Page 54 of Dante
“Is it actually a crib?” Banner asked. He looked at it, then put the blanket back where he’d gotten it from.
“It is. We know you have one though,” Atticus said. “It’ll get sent back to where it came from once we’re finished with the party.”
“Where is that?” Banner asked.
Atticus shrugged. “I don’t know. I just used magic, and here it is. I’ll use magic again, and it’ll go back to wherever it came from.”
Banner gave me a horrified look. “Don’t pick on my mate, Atticus,” I said.
Atticus smiled. “Sorry. It’s from the council’s medical wing.”
“Oh.”
Azar and Titus came over, both with awkward smiles on their faces. “Banner, this is Titus and Azar,” I said as I gestured to each of them. “They are the newest members of our pack, and the last two according to the goddess.”
“Hi,” Banner said.
“Welcome to the pack,” Azar said.
“Yeah,” Titus added. “That.” He nodded. “I’d say more, but I usually end up saying the wrong things, so I’m just saying welcome and calling it good.”
There were more chuckles from the others. We all were probably remembering Titus’s comments about Banner and how he thought he was an alpha because he was so tall.
“All right. Sit down, and let’s get to the presents because…food,” Atticus said. “We really need to get to the food because I’m doing a full brisket-and-ribs thing.”
Banner whimpered.
I glared at Atticus, but it was his mate, Brice, who whacked the alpha. “You cannot mention food in front of a pregnant omega and then not provide said food. Especially not something he is obviously happy to hear about,” Brice said.
Atticus looked over at Banner, who was holding his stomach with one hand and hanging on to the crib throne. Atticus seemed to realize that he’d messed up. “All right. Change of plans. We’ll eat first, and then the soon-to-be parents can open presents after. Sound good?”
“You won’t hear any complaints from us,” someone said.
I crossed to Banner and smiled down at my mate. “Are you hungry, baby?”
“When am I not?”
“I’ll get you a plate. Do you want to find somewhere to eat, or do you want to eat here?”
Banner looked around the room and shook his head. “I’d really rather have a table or something. I lose most of my lap once I sit.”
“You can sit with us,” Todd said. Banner looked at me as if he really wanted to go sit with the other omegas but was torn.
I smiled at my mate. “Go. Sit with them,” I told him. “It’s not like I won’t be in the same room as you.” I didn’t need to be glued to my mate. I loved being with him and of course liked having him close. That didn’t mean we had to do everything together. I followed the others to where the food had suddenly appeared and started piling a plate with all of the selections for Banner. I found him at the table in between Todd and Cecil.
“Where are your twins?” I heard Banner ask as I approached.
“Mine are with Grandpa Lev. We’re supposed to be going to theirs for supper this evening anyway, and with Grandfather there to help, they didn’t mind watching the twins again for a few hours,” Cecil said before I set the plate down in front of Banner.
“Thank you,” he said and looked up at me with a huge smile.
“You’re welcome.” I leaned down and kissed his forehead quickly before I stood back up. “Let me know if you want anything else. I’ll get you a drink. What do you want?”
Banner grinned. “I’m happy with anything.”
I nodded at that and used some magic to get him a carbonated drink, and Banner immediately grabbed it. I chuckled as I walked back toward the others who were gathered around the island and filling plates.
I took another, plated up even more of everything for myself, and then joined the others at the table. I knew that Damien and Ledger didn’t normally have such a large table, but magic was an abundant thing when it came to our pack, and getting a massive table for a pack gathering wasn’t an issue.
