24. Elliott #2
“Great.” Jackson looked at Trey. “Ready to go?” Trey nodded. “We’re heading home. I’ll make sure everything’s ready for you guys in the camper,” he promised.
Jet thanked him again and I walked my two friends outside. Trey climbed onto the motor scooter he’d evidently ridden there on, and Jackson got on behind him, since his house was between Trey’s and the Angels’.
“You two look good together,” Trey said with a smile. I didn’t mind his teasing because lately he’d been so quiet, which I suspected was due to the questions he had for his parents.
“Thanks,” I said.
I waved as he drove away.
As soon as I reentered the house, David called out, “Lunch!” from the kitchen. Angus and Maddox had gone to Jessup for supplies, and Carter and Bertram were overseeing the work on their houses, so Jet and Colt were the only alphas there when we sat down at the table.
During the meal, David was telling us something funny that Ollie did while Colt and Jet were holding a separate conversation, when I heard Jet ask Colt, “Doesn’t Maddox have a problem with leaving David here with you in the house?”
Interested, I turned to them.
Colt put down his glass of iced tea. “Laura, Nova, Elise and I had a conversation about this just the other day when we were discussing alpha/omega relationships. We think that because I live here with my mates, it makes a difference. Now, if I were alone with David in a small space, or if Maddox were in that situation with Ben, we’d have a problem.
But the fact that we all live together creates a family unit that our alpha natures accept. ”
After a pause, Colt asked, “Are you bothered that I’m here?”
I looked at Jet, who seemed to be struggling with his answer.
“You just mated. It’s understandable that you feel both possessive and protective of Elliott. Don’t sweat it; all mated alphas get it.”
I’d never wanted an alpha to be possessive over me. I’d had to endure their protection on the ranch, but it had rankled.
Until Jet had won me over.
After lunch, Jet and Colt cleaned up the kitchen and I spent a few minutes playing with Ollie and Lucy June.
They were getting so big. Soon, when Trey, Jackson, Ben, and David had their babies, there would be a lot of children on the ranch.
I looked forward to that, but I wasn’t sure how long Jet and I would be living on the ranch.
I also worried that my omega brothers I’d been living with would mate and move away.
Nothing is forever. I’m lucky I’m back here in one piece. And that I have Jet.
We headed over to the camper in one of the four-wheelers that we used to drive back and forth when there wasn’t snow on the ground. Rather than take the road, we drove on a rough path we’d created between the properties.
Parking in the newly paved driveway, we climbed out of the ATV. Carter, who had been standing at the side of the house, strode over. I moved very close to Jet. If I could have glued myself to him, I would have.
“Are you sure that it’s okay if we stay here?” Jet asked Carter after we’d greeted one another.
Carter smiled. “Of course. We only have a little more work on the house to go, so we’re pretty much moved in. I’m glad, too. Living in a camper with two toddlers isn’t easy. And the girls keep taking Jackson’s nesting pillows.”
“Nesting?“ Jet asked, looking confused.
“It’s something omegas do when they’re pregnant. They bring as many pillows as they can find to surround them, especially when they’re going to sleep. It makes them feel secure,” Carter explained.
I’d seen my friends do it before, so I already knew about nesting.
“So, when Alisanne or Serena take even one of his nesting pillows, Jackson gets upset.” Carter’s expression was indulgent, clearly showing how much he loved Jackson.
At that moment, Jackson called out the window to Carter for help.
“He’s bathing the girls. I’d better go help. Make yourselves at home in the camper.” With a wave, Carter jogged toward the house and went inside.
I stood looking at it a moment.
Built similarly to the Borders’ ranch house, Jackson’s home had two stories as well as a front porch and back deck.
Trey’s new house had been built more like David and Ben’s—a rancher with the bedrooms at one end—although that was no longer the case for David and Ben since they’d built a wing for Angus’s family on the other end.
Both sides would most likely be added to in the future as their families grew in number.
Or maybe Maddox would eventually buy land nearby and build a separate house.
The camper was more spacious inside than it looked from the outside. Jet and I sat together on the small couch that doubled for storage.
Leaning against his shoulder, I pulled his scent into my nostrils before sighing happily.
Jet patted my leg. “You good? Things have gone awfully fast in the past week.”
“I’m great,” I said, smiling up at him. He pecked me on the nose with his lips.
“We’re going to have to go get some of our things,” he told me.
“In a minute,” I said, threading my arm through his and clinging to it.
“I can’t believe you’re the same omega who told me to give you space,” Jet said, sounding amused.
