Chapter 32
In the end, I don’t last even a week before I’m packing up my nest—strawberry cow included because Jackson thinks Dolly will love it—and moving into the pack’s townhouse.
I’ve convinced myself it’s not a big deal, because the lease on my apartment doesn’t renew for another nine months so I can always go back there if things don’t work out.
Not that I’ll want to go back, because after two weeks of sharing a space with them, I can’t imagine being apart again.
There’s no nest suite in their townhouse, but River’s room was already empty for the most part after he moved out, so they insist on me making that space my nest and River shares a room with Ambrose.
Jackson says that next paycheck he’s buying me a bigger mattress, because even though everyone technically has their own room, it feels inevitable that everyone is eventually going to end up sleeping in with me.
Right now, we have a rotation going so everyone gets dedicated time, but I’m craving everyone together.
We still haven’t all been together like we were during my first heat spike.
I’ve begrudgingly accepted that my omega has impeccable taste, because she knew from the start these three men were my match and every moment I spend with them it becomes more and more apparent that she was right. It’s not just pheromones and heat horniness. There’s something real here.
There’s no way of knowing for certain, but I think we might’ve all ended up together even if I hadn’t revealed as an omega.
River has admitted he was obsessed with me, and I’m positive Jackson would’ve fallen head over heels for me as any designation.
It’s possible Ambrose and I would’ve still been scent matches if I’d remained a beta, and even more likely that we would’ve fallen for each other with enough time together.
I think the four of us are as meant to be as a pack can be, and me revealing as an omega only expedited the process of figuring that out.
God, I’m turning into as much of a sappy romantic as Astrid. It’s hard not to when you feel seen and cherished for who you are by romantic partners for the first time in your life.
Because life seems determined to never be entirely good, I woke up a few days after moving in to find out that, as expected, various news outlets saw the lawsuit filing against my ex-employer.
I signed off on proceeding with taking legal action after that date night with Jackson, and his office is moving fast. They’re taking care of the brunt of the work, but that doesn’t mean I can sit back and wait to see what happens.
Not when there are already a dozen articles mocking my decision to sue, along with my appearance, age, late revealing, and basically anything cruel and disgusting you could think of.
As soon as they found out about the uptick in my public infamy, the guys set up a rotation for driving me to and from work.
I can’t say that it’s unnecessary because I’m still on edge after being stalked by that alpha.
When I go to a client’s office for a meeting or take my lunch outside the office, I do my best to not be alone.
I swear I’m losing my mind at times, because I’ll think I see Holden or even my brother-in-law out of the corner of my eye while walking to the coffee shop less than a block away from my office.
Another reason why I’m glad that every night I go home to the pack’s townhouse instead of my apartment.
So far, none of the articles have mentioned me being involved with anyone, still harping on the fact that I’m an old, lonely, shriveled up omega who is trying to tear a respectable business down because I got my feelings hurt.
I dread the day someone figures out I’m not alone anymore.
I don’t want the guys to be dragged into this shit with me, even if they’re more than happy to go to bat for me and proudly stand by my side.
I’m trying to stay steadfast in Sandra and Jackson’s reassurances that my case is solid, and that what I’m doing is brave and an important line in the sand for omega rights.
When I divulged my indiscretion with River the day I got fired, I thought Sandra would change her mind on the off-chance anyone knew it happened and could testify about that on Pulse’s behalf.
But apparently Pulse’s HR team was as lazy as they seemed, because in the five years I worked there, they never actually had me sign the paperwork to acknowledge their no fraternization policy.
River had, so he would’ve been fired with cause, but not me.
A stroke of luck in the otherwise total shitshow that is my history with Pulse PR.
Between client meetings this morning, I had a nerve-racking interview that Sandra set up for me with a reputable news organization and almost burst into tears multiple times thanks to the influx of omega hormones that are pumping through my system as my heat approaches.
I’m sweaty and my nerves are shot by the time its over, and all I want is to go home and hide from the world in my nest. The guys are all at work, but I’m sure Dolly will be more than happy to snuggle with me.
I don’t have any client meetings this afternoon, and Lauren won’t care if I call it a day.
The only thing standing in my way is the prospect of going home alone.
What if someone is waiting around to follow me?
What if someone recognizes me on the street and decides to escalate beyond rude comments in passing?
What if all those times I thought I saw Holden and Bryce weren’t my mind playing tricks on me?
I hate that I’m scared to go out alone in broad daylight.
I’m not about to bug the guys about escorting me home.
They do enough for me already. More than enough.
So my options are to either tough out the rest of the work day and pay the price for not listening to my omega’s needs, or take the risk of walking or taking a rideshare home alone.
In the end, I choose to be brave. Or stupid.
I won’t know for certain which it is until I’m either home or being berated by some psycho alpha.
I send the guys a quick text letting them know, but that I’m already about to leave the building so they won’t have time to be chivalrous and come get me, then make my way down to the lobby.
