26. Emma
Emma
T he next morning, I’m checking my email while sipping coffee in my cottage when the notification appears.
My mug nearly slips from my fingers when I see the sender: My hands tremble as I open it, unable to look away despite the terror pulsing.
I knew it was coming, but that doesn’t make my fear less.
From: [email protected]
Subject line: Found you
Jessica was exceptionally helpful.
Expect me soon.
We have unfinished business, Omega.
-M
P.S. Sending over a surprise
I slam my laptop closed, heart hammering so hard I can barely breathe. The cottage walls seem to close in around me.
He knows where I am.
He’s coming.
Before I can spiral further, there’s a knock at my door. I jump, a small cry escaping my lips before I recognize Liam’s voice.
“Emma? It’s me.”
I rush to the door, yanking it open. Liam stands there, his expression immediately shifting to concern when he sees my face.
“What happened?” he asks, stepping inside. “I can smell your fear.”
“Marcus,” I manage to say, pointing at my laptop. “He knows I’m here. Jessica told him.”
Liam’s jaw tightens, “We need to tell the others, now.”
Twenty minutes later, I’m sitting at the farmhouse kitchen table, the email open on my laptop as Rowan paces and Theo leans against the counter, his usual cheerfulness dimmed.
“We’ll change the locks on your cottage today,” Rowan says, “And install security cameras at all the entrances to the property.”
“I know a guy who does security systems,” Theo adds. “I’ll call him right now, get him out here this afternoon.”
“You should move into the farmhouse. It’s safer.” Liam says.
“He’s right,” Rowan agrees. “We have plenty of room. You can take the guest suite on the second floor.”
The thought of leaving my cottage, my space, crushes me. As small as it is, it’s become my sanctuary.
“I appreciate that, but…” I hesitate, not wanting to seem ungrateful. “I like my cottage. It’s the first place I’ve felt safe in a long time.”
“Emma,” Rowan begins, but Theo cuts him off with a raised hand.
“We understand, but at least let us upgrade the security. Maybe some window sensors? I’ll ask my friend what he recommends.”
I nod, grateful for his understanding. “And I have Maple,” I add, earning a small smile from Liam.
“The world’s most terrifying guard goat,” Theo says, some of his usual humor returning.
“She’s actually surprisingly effective,” Liam admits. “Loud as hell when she wants.”
We spent the rest of the day implementing security measures. Rowan installed new deadbolts on my cottage doors, while Theo’s security contact set up cameras that feed directly to all our phones. Liam added motion-sensor lights around the perimeter.
Despite their efforts, I can’t shake the knot of dread in my stomach.
That night, I toss and turn, unable to sleep even with Maple’s reassuring presence at the foot of my bed. Every creak, every rustling leaf outside becomes Marcus in my mind, exactly like he had hoped for in his email.
I’d finally started to let my guard down. Just when I’d begun to believe I could be happy, Marcus resurfaced to steal it away.
I’ve spent months running, hiding, diminishing myself… and for what?
So Marcus can continue to control me from afar?
So I can never truly live?
The past two months at Harvest Home Farm have healed something fundamental in me. I’ve rediscovered my strength, my worth, and my happiness. I’m not just an omega to be claimed: I’m a social media manager, photographer, friend, goat whisperer, and now fated mate.
I have three incredible men who see me completely and love what they see. They would never use their strength against me, only to protect me. They encourage me rather than diminish me.
The truth is, Marcus still scares the shit out of me. I’ve seen what he’s capable of, the calculated cruelty, the way he can charm everyone around him while destroying you piece by piece. His family’s connections reach everywhere, and he’s not above using violence when other methods fail.
But I can’t let him win.
Not after everything I’ve built here.
Not after finally finding people who make me feel whole.
“I’m done running,” I whisper in the dark. “This is my home now.”
Maple snores softly.
I’ll take that as an agreement.
“Breakfast delivery!”
When I open the door, I find Theo standing there with a basket of muffins and a thermos of coffee, his smile warm but his eyes concerned.
“Thought you might not feel like coming to the main house this morning,” he says, stepping inside when I gesture him in. “How’d you sleep?”
“Okay,” I admit, accepting the coffee gratefully. “But I kept hearing things.”
“I had an idea, but feel free to say no.” He sets the basket down on my small dining table. “What if we had a sleepover?”
I blink at him, not sure I’ve heard correctly. “A… sleepover?”
