Chapter 15
Islept surprisingly well, all things considered. Poppy and Pepper had lain on top of me all night, purring away in my nest. I’d briefly considered asking Jude or one of the alphas to stay with me, but that would cut into my musing.
Everything had changed.
Hopefully for the better.
I sighed, using the rhythmic movement of petting my cats to soothe myself. Someone was moving around in the hallway, but I was still working up the energy to get vertical. The nest was even more comfortable than my old one, and more importantly, there was no trace of Tyler in it.
Poppy headbutted me and Pepper made biscuits on my stomach.
They were my fuzzy world, and I would be forever grateful that my scent matches had helped me make sure they were safe.
Jude had warned me not to fall into old patterns, but I felt how effortless that would be, how easily gratitude could become more.
What did I actually want?
My cravings for my scent matches were simple. The life they potentially offered me? Not so much.
To avoid another Tyler situation, I had to be financially independent. That meant getting a job, no matter how willing to provide for me the men outside my door might be.
Pepper hopped off the nest and cried at the door, pawing at it while looking to make sure I was paying attention. It was nearly seven. Earlier than I’d like, but I might as well get a move on with the day.
“I’m coming.” I nudged Poppy aside and climbed out of bed and padded to the door, trying not to feel self-conscious about my ruffled appearance.
Poppy bolted out ahead of me, and I grabbed the door frame so I didn’t trip when she zipped between my legs.
“Good morning, little one,” Alve’s gentle voice carried from the living room. “Look what I have for you.”
I wandered out with silent footsteps, peeking around the corner to see Alve proudly showing off what appeared to be a litter box disguised as a house plant. He looked nervous when Poppy stuck her front half inside to check it out, digging around in the fresh litter before hopping all the way in.
He was already dressed for the day and I glanced down at my pajamas, belatedly wondering if I should have done the same prior to coming out. Tyler had never liked when I’d come down in pajamas, but I had to keep an eye on the cats so they didn’t cause trouble.
Poppy emerged again, meowing plaintively at Alve.
“Did it meet your exacting standards? I have some breakfast options for you, but I don’t know what you like.”
Pepper trotted over to join them, taking her turn with the litter, and by then, Alve had caught sight of me.
“Good morning. How are you feeling?”
“All right, I suppose.”
“Coffee is ready, but if you would prefer something else, please let me know.”
“Coffee is fine,” I assured him.
He frowned, rather than accept my attempt at placation. “What would you like instead?”
I chewed my lip, debating if I wanted to say or not. On the rare occasions when Tyler and I crossed paths in the morning, I always poured myself a perfunctory cup of coffee and hid my actual preference so he didn’t make any comments about it being childish.
“I have a variety of tea,” Alve offered. “Orange juice, hot chocolate…” He must have caught my expression, because he nodded and pulled out a container of hot chocolate powder. “I can pick up some proper chocolate if you would prefer that melted in milk.”
“I’m simple, I promise. I love the powder.”
His gaze fastened on me putting together my drink. We had the same espresso machine at home so I knew how to steam the milk.
While I worked, Alve selected some canned cat food, lining them up neatly. “I wasn’t sure what to get. Will any of these work?”
“They’ll probably like the salmon one the best. It was sweet of you to get things for them. I really can’t thank you enough.”
He brushed off the sentiment. “If they’re well cared for, you’ll have less to stress about. They deserve luxuries as much as the rest of us so I snuck out this morning to get some extras.”
“Thank you.” I’d probably said that to him a dozen times last night too. He’d prepared the cats a can of tuna in water, served up in his soup bowls for their dinner while the rest of us ate our pizza. It wasn’t ideal for an everyday food, but Poppy and Pepper had certainly enjoyed their treat.
I watched Alve dutifully hand wash their new bowls, filling two with food and another with water. Silly as it might sound, watching him dote on my cats was making my stomach clench. I hadn’t anticipated what a turn on gentle care might be.
My scent betrayed my thoughts and Alve looked over at me with a blush on his cheeks.
Another door opened, disturbing our quiet moment.
Jude walked out with a yawn, moving straight to my side.
He was in his pajamas, too, red plaid pants and a plain white tee he’d borrowed from Alve.
Apparently our host kept extra items on hand in case his family ever forgot any essentials, which led to my scent matches in adorably identical outfits.
“You’re awake early.” Jude kissed the top of my head and wrapped his arm around my shoulders before giving Alve a wave. “Is this your normal wake up time?”
“Earlier than usual, but not by much. Hard to sleep through hungry babies.”
“I bet,” Jude said with a chuckle.
I didn’t bother to suppress my purr as I leaned into Jude. He was still frustratingly scentless, but at least I got to indulge in the warmth of him.
“Help yourself to coffee,” Alve told him. “I was going to wait for more of us to be awake to start breakfast.”
“For some reason, I didn’t expect you to know how to cook,” I said, tilting my head to examine him.
“I know the basics, or at least what equated to basics in my home growing up. I suppose they’re not things that would be common in others.”
“Like what?” Jude asked.
“My parents’ household is Swedish and Japanese, so we ate a lot of fish, often for breakfast. I didn’t want to assume any of you would like that.”
“I could get down with it,” I assured him. “I’ve never tried it this early in the day, but I’m open to new things.”
