Chapter 21
Oriana
S omething was off. Hudson and Lane were acting weird and it was driving me crazy. I wasn’t sure what changed, but they were anxious about something.
After breakfast and the surprise on the porch, we cleaned up the dishes. When we settled onto the couch I realized that we were all stuck here without a purpose.
We had no jobs right now, except for Lane and Hudson because this was their job. I had to figure out what to do and poor Roman was stuck without his usual art.
My life was unsettled again and I hated it. At least I knew this time that the outcome would be worth the trouble.
Opening up my phone, I texted just about everyone I knew who could help, in a group chat.
Oriana
My mate, Roman, was an art teacher. He ran an extra art class with his kids from school and the local nursing home. Any job leads I could send his way?
Avery
I’ll ask around. I know we have shops like the pottery shop in town, but she’s a one woman show.
Sidney
I’ll ask Grace and Hailey. They might know someone at the school
Brandon
My friend Maddie is a teacher. I’m on it, too.
Oriana
You guys are the best. We’re all going stir crazy over here.
Avery
What about the other guys?
Oriana
They work remotely so they’re covered.
Sidney
And what about you? I hear you’re a girl into antiques.
Brandon
Yes, the attic is full of boxes she’s collected over the years. She’s done it since she was a kid and Steve introduced her to antiques.
Sidney
I don’t know your situation, but you should go check out that place on the corner of Main Street and Jackson. It would be the perfect shop for it.
I chewed on my lip at the thought. After my present this morning I couldn’t stop thinking about it.
Brandon
I’m picking you up in five. Be ready.
Well, I guess that decided it for me. Excitement bubbled up inside of me. I stood up so abruptly the others startled where we’d been lazing on the sectional.
“Brandon is picking me up in five minutes to check out a building in town. If you want to come, get ready,” I said.
“For what?” Roman asked, but I was already gone. I was being ridiculous and I knew it, but part of me was afraid to speak it into existence.
I’d barely pulled on a cute fall dress and boots before the honking outside had me rushing back downstairs.
The others were waiting, having pulled on hoodies and shoes and looking far too delicious for that little effort.
“Let’s go!”
“Where?!” Hudson demanded but I was already rushing outside and diving into the front seat, giving Brandon a wicked grin as the others followed, grumbling.
“Will you tell us where we’re going?” Hudson asked. It was killing them not knowing and a small giggle escaped. His sharp eyes caught mine and he narrowed them. “Oh, you’re playing games, Love?”
“Like father, like daughter,” Brandon said, cracking up as I ignored them. “I’m staying out of it.”
It didn’t take long to pull up to the old building. Like all the older buildings on main street, this one was a dark brick as well. The windows wrapped around both sides of the shop, and the door was embedded in the corner of the structure, two slim windows on either side.
The awning was faded and tattered, but with a replacement and a solid power wash, I could see it being perfect.
There was a small dance studio on one side of me, and the other was a florist. This part of town was quiet and a little less busy than the rest, but that was just because of the vacant buildings around us.
My eyes caught on a new building across the street.
“What’s that?” Brandon’s eyes followed where I pointed and he grinned.
“That was some delicious small town drama. Sidney’s guys had a bit of a fuss over it since Maverick obviously owns the bar. Leo’s place is really nice. It’s got a jazz club vibe mixed with art deco style.”
“Okay, again, why are we here?” Lane asked, looking at the empty building.
“We’re trying to convince Ori to make a new life for herself here,” Brandon said, the answer not really giving them anything.
He was right, though. It wasn’t like I hadn’t thought the same since coming back, and made even more apparent by Cameron’s gift.
I’d spent so many weekends growing up hitting all the flea markets, estate sales, and garage sales I could to find the little treasures.
I loved the history they held, the meanings. Steve even had a friend who would assess them for me from time to time, help me identify the ones that had value, money, or were historically significant.
Each one told a story and I loved that no matter how many years passed, that they remained.
“Is someone coming to show us the rest?” I asked Brandon. The face he made was one of pure guilt.
“Okay, look, you know I have issues, right?”
My hands went to my hips and I glared. “What did you do, dad?”
He held up his hands. “Look, I figured if it didn’t work out, it was no big deal and we could just sell it again or make use of it. But sue me, I wanted to look out for my little girl.”
“Dad!” I exclaimed. “You can’t just buy a fucking building as a welcome home present!”
“I can and I did, literally the moment you said you were coming. I knew you’d be jobless and when your mom mentioned this place I had to do it. It’s not just me, but from all of us.”
“Mom?” I questioned. Again, shocked by her involvement.
“Yes, Little Bird. Your mom started this and I finished. We knew you’d need something to distract you from the boogeyman you called a mate. This was perfect. We’ve already got some of the inside fixed up. It’s yours if you want it.”
Tears burned at my eyes as he dangled a set of keys between us, tempting me.
I crushed him in a hug, ignoring the keys for a moment. They had always taken care of me, made sure I knew my worth.
