28. Avery
Avery
T his was the most painful interview I’ve done in this town so far. The woman across from me was so stiff it looked like her spine was made of steel. Her face was pale and stricken. Honestly, she looked downright terrified of me.
“Okay,” I said, shutting off the video. She startled, her eyes blinking owlishly at the sudden change. This was definitely not going as smoothly as making videos with my brothers last night, but I knew not everyone was happy to be on camera. It was time for a new approach.
“Is something wrong?” she questioned, hands twisting into her skirt.
“Not exactly,” I hedged, trying to be as gentle as possible. “It just seems that this interview style might not be the best thing for you.”
Her entire body sagged in relief. “Oh, thank god! This was so bad. I just... I can’t. My anxiety doesn’t do well with things like this.”
“Okay, let’s try something else. Maybe a voiceover while I do a tour of your place. Do you want to try that? Then it’s just you talking, and I can always do a montage of photos. Maybe we can pose you for the background photo on the blog page or something so they recognize you when they come to the shop.”
“Oh, that sounds much better,” she said emphatically, standing up and shaking out her limbs.
“Here’s the microphone. I want you to talk into this, and I have one myself. I’ll be able to work on the audio later, but I’m going to start taking footage of the shop and asking a few questions.”
I was trying to explain every step of the way so it would be a little less stressful for her. The last thing I wanted to do was traumatize the citizens of Rockwood Valley, when I was trying to build them up
She watched as I started my walk through the small shop. Mariana made her own pottery here—everything from teapots to mugs, vases, to bowls and plates. She had a little bit of everything.
Each piece was unique and hand-painted, with designs ranging from little mushrooms to seasonal things like pumpkins and ghosts.
Honestly, I would love to have a set in my own kitchen—something I’d have to remember after the interview was over.
“Mariana’s Pottery Nook is an adorable shop set in the center of town. There’s a little something for everyone here, no matter your tastes.” I paused for a second, standing in the doorway and taking in the whole room, avoiding the section where we’d set up earlier and Mariana was still sitting, waiting patiently.
I introduced her in the voice over, hoping she’d catch on, before finally asking her a question.
“Tell me, Mariana, how did all this come about? How did you get into pottery?”
“It was something my twin sister and I got into when we were teens. The local high school offered a class, and that was it for me. My sister loved it, but she was too much of a perfectionist. Any small thing, and she was ready to throw in the towel.”
“Is your sister part of the shop?”
“No, my sister went on to work in finance. She’s a few cities over, living her best life with her pack,” she said with a small smile. “I preferred the small-town life that we have here. I felt like Rockwood Valley was the perfect place for a shop like this. I even expanded to sell online when my PackVlog got some attention, so I keep the girls down at the post office very busy.”
I didn’t realize she was on PackVlog, especially since she was so uncomfortable on camera. I’d have to look it up and add the links to her page on the town website.
“I’ll make sure everyone has the link to your page so they can see the rest of the work for themselves,” I promised.
“I have some behind the scenes videos,” she promised, her eyes lighting up now.
“A shop like this is at the heart of Rockwood Valley. We’ve always been a central hub for artisans to show off and sell their amazing work, and we’re hoping to build that back up again—to show the world that Rockwood Valley is just as amazing as it was years ago.”
The rest of the interview continued a little more smoothly. I asked a few more questions and took the rest of my footage. After that, I posed her at her workbench, paintbrush in hand and a soft smile on her face.
It was Mariana in her natural setting, and she looked perfect.
The rest of the pictures were enough that I knew I could make her page stunning.
By the time I packed up and said my goodbyes, I felt like I was on a high, the smile plastered on my face refusing to budge. It felt like finally, finally , things were starting to settle for me.
Now I just needed my pack.
Since Mariana’s shop was only a few feet away from Cohen’s, I veered that way instead of heading for my truck, popping my head in to see him stacking jars on the shelf.
He turned to greet me when the bell over the door chimed, his smile widening even further when he saw me.
“There’s my mate,” he said, stopping what he was doing and rushing over to me. I didn’t hesitate to do the same, wrapping my arms around his waist and tipping my head back, demanding a kiss.
