Polly was relieved that the chemical heat was over, her body was back under her control, and the fertilized eggs were safe and sound at a facility that specialized in secure containment.
She sat working on a template for the thank you cards she had to send out after the wedding. There were a lot of blended traditions in the wedding, and thank you cards were some of them.
Nari came in and said, “Miss Polly, you have guests.”
Polly looked up from her desk. “Guests? Plural?”
“Plural.”
“Okay. Where did you put them?”
“The common area.”
“Great. Who is it?” She got to her feet, smoothing the snugly wrapped cotton kimono around her.
“Bella, Loki, Ulric, and Rick. I will bring tea in a moment.”
Polly hugged her and walked quickly to the common area. She opened the door and walked into the room where they were all waiting for her. “Hiya, guys.”
Bella jumped up and babbled apologies.
“Whoa. No. It was my lapse in judgment that contributed to the end result. Basically, ya’ll got me drunk, but I got behind the wheel.”
Minoru came in at that moment. “I was also not there to notice the signs. But, Loki, you should have fucking known better.”
Loki bowed deep. “I know. I was just so used to Polly being there that I didn’t think of what would happen if she was.”
Rick nodded. “I know what effect an omega out of heat has, and I know that their alphas are careful to keep them segregated. It didn’t occur to me that a beta would have the same effect.”
Ulric sighed. “I knew and didn’t care. I am very sorry, Polly.”
Polly inclined her head. “I accept you are all idiots.”
Minoru chuckled.
Bella asked quietly, “Was it a hard heat?”
“It was my first. Seven days. The first day I remember... mostly.”
Minoru walked behind her and wrapped his arms around her. “This is her last day of recovery.”
Bella blinked. “What happens after recovery?”
“First, a pregnancy test to see if I am still carrying, and then, we can have sex, and I can remember it.”
The alphas and Ulric got excited. Bella blinked. “You are pregnant?”
“Likely. The chemical cocktail I gave myself was designed for omegas who had been suppressing for several years. It kicked my ovaries into overdrive the moment that I stopped.”
Minoru held her close. “She had eight blastocysts, and we had five removed, so she might be carrying triplets.”
Loki blinked. “No way.”
Polly chuckled. “Way. I get the test later this week. Hooray. Another vaginal probe.”
Minoru murmured, “I will have you used to it by Friday.”
She elbowed him sharply, and he chuckled and hugged her tight.
She looked at her grinning friends. “Yes, I am sure you all wanted to discuss your first time in a group of mixed genders.”
Their laughter calmed, and they remembered her circumstances.
Nari came in and said, “Enough. Leave her alone and tell her why you have come.”
She set the tea tray down, and Polly knelt next to the tray. She started to prepare the tea. She moved her hands gracefully, and Loki moved closer. “Polly, will you return as my assistant?”
She kept going through the steps and asked, “Isn’t Bella going to take over?”
Bella sighed. “She would like to, but her knowledge of tea import is seriously lacking.”
Polly nodded. “That can be learned.”
Bella agreed. “But Ulric is also a needy bastard, and between his perfume and his modelling, I am constantly running around.”
Loki said, “Until it is a strain on you, Polly, I would deeply appreciate your help.”
“I can do most of the actual work from home. If you can do the face-to-face stuff, I can do the paperwork here if Minoru doesn’t mind.”
She handed Minoru the first cup of tea, then Loki, Bella, Ulric, and Rick. Bella blinked. “This is really good.”
Polly chuckled.
“You aren’t having any?”
“On the off chance, I am limiting my caffeine to one cup, and I need that to get moving in the morning.”
Minoru sipped his tea and snorted. “Off chance. You got some of my best work.”
She grinned. “Says you. Mind you, if they look like you, I might have to agree.”
He smirked. “Flattery won’t save you from my clutches.”
“No, but morning sickness might.” She smirked back.
The group chuckled and finished their tea.
Loki cleared his throat. “Also, we have an issue with the new teashops and their opening ceremonies. They want to use the new year photos.”
Minoru asked, “The hotel marketing teams are in agreement?”
“Yes.”
“Then, use the authorized images.”
Polly flushed. “Uh, I think one of the other seasons would be best.”
“They all agreed that the symbolism in the new year’s photos is good for the start of the new businesses. If we use those images, they are going to use them in the hotel pamphlets at no extra cost.”
