Chapter 7 – June
CHAPTER SEVEN
JUNE
I might throw up.
The closer we get to the house, the more I feel unprepared for what awaits me.
It only took two days for Seth and I to finish packing my apartment. True to Arin’s word, the movers carried off the haphazardly boxed items for donation. I only packed what I absolutely loved. Everything else felt… unnecessary.
It served its purpose, and now, hopefully, another omega might find some use with it.
The medium sized truck was only a third of the way full by the time it pulled away from the building in Virginia, and I turned in my keys the moment the landlord’s office opened. Seth and I packed the bare essentials into the backseat of my car — my favorite books, my laptop, and the single cardboard box of sentimental items I’ve managed to keep from childhood.
We stopped once for lunch, Seth getting out of the car with a dramatic groan before we shoved our faces with diner burgers and set off on the endless interstate leading up the East Coast. The bulk of our drive has been navigating from one end of Pennsylvania to the other.
“June,” Seth mutters my name, reaching over blindly and covering my hand with his. He squeezes my fingers once. “I say this with love, but please chill the fuck out.”
He’s been a champion. At the barest hint of anxiety, he seeks me out, chasing it away with a kiss and a soft reassurance that everything will be alright.
I fidget again, tugging on the seatbelt strap and glancing over at him with a soft groan. “Sorry.” Sinking back into the seat, I try to reorient my spiraled thoughts, and fail miserably. “I don’t know if it’s me or the biology making me antsy.”
“You are the biology.” He glances over at me for the briefest of moments, the road a quiet two-lane highway. “The biology is you? I don’t know how else to say it — but you might have lived as a beta for almost thirty years, but you’ve always been you . Nothing that has happened in the last month has changed that. If you’re worried about seeing the house that’s one thing, but if you’re nervous you’re somehow disrupting us, or will be unwelcome — that’s just not true.”
His lips twitch at the edges as he looks back at the empty road.
“You should know that they’ve texted me fifteen times since we left the diner. Arin reminded me that you need to eat . They don’t just miss you, they’re clawing their own eyes out waiting.”
I stare over at him, a laugh spilling out. “But we were barely alone for forty-eight hours.”
Seth shrugs. “They care about you.” His hand squeezes mine once more before it returns to the steering wheel.
I press my lips together, watching trees and fields pass by. “I guess it’s just intrinsically me that I’m nervous to move in after a month of knowing you.”
“A month and six days, but who’s counting?” Seth shoots me a sarcastic look before taking an exit. “Don’t you know anyone else would be totally and completely normal about the breakneck speed of all of this?”
I grumble, sinking down further into the passenger seat.
“If it helps, you have your own space.” His voice is softer, soothing. “Apart from the nest, you have your own room, and the freedom to do whatever you want. I don’t want you to feel trapped there, but I do hope…”
He trails off and I turn my head.
“I hope you enjoy it.” His eyes flicker to mine. “I hope you don’t regret any of the choices you’ve made, because I don’t.”
My heart tugs and I reach over, sliding my hand over his shoulder before bending down to kiss it, resting my cheek there for a moment.
“I don’t.” I whisper the words. “I don’t regret a single thing.”
“Good.”
This close, his smell is vibrant, sugary sweet like walking into a patisserie. I press my lips against the curve of his shoulder one more time before leaning away and looking out the front window. “I’m nervous about seeing the house. Is it big?”
He barks out a laugh, then pauses when I don’t join him. “Oh you weren’t joking.”
At my panicked expression, a line forms between his brows, almost sheepish.
“Arin doesn’t do anything half-assed. We all have our own rooms, plus a few offices — mostly for Arin and myself. Bennett and I have a headquarters inside the city where we take meetings. I’ll take you over there one day and you can try some of our rum.”
Wringing my sweater in my lap, I suck in a breath. “So… take the townhouse and double it?”
Seth makes a noise. “Maybe triple it?”
