Chapter 33
Oriana
D ragging me away from my favorite little puppy was the hardest thing to do, but when Hudson asked me on a date, how could I say no?
Plus, he did promise a pet store trip as well.
Henry settled in pretty well. We fed him and gave him treats when we got home, which they promised would make him happy. It was me laying down on the rug in front of the fireplace that really did him in, though. He curled right up with me under the blanket and I was a goner.
He snored, was a bit smelly, but was absolutely precious.
The shelter gave us a bit of his backstory, saying his family returned him when they became a pack, saying he was a troublemaker. I couldn’t imagine our sweet old man doing much to cause trouble, but I hoped we got to see that playful side of him.
Even Tate, who was all about having a cat, fell in love. The two were drinking coffee on the back porch when we left. Well, Henry had a bowl of dog friendly bone broth that was supposed to help keep his arthritis at bay, and Tate had coffee.
“Where are we going?” I asked, not wanting to stay quiet on our date. I tried to stay focused on whoever I was with when we got our random one on one times.
Plus, we’d already driven an hour so far.
“I found this cute little shopping center. There’s a used bookstore and cafe, a pet store, and a nesting boutique.”
Nesting. The dreaded thing I was supposed to do. I’d been putting it off even as my heat continued to creep closer and closer.
The last time I used a nest was with Cameron. It hurt too much after so I’d avoided it like my life depended on it.
I’ve also conveniently not told one of them about my hangup and now didn’t feel like a good time either.
Or maybe I was just a coward.
Because my omega and I wanted a nest. I just had to make that leap.
“Sounds perfect,” I said instead, squeezing his hand.
Hudson was different when it was just us. He seemed more content and happy, a soft smile on his face. Right now the sun was hitting his umber skin, brown eyes warm in the afternoon light. His dark hair was tossed over his shoulder, shiny and straight as usual.
He turned to me, quirking up an eyebrow in question.
“Just admiring what’s mine,” I said innocently, tracing my eyes purposefully over him again.
“I’m glad you like what you see, omega,” he said with a deep chuckle. “I’ll never not be thankful you hired us for this job.”
“Me, too,” I agreed. “I’d gone from this sad, lonely omega with no hope, to having a full pack and my life back. I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy.”
He pulled my hand to his lips, placing a kiss on my knuckles before settling our joined hands on my thigh.
With the music playing, his hand in mine, and the sun streaming in, I felt light and relaxed.
I wish I could go back and reassure myself a few years ago that we’d be here now. That it would all be worth it.
My phone dinged and I pulled up the pack chat and laughed at a picture of Mama Whitaker and Henry snuggling in the grass.
I showed it to Hudson who grinned.
“Having family around us like this is so strange but I love it,” he admitted.
“You don’t talk about yours much,” I hedged, hoping to learn more about him. It was so strange how fast packs formed. One day we were strangers, then were a pack, without knowing much about each other.
“My grandparents raised me,” he admitted. “A beta and omega pair. They were incredible people, but they were too old to really give me the attention I needed. They weren’t the adoring loving grandparents, either. I loved them all the same, but it was hard sometimes. And quiet. I couldn’t make too much noise and didn’t get much attention.”
“I’m sorry,” I said. “That’s kind of how my mom was. She always seemed to care more about her work than me. I never really connected with her but god it hurt when she was too busy for me. Honestly, I spent half my childhood doing everything I could to win her over and it always failed.”
“Your dad seems the opposite,” Hudson said. “Though, he was kind of scary when we first met.”
“Brandon?” I laughed. “No way. He’s the nicest, sweetest omega around. I swear that man has never once raised his voice at me.”
“I bet he gave Cameron a tongue-lashing,” Hudson mused.
“Oh, I guarantee it,” I said. “Apparently, they all did.”
He gave my hand a squeeze.
“She seems different now, I just wish it wasn’t so late. It’s hard to convince myself she’s changed,” I admitted. “It’s helped that we’ve all come together like this. I’ve had an excuse to avoid it but I won’t be able to for long. Brandon has messaged me no less than twice a day asking when I’m coming for dinner.”
“I’m sure he understands. That man loves you,” Hudson reassured me. “We can plan dinner soon so you can face them with us around.”
This alpha was perfect. He was always so damn calm and reassuring. It felt like no matter what he’d always be this strong force behind me and it gave me so much more confidence to face everything.
Even when I was angry about them hiding our scent-match from me, I never wanted to run.
That and when he was fighting with Cameron over me.
I never had to guess if he would fight for me or stay for me. They explained everything and stood up for me with Cam. It got a bit ridiculous on that dock, but I had no fear that I’d have to walk away from any of them.
We finally reached a cute little town called Lillydale. It was one of those picturesque towns like Rockwood Valley, just with a whole lot less to it. The main drag was tiny, but ahead of us I could make out the shopping center Hudson read about.
It was an adorable strip of brightly colored buildings. They all seemed like small businesses and that was something I would always support. This was the kind of shopping I was used to growing up. Living in the city had been so strange, even years later.
“Where to first?” Hudson asked, though the smirk on his face told me he knew exactly where I’d choose.
“Pet store,” I said, hopping out to wait for him.