Maybe that was why I had the strength to leave instead of staying here in Rockwood Valley after Cameron broke up with me.
He put the keys in my hand, curling my fingers around them. Roman pressed himself to my back as Brandon stepped away, likely sensing I could use the support.
“So, an antique shop?” he mused as I turned the key in the lock. I pushed it open and was hit with the strong scent of paint and fresh wood.
They really had fixed it up. The walls were a blank canvas, already primed and ready. The floors were a dark wood. There was a back hallway that I followed, leading to a basement that was finished and with enough shelves to house stock, as well as a long workbench in the middle for cleanup.
There was a bathroom and a break room as well.
It was honestly perfect. As I wandered around in stunned silence, I could picture the beautiful displays and shelves.
If I had it running before Christmas, I could even find adorable vintage Christmas ornaments and trinkets.
“So, what’s the verdict?” Brandon asked as he walked in, eyes shining with excitement. If there’s anything Brandon loves, it’s new adventures and decorating.
“Will you help set it up?” I asked. “Oh god, I’ll have so much to do. Find sales, acquiring antiques, and figuring out how to pay for them.”
“You have inheritance, remember?” Dad reminded me. “It’s been yours since you turned twenty-five. That and I still get your bank statements for it, your mate has been depositing in it every month for a little over twelve years. ”
“What?” I asked, jaw dropping. “How?”
“You both talked about this shop as a mutual endeavor. He planned to help make it happen and I guess he stuck to his word despite being a dick,” Brandon summarized. “You’ve got enough in there and I assumed you were using it, until I accidentally opened one a few weeks ago. There’s more than I imagined in there.”
I was over the constant emotional rollercoaster that was my life. My chest was always aching and it felt like I was forever on the verge of tears.
Where was the anger I expected to cling to? It was safer.
But I was so tired of hurting and hiding.
“I’m going to go next door and get flowers for your mom. You guys take your moment and meet me in the car if you want a ride home,” he said gently.
When he was gone I finally turned to face the guys.
“Come here,” Hudson said, pulling me close and wrapping his arms around me. He was bulky enough to engulf me and I breathed in, wishing yet again I could scent him.
The culmination of the raw emotions, possibilities, and the fear of losing them made it so it was hard to breathe.
I had to fight the urge to shove him off of me, to tell him not to hold me like he cares when this was just a job.
Fuck, I couldn’t even say that out loud if I wanted to.
Before I could figure out how to respond, my phone was going off again. This time it was Cameron’s number.
For a brief moment I wondered if the bond was open again, but when I concentrated on it, there was nothing but emptiness like usual.
Cameron
Meet me on the docks tonight? It’s a good night for a bonfire. Maybe we can catch up and I can get to know your pack a bit?
I could say no. Go to the house and hide in my nonexistent nest.
But I didn’t want to.
Oriana
We’ll be there. Should we bring anything?
Cameron
Let me handle it. You still a whiskey girl?
The thought of a drink after last night made me want to say no, but the thought of all of us hanging out made me respond with a yes.
“We’ve got plans tonight with Cameron on the docks. A bonfire and drinks. He wants to get to know you guys and reconnect with me again.”
“Whatever you want,” Lane said. “We can amp up the flirtiness to get to him. That was always the plan, right?”
A lump formed in my throat and I tried to smile, to swallow it down, but instead I just shook my head and turned, leaving them all where they stood.
An argument broke out but I couldn’t bring myself to say anything more.
Lane
“What just happened?” I asked, watching her walk away. Ever since her dad picked us up it was like her emotions were all over the place. I wanted to reassure her but she was shutting us out.
“You’re breaking her heart. I fucking said to tell her she’s your mate, and here you are, leading her on and she’s bracing for the pain when you leave her at the end of this arrangement,” Roman growled with all the vengeance of a protective mate.
He stormed out after her, leaving us alone in the shop and a lead weight in my gut.
“We tell her tonight, Lane. Tate’s on his way, he’s just taking his damn time like this isn’t important. No three hour drive should take all fucking day. Just have him meet us at the docks,” Hudson said, his voice full of frustration.
We were in an impossible situation. Choosing between an omega and our packmate. We both knew that Tate would change his mind the moment he saw her, scented her, but telling her before then for her to feel rejected again would be awful.
I kept envisioning him meeting her then walking away.
No one deserved to be rejected by a scent-match. This would be a second time for our omega and I couldn’t risk it.
I’d rather her find out by scenting us.
We’d been off blockers for a few days. Surely, our scents would be in soon?
Fuck, this had disaster written all over it.
“No, we have to tell her now. Let everything happen after that,” I argued.
“It’s just a few hours,” he promised, giving my shoulder a squeeze before following her out.
Fuck.
I either defied my packmates, or I hurt her for a few more hours. Unease was my new friend and I swallowed down the uncertainty as I followed them out.
We had a date to prepare for. Then I’d tell her everything, packmates approval or not.
This omega was mine. I wasn’t about to let this get between us.