Chapter 7
"YOU DID WHAT?" I yelled, accidentally startling Gem. She started crying in her playpen and I had to pick her up to soothe her, bouncing her gently as I glared at my so called friends. "I'm sorry, pretty girl. It's really your mom's fault."
"You've been freaking out since you saw the flyer. Bea and I knew that we needed to call before you chickened out," Taryn explained and came to get Gem from me.
“Plus, don’t even act like you weren't wallowing all weekend. We can’t watch our girl break down and do nothing,” Bea defended. There was no remorse in either of them, only determination.
She swayed Gem and the baby’s lids started to get heavy again, meaning we had to hiss out this argument instead of screaming like I wanted to.
"I know I was, but still, you could have asked me first. Do you really think Cy is looking for me?" I questioned just as quickly as I complained. “This can’t even be real.”
"Well, if the number on the flyer went to the PR team, then they took our info and sent me Cy’s personal cell. I guess we were convincing, so, yes," Bea answered. "We just talked to him."
"What? You talked to Cy?" I nearly fainted at the thought and took a seat. My heart was pounding so hard it had me dizzy.
He was searching for me, so he must have felt it, too. This was real.
My mate was looking for me.
"Did he say anything?" I asked, glancing from Bea to Taryn and back.
"Yeah, a little bit," Taryn teased before she laid Gem back down.
"Can you please watch the store? Bea and I are going to go grab dinner. Just take the monitor with you, the twins should be fine. As long as you don't yell again," Taryn told me. Something was up, they were acting strange, but I was too thrown off to point that out or argue.
"Yeah, is there anyone in the store now?" I asked, panicking a little since the three of us were back here.
"No, I checked before I came back here. Promise," Bea answered, acting a bit too agreeable as well.
Oh, they were definitely being shady.
"Fine, I'm glad that I showered before you guys picked me up," I joked as I picked up the monitor and headed to our store front.
Just as I stepped up behind the register, the bell rang and the door opened.
"Welcome in," I called out. Three male voices rang out a greeting, the sound making the hairs on the back of my neck raise. I froze in place, barely believing it.
Was that Cy's voice? Griff and Jackson, too?
No. Fucking. Way.
As much as I wanted to deny it, blame it on my nerves, I couldn’t. I wasn't a stalker but I did watch some interviews and followed them on socials.
This is why Taryn and Bea ran out, isn’t it?!
I tried and failed to get myself together, absently straightening up the counter until their approaching footsteps announced them.
My customer service smile was in place as I glanced up… until I saw them. Cy, Griff, Jackson. In the flesh, right in front of me.
Stumbling, I took a few steps back. The urge to run was strong. Not sure if it was to them or from them.
A soft cry echoed out of the monitor and I couldn’t be more grateful. It gave me a few seconds to think.
"C-can you excuse me for just one moment?" I asked, my voice squeaking out as I ran to get the baby.
I made it to Liam before he woke up Gem. He stopped crying as soon as he was in my arms and I gave him a kiss on top of his head, breathing in the scent of his lotion as I tried to calm myself down.
Since I was the only one at the store, there was no choice but to face the music. We made our way back to the three men that I left waiting, a smile on my face even though internally I was still panicked.
They were waiting at the counter where I left them and all looked taken aback that I was holding a baby.
"Sorry about that, this little guy would have woken up his sister. Can I help you with something?" I asked, pretending I wasn’t visibly freaking the fuck out.
Cy didn’t say a word as he leaned forward, his scent hitting me hard. The smell of fresh rain, bergamot, and sage had my knees buckling, forcing me to sit down since I had Liam in my arms.
"It's her," Cy told his packmates, a bright smile on his face now. “We found you.”
"Huh?" I asked stupidly as Liam wiggled in my arms. "You be good for Aunt Dani and these nice men."
"Aunt?" Jackson asked, looking shocked, but curious.
"Yeah. He’s one my bestie's twins. Sorry for running off, but I didn't want him to wake his sister," I answered. No matter how hard I was trying to play it cool, I was failing.
“Her friend’s twins,” Jackson repeated in a quiet whisper. His eyes were more stunning in person, a gorgeous dark green. Between that and the dimples, I had to force myself to look away. My brain was fried enough.
Cy nodded before he leaned forward again, nearly climbing over the counter. “You smell incredible, peach. I think we’re mates. No, I know we are.”
I didn’t disagree, but I also couldn’t find the words to confirm it, either. Instead, I was quiet, watching all three of them with wide eyes.
When Griff moved, I froze, muscles locking up but my eyes tracking his steps as he walked carefully around the counter like I was a cornered animal ready to freak out and bolt.
Honestly, how did Taryn think leaving me with the twins was a good idea? My hands were shaking so badly that I had to tighten my grip, making Liam fussy all over again.
I knew why. This way I couldn’t run. I’d never abandon them.
Taryn and Bea stepped into view then. One look at my face and they were moving quickly, Taryn scooping up her baby and Bea giving me an apologetic smile.
“Sorry, girl. We thought we had time, didn’t mean to leave you with the babies and mates,” she said quickly.
Liar.
I glared at them both but was relieved they came back when they did.
Then Griff was there, dropping to his knees in front of me.
I blinked down at him, eyes scanning over his face.
He was tan from his time in the sun but his hair was wild and free right now, the wavy, brown locks hanging into his eyes and so soft I had to curl my fingers so I didn’t run my hands through it.
