29. Ember
Ember
A couple of days later, West and I went to a movie night at Greg’s house.
I would have put it off again, but all three guys had to work super late, so I decided to get the socialization out of the way.
West drove, and I tried to psych myself up for a fun night with some work friends.
I’d rather be at my cottage if I wasn’t at Ben and Rian’s house. It had only been a couple of days since our second date, but it felt like more time than that. Like we’d all been together for years.
The thought terrified me. Not that they would suddenly dump me, but the idea of caring about so many more people made it feel like my heart was walking around outside my body. Outside my control.
West took my hand. “We can call it an early night if you want.”
“I’ll let you know.” I squeezed his hand, his scent grounding me. “Are you okay?”
“Humm? I’m fine.” He shrugged. “We’ll watch an episode or two of Horrors Untold and then leave.”
“I mean, things are moving fast with the, uhhh, pack.” I looked out the window, at the sun setting over the ocean.
I’d asked West a couple of times if he was okay, and he said he was. And he seemed okay. Better than okay, in fact. Like he was really enjoying being around the other three, both sexually and during our snuggle time.
But I had to make sure he wasn’t just sacrificing his happiness for me.
“I’m good.” He sounded surprised. “It’s easier than I imagined it would be.”
“Right?” I perked up. “Three new people. That should be hard. Different schedules, different likes and dislikes…”
“It’s almost like being around adults who are understanding of other people’s needs makes an easier relationship,” West mused, and I laughed.
“Seriously, though, I need you to be okay.” I squeezed his hand again. “If you need more time with just the two of us at the cottage.”
“I will,” he said. “But I’m good. Glad that we can chill out without having to answer a billion questions.”
“Do you think I should tell them about my parents?” I sighed. “Soon?”
He shrugged. “I wouldn’t worry about it. They’re not going to pry, which is points in their favor. Tell them when you feel ready, not because you ‘should.’”
“You’re pretty smart.” I grinned at him.
“Not just a pretty face.” He winked and pulled into Greg’s driveway.
I braced myself, reaching for bubbly and perky. Greg’s house smelled like him, of course, the rosemary scent soapy and the patchouli musky, and after the bliss of inhaling the scent of the men I was dating, it was like a slap to the nose.
Even West wrinkled his nose before looking blank.
“Welcome, welcome.” Greg came over to both of us. He leaned in like he was going to hug me, and West handed him the big bag of chips we brought.
Sabrina and Jace were already there, and so were Susan and Richard. They were all betas with softer scents, so I mingled with them. We talked about different software updates, programming jokes, and then TV shows.
Greg inserted himself into the conversation, bringing up Horrors Untold and showing off his very nice setup. I would have been impressed, but Ben and Rian had a much better TV and speaker system.
I exchanged a glance with West, who gave me a small nod. Yep, he was thinking the same thing. We all settled on the couch to watch the latest episode, and Greg sat next to me.
West was on my other side, by the arm of the couch, so I moved closer to West. The show started, and I tried to focus on the eldritch horrors escaping from Area X, to the shock of no one watching.
The scientists had experimented with bug and primate genes, and after some splicing they accidentally opened a rift in the time space continuum. The show smashed a lot of horror tropes together, but something about how they played it all earnestly made the show amazing and not too stupid to watch.
Greg kept moving for more popcorn, or Coke, or whatever and shifting closer to me. His arm and thigh started brushing against me, and I froze. My careful scent balance was getting ruined. I moved closer to West, and he put an arm around my waist.
“Greg, scoot over,” West snapped. “I don’t think anyone wants to know what happens if Ember has to actually sit in my lap.”
Jace laughed. “Nope, that’s all you.”
“Sorry,” Greg muttered. “Didn’t mean to invade your privacy.”
West shot him a look that could have turned him to stone, but the sullen beta was watching the show. He moved over, though, and I could breathe again.
The show ended, and we chitchatted some more. Greg went downstairs to grab some movies that the creators of Horrors Untold were inspired by, and I went into the kitchen for more chips and dip. I had my arms loaded, only to turn around and see Greg there.
“Oh, hey, I can help.” He reached for the bowl, his hands brushing mine.
I hid my grimace. “Thanks.”
“You enjoyed the show?” he asked, standing in my way and making no move to leave.
“I loved it,” I said, injecting false cheer. “The blend of eighties nostalgia along with retro horror is top notch.”
“It’s so well done.” He nodded, his face getting animated. “The creators really knew what they were doing when they blended the socioeconomic fears against the worry about government control.”
“They did. Also, monsters.”
He cocked his head. “You smell different. Seems like you found some alphas to date after all.”
His pleasant expression didn’t change, but a hint of resentment colored his voice.
I shrugged. “It just happened. One thing led to another. I couldn’t have planned it, even if I had a crystal ball.”
“So that means the pack is open for a beta,” he said with forced cheer. “Two omegas and two alphas are definitely going to need a beta.”
“It’s hard enough dating three new people—” I started.
“Just tell me I’m not good enough,” he snapped. “Go on, right to my face.”
“Greg,” I sighed. “It’s not you.”
“What is it, then? Am I not attractive enough? I know you’re way out of my league but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t spend every single second of the day worshiping the ground you walked on.”
“It’s not you,” I said again, feeling vaguely ashamed and confused. Like I should be attracted to him, if only to make his ego less bruised. Even though that was a stupid thought.
“Have I not been a nice enough friend?” He gestured around us, the hand holding the bowl of dip shaking. “Inviting you over for parties, finding you songs to listen to, being nice to your omega boyfriend, bringing you lunch.”
“That was very nice,” I started, feeling like the conversation was getting wildly out of hand.
“Oh, I’m glad,” he snapped. “So glad that was nice for the princess.”
“This is why,” I snarled. “Because everything you do isn’t to be nice, Greg. It’s so you can try to guilt me into sleeping with you.”
West appeared in the doorway, a dangerous look on his face. I shook my head at my omega. I didn’t want to spend the night in jail.
“Because you act like I owe you a date.” I set the chips down. “You can’t just be a good friend. You have to use it to cash in on what you think you’re entitled to. Which is nothing.”
Sabrina and Jace appeared behind West, both of them looking angry.
“For the love of god, Greg, lay off,” Jace said.
Greg’s face crumpled. “Look, Ember, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for it to come out like that.”
I shook my head. “Get out of my way.”
Greg reached out for me, but West grabbed him from behind and pulled him into a choke hold as quick as breathing.
Greg made a strangled noise, and West moved him out of the way.
Sabrina looked at us. “You okay?”
“I’m leaving,” I said, tearing burning in my eyes. “I just want my nest.”
West let go of Greg and whispered something in his ear. Probably a threat. We left, and I rubbed my left arm down West’s side the entire drive back to the cottage, trying to get the lingering scent of rosemary and patchouli off me.
“You didn’t do anything wrong.” West looked mad enough to commit arson. Or worse.
“I know,” I said.
“But you still feel guilty.”
I sighed. “Yes. Like I should have made myself clearer.”
“By telling him no two more times before this?” West’s voice was quiet. “I told him if he ever makes you feel uncomfortable like that again, they won’t find the body.”
“But then you’d be in jail,” I said, tears hitting my cheeks. “And then who would rail me?”
“We’d have conjugal visits,” West said, kissing the back of my hand.
“Ewww.” I laughed.
He drove us back to the cottage, and we curled up in the nest. I valiantly didn’t call the others to come rub their scent on me and instead spent time with my omega.