“ Jesus .” I lean back, laughing nervously. I only brought my car because Seth and I needed a way to get here — but now I’m very aware that the almost decade-old rust-bucket is probably the last thing that will fit in with this new lifestyle. “No big deal.” I try for levity. “It’s not like I’m going from a two hundred square foot apartment to a mansion.”
Seth’s lips quirk. “Is this a bad time to tell you we have a butler?”
“ What? ”
He drums his fingers on the steering wheel. “We travel a lot, so Arin hired Charles. He oversees the house when we’re gone and keeps an eye on our security system. He’s nice, and an older beta.” He shrugs at my open mouth. “He doesn’t live with us or anything — there’s a small house for him on the edge of our property. It went up for sale and Arin bought it. It makes Arin feel better to know the house isn’t sitting empty when Bennett and I are off, he’s gone signing contracts, and Theo’s off investing in whatever the fuck he’s decided sounds cool.”
I blink. “Alright.”
Seth chews on his lip, glancing over at me again.
“I don’t know how to process any of that information, so I’m just going to go with it.”
“Probably for the best.” Seth takes another turn, then muses. “I wonder which one of them is going to rush you first? Arin’s been clawing at the walls according to Bennett, but Theo’s handsy. Bennett’s anxious.” He reaches a hand up, rubbing his chest almost subconsciously. “We’re close enough I can feel it in the bond, but I think it’s just nerves. They just want you to be happy.”
“I am.” I look over at him again, my voice softening. “I’m happy wherever you are, Seth.”
His eyes flicker to me, his hand easing from his chest and seeking mine out. Twining our fingers together, he nods toward the road ahead, where trees lining the long drive suddenly stop.
“Take a look at our home then, baby.”
My eyes widen as mature firs fade behind the car. Seth pulls us down the gravel road, slowing to a stop in front of a house — a manor — more like, because it’s huge and sprawling. It’s a brown brick monstrosity that goes out on both ends, hiding the rest of the property behind it with its berth. It looks like something plucked from the English countryside and plopped down here.
Where the townhouse was white, with clean lines and a traditional look that matched London, this place feels rustic. It oozes comfort with ivy trailing up the brick and flower beds around the front containing a medley of wildflowers, all thriving even though the air still has a sharp chill.
“ Wow .”
Seth glances at me, his hand still firmly in mine. His smile is only for me as he nods toward the wooden front door. “Wait until you see the view from the backyard.”
I shove the passenger door open and step out, the wind cutting me from the side as I stare up at the house. The ivy rustles in the breeze, fluttering against the brick. There are so many windows I can’t wrap my head around it — not to mention an entire side to the right that I swear looks like a greenhouse.
Just as I turn toward to it, the front door bursts open.
Theo is a blur of blond muscle as he bolts out of the house. With his long legs, he eats up the space between us in no time and I let out a soft oof when he practically tackles me. His warmth wraps me up, arms winding around my waist as he presses his head against my shoulder and lifts me from the gravel drive, swinging me around in a small circle.
“God, I missed you.”
My heart clenches as I bend into him, tangling my fingers in his slightly long hair and inhaling the sharp smell of rainwater. Humming, I let out a little laugh as he responds in kind. Theo’s hands slide over my back, pulling me closer just to take a deep inhale of my throat.
“I missed you too.” My voice sounds thick when I pull back, smiling down at him as he holds me in the air, his muscles straining against his t-shirt. Cupping his face with a hand, I lean in just as he tips his chin up. Theo’s blue eyes catalogue me before he pulls me flush against his chest and kisses me firmly.
Laughing into the kiss, I slide down in his arms until my feet touch the ground again as he devours my mouth.
“Times up, Theo. Move .”
Bennett’s voice curls around us as I pull back from Theo’s embrace. My head turns sharply as hands tug me from Theo’s arms unceremoniously.