Midnight blue eyes watched me just as intensely.
“You’re gorgeous,” he husked, voice holding more gravel than I realized. “Can we take you for coffee or dinner, a walk, even?”
Words still weren’t coming, so I simply nodded. Despite having to cover the shop temporarily, it was my day off.
Griff stood, holding out a large palm to me. There wasn’t even a thought in passing before I found my palm resting in his. His skin was warm and calloused against my hands and I found it oddly comforting as he helped me to my feet.
Even when I shook like a leaf he just tightened his grip in a soothing way. He didn’t let go of my fingers, simply shifting to intertwine our fingers as he led me around the counter and toward the front door.
Somewhere in my mind I registered my friends saying something to me but I was still trying to get a grip on myself.
Then I was in the sunshine outside, all three crowding around me as Griff released my hand. My eyes widened as they stepped forward, a wall of muscle and sexy ball players.
This couldn’t be real. I’d been watching their games, drooling over their muscles, and now they were calling me their mate?!
Definitely a dream.
Jackson smiled down at me, those dimples flashing and his shaggy, shoulder length hair blowing in the breeze.
“Not fair,” I sputtered out, the first real words I’d said in the last ten minutes. “The dimples.”
It wasn’t exactly eloquent, but at least I got words out. His dimples only deepened at my words and a soft laugh echoed out of him, surrounding me and burrowing into my chest, warming me from the inside out.
“Ugh, and a nice laugh, too, pretty boy?” Now I was in full, no filter, mode. Kill. Me. Now.
Jackson leaned in, his forehead touching mine for just a moment, both of us trying to get it together it seemed.
Did I really affect them the same? His cheeks were red now and his scent deepened. Fresh sandalwood, cypress that was deep and woodsy, and a hint of fresh air that rounded it out.
My omega surged forward, nearly making me press my lips to his but I held back and simply breathed him in over and over again. Fuck, he smelled so damn good. Sweet, tart, and all alpha.
Mine. I’d never felt so drawn to anyone before. This was insane, but it felt so right.
“Pretty boy?” he asked, shaking his head slightly. His hair tickled my cheeks, scent-marking me in a way that had my omega ready to purr.
“If the shoe fits. I knew you’d be trouble,” I grumbled, starting to come back to myself now. “It’s always the quieter ones.”
“And here I thought you’d pick them over me.” His words held a hint of vulnerability that made my chest ache and indignation rise. He was insane if he thought anyone could resist those dimples. The fact he had a softer side only made him more tempting.
“What? Who would do that?”
He stepped back and shrugged, chewing on his lip. “Not all packs stay packs.”
Not untrue, but insane considering they all fit together so perfectly.
“They’d be crazy to turn you down,” I said, gently tugging his lip free. His eyes widened at the touch, pupils dilating. My cheeks were burning like his now and I realized we hadn’t glanced at the others yet.
My eyes shifted from one side to the other, a guilty look likely on my face now. I hadn’t meant to zone out but it was hard to look away when they were so focused on me.
“Don’t worry, gorgeous. We’re just admiring you two together,” Griff reassured me, picking up on my thoughts without me having to explain.
“Come on, sweets, let’s go somewhere we can sit and talk,” Jackson urged before looking around and frowning.
It was clear they were new to the area. He looked lost now.
“First time in Willow Lake?” I asked them. That made the ground seem a bit more solid underfoot. They might have thrown me for a loop, but they were strangers to this area. This was my home and I knew it well.
I’d take the wins where I could get them.
“It is,” Cy confirmed. “We’re in town for a summer camp baseball program. So, four weeks on the lake, outside of a few practices and games mixed in.”
“You mean you guys don’t just train all day, every day?” I teased. “I’ve seen those moves, that has to take time.”
Cy grinned, giving me that easy smile of his that made me weak in the knees. I’d seen it on TV but never focused on me.
“Nah, these moves come naturally,” he teased, doing a little shimmy right there on the sidewalk. There was no embarrassment in sight. They hadn’t even looked around at anyone else to notice stares or whispers. That was a sure way to make an omega feel good.
“Are you hungry, or just coffee?”
“We can always eat,” Jackson said as he patted his flat stomach. Body insecurity wasn’t something I dealt with often. I had curves, and I made healthy choices, but now that I was standing here next to three Greek gods, a bit of worry crept in.
Griff’s intense eyes narrowed before he stepped forward. “There better not be any conflict in that mind about eating in front of us. I know some omegas get that way, but we want you as you are and comfortable, gorgeous.”
“I’m not usually like this,” I said quickly, blushing furiously. “It’s just that… you guys are made of muscle.”
“Glad you noticed, peach,” Cy grinned, flexing in a way that was somehow playful and not douchey. Not every alpha could pull that off.
It was like the wink. Sometimes terrible, sometimes sexy.
With him, it left me blushing again. Who the hell was I?
“Before you give yourself a chance to overthink, sweets, all I can think about since I saw you is sinking my teeth into that perfect ass of yours,” Jackson said, voice dropping to a rasp that had a shiver running down my spine.
“I’m not usually that forward, but you should know that you have nothing to worry about. ”
“Noted,” I grinned, feeling myself perk up. It wasn’t that I needed validation, but knowing that my mates loved every inch of me was a great feeling, and even the most confident omega had moments of insecurity.
With a bit of a sway in my step, I started to lead the way down the sidewalk. A trio of groans echoed behind me and I didn’t bother to hide my laughter this time.