“Yeah,” he says. “We could bring blankets, pillows, and make a fort in your living room. I’ll bake cookies and bring snacks. Have a movie marathon. Safety in numbers, you know?”
The suggestion is so delightful and sweet.
“That actually sounds really fun,” I admit.
Theo’s face lights up. “Great! I’ll tell the others.”
After he leaves, I find myself moving around the cottage with a new purpose. I clean, rearrange furniture to create more floor space, and pull extra blankets the guys left behind. As I work, I realize I’m doing more than just tidying; I’m building a space for us all to be together.
I’m nesting.
The realization stops me in my tracks, a folded blanket still in my hands.
Instead of panicking as I might have before, I embrace the instinct.
Yes, I’m nesting.
Yes, these men are my mates.
And it feels absolutely right.
By seven o’clock, my cottage is transformed.
I’ve pushed the coffee table aside, creating space in the living room.
Pillows and blankets form a soft foundation, with more blankets ready to drape over chairs to create a makeshift fort.
I’ve even strung up some of the fairy lights Theo left behind, giving the room a warm, magical glow.
It’s perfectly cozy.
When the knock comes, my heart leaps. I open the door to find all three of them loaded down with supplies—Theo carrying what appears to be several containers of food, Rowan with a stack of blankets and pillows, and Liam with a projector and laptop.
“Wow,” Theo says as they enter, looking around the transformed space. “You’ve been busy.”
“It looks…” Rowan pauses, his eyes taking in the nest I’ve created, understanding dawning in his expression. “Perfect.”
Liam doesn’t say anything, but his scent deepens with appreciation as he sets up the projector and aims it at the blank wall.
Theo bustles to the kitchenette, unpacking his containers. “I brought chocolate chip cookies, caramel popcorn, those brownies you liked from the other day, and some savory stuff so we don’t all go into sugar comas.”
We settle into the nest of blankets and pillows, me in the center with Theo on one side, Rowan on the other, and Liam completing the circle. The movie starts—something light and funny that doesn’t require much concentration—but I find myself more aware of them than the screen.
Theo’s thigh presses against mine, warm through the fabric of our pajama pants. Rowan’s arms, resting behind me, are not quite touching, but they are close enough that I can feel his heat. Liam’s legs are extended in front of him, and he occasionally brushes mine when he reaches for popcorn.
Their combined scents create a cocoon of joy, making my omega purr with intoxicating pleasure, my skin tingle with awareness, and my core throb with need.
I shift slightly, trying to ease the growing ache between my thighs, and Rowan’s eyes flick to me, his nostrils flaring as he catches the change in my scent. Heat floods my cheeks as slick coats my panties, my body responding to being surrounded by my mates in this intimate setting.
“You okay?” Theo whispers, leaning closer.
“Fine,” I whisper back, but my voice comes out huskier than intended.
Theo’s eyes widen. His pupils dilate, and the cinnamon in his scent intensifies. On my other side, Rowan has gone very still, breathing deeper than before.
Only Liam seems unaffected, his attention still on the movie—until I notice his white-knuckled grip on the blanket beside him, the tension in his jaw. He’s not unaffected; he’s just better at hiding it.
I try to get myself under control.
Instead, I find myself leaning back slightly, pressing against Rowan’s arm until he shifts, wrapping it around my shoulders and drawing me against his side.
“Is this okay?” he murmurs, his lips close to my ear, sending shivers down my spine.
“Yes,” I breathe, turning my face toward him. Our eyes lock, and the heat in his gaze makes me whimper with need.
Slowly, deliberately, Rowan lowers his head.
His lips meet mine, gentle at first, a question more than a demand.
I answer by pressing closer, my hand coming up to cup his jaw, feeling the slight roughness of evening stubble against my palm.
He deepens the kiss, and I open to him willingly, a soft moan escaping me as his tongue slides against mine.
The sound breaks something loose in the room. Theo’s hand squeezes my knee, while Liam moves closer, his scent sharpening with desire.
When Rowan finally pulls back, his eyes are dark with desire, and his breathing is uneven. “We should stop,” he says, though his tone suggests he’d rather do anything but.
“Why?” I ask, surprised by my own boldness.
“Because if we don’t stop now…” He trails off, but his meaning is clear.
“We don’t have to go all the way,” Theo suggests, his voice rough with arousal. “There are plenty of other ways to please our mate.”
The thought sends a shiver of anticipation, but I’m not ready for everything.
“What about just… touching?” I suggest. “I want to feel you. All of you.”