Page 324 of Labor of Love

Viktor had been gone for over an hour, but I wasn’t worried. I decided if he wanted to steal my car, he could have it, and I would just take his apartment. It was so nice. Comfortable and full of things like a massive TV and gaming setup without being cluttered, and his earthy scent was everywhere.

It all just felt…safe.

It was all I could do to keep my eyes open. My stomach was truly full for the first time in weeks. Little Bean was relaxing too, no longer tap-dancing on my bladder every five minutes. The only sound was from the radio in the kitchen that Viktor had left on. The baseball game he’d been cursing at under his breath as he got me stew and water and then cleaned up had ended, and now there were just a couple of guys talking about how poorly the home team had played. Their soothing cadences were lulling me into complete relaxation.

It definitely had nothing to do with the Viktor-infused blanket tucked up under my chin.

I wasn’t surprised I dozed off, but I could have done without jolting awake when something crashed in the hallway just outside the door. My heart raced, my body not sure where I was or what was happening. I splayed my hands over my stomach, intent on protecting Little Bean from whoever was breaking in.

Then I heard Viktor’s growly voice out there, sounding louder and angrier than I’d experienced yet. “Watch what you’re fucking doing. If you just broke this, you’re going and buying a new one.”

I quickly glanced at my phone and was shocked that I’d been asleep for over two hours. I carefully lowered my feet, waddled into the bathroom, and then made my way to the apartment door, beelining to the recliner to snag that soft blanket again and wrap it around myself.

I couldn’t hear anyone out in the hallway anymore, and when I peeked out, it was empty. Down at the other end though, I could see that my apartment door was open, and there seemed to be some sort of activity happening inside. There were several voices talking over each other and several thuds—one particularly hard one immediately followed by Viktor snapping, “Dammit, Oren.”

Curious, I followed the commotion.

I stood in the doorway of my formerly empty apartment, wearing nothing but a near-stranger’s shirt and his blanket, and watched a small group of people unpack my boxes—along with a ton of other stuff I didn’t recognize but looked brand-new. Glancing to my right, I took in a small tower of empty boxes and packaging material. I could make out some of the pictures and swallowed at the evidence Viktor—or one of the people he’d called for reinforcements—had bought me a vacuum, crib, two huge boxes of diapers, and so much more I couldn’t make out without sifting through the pile.

There was also a couch that looked gently used, as well as a coffee table with a chip gouged out of the wood along one edge. Emotions I couldn’t identify swirled inside me. Someone had brought me their hand-me-down furniture. Somehow, that felt even more special than the new stuff. That was something you did for family, not an Omega you’d never even met.

A woman—who had to be Viktor’s mother based on their impressively tall statures and dark hair—was in the tiny kitchen, ignoring the others quarreling as she sorted through bags of groceries. She put things away with such concentration my eyes started to burn.

It was too much.

I couldn’t… How could I repay them for all of this?

Viktor noticed me as I swiped at my cheeks with the edges of the blanket still gripped in my hands. A young Omega, probably around my age, got nearly shoved to the floor as Viktor barreled toward me. At his squawk of protest, two Alphas—twins by the looks of them—popped their heads out of one of the bedrooms and snickered.

Viktor ignored them all, not stopping until he was only a few feet from me. “What are you doing up? You should be resting.”

I tipped my head back so I could stare at him. His harsh face was pinched with concern. Concern forme. Swallowing thickly, I glanced around the apartment again. Words failed me. I wasn’t even sure what I was looking at—except that it was a miracle.

When my ex left me practically the second I finished peeing on the pregnancy stick, I’d been convinced I would never be able to depend on someone else for the rest of my life. Having grown up in the foster system, I thought I’d already learned that lesson, but apparently, I hadn’t.

Not that I could be truly upset, since I was getting Little Bean out of the shitty experience. But I’d promised myself: never again. Alphas couldn’t be trusted. I’d told myself that just because I was an Omega didn’t mean I needed one in my life. And I meant it when I said it to Viktor because I believed it.

Omegas didn’tneedAlphas. Not like they taught us as kids and in school.

But… that didn’t mean some of us didn’twantthem.

Following my instincts, I dropped my blanket shawl and stepped into Viktor’s huge body. Warmth enveloped me as I wrapped my arms around his waist and let my head rest on one of his thick pecs. His scent was all around me, soothing me like only a strong, trustworthy Alpha could.

His hands were so light on my back I could barely feel them. So I squirmed against him, trying to encourage him to hold me tighter. He seemed to get the message, his arms settling more heavily around me and giving me a squeeze.

“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice soft.

The others had gone quiet, but I didn’t peek to see if they were staring. I was sure everyone had probably heard him. His deep timbre carried no matter how low the volume.

“Overwhelmed,” I whispered back, gripping at the back of his T-shirt. “No one’s ever?—”

I didn’t finish. I couldn’t.

He made a soft noise, and then his hold on me tightened even more.

It was… blissful.

I didn’t know that I’d ever felt so safe. It should be insane. I’d literally just met the man. And yet everything about him put me at ease. Despite his huge size and rough face, in the hours I’d known him, he’d given me what no other person ever had: true security.

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