Chapter 31
THIRTY-ONE
Playing: Someone to Stay by Vancouver Sleep Clinic
I am over the moon as we drive back to my place.
The entire date went way better than I expected.
I think a tiny part of me hoped the date would go down the toilet so that I had an excuse to never do it again.
But they were attentive, detail-oriented, and they let me take control for the majority of the evening, which isn’t a small feat for alphas.
Especially three of them that want to prove themselves to my omega.
I have no reason to deny this. These men are meant for me in more than one way and I have pushed them from my orbit enough. I am finally ready to pull them all the way in.
They’re not the only ones I have kept at a distance. My omega purrs in my chest, but not for anyone else but me. She is noticing the change, realizing that I no longer plan to fight her or her instincts.
I think about how Stacia said letting my omega in doesn’t have to be a battle, and she’s right. It feels like welcoming a piece of myself home, a piece I had long forgotten was a part of me.
Biting my lip, I pull my phone out and text Opal.
Rory: Are you at home?
Opal: I’m actually on my way to Stacia’s house! What’s up?
Well, here goes nothing.
Rory: Would you mind seeing if you can stay over at Stacia’s tonight?
Dots show up immediately, but it takes a few seconds before a message comes through.
Opal: Hold on a second
My confusion doesn’t last long, because then another text comes… this time in a group chat.
Opal: Stacia, can I spend the night tonight?
Stacia: Oh? Of course! Rory do you want to come, too?
Goddamnit, I see what Opal’s doing.
Opal: She has plans, actually. That’s why I’m asking
Stacia: OHHH
Rory: I hate you both
Opal: Have fun, Rory!!
Stacia: Use protection!
Rory:
I roll my eyes at them, but I make a mental note that I have condoms in my end table.
When we get there, all three of them get out of the car to walk me to the door and it makes me swoon really freaking hard.
“So,” I say when we get to the front step. “Were you guys planning to stay for a bit?”
They get a bit flustered at my impromptu question.
“Well… we weren’t expecting a night cap,” Jett says, scratching the back of his head awkwardly.
“We wanted to show you how much we appreciated tonight,” Everett adds. “And none of us were willing to give up the chance to walk you to the door.”
Dax just mumbles a few nervous things under his breath. I give them a happy smirk.
“Well, what if I don’t want you to leave yet?” I ask. “What if I wanted a night cap?”
They sputter over their words a bit and look at each other, unsure of who should take the reins.
“We could stay, yeah,” Jett tries to say casually while Dax says, “Only if you want us to.”
I don’t know why but their stutters make me feel powerful. Like, I really affect these alphas this way. Me .
As usual, Everett takes the lead with confidence. “We’d love to spend any extra time with you that you’ll allow us to, Rory.”
When we march inside, everything is dark. “Is Opal home?” Dax asks .
I give a hidden smile in the dark of the living room. “No, she’s actually having a sleepover with Stacia tonight.”
They don’t respond to that, letting me lead them through the house and to my bedroom.
Right before I open the door, Everett speaks up. “Are we going in your room?”
I quirk a brow and reply, “Yes.”
“I thought you didn’t like alphas in your room,” Dax comments. I look back at him and see the cutest expression I’ve ever seen on his face. It’s one full of hope and anticipation.
“Yeah, I don’t. But you’re not just any alphas, are you?”
I look at Jett, and I know he’s remembering that day he visited me.
The day we let our instincts take over before we had everything figured out.
He remembers my tone that day, and he sees the difference in how I said it just now.
“No,” he says, letting the smile finally crack over his face. “We’re not.”
“Then come on,” I retort, finally opening up my door.
The look of awe on their faces as they venture into my safe place is so fun to watch.
Their eyes fly over everything they can see.
The LED lights that line my ceiling are still on, the warm blue creating a comfortable atmosphere instead of the harsh yellow of the overlight.
Jett gets pulled in by my bulletin board where I have pamphlets, old movie tickets, pictures of Stacia and me from over the years, plus the few new ones I’ve taken with Opal.
They’re all collaged under a bunch of thumbtacks, creating a mirage of beautiful memories.
Dax sneaks a glance of it over Jett’s shoulder and then sees my script on the dresser and rubs his finger over it softly like he’s curious but doesn’t want to disturb anything.
Everett eyes the bed because there is no other place to sit. I don’t have any extra seats, not a computer chair or an ottoman, just my queen size bed that takes up most of my room. It’s a mix of blue and black silk and it’s my ultimate paradise .
As they continue to look around, impressed by my comfy space, I take off my jacket and crawl into the bed. They all look at me, unsure of what to do.
“Do you guys want to sit?” I ask with a teasing smile. It seems like they didn’t want to crawl into an omega’s bed without permission, because the second I offer, they finally relax and move to get comfy.
