Chapter 4
THEA
Things have been off since yesterday. I could hardly think straight when I caught Parker’s scent.
It didn’t help that I fell back into my old ways when I worked in corporate.
Waiting for him to be angry at my mistake, especially after I accused him of being in the wrong, an alpha no less.
His scent, sweet like peaches, felt so much like when I’d scented Connor and I could not go down that road.
Connor’s always made me feel like I was home.
Parker’s makes me feel safe. It was the first time in over a year since I’ve felt that.
I can’t shake that feeling. Simultaneously I want more of it and none of it.
Feeling safe at this point will only lead to something bad happening again.
I don’t have the bandwidth to deal with any of this.
Today I’m meeting with the owner of a rental house.
This small town lives up to its name in that there wasn’t much in the way of rental options.
This house seemed like the best of what’s available.
Bigger than what I really need, however, it looked better online than the apartment I had back in Chicago.
I pull up to the rental. It’s a ranch-style house, all one floor, with a small porch around the front door.
There’s a man waiting outside sitting on the top step.
He stands up as I park. He looks tall, wearing dark wash jeans with a long-sleeved button-down shirt.
Walking up to him, I notice his dark brown eyes, and his smile shines even in his eyes.
It puts me at ease, a little too quickly than it should.
“Thea Fera? I’m Elijah Harmon,” he says, reaching out his hand to shake mine.
I return the gesture. “Nice to meet you in person.”
His smile broadens. I didn’t think that was possible. “Ready for a tour of the place?” I nod my head in agreement as he gestures me ahead.
Walking through the front door, I note that the house is empty of all furniture.
To the left is a big open space that must be for a living room and just ahead is the kitchen.
It’s a relatively open concept layout. The kitchen has an island, which is nice.
There are a few stools there. I guess whoever was here last must have left them.
There’s a back door almost parallel to the front door’s location.
Elijah is going through the specifics of the house, talking about the type of floors and counters.
I’m only half listening. There’s a room off the kitchen.
One of the walls is shared with the living room.
“Ah yes, you’re probably thinking this is an odd spot for a bedroom off the kitchen and next to the living room, but it can be used for any purpose,” he says.
It’s a perfect bedroom for me. Both exits are close by and there’s a window big enough I could use if needed in a hurry. “Do you have any kids?”
The question shakes me out of my thoughts. “What?”
“Kids, do you have any? This could be a good room for one of them or a playroom,” he says.
I laugh a little but it’s hollow, knowing I probably will never have kids now.
“No, I don’t have kids. It will just be me renting,” I say, knowing as my potential landlord he will need to know.
We continue wordlessly on the tour. To the right side of the house there’s a short hallway leading to two more bedrooms and one full bath.
Definitely bigger than I need but the location is better than the other options I saw in town, plus it appears to be better updated.
I was in Chicago for seven months before he found me.
All the steps I took to avoid him tracking me, I’m hoping I’ll be here at least a year, if not longer, assuming my luck can hold out.
After being in apartments this last year with little privacy, something a bit remote sounds perfect.
I feel like I’ve reached my limit of interacting with most people for the foreseeable future.
Maybe it’s my omega nature wanting an enclosed safe space? Who knows at this point?
“What do you think?”
“It’s perfect,” I say with a genuine smile.
He returns my smile and Gods his smile is beautiful.
I don’t care that he’s an alpha, he’s beautiful.
His whole body seems to glow as he smiles, from his light brown skin to his eyes.
I didn’t catch his scent, I suspect he’s wearing descenter like I am.
Though not for the same reasons. I’m trying to be as invisible as possible and right or wrong people remember omegas.
I’m thankful he’s wearing it anyways, after my reaction to Parker yesterday I don’t want a repeat.
“Great, I can have the lease prepared for you to sign today if that works for you?”
Gods yes, the sooner the better. The pack running the bed and breakfast are nice but I need to get out of there.
They constantly ask questions trying to get to know me and I can’t handle the memories it brings up.
“Can we meet back here later this afternoon, maybe four o’clock?
” I ask, hoping that works so I can have time to go to the store and get some supplies and furnishings.
“That works for me. Though when you applied, the employment section was left blank, can you fill it out quick before we leave?”
“Oh I’m sorry, I must have filled it out before I got confirmation on my job. I’m working at The Snowcrest Lodge,” I say, assuming he knows it given it’s a small town.
His eyes light up. “Really?” That was a weird reaction.
“Yes,” I say hesitantly.
He must pick up on the shift in mood. “I didn’t mean that in a weird way. It’s ironic is all because my pack owns the lodge.”
I try to mask my reaction, but I fail. I didn’t expect that.
Just how many people are in this pack? Ben, Micah, Parker, and now Elijah.
He chuckles a little at my reaction. “That’s small towns for you.
The Farnbys run the bed and breakfast but also own the local diner.
There are a few packs in town that own or are a part of different businesses. ”
“I guess I’m not used to small town life,” I laugh awkwardly, knowing that is a major understatement.
Growing up in a major city in Florida, even the town in North Carolina, it was a college town, nothing like this one.
Not so remote either. I wanted this and we always talked about moving to a small town and—I cut off that train of thought.
I quickly fill out the information and hand over the tablet to Elijah.
We say our goodbyes with the plan in place to meet this afternoon.
Grabbing my phone, I look up the closest home goods store, which unsurprisingly is just over an hour away.
There’s plenty of time to go there and get most of what I need for the house and back.
I don’t relish the thought of doing this shopping again.
At least when I moved from North Carolina to Chicago I took most of the stuff I bought for that apartment with me.
Since I planned to sell my car on the way here and buy a new one in a different state, I could only bring my essentials which mostly were my clothes.
I wander the aisles looking for anything I may be missing for the house.
I definitely forgot all the little things you need to furnish a house.
I have two carts full at the moment, filled with everything for the bathroom, kitchen, and bedding—for a bed I don’t have yet but will order as soon as I get back to the car.
I was cheap in Chicago and bought what I could get quick.
I don’t care if I have to sleep on an air mattress for a month. I want—no, need—a comfy bed.
This store has a nest section that I’ve been avoiding but somehow keep circling back to. A quick look won’t hurt, but I will only get two blankets and that’s it. There’s a forest green blanket that reminds me of my nest back home—
Stop, Thea, that isn’t home anymore.
I wonder if Sophie cleared out the apartment or if it’s all still there as if me and Connor went on an extended trip and haven’t returned yet.
The last time I was in my nest was after I found out he died.
I was alone and cried until I passed out; it didn’t help that it smelled like the two of us and knowing that would fade and never return made it even worse.
Thankfully, Max, one of Connor’s dads, came to the apartment and told me to pack a bag and stay with them for a while.
He was right, being alone in that apartment was just constantly reinforcing the fact that he wasn’t there.
I stayed with them those first couple weeks, before I was brave enough to go back there.
Thinking back now, I wonder if I hadn’t gone back and seen the letter from him, would I still be there or would he have gotten me like he wanted?
Ugh you need to stop it, brain. Connor and everything before needs to stay in their box.
I put the blanket that seemed to trigger my trip down memory lane back on the shelf; instead grabbing a soft pink almost blush colored blanket. I won’t make a nest, but I’ll let myself have this at least.
After playing Tetris with all the things I bought and the storage totes with everything I own in my car trying to get it all to fit, I almost regretted buying a TV. Almost, but in the end I made it work. I’m finally back at the house with time to spare.