Polly paled. “Oh, god.”
Minoru caught on. “Can I see the images we are referring to?”
Polly gripped the tea tray and was on her way to standing when Minoru glared at her. She sighed and sat back down.
Loki was fighting a grin and handed his phone to Minoru. Polly watched him flip through the images, and then he tapped, and she knew what he was doing. He was sending the images to his own phone.
Once he had them, he handed Loki’s phone back and opened the email on his phone. “Hm. Well, I can see why they would want to use these images. Tasteful, no lewd skin, lovely, and elegant. Now, why didn’t you tell me about them?” He looked at Polly.
“I didn’t think it would be an issue.” She swallowed.
“Bullshit. You are lucky I can still speak in full sentences. The blood is not in my brain.”
Polly looked at him and shrugged. “That was the concern. I didn’t want to rush things.”
“You didn’t want to be rushed.”
“That, too.” She nodded. “How do you think your family will feel about it?”
He shrugged. “My mother will want to know who made that kimono, and my father will just look at me and shake his head at my luck. My grandmother will beam and pat your cheeks while talking about pretty grandbabies.”
She blushed. “So, you aren’t freaking out?”
“Oh, I am, but you are new to playing, and we are getting married in a few weeks. I want to stay on your good side until you are legally mine. After that, I will let you know what I think about you concealing this from me.”
Loki grinned. “So we can use the campaign?”
“You can. I signed the release.” She nodded.
He chortled and sent an email. “The printers have been notified. And the confirmation has been sent to the hotel.”
“Wow. You work quickly.”
He grinned. “Back to business. So, when can you come back?”
Minoru looked at him. “Two weeks after the wedding.”
Loki looked disappointed.
“If you four hadn’t hotboxed her with pheromones, you could have kept her until the wedding, but now, she is mine, and she needs to rest and recover, and then be a lovely bride and then rest and recover.”
Polly and Bella laughed, but all four males just looked at them. Bella cleared her throat. “Polly, I would like to talk to you. Is there somewhere we can go and not be glared at?”
Polly nodded. “Sure.” She rose to her feet, and Minoru looked smug. Loki looked shocked. Bella just blinked. “How did you get up like that?”
Polly shrugged and headed for the door. “Practice.”
Bella walked behind her. “Can you teach me?”
“Sure. Kimono boot camp.”
Polly walked down the path and toward the lake. Bella caught up with her, and she smiled. “So, what are you doing on Saturday evening?”
“I don’t know. My life is rather unplanned lately.”
“Well, Aggie wanted to organize a ladies’ night.”
“I can’t drink.”
Bella grinned. “Congratulations, but we have an option that can still be fun for you. How are you at karaoke?”
“I sound like I am gargling gravel, but I like it.”
“Excellent. We have proper hen night outfits arranged. We’ll pick you up here, and you don’t have to do anything.” Bella smiled. “Loki is paying for the limo and our evening as part of his gift to you. Our pack is going to provide you with payment for our thoughtlessness.”
Polly shrugged. “It worked out.”
“It shouldn’t have been necessary. I didn’t realize I could have that effect on you.”
“Neither did I until the brain fog kicked in. At that point, I acted on instinct. I had to be able to work at any cost.”
Bella chuckled. “I am the same, usually.”
“Alphas are distracting. You have alphas and an omega. It must be confusing at times.”
“It can be, but I feel wanted for the first time in my life. Bed is hot, but it isn’t a lonely place.”
Polly hugged Bella. “I am so glad for you.”
Bella asked her honestly, “Is one alpha enough for you?”
“Yes. Minoru is all I need. It will be lonely when he isn’t here, but I am sure I can adapt to being alone when he travels.”
“Because of your job?”
“Because of the pregnancy. I can’t fly once I get to my seventh month.”
Bella blinked. “Oh, right.”
Polly sighed and looked at the night sky. By Saturday she would know if she was pregnant and how many of the little blobs had survived.
“I really hate these damn exams.” She turned her head against Minoru’s side as the probe slid in.
The new facility was pretty and high security. They would take her from pregnancy to old age at this facility. All of the staff was bonded, and cameras were everywhere there were communication terminals or phones. The only private places were the exam rooms.
