45. Olive
45
OLIVE
I ran my fingers along the clothing rack as I walked down the aisle, my chest tightening with every step.
I’d been inside Star Styles—Starlight Grove’s only clothing store—for an excruciating twenty minutes. I’d circled the same racks over and over, as if what I needed would magically pop into existence if I made enough rotations. The guys surprised me this morning by saying they wanted to take me out on a date. A fancy date, according to Easton. Which meant I needed fancy clothes.
“Can I help you?”
I let out a startled yelp and whirled around to find the shop assistant right behind me. She was a young beta dressed in an adorable cream sweater dress and a name tag that identified her as Emma.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” she said with a laugh. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I just wanted to see if I can help you find something.”
“I’m just browsing,” I said, cursing myself for not escaping the store sooner.
“You’re Olive, right? The new lighthouse keeper?”
I nodded, still not used to how small this town was. The arrival of one new person was a whole event.
“Are you looking for anything specific?”
Oh god, why does she have to be so helpful? Please just leave me alone to my suffering.
“It’s okay, really. I’m fine.”
How could I escape now? Maybe she would go back to the front of the store and then I could run away.
“That one is super pretty,” Emma said, leaning in a bit to see the dress I’d been looking at. It was black and sparkly, with a high slit on the skirt. The exact type of dress I’d love to wear. “Want to try it on?”
I took a slow, deep breath before speaking. “There aren’t any in my size. In fact, I don’t think you offer anything in my size in the entire store. So no, I think I’m just going to head out.”
Emma’s face fell, and I saw her eyes move down my body.
Yes, that’s it, really take in each of these rolls.
“Really? I’m so sorry. What size are you? I just started working here, but maybe?—”
“Look, it’s fine. I’ll figure something out.” I cringed at my harsh tone. This wasn’t Emma’s fault, but fuck, it was embarrassing to be in a huge store that didn’t have a single thing that fit me. And now Emma was practically tearing up beside me and I would have to awkwardly comfort her. I should have just stayed home. Told the guys I didn’t want to go out.
Before she could say anything else, my feet were already carrying me to the exit. “Don’t worry about it!” I called over my shoulder. “Nice to meet you!”
A burst of crisp fall air hit me as I launched myself out of the store. A few stray tears ran down my cheeks and I wiped them away quickly, my anger rising. I loved my body, loved my curves, and I hated that a stupid clothing store could make me feel like this.
What would I tell the guys?
I crossed my arms and headed down the street. I was so lost in my own head that I almost ran straight into Lucy.
“Hey! I just saw you out of the window of my shop…” She trailed off as she caught my expression. I quickly tried to force a smile on my face, but the swirling mix of humiliation, anxiety, and rage in my stomach made it almost impossible .
She reached out and grabbed my arm, squeezing it gently. “What’s wrong? What happened?”
I cleared my throat, but my voice still sounded thick when I spoke. “It’s nothing.”
Lucy fixed me with a fierce expression that was so unexpected for the sweet omega that it jolted me into telling the truth.
“The guys want to take me out to a fancy dinner and I have nothing to wear.”
Lucy’s face softened. “Oh, clothes are my thing! Let me help you, please!”
“That’s so sweet, but I don’t think?—”
She was now pulling me back the direction I’d come. “Star Styles is a bit limited in their selection, but I can tailor just about anything.”
I dug my heels in and we came to a stop. “I don’t think that’s going to help, Lucy. They don’t have anything big enough for me.”
She blinked and I braced myself for her pity, for that expression that said, Oh right, I forgot you’re fat. But instead, her eyes narrowed.
“Are you actually kidding me right now? That is so wrong! I make most of my own clothes so I don’t shop there, but how could they not be size-inclusive? I will be bringing this up at the next town meeting.”
“Umm, I don’t think?—”
“Inclusive sizing is a social justice issue,” Lucy said firmly. “But in the meantime, we can go to this boutique I love in Briar’s Landing. Or I could make you something!”
Lucy’s enthusiasm was a lot to take in, but her strong reaction eased some of my embarrassment. She was right. It wasn’t my fault the store didn’t carry inclusive sizing.
I chewed my lip. “The guys are supposed to pick me up in like an hour.”
“Drat. Okay, let me think.” Lucy tapped her foot against the sidewalk. “I have this cape I’m working on that could look really cool.”
“It’s really fine, Lucy. I just want to head back home. But I appreciate you wanting to help.”
I felt bad at her crestfallen expression, but this whole outing had been a lot on my frayed nerves, and I just wanted to get back home.
“Are you sure?”
“Totally sure. I need to get going, but I’ll see you later. We’re doing lunch Sunday, right?”
“Yes, I’ll see you then.”
