,” Emmett says, pulling his shoulders back. “I got a call from someone named Easton? He made it clear that I should get out of Richmond. Then he gave me your address.”

“I’m going to fucking kill him,” I mutter, plotting ways to ensure Shadow Security needs a new company-wide owner.

“Clark sent me a letter.” He sighs, swiping a hand over his face. “I mean, I think the lawyer sent it. I was already trying to find you, but Clark asked me to check on you, and…” The guy’s shoulders slump. “I’m sorry I scared you in Richmond. I was just trying to get their records back, so they would leave us alone.”

Chelsea leans against me, studying her ex’s brother. “Clark asked you to check on me?”

“He did,” Emmett says. “I’m planning to make a move to the West Coast. Not that it’s really optional, but I wanted to make sure you were okay before I left.”

“We’re doing okay,” Chelsea says. “Give me just one minute.” She ducks under my arm and goes back inside the house.

My head tilts as the mask fades away. “If you cause my omega any distress, I will kill you. They’ll never find your body. If anyone cares enough to notice you’ve gone missing, they’ll assume it was a carjacking during your move. They’ll find your vehicle abandoned several states away, with no trace of where you’ve disappeared to.”

Emmett rocks back on his heels with wide eyes, but I force a friendly smile as I hear Chelsea shuffling closer. After all, she made it clear we weren’t allowed to hurt him. Well, not without her permission, meaning I have to play nice until she makes that call.

My sweet omega steps around me and leans her back against my chest as she cradles Luna to her chest. “She got Clark’s dark curls.”

Emmett speaks, but I spot Lincoln sneaking around the garage. He must have used the gate in the backyard.

I catch his attention and give him a firm shake of my head.

He can’t bury that knife in Raynor’s back.

At least, not while Chelsea is watching.

It takes every ounce of focus I’ve got to make it through dinner without snapping Emmett’s neck. Chelsea seems to be obsessed with asking questions about Clark’s childhood and the Raynor family as a whole. She even brings a notebook in to jot notes as Emmett speaks.

Lincoln straps Luna to Kase’s chest, probably because Kase is slightly less likely to try to murder Emmett with the baby in tow.

Slightly.

Catching the diabolical look on his face as Lincoln clears the dishes, I sigh. We’ll need to find something to keep him busy tonight, so Raynor can make a clean exit. It all comes down to knowing there will be someone out there who can donate blood or a kidney if Luna needs it one day.

That’s what saves Emmett from paying dearly for frightening Chelsea badly enough that she had to move.

Then again, that’s what led her to us.

It’s crazy how things work out.

I tighten my hold on Chelsea’s shoulder, tugging her closer for a quick kiss. Making sure to run my tongue over my bond mark, I pull back.

“Is that relief I’m feeling in the bond?” I ask, nuzzling my cheek to hers.

“I think it is,” she agrees. “It feels like everything has come full circle, and I’m finally free to start my life.”

My heart races.

If only she understood she’s been ours since the second Kase laid eyes on her…but if I ever retell the story of how we met, I’ll leave out the stalking and the part where Kase seriously considered burning Mrs. Wilson’s house down.

Although, it is rather romantic, if you think about it.

We knew from day one that we were going to make her ours, by any means necessary.