Polly closed her eyes until Minoru whispered, “Polly, look.”
She opened her eyes, and while the tech was digging around in her, she was showing the three little orbs that had attached. “Three?”
The tech nodded. “Three. The doctor will be with you in a moment.”
He got up and handed them the small square of paper with the image of the three little blobs. Minoru held the picture where she could see it.
Polly got her legs together and pulled her kimono back into place. She looked at the picture and smiled. “Look what you did.”
He grinned and kissed her.
The doctor came in and chuckled. “So, you have already interpreted the results. Congratulations.”
Dr. Oriel was an alpha who had seen a lot, and nothing fazed her, but she still looked at Polly. “Are you... is that a kimono?”
Minoru chuckled. “She forgot we had an appointment, and this is what she wears at home.”
“Oh, right. Well, you are in remarkably good health. I will give you a prescription for prenatal vitamins. We have three obstetricians on staff, including myself.”
Minoru nodded. “Who would you recommend for a beta pregnancy with multiples?”
“I am the best with high risk, but would your beta be comfortable with an alpha as an obstetrician?” She gave Polly a kind look as if calming a skittish animal.
Polly snorted. “Please, get over yourself. I boss alphas around for a living.”
Minoru laughed. “She actually does.”
The doctor smiled. “Not you?”
He chortled. “Of course, she does. She is the most precious person on the planet.”
Polly rolled her eyes. “I do not boss my alpha around. I just get a look on my face when he hasn’t figured out what I need. It’s a lot of pressure. If you have time, I will accept you as my OB.”
The doctor chucked. “Then I will take you on as my patient.”
Minoru smiled. “The next time you see her, she will be a married woman.”
Polly looked at the pride in his expression. He was excited.
Dr. Oriel made a visit schedule, marking benchmark scans for each one.
They got a list of supplements for her and a discussion of the risks of the multiples. To Polly’s amusement, she was also given a schedule for massages to keep fluid from building up in her lymph system.
Minoru smiled. “I will help.”
The doctor smiled. “I have no doubt. You seem attentive, and your beta has spirit. It’s a good combination, but Polly, you have to keep on top of any and all changes that leave you unwell. I want you to call the office if you feel anything is wrong. Better bill your alpha than leave things to chance.”
Polly nodded. “Yes, doc. And we have a robotic litter box for the cat, so I won’t be handling anything.”
The alpha smiled and patted her head. “Good girl. What kind of cat?”
“Black domestic short hair.” Minoru smiled. “He was my engagement gift. He’s my little buddy and keeps an eye on her while I travel.”
The doctor frowned. “Do you travel a lot?”
“Not anymore.”
“She will need to be attended to at all times. Do you have a pack?”
Minoru shook his head, and Polly shook her head. “I don’t want any more.”
The doctor smiled. “You don’t have to be intimate with all pack members. They can just be part of your grouping.”
Polly blinked. “Oh.”
Minoru rubbed her back slowly. “I will see who I can find. There are a few possibilities that spring to mind, but the protective instinct is what I will seek out.”
“Wait, you are going to interview for a beta-sitter?”
“Absolutely. As you get larger, you will need someone to help, and with the best of intentions, I am sure there will be moments when I can’t be with you, and you won’t be able to travel with me.”
She huffed. “Fine. I would suggest tucking me in with Loki and his lot, but... yeah.”
“That’s how you got here, sweet.”
She made a face while he explained, and the doctor’s eyes widened and went to Polly’s bloodwork. “Huh. You got it all out.”
“Oh, yeah. It was flushed out in two days.” Polly grimaced.
“Our housekeeper did her research.” Minoru smiled.
Polly hopped off the exam table. “Anything else that’s immediate?”
“Well, aren’t you just the tall one?” The doctor offered her a lollipop.
“You know that is patronizing, right?” She took the lolly and unwrapped it, popping it into her mouth.
“Absolutely. I will see you at the next scheduled appointment, Polly.” She patted Polly’s cheek. “So cute!”
Minoru laughed and took Polly’s hand as they left the exam room.
He had the schedule in his suit pocket, and she was slurping on her lollipop. When he paid for the visit, he kept her between him and the counter. The last two attempts to snag her had been at this exact moment.
She let him protect her. It relaxed both of them.
