Chapter 12 #2
“No idea what you mean,” I say, playing dumb. “This is just what bonds look like. Some things don’t need to be spoken out loud.”
“Rude, but okay,” Lars says, moving to sit in one of the chairs. “Did you send your sister after us, Princess?”
Wrinkling my nose, I shake my head. “No one sends Hollis to do anything. Even I know that.”
“Fair enough,” he says. “She came into Caleb’s bar with a bat.”
Caleb shrugs as he sits in the other wing chair, getting comfortable.
“We deserved it. Hollis has a flair with her words that manages to kick an alpha in the knot,” Caleb adds.
“So you’re back because she shamed you?” Tyde asks. “I don’t know if I want you in my home if you’re not here for the right reasons.”
Burn . Tyde is smug as he chuckles under his breath at my thought as I melt against him.
“Hollis may have been right, but we always planned to come back,” Caleb sighs. “Honestly, we shouldn’t have left at all in hindsight. As overwhelmed as we were, it’s probably worse for you.”
“I had time to think,” I say. “A lot of time.”
“This is bad, right?” Lars asks, swallowing hard.
“Not necessarily. Tyde and I hung out, he detangled my hair, and I’ve been working on my business,” I explain.
“Have you eaten yet?” Caleb asks, frowning.
“I have. Tyde has a pasta bake in the oven too for dinner,” I say. “I go back to work in two days.”
“So do I,” Tyde sighs. “Well, it’ll be midnight when I start, but still. The scheduler decided to change my hours.”
“That sucks,” I murmur. “What time do you get off?”
He smirks down at me as I blush, realizing how that sounds.
“Five in the afternoon. I’m working a double,” he grunts. “I’ll get you keys so you can come and go as you please.”
“I’m trying really hard not to feel jealous of how cozy you two look,” Caleb grumbles.
“You left,” Tyde says. “I got to hang out with her for a few hours alone so thanks for that. Please continue to fuck up.”
“I’m not a chew toy,” I mutter.
“No you’re not,” Lars rumbles. “Let’s pause here for a second. Why can’t you take more time off, Nova?”
“Babies don’t really wait for anyone,” I remind him. “I also think that Adira and Quinn want to check on me. We’re doing a joint appointment so I don’t have to drive as much.”
“Hmm. We’re supposed to get more snow soon,” he says.
“Shit, I should check on the van then,” I say, biting my lip.
“Move it into the garage, baby. I have a lift in there if you need it,” Tyde says.
“I don’t want to get oil on the ground in there,” I say. “Bertha is a known squirter.”
“So is her owner,” he murmurs, making me whimper. “I really should have spent my time differently with you now that I think about it, Nova. Will you sleep with me tonight?”
“Yes,” I say immediately, ignoring the way Caleb and Lars growl. “I’ll try not to make a mess in your garage, Tyde.”
“Seriously, don’t worry about it,” he says. “Get Bertha figured out so that she’ll get you where you need to go. Maybe put pants on first though, okay? I bought some for you when I went shopping.”
Looking down at my stolen sweatshirt, I chuckle.
“I have shoes in the van,” I say.
“I got some when I went to check it earlier,” Tyde says. “There’s heating in the garage if you need it.”
“Fancy,” I tease him, sitting up.
“Do you think we can talk soon?” Caleb asks. “I want to fix what I broke with you. I focused on all the events surrounding you but ignored all of your feelings.”
“It pisses me off when you cry,” Lars says.
At my owl-like blink, he grimaces as he shoves his glasses back into place.
“That came out wrong. God, and I thought Tyde was bad. I hate knowing that the tears mean you’re upset or sad, and I don’t know what to do.
So instead, I piss you off so you’ll stop. ”
“That’s less than ideal,” I say, climbing off the couch. I’m still not wearing panties, but the sweatshirt is long enough to keep me from flashing anyone. “We’ll see how I feel after working on Bertha. I have to check to see if there was any structural damage too.”
“Are you going to need any help?” Caleb asks, his eyes moving over my body.
“Nope,” I say, walking out of the room. I’d rather struggle than take any assistance from either brother.
That’s just the level of petty I’m feeling today.
Good talk.
Bertha, you’re kind of a dick.
I went through everything on my van, and had to fix a handle that an alpha ripped off when he was in a rut. What really pissed me off though is that my alternator is failing. It’s one thing I haven’t replaced yet, and I had to order one online with the option to have it delivered today.
It’s dark now, but the lighting is at least decent in the garage. I put down an oil mat underneath Bertha, and now I’m waiting for the car part to be delivered.
