Chapter Fifteen

She went straight to the office, and the secretary was stunned. “Where is my daughter?”

The woman’s hand shook as she pointed at the principal’s door. There was shouting, and then the sound of Hailey crying. She opened the door, and Grigory caught the shouting parent and pinned him to the wall.

Hailey ran to her and held her around the waist. The principal was on his feet as his office was filled with angry, horny alphas, and he said, “Ms. Adders. What is this about?”

“Why is Hailey here?”

There was a small boy in the corner. “My dad told me to be mean to her and say things about her mom.” He started crying. “Please, put my dad down, Mister.”

Hailey swallowed. “He said you weren’t an omega, he said you were a beta wannabe, and you charged by the hour.”

She ran her fingers through Hailey’s hair. “Oh, Hailey, you knew he was wrong.”

“Yeah, but he chased me around the lunchroom yelling about you.”

Lexa looked to the principal. “Bring up the video.”

He groaned and ran his hands through his hair. “Fine. So yes, he followed her around for ten minutes, and the other students confirm it. It is no excuse.”

Lexa stroked Hailey’s hair. “Was she allowed to leave the lunchroom?”

The principal cringed at the growls from Delun and Arthur. “No, her class had to stay until the bell.”

“So, she was trapped and being verbally assaulted, and no adult did anything? Who was on duty?”

“Ms. Gether.”

“I need to speak with her. Now.”

He said weakly. “She’s in class?”

She looked at him. “Which classroom?”

Hailey mumbled. “Twenty-three.”

She stroked her daughter’s cheek. “Are you good to stay here with Arthur while he yells at your principal for ten minutes without giving him a place to go?”

Hailey smiled. “I want to be with you.”

“I will be right back after I tell Ms. Gether what I think of her monitor capabilities.”

She kissed Hailey and wiped off the lipstick before she stalked through the halls of the school. She found room twenty-three, rapped briskly, and when the irritated woman answered, Lexa smiled softly. “Are you Ms. Gether?”

“Yes.”

“I am Hailey Adder’s mother. Please, step out in the hall. I don’t think the children need to hear what I have to say.”

The teacher lifted her head defensively. “She struck that child.”

“Is it hard to work with a hearing impairment? Even the principal said that the child chased her around, yelling at her for ten minutes, and she wasn’t allowed to leave the situation.”

The teacher looked nervous and backed off a little. “You... your scent is really strong.”

“Of course, it is. I am in heat, but I am a mom first, and Hailey did not deserve what was done to her today. You owe her an apology. You failed in your monitor capacity, failed in your caregiving capacity, and failed as an educator because now all the children in that room know that there is no help for them if they are attacked by one of their own. There should always be help.”

Ms. Gether’s mind scrambled for an attack vector. “In heat? You should not be in a vehicle with a child.”

Lexa snorted. “Of course not. There is a separate car that my mates arranged.”

“Mates?” Ms. Gether swallowed.

“The marks on my neck are not decoration.”

She paled. “They said you were one of those decoys that wealthy men hire.”

“No. I never have been. I have worked six jobs at the same time, but I have never sold contact with my body for money. Now, I have three mates, and we are all bonded.”

“How can you have a child if you didn’t have a mate?”

Lexa was sober. “My sister had a child. My sister died. I now have a daughter. Madam Morthiwen was very thorough in trying to destroy a child’s life. You would think she would behave better with her own granddaughter, but she did have her disavowed, so what does it matter? Now, come and apologize to Hailey, and I won’t have my mates ask you to do it. They are rather tense as they want to be locked away with me, but family always comes first.”

Ms. Gether rapidly realized that she had been played. “Uh, yeah. Let me just tell my class to study.”

“I will be here. Waiting.”

Ms. Gether came back out and walked with her. She mumbled. “I didn’t know. She told me that you were blackmailing the family.”

“I have been trying to avoid the family. I am only here because it is the best school in the district. I would hate to have to withdraw her from classes and sue the school for safety violations and flagrant bribery.” She smiled. “I now have a very good lawyer.”

Ms. Gether paled. “Would I be named in the suit?”

“Of course. As would four other teachers who have condoned and encouraged bullying.”

There was a lot of roaring, and her belly quivered. One of her alphas was really mad. She moved cautiously into the office, and Arthur had his brother up against the wall, and he was screaming at him. Hailey was in Delun’s arms.