They walked out and were both tense. He waited for thugs to show up, but nothing happened. Leo pulled the car up, and they were on the way to the pharmacy in a few minutes. Because he didn’t want her driving, they now had a permanent driver. Leo Yannik. Beta.
He had no problem with the situational needs and took the prescription in while they waited.
“So, do you like Dr. Oriel?”
“Yes. She treats me the same way all alpha women treat betas who are nearly their size but a few inches shorter.”
He laughed. “She was treating you like an omega.”
“What?”
He pulled her sucker from her lips. “Omegas like sweet treats, bright colours, and stickers. Be prepared.”
She wrinkled her nose and put her candy back in her mouth. She had a thought and growled in disappointment.
“What crossed your mind?”
“No sushi. That’s gonna hurt.”
“It doesn’t all have to be fish.”
She blinked. “Oh. Right.”
Leo came back and handed the pile of supplements to Minoru with a grin before he got back into the driver’s seat, and they were on their way.
Minoru read the directions, and some of the meds were in case of nausea.
Polly finished her candy. “What, alphas don’t want pregnant betas puking on them?”
He snorted. “That is a fetish I have yet to acquire.”
Polly sighed and lifted her phone, answering some questions that Bella and Loki had.
By the time she finished sending and answering emails, they were home again.
She was frowning at her phone and texting with both thumbs when she felt a soft seat behind her and heard Jiji greeting her. “Dude, you carried me inside?”
“I did. Time for lunch.”
The phone was plucked from her hands, and she looked up to see Nari grinning with a burger and fries on a tray.
“Holy...” she blinked. “I don’t need actually to eat for four.”
Nari grinned. “I know. This is just a celebration burger. It’s official.”
“Yeah, but now there is the wait to make sure I keep them.”
Nari nodded. “Early days, but still a reason for a celebration.”
Polly started eating, and Minoru was given his own food a moment later.
“So, how much weight did I lose during my heat?”
“About seven or eight pounds.” He mentioned it casually.
“Ah. I did wonder. Everything was looser.”
“I tried to remember to feed you, but I was distracted.” It was a wicked chuckle.
“Well, thankfully, I don’t think I will be in heat for a few years if the implantation for the other cells is carried out.” She smirked into her burger.
“How many years?”
“Estimating that all five are viable? Do the math. One year between pregnancies.” She chortled. She saw his red eyes glowing out of the corner of her eye.
“We do not need to use all of them.”
She laughed, and to her surprise, her meal was done. She stretched, kissed him on the cheek, and carried her tray into the kitchen, where Nari took it from her. Nari smiled and said, “Oh, your sister called. She and your parents would like to see you.”
Polly caught herself on the counter and rushed for the sink as she lost her celebration burger.
There was roaring in her ears as Minoru caught Nari up on the entire situation. He washed her face and lifted her to carry her to the study. “I am going to put an end to this today, precious. You rest.”
She was dizzy, frightened, and furious. He reached through their link, soothing her. The fury was a shared emotion.
He eased her to sleep, and Jiji curled up next to her. His little purr rumbled her into darkness.
She woke to the smell of blood in the room and the splashing of the shower. She got up and crept to peek at Minoru, and the water in the base of the shower was pale pink and turning clear.
“So, did they get the point?”
He turned toward her and smiled. “They did. No one died, and even your parents were witnesses, along with your sister. They now understand that they have no claim over you. There should be a voicemail from them and your sibling congratulating you on your most fortunate marriage and blessed pregnancy.”
She slipped her sleeping robe off and joined him in the shower. Polly wrapped her arms around him and pressed her face to his chest. “Will you stay with me while I listen to the messages?”
“Of course.” He smoothed his hands over her back and hips. “How are you feeling?”
“Better. I was just taken by surprise. I should apologize to Nari. I feel bad.”
“It is fine. I didn’t tell her enough about your family. She knows now and is more than willing to stand in as your auntie at a moment’s notice.”
She sighed as he continued massaging her back. Polly slid her hands up his back and slowly drew her nails down the planes of muscle. He shuddered. “Polly, don’t tease.”
“Who’s teasing?” She continued to drag her nails over his butt.
He looked down at her and tutted. “You are incorrigible. We are getting married in just over a week.”
“Well then, why not practice a bit until the wedding night?”
“Because you are exhausted and upset.”