Theo lets out a little growl at the other alpha, but it doesn’t phase Bennett at all as he cups my face with two large hands, brushing my hair away as he leans our foreheads together.
“Please, please , tell me you ate more than pizza and ice cream while you were gone.”
My nose scrunches as I grin. “If I did, I would be lying. Seth and I are eighty percent pizza and shitty drive-thru burgers right now. Not a vegetable in sight.”
Bennett grimaces, but his brown eyes spark with delight as he leans in closer, his nose grazing mine. “What do you want tonight for dinner, darling? What can I make you that you’ll enjoy and that has some kind of substance?”
I press my lips together, trying to hide my sheer elation at seeing him again as I shrug, pretending to think. “A kiss sounds good?”
He pauses, one eyebrow raising. “That has no nutritional value, but suddenly I don’t care about your health in the slightest.”
A laugh bubbles up, but it turns into a shriek as Bennett dips me, kissing me with a fervor that surpasses Theo by a thousand. I cling to his shoulders, breathless as he sweeps me back up, his excited movements turning sweet and loving as his lips part against mine. He tastes like fresh orange juice, and the familiarity makes my chest warm as a hand slides across my back.
“Leave the bags, Seth, we’ll get them after.” Theo barks the words, but they’re half-amused instead of actually angry. His fingers toy with my sweater and I smile against Bennett’s lips, pulling back just enough to bump my nose against his.
“Sorry I left you with the grumps.”
Bennett takes me in, his lips lifting. “I survived.”
“I was only grumpy because you were gone.” Theo’s voice is pure silk as he leans into me from behind, caging me up against Bennett. A flush of heat crawls up my skin and I glance back at him, moving a hand to touch his jaw as he pouts.
“Poor baby.” I rub my fingers over the slight stubble on his cheek, glancing back at Bennett to catch his eyes dragging between Theo and I. There’s a hint of restrained hunger behind his normally cool demeanor and I bite my tongue, my stomach clenching.
“I was only gone for two days.” I peck them both on the cheek, trapped between them happily. “And I’m here now.”
Theo tips his head down and kisses my brow. “It felt like forever. I can’t wait to show you everything.”
My heart crawls up my throat to rest on my tongue. I’ve missed this, I’ve missed them — being showered with so much love and affection is overwhelming in the best of ways. But there’s someone missing.
“Juniper.”
Arin steps out of the front door, his hands buried in the pockets of his slacks, like he’s trying to appear relaxed. But I can see the tension in his shoulders as he holds himself back, letting the others have their moments with me first.
The instinct to drop everything and go to him fills me up. It’s been too long . I need his scent on me, his arms around me — I need my prime.
Untangling myself from Theo and Bennett, I bolt forward, momentarily uncaring about our audience as I throw myself at Arin. He catches me at the last second, his hands firm on my hips as I bury myself against his chest. Our lips find each other, magnetized.
The smell of mint burns through my body, invading my senses as I cling to him, pressing closer as his hands rub up and down, fingers crushing me.
I’m going to bruise .
He kisses me harder, and even though there’s no bite on my skin from him, I can feel how much the brief separation killed him. I could let him slam me against the door, steal every breath from my lungs with a thousand kisses.
I don’t care if he does. Let him mark me .
“Welcome home, love.” Arin leans back just enough to clear my hair from my face, his voice soft and his glasses askew. His dark thumb brushes against the swell of my left cheek as he smiles, brown eyes taking me in like he’ll find a freckle out of place.
My throat closes as my smile wobbles. Blinking rapidly up at him, I touch his jaw, my voice rawer than I expect as I whisper, “Wow, I didn’t realize just how much I missed you.”
His answering smile crinkles the edges of his shiny eyes. Arin tugs me against him, tucking me into his chest as he rubs his cheek against the crown of my head, muttering softly. “I wish I could say the same. I missed you every second you were gone, Juniper. It felt like we were missing parts of us.” His throat works as he kisses my hairline, then pulls back.