I gave Lucy an awkward wave as I headed down Main Street, holding myself back from breaking out into a full-on sprint. I rounded the corner to head to my cottage, and a loud meow was the only warning I got before Felix launched himself into my arms. The startled scream that left my lips sounded something like aarrglblerg as I caught him and pulled him close to my chest.
“You almost lost one of your nine lives,” I gasped.
Felix just purred and rubbed his head under my chin.
“That’s right, you probably have infinity lives, you magical little creature.”
I hitched him up so I was holding him more securely and headed down the lighthouse path.
“Do you ever have trouble shopping for clothes? You are a bit of a chunk.” I pet his fluffy belly. “An adorable little chunk,” I quickly clarified.
His purr intensified.
“Maybe the two of us could stay in tonight. Would you like that? We could watch a movie or something.”
I swore Felix practically rolled his eyes.
“There’s nothing wrong with staying in,” I snapped. My trip into town had been quite enough social activity for the day, thank you very much.
Felix refused to allow me to put him down when I got home, so I awkwardly juggled him to one arm and unlocked the door with the other. I flopped down on the couch and Felix settled on top of me.
“I’ll just ask the guys if we can cancel. Hopefully they’re not too disappointed in me.”
I swallowed hard at the realization that I still carried around the fear that they would leave me. I needed to trust them—they had earned my trust. I hadn’t told them about my upcoming heat… and al l that came with it, but time was quickly running out. Maybe I could take tonight to myself and work up my courage to tell them tomorrow. I could make them dinner to make up for canceling and then break the news.
I pulled out my phone and agonized over the wording of my text to the guys for way too long.
Olive
Hey! I’m sorry about this, but I don’t think I’m up for anything fancy tonight. Could we maybe cancel our date? I could cook for you tomorrow instead.
I held the phone up to Felix.
“What do you think?”
Felix batted the phone straight out of my hand.
“Oh my god, Felix!”
My shout was drowned out by a knock at the door. I scowled at him as I went to answer, picking my phone up off the floor on my way.
My mouth went dry at the view that greeted me when I opened the door—Easton, Finn, and Lars were standing side by side in suits.
Fuck, the way the jackets stretched across their broad shoulders was everything. My omega wanted to pull them inside and get those suits all messy. Lars’s hair was tied up in a topknot, and I wanted to take it down and run my fingers through it.
He caught my eyes and winked. “Hey, kitten. I missed you today.” He went to pull me into his arms, but I took a little step back.
“You’re early.”
Easton grinned. He wasn’t wearing a tie, and his shirt was unbuttoned enough to show off a bit of his golden skin. I wanted to lean forward and lick it. “Couldn’t stay away. But there’s no rush if you still need time to get ready.”
I fidgeted, shifting my weight from one hip to the other. “I was just going to text you to ask if we can cancel tonight. I’m just not feeling up for it. ”
They looked immediately concerned.
“Are you having a dark day?” Finn asked. “What do you need, pretty girl?”
Why were they so sweet? It was so much more than I deserved. “No, I just… I don’t want to go.” My tone was all ice as I resorted to my tried-and-true standoffishness that had driven so many people away.
“Uh huh,” Easton said, obviously not buying it.
“Why don’t you guys still go out? You’re already dressed for it. You can have a nice dinner together.”
Finn scoffed and crossed his muscular arms that looked ready to burst out of his jacket. “You really think we’re going to leave you here alone and go out to a fancy dinner just the three of us?”
“I’m not alone,” I mumbled. “Felix is here.”
I turned around to gesture at the cat, but he had apparently vanished into thin air. Sneaky little traitor.
“Alright, so now she’s seeing things,” Easton said as he shoved his way into the living room. He gripped my chin and forced me to meet his gaze. “Tell me what’s actually going on.”
His heady chocolate hazelnut scent washed over me and I melted against him, my defenses completely destroyed. “I don’t have anything to wear,” I finally whispered.
Easton frowned. “What are you talking about? You always look cute.”
The front door clicked shut and then Lars’s arms were around me, pulling me back into his chest. He pressed his face to the top of my head, and a purr started up in his chest. “You smell stressed, sweetheart.”
“I don’t have anything fancy to wear, okay? Nothing that would be appropriate for a nice restaurant, and I didn’t have time to get anything today. So you guys just go, and we can see each other tomorrow.”
“Okay,” Easton said.
An inexplicable lump formed in my throat at his easy agreement. I was the one telling them to go away, but now that they were here, the thought of them leaving sent a pang of sadness through me .
“Okay. So I’ll see you tomorrow?”
Finn snorted, doing something on his phone. “No. Okay, we’ll change our plans. If you don’t feel comfortable going to a fancy restaurant, even though you’d be the hottest fucking person there, we’ll just change our plans.”