“It’s true. I was so worried when you left. Please, tell me you didn’t go alone.”
“I didn’t. I called a number of alphas of my acquaintance, and we descended on the pack house. We made it very clear that the Silar pack has no claim on any unwilling beta, and if we hear of them trying to force a surrogacy, we will return, and this time, we won’t just mark them up. We will simply make them disappear. All of them.”
She shivered. “Ah. How many alphas did you bring?”
“Well, there were four that sprang to mind, so I gave them a call. After a short conversation with the men, they were eager to help in exchange for an invitation to the wedding.”
“Which four?”
“Well, the officer focused on Aggie was one, and the others were males with characteristics to match that of your friends. There was a final alpha with us, and that was Loki. They are not your lovers, but they were acting as your pack.”
She looked up at him. “The ladies are going to be pissed.”
He shrugged. “They may not be solid matches, but it is a chance.” He turned off the water and grabbed a towel to wrap her in before he dried his hair and then the rest of him.
She stepped out of the shower and sighed. “Thank you for doing that. It’s... a relief.”
“I know. I would have ripped their throats out for you, but it is nice to simply intimidate someone by showing off.”
She smiled. “Ah, if you weren’t expecting it, that would be intimidating.”
He dropped the towel and pulled her against him. “And yet, you were expecting it.”
“Oh, when the marks appeared, I knew I wasn’t getting a bunny rabbit.” She reached up and patted his chest. “Though you do have some cuddly qualities.”
He lifted her and pulled her high. She wrapped her legs around his waist, and they moved to the bedroom.
He held her as he eased to the bed. “How are you feeling, Polly?”
“Slightly compressed.” She smiled.
He put more weight on her. “Only slightly?”
Polly giggled and leaned up to bite his collarbone.
He growled, and she felt his erection twitch between them.
She rocked against him and gripped his thighs with the soles of her feet.
Minoru eased a hand between them before getting off her and grinning, flipping her to her belly. He propped her up on their low pillow with her hips lifted in the air.
When he licked down her spine, the building protest faded. As his tongue skated across her marks, she moaned and swivelled her hips against him. He chuckled. “I love that sound, Polly.” He dragged his tongue along her spine. “Do it again.”
He licked at her marks until she was clutching the bed beneath her. He widened her thighs and slid his hand between them. The slipping of his fingers was embarrassing, but the heavy purr from him showed that he was a fan.
He moved over her, and she felt him easing inside.
“Oh, god,” she muttered and clutched at the bedding.
“Ah, Polly, just call me alpha.” His laugh was in her ear.
“Asshole.”
“Now, now, we want to save something for after the little ones are here.”
She huffed in indignation and then shrieked when he surged to the knot.
He let her adjust and then started to move.
Polly pushed back at him, rocking together until she arched up and tried to throw him off as she came. He simply flattened her to the bed again and chuckled when she squeaked. She panted as his thrusts took on a focus she was bracing for. He nipped her shoulder and thrust deep as he groaned, and his knot held him inside.
She whined, and he nuzzled and nipped at her neck and ear and turned her head to kiss her. Minoru licked at her lips until she participated in the kiss, and then he eased in a few more millimetres. She gasped and growled. He growled in return, and she slicked up to let him in deeper. It turned back to a purr, and he slid his hand under her to caress her belly before he moved down to her clit and circled it carefully. There was mewling and begging, and finally, she moaned into his mouth as her body shook.
He groaned, followed by a sigh, and she felt more heat spilling into her.
She murmured against his lips. “You trying to keep them warm?”
“It works for chickens.”
She laughed and shook her head. “You are going to pay for that.”
“I look forward to the bill.”
She grumbled, “Here, I thought you were so polite and formal when we met.”
“I was until I realized what I was looking at. At that point, I just wanted to be inside you.” He sighed happily. “And now I am.”
Polly sighed and relaxed. He moved her hair from her neck and licked at his mark. The thin line of the scar was tingling and warm under his mouth.
When his knot let her go, she relaxed and felt the rush and trickle between her thighs.
He continued nuzzling at her neck. When he moved away from her, he rolled her to one side and gathered the cloth that Polly hadn’t seen.
“When did you put that down?”
He chuckled. “When you were distracted.”
She snorted, and when he settled in bed and opened his arms, she went into them.