“Oh. A kidnapping. Of course. Yeah, you definitely would have been in the lawsuit. Still might be. They wanted to have me arrested and grab Hailey. That is a move I had not counted on.”

She walked into the office, and her scent was roses on fire. Her target was Madam Morthiwen.

“So, the boil on my backside has a child in elementary school?” She glared at the smaller woman.

“She’s my granddaughter. You can’t keep her from me.”

Lexa laughed. “Oh, I certainly can. I have the disavowal records.”

The old woman looked smug. “They have disappeared from the records office.”

Lexa smiled tightly at the bane of her existence. “That’s okay. I have dozens of certified copies. Dozens. All of my documents have been notarized and recorded with lawyers across the country. There is no way you can get to them all. Too bad your son put his dick in the wrong hole and got an STD that sterilized him. Aw. His one offspring, and you made sure that she can’t know you. You are going to live cold and alone and not have any children who would call you grandmother. Even if Arthur and I have a child, you are not getting near it. In fact, I might wait until you are dead before I let him get near me during a heat. Aw... all that making sure I stayed away from him, and he found me after all.” Her voice had taken on a mean sing-song without her willing it to.

Madam Morthiwen looked at her. “You money-grubbing bitch!”

“Uh, I don’t get anything from them but my upkeep.” She crossed her arms.

The older woman paused. “Wait. Heat?”

Lexa nodded soberly. “Yeah, I was two days designated when you and your son crept in and shredded my mark. You know what? You missed. It went deep; it didn’t die. I have been tied to your older son this whole time. We could have had four babies. You could have been a grandma a bunch of times over, but... you made a choice.”

“You... aren’t an omega. You’re too tall?” As the older woman spoke, she seemed to realize how stupid her objection was, and she got pale.

“You know what? Once I lay him down, my height ceases to be an issue.” She kept her audience in mind. “Hailey was born to an omega and then raised by one. Yeah, we have omegas in the family. Too bad you won’t get to see her moving in exclusive circles and finding her own alpha. I hear there is even an omega cotillion every four years.”

The noise was getting on her nerves. She walked over to her alpha’d-out Arthur. “Sweetie, baby. You broke his arm. He’s sterile. He’s a pathetic creature. He can’t hurt Hailey. We have her, and we will protect her.”

She walked up to him and stroked his cheeks. His fangs jutted, and he grunted.

Sirens wailed, and Delun carried Hailey out to meet the incoming police.

Madam Morthiwen growled. “This is your fault, you bitch!”

Now that Hailey was gone, she let loose. “Your asshole son raped my sister and set this all in motion. Do you know how that eats at me? His lack of control started this. Put the blame where it belongs. On that pathetic excuse of a dick that he has. On his spoiled attitude. On his inability to accept that he started a life and that life is amazing, and you thought that there would be something better. Someone better. This is completely on your shoulders. She is all you will ever have, and you threw her away.”

Arthur’s arms came around her, and he pulled her away from his mother. His breath was huffing on her neck, and he was still wrapped around her when the police came in.

To Lexa’s amusement, the madam and her no-good son were taken away, while Lexa, Grigory, and Arthur were respectfully escorted out to their vehicle.

Hailey sobbed and hugged Lexa for a moment around the waist. Lexa asked, “Are you in one piece, baby?”

“Yeah, Mom. Thank you for coming. Was this all a setup?”

“Yup. The boy was supposed to make fun of you until you hit him. The teacher was supposed to ignore what they were doing to you, and the secretary called the Morthiwens. That man was your father.”

“Oh. So that lady was the one who kept taking our houses?”

“Yup.”

“I am glad she was arrested. Why was the man screaming?”

Lexa smiled. “Arthur broke his arm.”

“Good.” Hailey hugged her again. “Delun said you have to spend some time with them. Is that today?”

“It is. But, every time you miss me, hug Illyana or Yorgi or ask them to teach you to box. If I can come out to say hello, I will.”

“It’s okay. As long as I know you are safe and in the house, I can wait.” She smiled brightly. “I am gonna hug you a lot when you are able to, though.”

“I am counting on it.” Lexa smoothed the hair that had the same curl as Maia’s. “Would you be upset if we changed schools?”

Hailey huffed. “I would be happy. I don’t like it here.”