My eyes fall on Seth, leaning into Bennett, the other alpha’s hand on Seth’s shoulder, thumb rubbing Seth’s bond mark absentmindedly as they watch us. Theo lingers near them, his lips tipped up in the tiniest of smiles.
Arin clears his throat. “Two very integral parts of our pack were gone.”
My eyes dart back to him and I sniffle a little, pressing a hand to my eyes. “God, sorry.”
I don’t know why I was worried about coming here — about moving at all. I was meant to be here, with them.
Arin makes a soft cooing sound then tips my head up, kissing me sweetly. “Don’t cry.” His hands smooth over my back, pulling me into another tight hug before he clicks his tongue and guides me toward the door. “Let’s go inside. It’s cold out here and there’s a lot of rooms we’d like you to see. It doesn’t have to all be done today.”
“Yes it does.” Theo’s heavy footfalls are quick to join us. “What’d you do to make her cry ?” He lets out a frantic noise and then bends closer. “ June . He’s already on thin ice, what did he say?”
“Theo.” I let out a choked laugh, the emotions getting the better of me as I tug him to me and kiss him solidly once, making him stutter as I pull back. “Stop. They’re happy and overwhelmed and good tears. I promise.”
He blinks down at me, looking half-dazed before his eyes fall to Arin, narrowing. “Are you sure —”
“Theo.” Arin’s voice is dry, dripping with humor. “You’re only upset because I wouldn’t let you do whatever you wanted. Let her go.”
Theo’s hands slide away from me, leaving lingering touches on my back as I look through the open wooden doors at the foyer. I feel utterly dwarfed by the size of the space, in between Theo and Arin with Seth and Bennett bringing up the rear.
It’s stunning .
The walls are all dark wood paneling, setting off warm tones in the decor scattered around. This entire place looks like my alphas — Arin’s stability, Bennett’s sensibility, and Theo’s masculinity. There are small touches of jewel tones that pop, from a green hand-blown glass lamp to a purple shock of flowers on a table that scream Seth, like he’s sprinkled everywhere my eyes land.
Arin slides his hand into mine and I look up at him, my lips parting. “It’s so pretty.”
“You can thank Bennett for that.”
I glance over my shoulder, beaming. “I should have known.”
Bennett smiles at me as Seth leans into him, the beta eyeing Arin. “Whisk us away, I’m ready to see this place through June’s eyes.”
Arin’s hand squeezes mine before he pulls me carefully to the left, past a set of wooden stairs that lead up to the other floors. I glance around at the walls and doors as he points to them. “The kitchen is just through here, but we’re passing my office right now, it’s behind that door.”
“He kept forgetting to eat dinner and Bennett was about to throttle him,” Theo mutters from beside me.
I laugh as we all step through an archway, but the sound dies in my throat as my eyes widen. The kitchen is huge , one room with walnut wood everywhere, and a stained glass window above the kitchen sink. The design is simple, jewel tones to match the rest of the decor, a rose inlaid to the center. I gasp as I pull away from Arin, taking in the table pushed to the side, just like the townhouse’s breakfast nook.
Spinning in a little circle, I try to catalogue it all, my eyes running over every detail. “I love it.”
Arin smiles, nodding toward a door just past the kitchen, in the sight-line of the archway we just entered through. “We just started.” Stepping over, he opens the door and motions me forward.
“Someone better get a photo of her face,” Seth pipes up from behind us.
I stagger to a stop in the doorway, rendered breathless.
It’s a library. A massive library.
Wooden shelves extend up and up, spanning two levels. There’s a scattering of comfortable couches and chairs in front of a large gray stone fireplace, with picture windows on either side looking out to the back of the property, a great expanse of grass leading to water. I breeze past Arin in the doorway, going immediately to one of the shelves to skim the titles.