Before I could close the door there was an alpha standing near me. I backed up with a squeak and the mountain of a man grinned down at me.
“What are you doing out here all alone, little omega?” he asked, apparently an idiot because I’d climbed out of the passenger side of a car. Which, clearly meant I wasn’t.
“She’s mine, back the fuck off,” Hudson’s voice cut through, fierce and deadly. It wasn’t a yell, simply a calm warning that was laced in enough ice to make me shiver.
The alpha chuckled like he’d told a joke.
“And you let her step away from you for a second. Better watch out, she might want to come home with a real alpha.”
“Ew, absolutely not,” I said, wrinkling my nose. “My alpha is plenty alpha enough for me. And I think you’re confusing alpha with creepy.”
I never did know when to not open my big mouth.
“Come on, Love,” Hudson said, shoving past the asshole and wrapping his arm around my shoulder. He was tense as he led me away, watching behind us to make sure we weren’t followed.
I tried to look back but his arm tightened around me.
“Love, I need you to go inside the closest shop and wait for me,” Hudson said. That deadly calm was freaking me out this time but I didn’t argue. When he opened the door to the shop, he closed the door after me and turned.
There were three alphas following us now, I hadn’t noticed the others. What I wasn’t going to do was stand inside while he got his ass kicked, but I didn’t want to distract him and get my alpha hurt.
Panicking, I glanced around. An older alpha was stalking toward the door.
“Are they bothering you?”
“Yes, he tried to flirt with me and didn’t back off when my alpha said I was taken,” I said in a rush. “He’s alone and there’s three of them now.”
“Don’t you worry,” he said before shoving the door open. I watched the other alphas square their shoulders and face off with Hudson and this old man, worry only growing.
“Don’t worry, my alpha is no joke, either,” a woman said. She had gray hair and a kind smile. “We’ve had trouble with that pack before.”
“Should I call the cops?”
“No, I already called my sons,” she chuckled, pointing to the bookstore across the way. Five huge men came pouring out, a range of weapons in their hands from bats to a crow bar.
The shouting continued, but one statement caught my ears and I winced.
“Maybe tell your bitch of an omega to keep her mouth shut. Acting like she’s better than an alpha,” the guy who had hit on me sneered, glaring at me through the window.
The old woman next to me flipped him off, distracting him as Hudson’s fist slammed into his stomach, then his jaw in quick succession. The man fell to the concrete.
Before the other two could join, the others arrived, making them pull up their knocked out alpha and drag him off.
Hudson turned, eyes wild as he searched me out. I was already shoving out the door and throwing myself into his arms.
“My hero,” I teased, kissing him soundly before squeezing him hard. “Thank you for protecting me.”
“Always,” he promised, voice still strained but I refused to let go until he relaxed into the hold.
“Come sit down for a spell, dessert’s on us,” the old man said, leading us inside. “I’m sure you didn’t come here to get harassed.”
“We’ll deal with them, don’t worry,” their sons said as they walked back out to sit outside and stand guard. I honestly felt a little safer with them out there, so I wasn’t about to protest.
“Come on, Love, we’re alright,” Hudson promised. I feel like he needed the reassurance more than I did. My man just defended my honor and knocked out a creepy alpha for me.
I was both turned on, and felt invincible.
Instead of sitting in my own seat, I planted myself on his lap. I didn’t really care what anyone thought and our new friends, Jade and Stewart, just grinned as they brought us a few slices of pie and coffees.
“I’m sorry, Love… I shouldn’t—” I cut him off with a hand over his mouth.
“Nope. Do not apologize. If we were home, I’d have already shown my appreciation. I’ve never had anyone stand up for me like that and honestly, it was hot as fuck,” I said, moving my hand long enough to kiss my stressed out alpha.
“I know, I just don’t like to show that side of myself,” he admitted when I pulled back. “My grandmother always said that alphas could turn into monsters so easily and here I was, knocking someone out and seeing red because he said something awful.”
“He disrespected me,” I said with a shrug. “It wasn’t like you hulked out and beat all three of them up.”
He huffed. “I should have. Assholes.”
“They were,” I agreed. “But let’s not ruin our day over it. I’m happy and safe and we’ve got protection here now.”
He glanced out the window and grinned. “When we finish, we should send pie out to them. They earned it.”
“Already on it,” Jade sang out, arms loaded with plates of apple pie. “I always take care of my boys. And I’m one proud mama right now.”
Her smile said it all and that reaction combined with mine, seemed to finally break Hudson out of his funk. He pulled the plate of chocolate pie closer and used the fork to get a bite before bringing it to my lips. His brown eyes tracked the movement as I wrapped my lips around it.
I’d never had anyone feed me like this and it felt almost too intimate in public, but I couldn’t find it in me to stop it.
This moment had my stomach fluttering happily and my omega practically purring for him.
Each bite we shared was followed by secret smiles and heated glances. I was soaking through my panties by the time we dropped a tip and he dragged me over to the bookstore.
The last thing I wanted to do was shop after getting hot and bothered, but books always win me over. That and the urge to buy sweet Henry everything I could get my hands on.
Two hours later, we said our goodbyes and thanks to the family that had defended us, and started the journey home.
And all I could think about was falling into bed with him the moment we got there.