“No, that’s not what I?—”
“Come on,” Easton said, grabbing my hand and pulling me to my room. He went straight to the closet where my clothes were folded in cheap plastic drawers and started pulling things out.
“What are you doing? That’s my underwear drawer.”
He turned to look at me over his shoulder with a cheeky grin. “Did you want to skip the underwear tonight, sunshine? Because I’m down for that.”
I turned to Lars and Finn, who had followed us in, and gestured at Easton. “What is happening?”
Finn removed his suit jacket and rolled up the sleeves of his button-down, revealing thick forearms. My brain stuttered. What had I been saying? Now all I wanted were his arms around me.
“It sounds like Easton is picking out an outfit for you before we go out.” Finn flopped down on the bed, his casual pose a complete contrast to his tailored black suit and tie. “You did a great job with this, Lars,” he said, running his hand along the gauzy canopy Lars hung last night.
“Thanks,” Lars responded. He sat down next to his pack mate and then snagged me by the waist, pulling me down onto his lap. I should tell them off for entering my nest without permission. Actually, I should be upset with all of them for not listening to my request for space, even though it wasn’t what I actually wanted.
Lars’s hand cradled the back of my head, authority radiating from him, and I automatically leaned in to breathe in his scent. “Was there another reason you didn’t want to go to dinner, or just the outfit?” His chest rumbled, sending vibrations through my body.
“Outfit,” I whispered.
Lars nodded. “You look amazing in everything you wear, kitten.” Before I could argue, he cocked an eyebrow. “We will choose an outfit for you and you’ll be a good girl and put it on for us. Then we are going out together so your pack can prove that we’re worthy of your omega by spoiling you.”
Part of me wanted to push back. I was still a bit shaken and raw from my trip to the store earlier. I wanted to curl up alone so I could avoid being perceived. But another part of me just wanted to do whatever I could to be Lars’s good girl.
“Well, well, what do we have here?” Easton said. He turned around and held up a corset lingerie top made completely with sheer black lace. I’d found the piece on sale online about a year ago and had splurged on it but had never worn it.
Lars cleared his throat and shifted, his erection obvious against my ass. “Be a good girl and put it on for us.” He lifted me by the hips until I was standing on the mattress.
I took the corset from Easton with a huff. “Fine.” I stripped off my clothes and put on the corset and matching thong, turning around so Easton could do up the back. And then I remembered why I’d never worn it. I loved how it lifted my boobs and cinched in my waist, but the front perfectly framed my stomach rolls and seemed to push them out even further. I grimaced and was ready to take it off when Finn swore.
“You’re right, we should skip going out.” He stared up at me from his spot on the bed, eyes wide. “My god, Olive. I have no fucking idea how the three of us landed a literal goddess.”
Lars cupped his cock through his pants with a groan. “Fuck, kitten. Fuck .”
Standing before them, their jaws dropped and gazes transfixed on my body, made me feel powerful. But old insecurities still rose to the surface. I cupped my belly, cringing a bit at how it spilled over the skimpy thong. “You don’t think this is… unattractive?”
Lars and Finn were on their feet, their chests vibrating with growls as they crowded Easton and me.
“I’m sorry. What did you just say?” Lars asked, voice low and dangerous.
Finn gripped my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze with my burning cheeks. “There is no part of you that could ever be unattractive .” He spit the word out like it had personally offended him.
Easton’s hand collared my throat from behind, adding the slightest bit of pressure, while the other dragged down my side until it cupped my stomach. It took everything in me not to move away.
“Can’t you see what you do to us?” His erection pressed firmly against my back. “Don’t doubt yourself, baby.”
He didn’t move his hand, and I slowly relaxed into his touch, letting my belly go. “Good girl,” he murmured. “Such a fucking good girl for us.”
I shivered as he moved my hair to the side and kissed me, starting at my shoulder and working his way up my neck until his lips pressed against a sensitive spot behind my ear. “Maybe we should stay in so we can prove to you how sexy you are.”
I whimpered as he squeezed my pussy, causing slick to drench my underwear.
Lars snarled a growl and then pulled me out of Easton’s arms. “No. We are going to prove to you that we are good alphas who can provide for you, and not just in your nest.”
I jutted my lip out in a pout, but Lars firmed his jaw. “That is not going to work. We are going to go out and spoil you, kitten, and nothing you say is going to dissuade us.”
“Fine, but only if you agree to keep the suits on.”
A satisfied grin spread across Lars’s face. “Oh, you like us dressed up for you, omega?”
I shrugged. “You might look nice.”
My alpha chuckled as he palmed my ass. “What our omega wants, she gets.”