Jude nodded. “If the others aren’t a fan, they can make pancakes or something.”
Alve’s blush got even darker. He bustled around the kitchen, getting a rice cooker going, lightly seasoning his fish of choice and tucking it into what I now realized was a specific oven for this purpose.
He sliced tofu and prepared a pot of miso soup with a practiced hand.
Alve whipped together some scrambled eggs that he seasoned, pouring it bit by bit into a fancy rectangular pan, rolling the egg over and over itself, and I watched it all in rapt fascination.
By the time Nathan and Leo joined us, we were ready to dish up. They looked too cute in their pajamas, all matching what Jude wore.
“I don’t know what you’re making, but it smells great,” Nathan announced as he wandered into the kitchen with a yawn. “Damn, this looks fab.”
“Thank you,” Alve mumbled.
Nathan bent to kiss my cheek and my whole body lit up at the brief contact. “Morning, beautiful.”
“Good morning,” I squeaked out.
Leo wasn’t quite as bold, but he did greet me with a smile.
Alve dished us up and we carried everything to his dining table.
It all smelled heavenly. His blush grew stronger as we took our first bites, as if he was waiting for some sort of reprimand.
He wasn’t going to get it, though. Everything that graced my tongue was delicious and I had to stop myself from inhaling it at dangerous speeds.
At least he seemed relieved by how quickly his food disappeared.
“Alve, this was amazing. If you teach me how, I’d love to help next time you make it. I suppose it’s probably too much work for every day.”
“Not particularly, though it will certainly be easier with more hands. Most of it is very uncomplicated, it just takes a bit of practice. The Swedish breakfasts are much simpler. We ate a lot of crispbread growing up during the week when we were young, but as soon as any of us got old enough to cook, we were a small army in the kitchen.”
“I love that. I’m down to try Swedish breakfast too, though I feel like you’ve spoiled me with this one.”
“We can take turns,” Leo offered. “But I suppose that’s getting ahead of myself. Should we talk about what the plan going forward is?”
“Probably,” I replied.
“You’re all welcome to stay here,” Alve told us. “I’ll keep my family away for the time being, and the rooms you each stayed in tonight will be yours for the foreseeable future.”
“I can get on board with some pack sleepovers,” said Jude. “We have to figure out how to live together, so we might as well dive in the deep end. How long should we keep our apartments for?”
Nathan shrugged. “I could get rid of mine tomorrow. I have zero qualms about going to stay with my sister until I can find a new one if you guys get sick of me.”
“My lease is over at the end of next month,” Leo said, “I was going to keep it, but I don’t have to. I would have to let them know soon though.”
“You comfortable with all of us living here, Maddie?” Jude’s warm gaze swept over me.
“I think so. I’m still clinging a little to the idea of my own place, but that’s impractical right now. Focusing on settling from all the changes and getting a job can be the priority.”
“Speaking of that,” Alve said, beginning to collect our dishes, before Nathan laid his hand on Alve’s wrist, gesturing for him to sit down so he could do it instead.
“Yes?” I asked, prompting Alve to continue.
“We’re still rather desperate for a designer with the OHI. Tiffany will be off for at least a year. Use it as something to get your resume going and have some references not connected to Tyler.”
The idea of going professional was like a bonfire in my chest. Being a legitimate business owner could be my new goal, and if working for Alve was the stepping stone I needed for that, then I was willing to entertain the idea.
I didn’t love that my employment would be based on my scent match’s good will toward me, but perhaps beggars couldn’t be choosers.
As if sensing the reason for my hesitation, Jude took my hand in his.
“I’m sure something could be put into the contract in case Alve changes his mind.
You can always come work at the store, and I know that’s not a different situation at all, but you wouldn’t be working directly under me.
The store manager would be in charge of your hiring, I would just recommend you for it. ”
I liked having options. Undoubtedly, the design job would pay more and play right into my strengths, but I did love the idea of getting to spend my workday around Jude.
“You could also make your clients pay,” Nathan suggested.
“That doesn’t seem fair when they’ve never had to before.”
All four of them chorused my name, a gentle admonition in each syllable coming from every direction.
“They should’ve been paying the whole time,” Nathan insisted. “At the very least, they should recommend you to paying customers.”
“Honestly, I’m nervous to talk to them at all. The people I designed for are all connected to Tyler. They’re wealthy omegas involved with wealthy alphas, and all those alphas came through Tyler’s various business dealings.”
I wasn’t brave enough to reach out and see what their reaction might be to the change in my circumstances. Luckily, I’d just finished up with my most recent one, and hadn’t started any others yet.
“Okay,” Nathan replied. “Fuck them, then. You get the experience you need in whatever way you’re most comfortable with, and you can take the design world by storm whenever you’re ready.”
I looked at each of them in turn, the men who were trying to help me rebuild.
Maybe I should’ve been more nervous about banking my future on the opportunities they offered, but also, maybe they were right?
I needed to start somewhere, and if that somewhere was because of a helping hand, nothing was stopping me from moving on when the time was right.
“You know what? I’ll do it. I’ll interview for both positions and build the life I want.”
Nathan beamed at me, dragging my chair closer to kiss my cheek. “That’s my girl.”
My cheeks warmed. I wasn’t his girl quite yet, but damn if the idea of surrendering to it wasn’t tempting.