Page 196 of Deadly Sweet

“Look!” I tell Athena. “Santa came! Look at all the gifts he left.”

“Savvy, baby,” Jake says. “You do know Santa isn’t real, right? I just want to make sure,” he says it so tenderly that I can’t get mad.

“I know,” I huff. “I’d hope he isn’t real. If some fat old man who knew when I was sleeping and knew when I was awake broke into my house, that would be the last thing he ever did.”

“Murdering Santa. That's the Christmas spirit,” Caleb chuckles.

“It could be.” I grin. “But really, if the idea of Santa gives Athena joy and happiness, then we keep the idea alive, okay?”

“Deal,” they all say.

We all sit down on the ground in front of the tree, and I hand the baby to Caleb, who takes her with a big smile and kisses her chubby cheeks, making her laugh. Seeing these men with her has my damn ovaries ready to burst.

It makes me want to give them more babies. But I’m not sure if I'm ready for that. Still doesn't stop me from being disappointed when I take a pregnancy test and it’s negative.

They don’t know I am, and I don’t want to stress them out or upset them. I’ve been taking them over at Salvation.

Duchess reminds me that getting pregnant outside of my heat is not impossible, but improbable. But how the hell can I better my chances when I haven’t had a damn heat yet!

Typically, Omegas go into heat every month for three to five days.

It’s been ten months since I’ve been clean of whatever bullshit Corbin was pumping through my veins and still, nothing.

Sometimes I can’t help but be grateful they had Athena before meeting me, because there could be a good chance I won’t be able to give them the baby they want, and it kills me because I want to give them more.

“First gift is yours,” Jake says, handing me a gift.

“Wait!” I look around and frown. “Where’s Thor?”

“Hopefully, he ran away,” Caleb mutters under his breath, and I shoot him a glare.

“I’ll go get him,” I tell them. “He’s family.”

“If you say so,” Caleb grumbles.

I flip him off with a huff and head out to find Thor.

“There you are.” I laugh when I find him in Caleb’s room. “What are you doing in here? Caleb will freak out if he finds you in here.”

Thor’s little head pops up from where he has it buried in Caleb’s snack drawer.

“Thor!” I hiss as he stares at me with wide eyes, a candy bar hanging out of his mouth. “Stop that.”

Do you know how hard it is to be mad at a raccoon who’s dressed in a little Christmas hat and scarf? Pretty damn hard.

“Ugh, you're so cute,” I gush. “Come on, it’s time to open up gifts.”

Thor chitters as he runs over to me.

“Yes, yes,” I sigh, picking him up. “I got you some gifts. I’m not a monster, you know.”

We join the guys back in the living room, and Caleb sighs. “Yay, you found the rat.”

Ignoring him, we open gifts.

By the time we’re done, the room is covered in ripped wrapping paper that Thor is having the best time playing in. Honestly, I think he likes it more than his gifts. Reminds me of a cat.

I’m sitting on Leroy’s lap, face buried in his neck as I breathe him in. I can’t get enough of my pack's scents.

---