“I can’t either, honestly. So much has changed.” I shook my head.
Covering my hand with his larger one, Jet asked softly, “What’s bothering you?”
With a sigh, I said. “Nothing I want to talk about. Not now, anyway.” Looking down at his hand with its prominent veins and strong fingers, I turned mine over to press our palms together.
“I hope you know you can talk to me about anything,” Jet said, squeezing my hand.
“I was just thinking about my birth father and how I didn’t learn anything about where he is,” I explained, not wanting Jet to worry.
Maybe now that the omega program is being dismantled, records will turn up.”
Hope rising, I looked up at him and asked, “Do you think so?”
“It’s worth a shot. Kris said he’d fine out. It just might take a while.”
Letting go of his hand, I pushed myself forward to kiss him. “Thank you so much.”
Smiling sweetly, he said, “Don’t thank me; thank Kris. Just…not that way, okay?”
I laughed. “I don’t think Jermaine would like it if I did.” I kissed Jet again, and he responded eagerly.
“We need to get our stuff and then eat dinner,” he finally said, drawing away from me with obvious reluctance.
Looking into his eyes, I said, “Okay, but we’re continuing this tonight.”
“It’s a deal,” Jet said, grinning.
Outside, we got into the four-wheeler.
“Normally, I’d drop you off and come get you after I got my stuff, but…” Jet left off.
“Yeah, let’s not do that.” I shook my head. “Nope.” I didn’t want to be away from him for even a minute.
“Okay. Glad I’m not the only one feeling clingy. Let’s just never leave each other’s side.”
We laughed at that, but, honestly, I liked the sound of it.
We headed to get Jet’s things first.
When we walked into the small cabin a few minutes later, the scent of unmated alpha pheromones hung heavy in the air, lifting the fine hair on the back of my neck. I stopped in the entryway, not wanting to get any closer to Anson and Joel, who were sitting in the living room.
Knowing that the two men were still on rut suppressants, I hated to think how overwhelming their scent would be if they weren’t.
“Hey. Kind of surprised to see you back so soon,” Joel said to Jet before smiling at me and lifting his hand in a wave.
Jet didn’t seem annoyed with his roommates for having taken part in our temporary separation, but I definitely entertained some lingering resentment.
Yes, I understood that everything Laura did the day before had been intended to help me, but as a newly mated omega, vulnerable without my alpha…
. Let’s just say I didn’t appreciate it.
I was sure I would get over it with time, but right then my feelings were too fresh.
Seeming to understand my feelings, Jet got to the topic at hand. “We’re going to be staying in the camper on the Christians’ property. We just came to get some of my things.”
Anson nodded. “That makes sense.”
Jet joked with Joel about how he wouldn’t miss his snoring, most likely wanting to reassure him that things were fine between them. Then, taking my hand, he led me to a room down the hall.
I sat on the edge of the bed that smelled like Jet and watched him pull clothes out of drawers and the closet, roll them up, then stuff them into a black backpack. Then he went into the hall bathroom and came back with a small bag of toiletries.
“I’m ready,” he said, lifting the backpack onto his shoulders.
Getting up, I followed him out.
“I’ll see you guys around,” Jet said, then paused by the front door. “Either of you made any plans for the future?”
“I’m staying here for the time being. I think a lot hinges on what the omegas do. I know that Dawson is being sent home to his mother.”
I was sure Dawson was happy about that, but I would miss him. Thank goodness he could now live a relatively normally life.
“I’m in the same boat,” Joel said. “Maybe by next week, we’ll know more.”
As I got into the four-wheeler, I said to Jet, “They looked a little uncomfortable.”
“I think they feel guilty.”
“They should,” I said.
Jet chuckled. “They really didn’t have a choice. Laura’s their boss.”
I wasn’t going to excuse them so easily. “Kris is their boss. You’re their friend. They shouldn’t have agreed to help keep you away from your mate.”
Jet hadn’t started the vehicle yet. When I looked at him, his eyes were on me, an intensity radiating from them that made me draw in a quick breath.
“The more I hear it, the more I like the way that sounds,” he said in a low voice that made my cock ache.
Swallowing hard, I had to look away.
I heard Jet chuckle again, then start the motor.
When we pulled up in front of the omega house and Jet turned off the motor, I sighed heavily. “I want to tell you this won’t take long, but I haven’t talked to them since we mated. They’ll have questions.”
“That’s okay. Take as much time as you need. I’ll wait out here.”