Chapter 20 #2
I adore him. He is incredibly kind to Blair, and despite his scary demeanor, is actually very sweet. His secret habit of sewing swaddling blankets for kittens is what won Blair over, and the rescue is full of unique bedding because of him.
When I found out, I cried, and he didn’t know what to do with himself.
But now, he nods and almost smiles when he sees me, so it’s progress.
“Hey, kiddo,” he says, looking past me to eye Logan, who has the carrier in his hand.
“Not a kid,” I remind him. “Also, I brought kittens and my pack.”
His dark eyes widen just a fraction and flick back to me. “Your pack,” he repeats. He runs a hand through his cropped dark blonde hair in a stressed gesture.
“Hey, I’m Fang,” my Alpha says, standing next to me and extending a tattooed arm. “Nice to meet you.”
Travis takes his hand and shakes it. “Travis.”
Logan waves the hand that isn’t carrying the kittens awkwardly. “Logan. I’ve got Agnes here.”
“Agnes,” Travis repeats slowly.
“What, is this your first day as a human?” I ask. “Let us in!”
Huffing, Travis steps aside and swings the door open. Ivan is the last one in and claps him on the shoulder. “Nice to see you again,” he says, and Travis mutters a reply.
Blair’s pack shows up occasionally at the rescue to help us. Rowan and Ryland set up traps, feed feral colonies, and do the occasional food deliveries throughout town. Piper’s pack does much of the same, except Poe, her pack leader, uses his lawyer powers to fight for animal rights.
I see my friend’s packs all the time, and I vibrate with giddiness now that my pack is being introduced to the people I care about.
For the longest time, my life was me and Avery against the world. Slowly, I’ve gained good friends through Piper, Blair, and even Mari.
I want to continue to expand my family.
I never want to go back to that time where it was just my brother and me, fighting for scraps of our parent’s affection.
So, I need this all to work out.
Blair and I enter the front room at the same time, and she pulls me into a long hug.
“You stink,” she murmurs affectionately, and I huff.
“I’ve been snowed in with a bunch of Alphas. What do you expect?”
“You to take your scent blockers like you’re supposed to.”
It would be easy to start an argument with her. Both Blair and Piper abused their suppressants and scent blockers when they found their scent matches.
I, being the responsible Omega I am, have not done that, and have welcomed my scent matches with open arms.
And legs.
When I step away from Blair, she immediately beelines for Fang, who is lifting the cover on the carrier to check on Agnes and her kittens. It sits on the loveseat in the front room, and the cats have stayed quiet since we brought them indoors.
“So, you’re the guitar teacher,” she says cautiously. “And Maeve was your student.”
“Not anymore. And now, she’s my scent match,” Fang replies easily.
Blair crosses her arms and narrows her eyes. “You better take care of her,” she murmurs.
“I’m right here, Blair,” I say. “Come on.”
“Yeah,” Travis adds. “That goes for you, too.” He looks at Logan pointedly, who nods solemnly.
“With my life,” Logan says, sounding like a chivalrous prince in a fairy tale. “You have my word.”
“If anyone has to worry about breaking hearts, it would be Maeve,” Fang adds easily. “None of us are going anywhere.”
“You better not,” Blair adds.
I groan. “Okay, Mom. Everything’s great, okay? I promise.”
Ivan wraps an arm around me. “Nah, they wouldn’t be good friends unless they cared, sweetheart.”
Blair smirks at me. “Ivan gets it.”
“Also,” Fang adds. “How do I get you to relinquish custody of Agnes and her kittens to me?”
“We’re fostering them?” Travis asks, shooting Blair a confused look.
“Yup,” Blair says with a smile. Travis obviously didn’t know, but I doubt it’s the first time she’s surprised her pack with a litter of kittens.
“Mervin and Marlin won’t mind, and Ash loves kittens.
However,” she turns to Fang, who still looks hopeful, “let’s see a week of volunteering at the rescue, and maybe I’ll consider it. ”
I balk, ready to argue, but Fang just grins. “Absolutely,” he says.
“Wait,” I snap. “Blair, he doesn’t have to do all that—”
“Yes, he does,” both Travis and her say at the same time.
“Babe, it makes sense,” Fang says, his blue eyes gentle. “I’d rather prove myself worthy of the cats.”
I blink, letting his words sink in.
“If I remember correctly, you gave Ryland the third degree for wanting to adopt Ash,” Blair reminds me. “Didn’t you ask him why he’d prefer a cat over an iguana? Something like that?”
I gulp. “I didn’t think you’d remember that.”
“It’s one of her favorite stories to tell,” another voice pipes up, and Ryland enters the front room. “Hey, Maeve. I just heard something about a pack?”
Ryland is the sweetest of Blair’s Alphas. He’s a video game designer, just like his brother Rowan, and has always been polite and welcoming, even when I threatened him if he ever broke Blair’s heart.
After introductions, Ryland looks to me pointedly. “So, is this where I threaten to put cat pee in their engines if they hurt you?” he asks, his warm eyes full of mischief.
“Oh. You remember that, huh?” I squeak.
Fang looks absolutely delighted at Ryland’s question. “You get more wonderful each second I know you, babe,” he tells me fondly.
I roll my eyes while a blush stains my face. “You’re just weird,” I murmur.
But despite my grumblings, there’s a joyful buzzing in my brain.
I found my scent matches.
They formed a pack because of me.
My friends are happy for me.
Now, the only obstacle is my brother.
Ash makes an appearance, the rotund plump cat jumping on a shelf installed on the wall just for him. He forms into an obsidian loaf, his form spilling over the side of the shelf.
He’s a big, hefty boy, and he rewards me with a slow blink when I scratch the underside of his chin.
“It will be okay,” I tell him softly. Then, I bury my face in his nape, inhaling his welcoming cat scent.
This is the happiest I’ve ever been, and nothing will ruin this feeling.
Nothing.