“Nova?” Caleb asks, stepping into the garage. I’m bundled up and shivering as I lean against the van, because I haven’t wanted to go back inside.
Why bother when the delivery person is on his way? I’ve been stalking the website, and it says it’s out for delivery.
“Yes?” I ask. There’s a little call box outside of Tyde’s gate so the delivery person can call up. Or, he can leave it outside the gate and make me walk out to the gate.
We shall see how he decides to play it.
“Why are you still out here?” he asks. “It’s really fucking cold.”
“It’s not terrible,” I shrug. “I’m waiting for my alternator to come in. I’m having it delivered.”
“That’s not what I was expecting you to say,” he grunts, walking across the garage to me.
Tyde has his car parked on the other side of the large garage, but I still have a lot of room to work in. This is better than working outside at least. It’s already starting to snow again, I watch as it comes down. The lighting in the garage reflects off it well so I can see it clearly.
“I get that a lot,” I muse.
I’ve had to learn a lot of things in order to be able to survive. Self sufficiency is the only way to keep my independence.
“So you’re just going to change your own alternator?” he asks. “Have you done that before?”
“Yes on both counts,” I murmur. “Bertha likes to randomly break down. The snow is also really rough on car parts, so when you drive as much as I do, things wear out faster. You should have heard my engine. It would grind and complain constantly. I bet I could be heard from miles away.”
“That’s terrifying,” he says, making me smirk.
“Not having the money to fix it is what’s terrifying,” I grunt. “Bertha was finally not only drivable again but also safe. Now I have to fix the alternator so I won’t have to worry about getting stuck somewhere.”
“Can I ask why you wouldn’t just buy a new car?” he asks.
“I like that I can live in my van in a pinch,” I say, glancing at him as he leans on the vehicle beside me.
“She’s typically safe, there’s space for my cat, and if things get dicey, I have a place to hide.
Pixie has plenty of nooks to hide herself in as well, because she sure as shit doesn’t like enclosed areas. ”
“You weren’t safe at the camp,” he says.
“Those were extenuating circumstances,” I remind him.
“Once I decided that Pack Ledger was sincere about letting me rent out their tiny house, I was really excited. It meant not having to worry about my heats. I was far enough from their home to be able to ride it out alone, and it was a safe place.”
“There are few people I worry about,” he says after a long pause. “My employees are some of those people. I just asked one of them not to walk home alone tonight after closing up. While there are patrols after dark, omegas are still being stolen off the street.”
Shivering for reasons outside of the cold, I nod to show I’m listening. I’ve heard about the auctions and listen to podcasts as I drive. I’m not completely out of touch with the world.
“I’m typically home from my appointments by then unless I’m attending a birth,” I say. “I mostly hear of these reports about people who are walking late at night, but regardless of that, it’s fucked that it’s happening at all.”
“Your nomadic ways are terrible for my health,” he says.
“I’m unsure why it’s any of your business,” I sigh. “I know it seems like I can’t take care of myself?—”
“No one should have to live the way you have,” he growls. “Living out of your car isn’t normal, Nova.”
“It was my first taste of freedom,” I whisper. “Things were worse before I was able to get the van. I spent my entire first paycheck on the down payment, and it kept me from living on the streets. I’ve been on my own for a long time.”
“You have alphas now, Nova. You don’t have to be alone anymore,” he says, his eyes widening when I turn to face him.
I just went from conversational to pissed the fuck off.
“I don’t have alphas,” I growl. “I have myself and Tyde. That’s it. Regardless of what biology seems to think, you have to earn your place at my side.”
The sound of a vehicle makes me turn and I see a delivery man get out of his car to open the back doors of his van. I guess I’m walking to the gate.
Tyde, the alternator is here. Walk me to the gate please?
You just want me for my muscles and sunny disposition, don’t you, Little Queen?
My lips spread wide into a private smile as I begin to walk out of the garage.
I think I might like that nickname. It’s better than what Lars calls me.
I can feel Tyde’s amusement as I pull the hood on the sweatshirt over my head as I walk.
Hold on! I’m your muscle, remember?
I drop my head back and laugh, turning to face the house. Tyde opens the front door in a hurry, jogging over to me.
“I lift and support pregnant women during labor,” I tease him. “I will accept your offer, but I could probably muddle through.”
“That’s what I’m so enthralled by,” he says. “Outside of the bond, you don’t need me, but still want me.”
I almost trip, despite the fact that the driveway has been shoveled recently, and Tyde catches me.
“You good?” he asks, his voice that sexy tone whenever he’s at ease.