Chapter 6 Shepard
Shepard
“Thank you once again, sir,” the Omega tells me for the millionth time as I step out of the room.
As Wynter Lodge’s handyman, it’s my job to see to repairs. If the guests complain about a broken AC unit, then I’m there tinkering away with the infernal machine until it blasts cool air again.
The Omega is friendly and grateful, and as an Alpha, I can’t help but want to help her. When she called up the front desk, telling Robin that the AC unit had broken, I rushed up right away.
Now, the sweet Omega in room 204 has a means to cool herself when her heat spikes take hold.
However, her Alpha, while pleasant enough, was eager to shove me out of the room the moment the unit was fixed.
I get that he’s possessive and that she’s his Omega, but I was just doing my job.
Omegas just get that way around me. I’m the tallest of my brothers and have a well-groomed beard.
Some chicks dig that.
“If you need any more help, just call the front desk, and I’ll be there,” I say, carrying my toolbox.
The Alpha shows his canines, and the warning is clear. “Oh, we sure will.”
He shuts the door in my face, and I hear his Omega snapping at him for being so rude to the nice handyman.
Seriously, if he didn’t want his Omega around Alphas, then he shouldn’t have booked with Wynter Lodge.
The place is owned by three Alphas.
The jerk is just lucky that it’s not Frost who came to his Omega’s aid. That Alpha is a known womanizer.
I wasn’t even trying to flirt with her, but when I reached my arms to fix the unit, her pupils blew out. And I heard the faint growl in her Alpha’s throat.
It looks as if she was approaching heat, and I hope they have the sense to book one of our private heat cabins.
With the holidays fast approaching, we’re bound to have more guests arriving, and I have no doubt in my mind that most of them will be Alphas.
Whistling after a job well done, I head downstairs to the front lobby, where I find my brother Robin on the phone.
“Yes. Our lodge does have a view of the mountains, ma’am. Yes, our cabins do have hot tubs.”
I roll my eyes as I brush past him toward the back office so I can put my toolbox away in my locker.
“No, we don’t have a chauffeur service, but I can recommend a local taxi service that could be of assistance.”
I snort. If Frost is up to the task, then he can pick her up in his truck. I can see the look on his hungover, disheveled face already as he rolls up and asks for the guest’s name.
Trust me, we do not want that Alpha as the face of our business.
That’s why we leave all public relations to Robin. He’s the face of our organization, as well as our pack lead, while I’m the muscle.
Frost oversees all entertainment at the lodge—when he can be bothered to roll out of bed, that is.
“We’re a family-run business, ma’am. A place where Alphas and Omegas can rekindle their passion and love. Yes… It is something we may consider in the future. Okay. Goodbye.”
Robin hangs up, and I hear his groan from the back room. I step outside, finding him banging his head on the front desk like a woodpecker.
“Everything all right?”
He lifts his face from the desk, rubbing his eyes. “Seriously. I’m starting to get sick of these privileged Omegas.”
I smile tightly. I’ve dealt with my fair share of snooty Omegas at the lodge. Not to mention their asshole Alphas, too.
At least they tip well.
I laugh. “At least it wasn’t another Omega influencer looking for a free stay.”
Robin snorts. “Yeah… '“My stay will be good for your publicity."'
I’m still chuckling when I sit on a chair, pulling out my knife so I can cut my apple. “What did this one want?”
“A cabin with a mountain view and a hot tub on the balcony. Oh, and a chauffeur service from the airport, too.”
“We could have sent Frost out in his truck for her. That would give her a taste of the rustic life.”
“I’d rather stick needles in my eyes than subject any Omega to Frost. Even if they are privileged asses.”
He stands at attention when a pack approaches the front desk. They’re checking out, and the way the Alphas have their arms around their Omega creates a stabbing sensation in my chest.
Now I think of the one who got away... The one I stupidly let slip from my fingers. I had been young at the time and convinced that a bachelor’s life was the way to go.
Our own mother had left us for the city. And my brothers and I didn’t want to get our hearts broken a second time.
I wonder where she is now.
Does she think of me?
“You all have a safe journey home now,” Robin calls out after the pack.
When they leave through the door, Frost appears, and I spy the way the Alphas push their Omega away from him.
He’s an attractive guy, and he has that whole "I don’t give a fuck" attitude that girls go wet for.
However, Frost doesn’t even look twice at the pretty Omega as he swaggers over to the front desk, jumping over the counter with an extra spring in his step as he goes to hang up his keys.
He’s whistling.
“What the hell has gotten you in such a good mood?” Robin asks, mildly irritated. He likes to make a good impression, and Frost just kills his vibe.
Our brother smirks, and there’s no missing the mischievous glint in his eyes. “You will never guess who I ran into.”
Robin and I remain silent as we scowl at him for some time. That’s when the caramel scent on his clothes hits me like a tidal wave, and my Alpha awakens after his long hibernation.
My nostrils flare as I step toward him, sniffing his clothes. Frost has a smug look on his face the whole time.
“What the hell has—?” Robin stops short when he finally catches the scent, and now he whirls on Frost.
“When?”
Frost shrugs, jumping up onto the desk. “Bumped into her on the highway.”
My heart thunders as my mouth suddenly dries. So, Noelle has returned to Silverpine after all these years?
Fuck.
“Her Nana’s sick, so she’s returned home for the holidays.”
Robin and I are still trying to wrap our heads around the news. It almost doesn’t seem real, and I swear, if this is another one of Frost’s tricks, then I'll kill him.
But there’s no missing her scent on his clothes. A scent that invades my dreams every night and gives me morning wood every time.
Frost grabs one of the complimentary candy canes on the desk. “So, I was thinking of making a move on her.”
Robin snaps out of his temporary trance, growling at our brother. “Don’t you dare, Frost. You’re probably the last person she wants to see. I bet we’re all the last people she wants to be around, especially at this time.”
“He’s right,” I chime in. “It’s best we offer her space. She’s going through enough as it is.”
Frost scoffs. “You’re both always moaning about how she is our biggest regret. You even got me moaning and pining for her in the end. Trust me, if there’s a chance I can get her back, then I’m going to take it.”
Robin yanks the bowl of candy canes from Frost. “I mean it, Frost. If you so much as step a toe out of line, I will kick your ass myself. Noelle is off-limits. If she wants to talk to us, so be it. And if she doesn’t…”
Then we will have to live with the knowledge that we already blew our chance. Girls like Noelle Hale don’t come around often.
That, I learned the hard way…
“Stay away, Frost. That’s my final order,” Robin warns.
Frost growls as he tries to resist Robin’s bark. “Order? I’m three minutes older than you, prick. You don’t give me orders.”
“Well, I am pack lead. So, take it with a pinch of salt when I say. Stay. Away.”
The two have a stare-off, and it looks as if it’s up to me to keep the peace before things get hairy.
Luckily, the tension is broken by the phone, and Robin answers it, never taking his eyes off Frost.
“Wynter Lodge. How may I help you?”
While Robin is distracted, he looks my way, wiggling his brows.
I know what he’s suggesting. That we both go and chase Noelle, but I get up and head to the back office.
My heart is still pounding.
Noelle has returned. And my Alpha can’t take it.
One way or another, he is going to come out of his cage. And then there is no telling what he will do.
No matter what, I will not screw up this chance.
I will not drive Noelle away again.
But I have to see her, I really do, even if just to apologize. I hated how we left things…
So, I scheme inside my head as I plan to head out tomorrow.
I just hope she isn’t disappointed to see me.