Chapter 20
twenty
Xenia
I’m not sure what I expect, but it isn’t the sight before me. Luther holding a dried corn stalk and being watched intently by a clearly angry cow. She stares dead-panned at him, stomping her back foot.
Ruth.
I want to laugh, but I also don’t want to spook her.
The barn is larger inside than I realized, and there are over a dozen cows munching away inside. But even still, most have turned their heads to me; they watch with intense gazes. The ones closest to me run off to the far side of the space, but most remain stationary, choosing to chew away.
Ruth pays me no mind. She is intent on the corn and is slowly edging closer to it. Every time she does, Luther takes a single step, closer to an opened door.
Pierce moves to our side. “Here.” He puts plastic bags over my feet. “This will keep you mostly safe from the mess.”
With Wren’s help, they place me carefully onto the ground, my feet squelching below me as I stand on my own.
Pierce bends to my ear. “Ruth is pregnant. She was going to be sent out soon to deliver, but with the snow, we need to keep her as comfortable as possible until we can take her to the other farm. We aren’t equipped to handle that here.
Luther is luring her into her own stall to settle in the interim. ”
Nodding my head sagely as if I understand any better, I remain in place as Luther continues. After about the tenth step of him taking the corn stalk out of Ruth’s mouth, I think she might just stop, but she doesn’t. Continuing to follow him along, even as she stomps her annoyance.
The other cows do not seem very happy with my intrusion, but other than a few loud bleeps and moos, they continue eating the hay laid out for them. A few fighting over the larger pieces.
One in the front scratches with its back leg, reminding me of a dog, and I want more than anything to pet them, but I refrain.
“They’re so cute,” I murmur, continuing to watch in awe.
Luther finally manages to get Ruth into the stall and throws a couple of corn stalks in after her, before shutting her in.
“She’s still got some time, but we need to check on her throughout the day.” Luther bends down, offering a chaste kiss to my lips.
The instant connection leaves me speechless.
“You broke the omega,” Pierce says humorously. “Want to take a ride on a cow?”
I can’t tell if he’s joking, but before I can answer, Wren puts an arm out over my chest, holding me in place.
“Don’t mess with her.”
I don’t think he means the move romantically, but my designation does not see it that way. Does not realize that when his arm brushes across my nipples, it isn’t to churn up desire.
Except that is exactly what it does.
A moan leaves my lips and then my scent perfumes out around us. In the enclosed barn there is space for it to go, but not much. Wren freezes in place, only his head turning towards me. I clock that his eyes are fully dilated, his breath leaving in short pants.
Heat fills me up to the brim and I throw the blanket off onto Pierce, before attempting to take the jacket too.
That is when Luther steps in. He bends, placing his hands on my shoulders. “Little Omega, we are here. We will guide you through. Do you want Wren too?”
Inclining my head, I offer the answer easily. “Yes, if he wants me.”
But it seems to shock Wren. “Of course.”
“Good.” Luther straightens to his full height. “Wren go ready the nest. Ensure there is extra bedding. Fill the bathroom with towels, lots of them. We will be cleaning up a lot. Take the pillows from the couch too, she enjoys those.”
The order unlocks Wren, and he draws his arm back.
The sensation causes me to let out a desperate mewl, as slick wets my thighs. My brain muddles in neediness and my own urges.
“Alpha,” I beg.
Pierce vibrates behind me, but Luther reaches over, shoving him physically back.
“Pierce, set us up for food and water. Make several meals we can just reheat. One of us will need to cycle to the barn too, but it will work. Both of you. Leave now!” The bark is urgent and shifts the other alphas into gear. They both don’t hesitate again after that, fleeing from the barn.
It is clear in this moment that Luther has always been their leader, even if Wren appears to be in that role.
“Why did you send them away?” I whimper, my entire being on edge in their absence.
Luther gathers me up in his arms. He is dirty, but I don’t mind as all it does is enhance his pheromones. I find myself rubbing my face against his clothes to gather them further onto me. I want to be coated in his essence.
He plucks the now dirty plastic off my feet, throwing it into a bin outside the barn, before doing the same for himself.
“They haven’t ever been with an omega before. Neither of them. I was a part of the First Chapter Clinic, but both of them typically kept beta or alpha girlfriends.”
I whine my distress. At the thought of Luther with another omega. At Pierce and Wren with anyone but me. “They’re mine.”
“Yes, Nia. We are all yours. Can you tell me how you want this to go? What you need? In the clinic I kept it as methodical as possible, but Wren and Pierce might very well go into a rut with you. What are your boundaries?” Luther is marching us back down to the house now. He is sure-footed and quick as we go.
“I don’t want to be hurt.” The words spill out painfully between us. “Please don’t tie me up or gag me. Please listen when I say stop.”
Luther rumbles. “One day, when you are not in this state, I hope you will trust me with your story. With your past. But I will not rush you, not until you are ready.”
I don’t offer a response, my focus on not tearing all of our clothes off and begging for his knot out here in the snow. But his words ease the terror curled up in the recesses of my mind.
Once inside, I see Pierce in the kitchen, cursing away as he moves around erratically. Even still, he looks up to offer me a soft mischievous smile. “I’ll see you in there soon.”
Luther leads us to the opposite end of the house I haven’t been to yet.
There are three doors and when he opens the first one, I recognize it as his bedroom.
His scent douses the area delectably, and I wriggle until he frees me from his arms. Stumbling down, I move in a trance to his bed, my nose guiding my intent.
I fall onto it, wrapping myself in his blankets, bringing his pillow into my arms and hugging it in comfort.
The space is warm, well-lived in, but still orderly and neat.
“I’ll bring those to the nest for you. Let’s go to Pierce’s room next.” He takes all of the items I touch and gathers them up, opening the door across the hall.
Pierce’s room is—what can only be described as—organized chaos. His entire space is filled with bike parts, clothes, and jackets. And everything from the floor to the ceiling is black. The walls, the bed, the clothes, even the curtains.
I don’t make it to his bed before I have what I want. A leather jacket and a pair of sweats. They are well-worn and coated in his scent. Making it clear they are his favorite items, even if they are in a pile on the floor.
Adding to the bundle Luther carries, I don’t wait for him before making my way to the last door.
To Wren’s room. When I swing open the door, my mouth opens in surprise. I expected a sterile space, maybe even similar to a hospital.
But it’s messy. There is no organized chaos, instead, it appears as if a bomb has imploded and thrown things on his walls. On the floor. On the bed. There is not a single space that isn’t covered in…yarn?
My shock quickly wears off as his scent takes hold of me, forcing me forward. Towards a single item. A large crocheted blanket.
Luther laughs from behind me. “You would choose that. I’ll add it to the rest. Anything else?”
Shaking my head, I take in all of the crocheted items all over the place. There are cute little stuffed creatures with large eyes. “What are these?”
“Wren was stuck at home a lot with Charles, he needed a hobby that didn’t take his entire focus. He tried out crocheting and started making items that Charles loved. He doesn’t follow a pattern, so they’re not exactly anything. But he calls them Boodles.”
The explanation fills my heart with warmth. Another reminder of the sweet man that Wren truly is. But then another crippling stab of pain hits me and I nearly fall to my feet, using the night stand to catch me.
“Come on, it’s time for you to set up your nest, and I need to wash up.”
I reach out, swiping one of the Boodles before allowing Luther to guide me to our nest.
Anticipation, excitement, and genuine happiness course through me.
But underneath all of that is fear and guilt.
Tony would kill me if he were alive to see me now. I shouldn’t do this, I made him a promise.
But then I remind myself of what Serena said. Our vows were until death did us part. And it has been over a year since he passed away.