A spiraling staircase in the corner leads up to the next level, allowing access to the other books above us, but my heart stops at the sight of it all. I feel like I’m in Beauty and the Beasts — just a girl suddenly finding herself trapped in a magical castle with multiple surly alphas.
Giddy laughter bursts out of my mouth as I run my fingers over the titles on the shelves, running the length of the shelf to see what they have. There’s fiction and mysteries and thrillers, all meticulously organized by genre and then by author’s last name. It screams of Theo’s neuroses.
Darting to another shelf, I find a mixture of nonfiction and cookbooks, some of the pages worn and stained around the edges, and I just know that Bennett has used them while in the kitchen behind us.
“Oh my god.”
I stop short, my eyes finding the shelf at the end of one of the rows.
The spines are the most colorful in the library, by far. A bright spot in the room. Three paperbacks sit in a line — green, yellow, and pink spines facing out. My books. My silly and hopeful romances shelved so carefully, having their own home in this space.
I choke on a sob as I stare at them.
Arin’s suddenly beside me, his hand soothing on the small of my back as he whispers, “You’re a part of this pack, Juniper. I had to put all your hard work on display in our library. I can’t tell you how proud I am that you’ve made a career out of something you love.”
The tears pour out, and I don’t even try to hold them back, letting myself become an utter wreck as I turn into him and bury my face in his chest. Years of being told by my mother that my work amounted to nothing — that low-quality love stories were a waste — years of writing, breaking my fingers, trying to get my name out there and create things that made me proud even if no one else cared —
And, yet, Arin is proud of me.
It doesn’t fix the lingering hurt, but it eases the painful memories. Just to know they are is enough. I know the action isn’t hollow, nothing Arin does is superficial or only a means to an end. To have my books here means I have my own place here.
He pulls me close, rocking us back and forth, his lips on my forehead. “Don’t cry, sweet omega. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“You didn’t.” I gasp the words as I try to sort through the sucker punch of emotions. Arin’s chest begins to rumble, the soft start of a purr humming through us both as he rubs my back until I can catch my breath.
“There’s more.” He strokes my hair. “Let me show you your nest, love.”
I walk with him, tucked into his side with his arm around me, and for a moment, I almost expect Theo to overreact, or Bennett to rush toward us, but they both just give me heartbreakingly kind looks, deferring to Arin as his purr echoes. They lead me back to the kitchen and to another door on the opposite side.
The wood is thicker, even I can tell as Arin shoves it open. As it swings shut behind all of us, the noise dampens in this hallway, plush carpet underfoot. Arin slows in front of an archway with a pocket door and slides it open with his free hand.
“This is the nest bathroom.” He motions to the dimly lit room, more spa than bathroom, and I spot a large shower big enough for ten, a sunken tub, and another door that’s on the far wall.
“When we sketched out the renovations after we bought the house, we thought it would be better to have the nest suite on the main level, near the kitchen.” Bennett’s voice is gentle as he moves forward, looking down at me. “At that point, we didn’t know if we’d ever have a use for it, but I hope it’s acceptable.”
The sheer thought that it wouldn’t be is staggering as I blink at it all. “It’s perfect.”
Arin lets out a contented noise before he eases away and takes the couple steps to the door at the end of the hall. He pushes it open, stepping to the side as I drift forward, sucking in a little hiccuped breath.
The room is dark, but not pitch black. Instead, filtered, colorful light drifts in through a skylight made entirely of stained glass. It’s similar to the one in the kitchen, casting rainbows onto the floor. From wall to wood-paneled wall, thick, lush carpet spans, save for the mattress area in the dead center that’s double the size of the nest in London.
The mattress is huge , and will give us all enough space to stretch out, compared to the one at the townhouse. My eyes take in the bare mattress, the dark green paint on the upper third of the walls above the wooden wainscoting, and the stacks of boxes carefully stashed against one wall.
It smells faintly of them. All of them, save for Seth. Mint, orange, and rain linger in the air like they tried not to be in here too much, but the scents stuck, burrowing themselves into the walls anyway.