“Ask Illyana to get some pamphlets for other schools nearer the house. She might know a cousin or aunt who knows someone at a school.”

Hailey grinned shyly. “I like the idea of cousins.”

“How do you feel about the idea of a brother or sister?”

Hailey’s eyes were shining. “Can I hold it?”

Illyana grabbed her around the waist. “Come on, or the baby sibling won’t happen.”

Lexa sat and whined as she watched her little girl taken home.

Delun picked her up and nuzzled her neck while walking her back to the car. The police had verified that the driver was in a pheromone-free zone and then let them go.

Arthur was the worst off of her alphas. His jaw was jutting, and he was panting heavily.

Lexa looked to Delun, “Should I?”

“He will wear you into the house. We will be home in twenty minutes. He can wait.” Delun stroked her. “You are very strong, Lexa. I know you have had to be, but I don’t know of any other omegas who would leave their homes in heat to threaten a school.”

“I needed to be there. I asked her if she wanted to change schools, and she said yes, so now, I have to find one.”

Delun sighed. “It is taking a lot of concentration, but my sister is headmistress of a school. I will try to explain who Hailey is and let Illyana know I have contacted her.”

He worked slowly, and Lexa realized how rough it must be for them. Grigory was sitting with his eyes closed and jaw clenched. Arthur was more beast than man, and Delun was trying to get her daughter safe and happy. She held her emotions back, and when Delun had notified Illyana, she lunged at him, kissing, licking, and stroking.

He tried to hold her back for a moment, and then, he gave in, joining her kiss and accepting her heat. He slid his hand between her thighs and thrust three fingers into her.

She squeezed down on his fingers, and he grunted as his thumb caressed her clit. She whimpered and rode his hand until she moaned and came in a rush.

She had cum twice more before they arrived home, and their driver didn’t open the door until all non-essential staff were out of the way.

Delun carried her tucked against him, but his arms were shaking, and they didn’t go to her normal nest on the second floor. They headed into the basement, and she looked at the comfortable and snug nest with a crescent bed covered with the fabrics she had chosen, a huge tub sunk into the floor, and a standing shower. There were stacks of towels, sheets, a beverage fridge, and another fridge that probably had snacks. The toilet was in a room of its own around the corner.

She blinked at the thought that went into it and noted there was not one condom to be had. Well, she had made that stipulation. There was, however, a line of lube bottles near the bed. She blushed and was set on her feet. Delun unfastened her clothing and stripped her. She stepped out of the skirt and stepped out of her shoes.

Delun smiled, “There is a kit in the bathroom. I think you know what to do.”

She made a face. “Find new mates?”

That got her a smack on her ass. She stomped off. “Yeah, like that makes it any better.”

There was a harsh laugh, and she turned to see all three of them getting undressed. She scuttled to the bathroom and prepped her unused orifice for its debut. This wasn’t the way she wanted to start things, but time had not been on her side.

The kit had been warmed by someone, and while she appreciated the thought, she winced as she thought of one of the house-alphas taking care of prep. A few humiliating minutes later and she came out of the restroom considerably lighter and faced her mates together.

A wall of muscle faced her, and her focus blurred as the light purr rang out. They smiled, and she chuckled, walking toward them as raw need ran through her. Her breathing changed, her skin was more sensitive, and she walked into the centre of them, looking up and saying, “I don’t care who puts what where, but I need someone inside me now.”

Hands and mouths started to move on her, and she was lifted so someone could slide into her, but the lights went dim, and they were in soft darkness together. Their first heat as a sloth had begun.

The scent of a cup of coffee roused her from the sweaty-sticky mass of her mates. Grigory was holding the coffee and luring her out of the pile.

He sat against the wall, and she crawled onto his lap, cuddling against him. “I feel more... human.”

He laughed. “I was pretty sure you were part Tasmanian devil at some point, treasure. You wore the three of us out.”

“So why aren’t you in the pile?”

“I overheat. Pardon the phrase.”

She sipped at her coffee and sighed. “After the coffee, I crawl into the tub for the aches and twinges, and then, I am going to see Hailey.” She was determined to see her girl.

“It’s three in the morning.”

She collapsed back against him. “Oh, thank god. I need some sleep.” Her relief was palpable.

He laughed. “Misha has been trying to bring her kittens in here for three days. The air scrubber is on. Can I let her in?”