My heart is in my throat as I scan the sunny lobby of the office building, already searching for threats. Then it’s leaping with surprise and delight when I notice the man walking up to the front doors.
How could he possibly have gotten here that fast?
My mouth hangs open as my Jackson strides into the lobby.
The beta laughs at my shock, approaching with a broad grin.
“What are you doing here?”
He shrugs. “Oh, you know, I was in the neighborhood and then I got a text that my omega was off for the day and about to wander around the city without her beta bodyguard.” Jackson leans in to kiss my cheek, his hand resting on my hip.
“Hey gorgeous,” he murmurs, the low rumble of his voice far too sexy for the middle of a workday.
“There’s no way…I sent that text a minute ago!” I protest, even as I grin back at him. Any time I see Jackson, I can’t stop smiling. It makes my cheeks hurt sometimes. “What are you really doing here?”
He squeezes my hip, staying close and letting his earl grey scent envelop me. The agitation melts from my shoulders. Safe, my omega tells me. I wrap my arms around him, needing that connection. He’s almost as good as my nest.
“I’m here to do this,” he says, stroking my hair as I scent mark him, uncaring about anyone walking by. “And to take you somewhere.”
I pull back reluctantly. “Take me somewhere? Where?” I love that he’s here, but I’m still worn out from the interview and the last thing I want to do is go somewhere fancy for lunch where it’s not polite to cling to your beta the whole time.
“It’s a surprise.” Jackson chuckles when my nose wrinkles. “Nothing stressful, I promise. The opposite, I hope.”
I trust him, but I’m tired and cranky so it’s difficult to wipe the frown off my face. “Alright. But if I don’t like it, will you take me home?”
Jackson leans down to kiss me, on the lips this time, soft and sweet and a stark contrast to the heat in his subsequent words. “Cami, I’ll do whatever you ask of me. Don’t you know I’m at my omega’s command?”
I shake my head at him as he steps back. “Quit flirting with me.”
He beams back at me. “Never.” Jackson threads his fingers through mine and leads me out of the office building toward where his motorcycle is parked in a fire lane.
I frown at the sight. “Why didn’t you use the garage? You could’ve gotten a ticket.”
“Nah, I bribed building security to keep an eye out for me.”
“So you could save a whole what, five minutes max?” I didn’t realize how lazy a man who works out like it’s his second job could be.
He hands me the fancy helmet he got for me, making my stomach do a ridiculous little flip, then slides his on. “Someone was determined to walk home on her own and I didn’t want to risk not getting to her before she left. You have impeccable timing, you know that?”
“I would’ve been okay,” I grumble, but my omega practically turns into a puddle at Jackson’s determination to keep me safe.
“I know you would’ve. But I also didn’t want the guys to get mad if you were gone by the time I got there to pick you up and therefore ruined the surprise.”
“Wait, it’s not just a surprise with you?” I wrap my arms around him, gripping tightly because I’m still a little nervous about riding on his motorcycle.
“Nope.”
“Are you going to give me any kind of hint where we’re going?”
He laughs. “Nope.”
It’s hard to be frustrated by the mystery when I’m holding onto him and focusing on not falling off the motorcycle. He’s cautious and takes things slow, knowing that I’m still nervous about the bike, and I’m finally getting into it when he pulls into a lot in a part of the city I’m unfamiliar with.
Cherry blossoms are in full bloom, lining a walkway from the parking lot. I try to spot a sign for what this place is, but there’s nothing. “Not abandoned pharmacy this time?” I tease.
“As much as I thoroughly enjoyed our time there, I doubt your alphas would condone more picnic bench fisting.”
My cheeks flame at his casual mention of what we did, but I snort. “Damn. I want to go home, then.”
His laugh is as warm and bright as the afternoon sun.
“I’ll see if I can change their minds. There aren’t any broken down benches, but we do have a picnic blanket.
” He leads me down the tree-lined path, which opens up into a small, adorably picturesque park tucked away between buildings.
In the center of the grassy lawn is the rest of the pack, Dolly included.
My heart swells as we get closer and Dolly wriggles free from River, bounding up to us on her wheels, her ears flopping as she lets out a bark of joy.
I crouch to greet her and she manages to lick me right on the corner of my mouth before Jackson scoops her up.
I giggle and wave over to River and Ambrose, who have set up a veritable feast of a picnic on a giant pink blanket.
Everything has been artfully arranged, and it’s so thoughtful that tears well in my eyes.
“Still set on the fisting?” Jackson murmurs, and I let out a startled burst of laughter.
I sigh. “I guess this is acceptable.”
It’s more than acceptable. This is the sweetest surprise I’ve ever gotten. Emotion swells inside me, these amazing men washing away the stress of the day to leave me with only gratitude and something I’ve been scared to put a name on with anyone but Jackson.
Love.