I turn slowly, partially inside, just to see all four of them in the wide doorway, not a toe over the line.
“We briefly stepped in to put your things down from London.” Arin clears his throat. “I hope you don’t mind. I thought we could take you into the city and properly shop — all of us if you’d like. We will pick up whatever would make this space feel like yours — permanently.”
I’m so touched I feel a little lightheaded. “Thank you.”
Arin’s smile makes my heart lurch. “I’m supposed to end my portion of this tour. I was bullied into it, really.”
A grin spreads across Theo’s face as he holds his hand out to me. “Come here, princess. You can’t sleep in the nest all the time, let me show you to your actual room.”
I reach for him and let out a breathless laugh as he snags my hand and tugs me back down the hallway, rushing us through the kitchen and toward the foyer stairs. Arin, Bennett, and Seth follow us, but they can’t keep up as Theo bolts upstairs, past the second floor, throwing words over his shoulder, half-breathless. “We don’t have to look at this floor, it’s just Bennett and Seth’s rooms.”
“Wait!” I laugh louder as Theo drags me up to the next landing, his grin lighting him up from the inside as he stops and points at the end of a hall.
“My room is right there.” He whirls and then nods toward the arch we’re next to. “And yours , June, is here.”
Excitement races through my veins as I stare at the wooden door, classically ornate. As the rest of them finally reach us, I glance over at them, chewing my lower lip. “Can I open it?”
“I wish you would” — Theo nudges me forward — “I worked really fucking hard on it for you.”
I flash him a little smile before I eagerly shove the door open, pausing in surprise.
The room, aesthetically, matches the rest of the house with its dark wood tones and classic design, but it’s almost a perfect mirror to the library downstairs. There’s a lofted area that extends high above our heads, doubling the height of the floor to ceiling shelves spanning one wall, a window set in the middle of them that has a small walkway in front of it to the shelves in the corner. Under the walkway, there’s a reading nook with a large, comfortable, and familiar looking leather chair.
It takes me a moment to realize why it looks familiar, but my brain conjures up the shopping day with Seth weeks ago, and the random furniture store he dragged me into. It’s from London — they shipped a chair for me from London .
My heart goes wild in my chest as I take it all in, every shelf empty and more than enough room to house my personal book collection, plus space to expand.
On the other side of the room is a huge four poster bed, set against a dark green wall that matches the color of the nest. It also reminds me of the drive up to the manor — with dark pines and earthy browns.
“I hope you like it.” Theo’s voice is soft as he shuffles in the doorway. “I didn’t add art, I thought you’d want to add your own personal touch. Seth helped with the color palette after he got to your apartment.” He gives me a sheepish look, his eyes darting to the green wall. “I wanted to make sure the colors were right. You know… because your couch was green.”
I turn toward him and throw my arms around his neck, kissing him multiple times on the lips as I murmur, “I love it. I love everything. It’s perfect. Let’s pick out art together and fill the shelves. Thank you.”
He clears his throat awkwardly, but pulls me closer all the same, crushing me as he does. “When we go into the city to get your nest supplies, we’ll get you some decor — really make it your own. Whatever you want — or we can order it online. I’ll give you my card.”
I shake my head at him, unable to wrap my head around it all. “Is this why you came back here instead of coming with Seth and I?”
“Yes.” Theo finally smiles. “I had to make sure it was perfect.”
Pulling back, I kiss his jaw one last time before I wander toward another door. Inside, the closet spans an entire separate room, shelves, displays, and drawers all ready to be filled and organized. I step out and over to the other door, exploring an uncannily similar bathroom to the nest downstairs. Instead of a sunken tub, however, it has a golden clawfoot antique, freestanding in front of a stained glass window.
“Thank you.” I whisper the words when I turn to look at the four of them, laughing because I feel like a broken record, but what in the world is there else to say? It’s not enough. Nothing will ever be enough.