She nodded. “As soon as I finish my coffee.”

“Don’t rush. This is nice.”

She looked over to Delun and Arthur. “Oh, look. They’re spooning.”

Grigory chuckled and nuzzled her neck.

No one had been badly bitten, chafed, or sprained, so it was a successful heat all the way around. She might even be pregnant. She wiggled on Grigory’s lap. That thought made her little inner horny bunny very, very happy. One week to go before an early test would tell. If not, two weeks.

“Hmm. If this took, we don’t have to do this again for over a year.”

He looked at her. “I want to do it before then.”

She giggled. “I meant the heat, not the sex. I want the sex as often as I can get it.”

He grinned. “Done with your coffee?”

“Yes.”

“Then, I shall let the kitty in.”

He set her on the floor and crawled to the door. The lights had been set to dim, and he was still huge in the shadows.

The tiny mew made her smile, and the imperious Misha stomped over to her and dropped a kitten in her lap. The others were brought, and after some looking, Grigory found a clean sheet that Lexa could use as a kitten bed. Misha flopped down, and the little ones stomped over to her imperiously. “Wow, they grow fast.”

Grigory nodded. “They do. A matter of weeks, and they are out and destroying the world. So, if you are pregnant, who’s do you think it is?”

She cocked her head. “I can safely say it is someone in this room.”

A grumble from the bed sounded a lot like, “Smartass.”

She grinned at Grigory. “Arthur’s awake. Watch it, sweetie. You got mauled pretty bad.”

He looked at her darkly. She liked to claw him up when she came and Delun. With Grigory, it was always sweeter, more clinging in desperation and less clawing.

The boys were just lucky that she hadn’t broken a nail. She stretched, played with Misha and the kittens, and then crawled over to the tub and rolled in. The warm water highlighted every abrasion and ache, but then, it started to relax her. She sat up and pulled her hair out of the water, setting it on the edge of the deep group-configured tub. The pack-focused construction was finally useful.

She sighed and let her limbs float until Grigory slid in and pulled her onto his lap again.

He washed her with a soft cloth and then took care of himself. Arthur crawled toward them with a low growl in his throat. He rolled into the bath, and she laughed as she was lifted and then lowered back onto Grigory’s lap by the water.

Arthur’s head appeared in her lap, and she lifted him up to kiss him. “Hey. Nice to see you survived.”

He looked at her with stunned admiration. “How did you keep going?”

“I had a powerful motivation.” She tapped his lips. “If I gave in, you would be able to rest, and we all know that you had penance on your plate. Do you feel sufficiently punished?”

He grinned. “No. We should do it again to make sure.”

“I think I am so swollen that I couldn’t get a paperclip in me.”

Grigory slid his hand between her thighs. “Really? Nope, still two fingers to start.”

She looked at him in stunned surprise. “Really? Seriously?”

He moved his digits slowly. “I forgot to wash in here. I mean, cum has sluiced you out a few dozen times over the last few days, but there is always time to check things.”

“Grigory, you are heading for a smack to the face.”

Arthur grinned and reclined next to her. “Nice to hear that someone else is on your grumpy list.”

She threaded her fingers through his hair and jacked his head back. “Until your child is in my belly or my arms, you are still on thin ice, buster.”

He grinned. “I am absolutely delighted to keep trying. I am glad you are now relaxed around us.”

She glanced at him, still held back by his hair and her other hand over Grigory’s grinning mouth.

Delun grunted from the wreck of the nest that she had remade three times. The final time had been about five hours before she woke.

They cheered him on until he made it to the tub, and she went in to rescue him when he dropped into the tub and didn’t surface immediately. She found him under the water and kissed him until he rose from the depths.

“Hello, Delun. Glad you are still amongst the living. I might have need of you later.” She blinked water out of her lashes and smiled.

He grinned. “We all made it. That was more frantic than I had anticipated.”

Grigory snorted. “My family never described it like that. I must admit to being rather shocked. Pleasantly so, but then, my mother has three alphas and three betas.”

Delun groaned and leaned back. “Mine has six. They have never looked as exhausted as I feel.”

She shrugged. “Maybe the last day of the heat is spent recuperating.” She snorted. “Wussies.”

Her mates turned to her, and while her heat was over, it was apparent that group sex was still on the menu.