Hunted bride, p.9
Hunted Bride, page 9
Polly frowned, and before she could stop herself, she asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Not anymore. I had a benign tumour in my midsection. Tumour is out, and this is follow-up treatment to make sure that all cells with nefarious plans are purged.” Kell smiled.
Polly was suddenly distressed. Kell’s face contorted, and the distress faded.
Kell was embarrassed. “Sorry about that. I leaked.”
Polly nodded. “It’s fine. That is a reason to leak emotion.”
Polly moved to hug her, but Liirel stepped between them as Kell stepped back. “She isn’t safe to hug right now. Especially if there is a chance you are pregnant.”
Kell shrugged. “Sorry.”
Minoru frowned. “But you will be all right?”
Kell nodded. “By your wedding so everything can be set up, and all exterior events will come off without a hitch. You will have a very memorable photo environment.”
Maura smiled. “And I will make sure that the skies are clear.”
Polly looked at the women surrounding her, and it dawned on her. “You all have a mark.”
Aggie smiled. “Yes.”
Minoru jolted. “All of you?”
Liirel smiled. “Yes.”
Kell shrugged. “Yes.”
Maura looked at the men still twitching on the ground. “No shit.”
Minoru chuckled. “Are any of you willing to tell me what your marks are?”
Kell shrugged. “Feathers.”
Liirel shrugged. “Vines.”
Maura chuckled. “Sword in a cloud.”
Aggie rolled her eyes. “Bridge.”
An officer was pacing as they waited for medics for the guys twitching on the ground. No one was in a hurry to help them, but they had been disarmed.
The officer who was pacing kept his gaze on Aggie.
Polly smiled.
Aggie looked at her. “What?”
“I think I found the match to your bridge.”
Aggie whirled, and the officer kept pacing but was definitely making eye contact. “A cop? Really?”
The ladies all giggled, and Minoru smiled. “Don’t do anything you are not comfortable doing, Aggie.”
Aggie nodded. “Right. He definitely qualifies as something I would not be comfortable doing.”
Kell snickered but suggested a compromise. “Tell him about your mark and ask him if it means anything. If it does, you can connect later. Then, you know for sure.” She smiled. “Get his card.”
Aggie pulled together her wedding planner spine, turned, and walked toward the man staring at her like a feral animal.
He straightened, and Aggie looked petite next to him, which was funny as she wasn’t petite. Aggie remained calm and kept her arms at her sides, but then she asked for his card, and he lit up with glee. He must have asked her for her number because she shook her head, and he scowled.
She held up the card, and his expression smoothed. She reached to pat his hand, and he caught her fingers in his. They both froze. Aggie’s phone buzzed, and she excused herself. He had to let go.
She answered her phone on the way back, and her customer service face was in place. She waved and bowed farewell to Polly and Minoru, then headed to her car. Maura bowed. “She’s my ride.”
Kell swayed, and Liirel said, “We had better get going. Barfing can come next, and I think she had a blue freezy, so it will be festive.”
Kell sighed. “I paid for those pants.”
Liirel laughed. “I know. Still a funny story.”
They walked slowly toward the car park, and Kell was moving really slowly.
Polly frowned. “She looks like she hurts.”
Minoru rubbed her arms. “Yes, she does. Shall we go?”
The guys on the ground were being loaded onto gurneys as their limbs twitched with increasing violence.
The officer who had spoken to Aggie walked toward them, and Minoru casually picked Polly up.
She winced and leaned against him.
The officer looked at Polly. “You know her.”
“Yes.”
“Who is she?”
“A friend.” She looked at him and expressed the pain in her body through her gaze. That needle had not been friendly.
“So, you know her fairly well?”
Minoru broke up the dance. “She’s our wedding planner. If you give me your card, I can get you an invitation.”
“I wouldn’t want to intrude.”
Polly snorted. “Most of the attendees are social or business acquaintances. The friends and family divide is fairly small. No one will notice you. Well, except Aggie because she will have to process your invitation.”
Minoru chuckled. “There is that. We will give you a code name. William Officer.”
He shrugged. “My name is Bill, so it isn’t too far off.”
Polly had to ask. “What are you, Bill?”
Minoru whispered in her ear. “Inhale his scent, and you will know.”
She inhaled and got the scent of earth, lichen, damp stone, and male pheromones. “I know that Aggie set him off. And he’s something stone and earth.”
“He’s a troll.”
“A bridge.” She giggled. “A troll bridge.”
Minoru felt her flinch. “And that is enough excitement for you, young lady. You are going to rest for the rest of the day.”
She sighed. “Great idea. Your fault I have been up for a week.”
He started to walk to their car. “No, your fault I was up for a week. I am chapped.”
Bill barked a laugh behind them, and they continued to their patient driver, with five out of eight embryos waiting in storage. They didn’t know if they would survive the thawing process, as this was experimental, but they did know they were moving their cell clusters. This place was a giant juicy target.
Chapter Eight
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.