Bennett squeezes Seth’s side. “One more space, darling. Humor me.”
I can’t even fathom what could be left, but I let him lead me downstairs, turning us in the opposite direction to the kitchen. The space opens up to a massive living room with three couches pointed toward a huge TV. On the entire back wall, windows span, looking out into the backyard where I can see a pool, hedges, and then nothing but water .
“Lake Ontario,” Arin supplies, slowing to a stop next to me. “You don’t even realize the property is right on the water until you see the back. It’s private, we enjoy being able to come home here after so much traveling.”
I just stare, dumbfounded. “I can understand why.”
“Do you like it?” Arin reaches out, winding a strand of my hair around one of his fingers. “Will you let me know if there’s anything at all you need to feel comfortable here with us?”
Without the haze of the heat that made my mind so cloudy and decisions so difficult, I can see him for what he is. Undeniably alpha , well suited to head an entire pack, kind and considerate.
And mine .
My hindbrain nearly snarls the word, making my throat go dry as I reach up to touch his jaw, running my fingers over his coarse beard before I whisper, “I would be happy anywhere with you.”
And I mean it. Deep in my bones. The anxiety of moving my life, coming here, ebbs. There’s no reason for me to even be nervous when I’ve found myself, somehow, inconceivably, becoming the luckiest woman in the world. I don’t have one alpha, I have three incredibly considerate alphas and a beta who would do anything for me, including making one of the scariest times in my life into something that feels like a dream.
Arin smiles down at me, a gentle expression crossing his features.
“June?”
I turn, looking over at Bennett as he lingers in another doorway, leading to another maze in this place. Pulling away from Arin, I move over to the other alpha, taking his offered hand as he guides me into a hallway behind the living room.
“This was an addition we made a few years ago.” His voice is soft as he pushes open a door. “This is Seth’s office.” Bennett motions inside to a tidy room with a mildly messy desk. “But I wanted you to have your own space here, not just the library, or the nest, or your bedroom. You deserve a place where you can write and work, but walk away from it when you need a break.”
My breath catches as he moves down a door, hesitating in front of it.
“I moved my own office to our headquarters in downtown Rochester. I don’t work much from home anyway, and what needs to be done can be handled in Seth’s office.” He gives me a little smile, then opens the door that begins as part of the house, wooden parquet flooring transitioning to gray stone at the back half that’s covered by a glass, greenhouse ceiling. Large panes expose the room to the light and the view to the backyard, giving it a stunning view of the nature surrounding the property.
I gasp, squeezing Bennett’s hand, my eyes landing on a huge oak desk near the door and an armchair on the stone tiles. They’re the only two pieces in the entire room.
He squeezes my hand back. “I cleared out most of my things, but I thought you could use a desk and a chair to relax in. If you don’t like them, or the room, we can find something else that you’d be happy with.”
“Bennett.” My voice breaks and I stare up at him, truly touched.
He touches his forehead to mine. “It’s a little far from the kitchen, but I’d be happy to bring you lunch every day.”
I wrap an arm around his neck, tugging him to me just to kiss his jaw, smiling against his skin, inhaling the zest of orange I find there. “You’ve rendered me speechless.”
He touches my back, then tilts his head to brush his lips against mine. “Maybe after you’re settled in, I could take you out in your brown dress.”
My heart flutters as I nod quickly, my eyes dragging over his face. This alpha — my alpha if I wanted him to be. If I asked, I think he would.
Seth claps his hands. “Okay, let’s go grab your things from the car and eat, because I’m starving and the movers should be driving up tomorrow. Then we get to start the long process of Theo micromanaging us all.”
I glance over at the beta, my lips twitching as I take in the office, the air warm from the greenhouse side. There’s a light trickle of bird song coming in through an open window, coupled with the sound of the lake rushing up on the shore behind the house.
If this is a dream, I never want to wake up.