I don’t blame them for their hesitance. I’ve been territorial of my stuff, even the full bathroom that only Opal and I use. I never thought I would want anyone’s smell besides my own in here, but I don’t think that anymore. Something in me craves it, needs it.
The second Dax’s skin touches my comforter, my omega fucking preens.
She perks up all the way at the sensation, loving the instantaneous bloom of cherries covering the entire space.
And when Everett and Jett join as well, I have to choke down an emotional sound in my throat.
I wish they’d roll around until it’s so full of their combined scent that it’ll never possibly wash out.
That sounds like a freaking dream .
Once all of their shoes and jackets are off, we sprawl out against the many pillows, Dax and Everett on one side of me and Jett on the other. The latter gives me a happy smile. “I like the vibe of your room.”
“Thank you.” I didn’t realize how much that compliment would mean to me until he says it. I feel a tiny bit bashful, so I turn on the TV to distract myself.
“What are we watching?” Dax asks, fully relaxing into my side. I sneak a glance at Everett next to him and his eyes are laser-focused on me. The sexy way his jaw clenches and the outpour of his fresh rain scent makes it obvious that he is reigning in the control of his alpha.
“This new sitcom I’ve been binging,” I tell him as I turn it on. The theme song starts to play and Dax beams from ear to ear. “Have you seen it?”
“It’s one of my mother’s favorites,” is all he says before he snuggles up to my side, ready to tune in.
We watch it for hours in complete comfortability. The episode we’re on now is a bit of a heavier one, the characters discussing children and fertility. It causes me to tense for the first time since this date began.
Maybe it’s because they’re finally in my room, scenting up all of my stuff, but I feel an emotional zing of something unspoken beating me across my ribs. An anxiety that I need to get off my chest.
I don’t think what I need is sex. I think there’s something else I need to discuss with them, something a lot more personal.
“So, we’re officially in the courting stage,” I say awkwardly, adding a tiny laugh to soften the sentence. “If this continues… there’s something you three should know. Because it might be a deal breaker and it’s probably best we get it out of the way now.”
That gets their full attention. Everett turns the TV volume down just enough so it won’t interrupt us, and they all turn to me with serious expressions.
“What is it, twilight?” Jett asks.
Dax whispers, “You call her twilight?” but Jett just shushes him.
I swallow harshly. “I don’t want kids. I never have.
The thought of it makes me feel weird.” I don’t mention that it’s because I don’t know what kind of mother I would be.
I think they already sense it from the information I told them earlier.
“I want a long career, so I don’t see that kind of life for myself.
So, if you guys want a family more than just a pack, I’m not the omega for you. ”
The last sentence comes out with a whimper that I don’t intend. I swallow it down, because it had to be said. I need them to know how serious I am about this.
At first, I can’t read any of their expressions, but then they all let out small inhales like they’re relieved.
“Baby, that’s not a deal breaker,” Everett says.
“It’s not?”
It’s Dax’s turn to shake his head. “We’re all going to have such busy careers. Jett will probably travel a lot for filming, I’ve got at least a decade worth of schooling left to get my doctorate, and Everett will be dealing with kids enough for all four of us.”
Everett nods his head in agreement. “Any free time we get, we’ll probably want to spend it with our pack and our omega.”
That ugly green beast rears its head again. I wouldn’t let my omega react a few moments ago, so this time she sends out a nasty snarl.
Instead of offended glances, all three alphas give satisfied smirks.
“Rory,” Everett starts. “ You are the person we want. We have wanted you for months… dreamt of no one else but you.”
“I haven’t been with anyone since we met,” Jett confesses.
The tears are immediate. Gosh, when did I get so emotional? My fire sign nature rejects this subconscious emotion.
My fingers caress over Jett’s hand. “Are you serious?”
His expression is nothing but pure happiness. “It’s always been you, twilight. Ever since I first saw you and then spat out the worst word vomit. It’s been you .”
Dax takes my other hand, pulling my attention towards him. “I haven’t thought of another girl, let alone an omega, since our first interaction last year. No other scent will ever do it for me. No one else’s sass will ever get me harder than yours.”
I let out a giggle at his declaration, because it’s so him . I look between all three of them, feeling more complete than I ever thought possible.
“We can take it slow,” Everett states. “Court you the way you deserve. But our minds are made up. You’re our omega.”
A tear falls and I quickly wipe it away. “I’m a lucky omega.”
“We’re the lucky ones, Rory.” I meet their gazes, and I realize just how much they think that, too. It’s true, how lucky we all are. They’ve been waiting for their pack forever, and I’ve been waiting to let myself embrace who I really am. We just needed each other to do so.
“Now,” Dax says, changing the subject. “How do you feel about dogs?”
Jett scoffs. “Please tell me you meant cats.”
A wet laugh tumbles out of me as they continue to bicker about it, but there’s no sadness left. It’s all joy, and I’m so glad I’m finally letting myself feel it.