He brushed his lips over mine, then placed a kiss on my forehead. Cohen had a way of making me feel so loved and seen, my omega settling immediately in his embrace.
“Is it stupid that I kind of miss you guys?” It felt silly to say out loud, we talked and saw each other, but the hours apart stretched on.
“We miss you, too,” he promised. “Why don’t you come by the house for dinner tonight? You could stay if you’d like.”
“I think I’d like that,” I admitted. “Maybe I’ll pack an overnight bag this time.”
“We would love that even more. Having the guys there is nice, and you know Molly and Lola are loving it, but we miss you. It doesn’t feel right without you.”
Those were the words I really needed to hear right now.
My chest swelled, warming from the inside out at the idea of my pack wanting me there, noticing my absence, and trying to fix it. At the same time, they were all taking their time and giving me the space I needed.
I was a lucky omega.
“That’s probably for the best, because I was stress-baking, and I have an insane amount of cookies and treats to bring over with me.”
“I think Ford and Mason are there now. You can head over anytime you want. I’ll be off in a couple of hours. I can always swing by the grocery store and pick up stuff for dinner. What would you like?”
“If you let me help you, I’m up for anything,” I teased. He almost looked like he wanted to protest, but instead, he nodded in agreement.
“I think that would be perfect. I’ll see what I can find.”
The last thing I wanted to do was walk away from him, but I couldn’t occupy his entire work day and I had some of my own to finish now that the interview was over.
“I’m going to head back. I’ve got a lot of editing to do still, but I’ll head over to the packhouse as soon as I’m wrapped up,” I said. “I’ll be there before you get off work, though.”
“Good. I expect to come home to my omega tonight,” he said. The heat in his voice was enough to have slick pooling between my thighs. It was insane how their tone of voice, a simple touch, was enough for my body to react.
“It’s so much different than they were,” my brain told me, as if trying to reassure me as well. I felt like I was in a constant battle between my heart and my brain, but my subconscious was right.
My mates were different. My exes never had this kind of reaction from me.
Occasionally, it felt like I was near heat with my exes, desperate but unsteady.
With Cohen, Ford, Mason, and Arden, it felt like my body craved them. I was addicted and couldn’t get enough. It was more complex, but less all-consuming than the feral neediness that sent my mind into a fog.
Every sense was heightened and all centered on them. Slick and heat filled me with just a simple touch or gravelly whisper in my ear—hell, sometimes just from their scent alone.
Like right now, we weren’t speaking, but just having those dark azure eyes on mine, silently promising what was to come when he got home, was enough to make me want to jump him here and now.
Before I could let things get too hot and heavy in the middle of his store, I gave him one last peck on the cheek.
“See you tonight,” I said, before practically rushing out.
Editing was the last thing on my mind now. All I wanted to do was get home, take a shower, find something sexy to wear, and head for the packhouse that was eventually going to be mine.
I was ready to take this relationship to the next step—to let them in more.
Tonight, I wanted them to claim me. I wanted to make this official.
My phone call with Lance had reassured me that my exes weren’t getting away with this. The conversation with my brothers and eventually the contractor had proven that an even better plan than my original one was unfolding.
All I needed was to truly feel comfortable with my mates.
Everything had felt too quick, too deep, but maybe that’s how it was supposed to be.
I was tired of playing this game of compare and contrast, seeing the way I reacted to my exes, the way they made me feel, and comparing it to how I feel now with my true pack.
It was night and day and I was ready to let it go, to focus on this new life instead.
That was all I could think about while I took a shower, making sure I was shaved, hair done, and makeup on.
My dress was sexy, but casual enough to fit for a night in. I knew damn well that the moment I walked in, I would have the attention of every alpha and eventually every beta in the room.
I fully intended to have them feral for me.
There was just one more thing I had to do before I could leave.
True to her word, Mama had taken a little extra care with her hair and makeup today. I was a little later than I intended, but I found her exactly where I wanted her to be—in her garden.
“Time for pictures!” I sang out. I had my phone and my professional camera, intending to get a few shots with each.
