Chapter 35
Chapter Thirty-Five
Sitting in the living room, I’ve had a grin plastered to my face all morning.
It looks like the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future had a bender down here last night. And I can’t complain.
I haven’t thoroughly enjoyed the holidays for years, but seeing Izzy and Will glow and giggle with excitement, and watching the way Matthew would gaze at them with a smile, really warmed my heart.
And I will do everything in my power to ensure that happiness remains with our pack all year, every year of our lives.
The thought of devoting myself to one person for eternity had always frightened me. Until Izzy. Now, I know I just hadn’t been with the right Omega. Never really believed I’d find a scent match, though I’d secretly hoped.
That my Omega is the one woman who haunted my thoughts for years after I’d met her is a testament to fate. My instincts had tried to tell me Izzy was mine when we met, despite her overpowering suppressants nearly robbing her of her scent.
The front door opens slow, and Matthew sticks his head through the opening, looks at me, and says in a low voice, “Hey.”
I raise a brow at him. Why this man won’t just move in here is beyond me. “Morning.”
He looks around like a frightened animal before tiptoeing into the room. “You alone?”
Now, my interest is piqued. “I am.”
Matthew visibly relaxes before sitting in the armchair. “I was hoping to talk to you in private.”
My forehead is beginning to ache from my raised brows as I wave my arm for him to continue.
“Is Will even making any money from this business?”
This catches me off guard, but I wince. “I’m not entirely sure. I’m paying him a monthly sum, like rent. I know Izzy’s first week was paid for, but when she gave Will her card to extend her stay, he didn’t actually swipe it.” I sigh. “So, I’d have to say no.”
“How is he surviving?”
“Eh. He had additional inheritance, as he explained. He must be using that to keep operating.”
Matthew frowns, head shaking.
“Why do you ask?”
“Because I care,” he says, not missing a beat. “You two are my brothers now, right? That’s what brothers do. Or, that’s what I’d like our brotherhood to be like.”
My grin is lopsided as I lean forward, rest my elbows on my knees. “You want to fix his problems?”
“No. Not fix them for him, but help him. Like you all try to help me.” He cuts me a look. “I haven’t known him anywhere near as long as you have, but even I can tell he doesn’t have any interest in running this place as it’s intended.”
He isn’t wrong. In all the time I’ve known Will, he’s never done anything to try to increase his patronage, nor has he ever expressed a desire to expand. Since I’ve been here, he’s rarely booked other guests. This can’t be sustainable.
Matthew looks to be deep in thought for a while. “I… have this idea,” he starts. “I need to talk to some people first, see if it’s even possible before I bring it up to everyone for discussion, but if it could work,” his mismatched eyes grow excited, “it would be life-changing.”
And for the second time in less than ten minutes, this Alpha, whom I admit I’d considered nothing but a slob of a gamer-bro only weeks prior, has piqued my interest.
“Tell me.”