Mama looked flustered, startled as she wiped the dirt off her hands and onto the apron she always wore.
“I guess I should take this old thing off,” she said.
Her fingers fumbled with it, and I eventually stepped forward, helping her get the knot untied and pull it gently over her hair so I didn’t mess up the curls.
“Don’t be nervous, Mom. It’s going to be fine. Take things slow. You deserve a second chance, and the triplets agree.”
She took a deep breath and nodded, her resolve returning.
“Why don’t you go stand in the archway? Your flowers are creeping up it along the vines—it’ll be a perfect backdrop.”
My mama was a trooper, letting me pose her seventeen different ways and taking a million different photos before I finally let her rest.
“All right, I’ve got enough. I’ll send you some over soon,” I said as I packed it away.
She laughed and grabbed her apron, tying it back on a bit too quickly to come off as nonchalant.
My poor mama was a hot mess, but this was the best for her. Now that she had a plan, she seemed a little less worn down—a little more the mom we all knew.
I gave her a quick hug goodbye before heading inside and grabbing my bag. When I stepped out to the driveway, my jaw dropped.
All three of my brothers along with Mason and Ford were standing next to a gorgeous teal Jeep.
“You needed something to get around town,” Maverick started.
I was still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that my brothers and some of my pack were in on something together.
They seemed to be getting along fine, and it was like another layer of my armor fell away—another small reassurance that this was right.
“What did you guys do?” I demanded, taking a few steps forward, my bag slipping from my hand and hitting the ground with a thud, sending a plume of dirt up from the driveway.
“Don’t worry. This was one of the safest ones we could find,” Mason said. His proud alpha smile adorable. I couldn’t help but grin back.
“You guys got this for me?”
“We did,” Nash said, “and it’s in your name. I made sure of it. We all spent a little bit of our inheritance on it, so the only thing you’ll have to cover is insurance.”
Tears welled behind my eyes, and I blinked them away furiously, not wanting to blur the view in front of me for even a second.
“Thank you,” I managed to choke out.
Cameron rolled his eyes, clearly over my dramatics, and dangled a set of keys between his fingers.
“Well, are you going to test drive it?”
“Shotgun!” Ford yelled out, running to the front seat and diving in before anybody else could react.
Mason didn’t bother to protest as he got into the seat behind mine, leaving the driver’s seat for me.
Maverick walked over, helping me into the seat and giving me a rundown of all the safety features. It had been a long time since I’d had a car this nice.
Honestly, it was nicer than my previous car, too, which I’d bought used.
“We had them install a new sound system, so you should have great quality. I know how you like those back roads in the fall.”
My chest ached with how sweet this all was. They truly thought of everything. My brothers and my mates had all gone out of their way to find me something perfect—to make me feel a little bit safer and more at home here.
“Independence,” Maverick said quietly. “You can have it and still be part of the pack.”
“I know,” I answered. He gave my wrist a squeeze before stepping back.
They all headed inside, leaving me, Mason, and Ford alone.
“Was it too much?” Mason asked, a bit of worry in his tone. Ford just rolled his eyes.
“Dude, did you see her? She loves it. Come on, omega, let’s get going.”
He didn’t wait for my answer, adjusting the radio until rock music filled the car. I adjusted the seat and the steering wheel so I could be comfortable before I turned to them.
“Have you guys experienced the back roads yet?” I questioned.
“I feel like I should be worried,” Mason joked as he shook his head.
“Oh, you should be,” I laughed as I rolled down all of the windows. It wasn’t quite fall, but the air was cool enough. My brand new car might get dirty but that was small-town living.
It didn’t take me long to find my favorite back road—a long, bumpy stretch that had enough hills to make your stomach drop and enough straightaways to get to a decent speed.
Ford and Mason both groaned in unison as I hit the first hill. Clearly, they weren’t used to driving these roads.
“Who knew our omega was so crazy?” Ford asked, sounding excited and not the least bit worried.
He gave me a grin, his hand finding my thigh, clenching it just enough to tell me he was there but not moving anywhere that would turn me on.
We were just existing together, enjoying a small moment of something new—one where none of us held back.