Chapter 23 Aspen
Aspen
Pine Ridge at Christmas was magical. The entire town seemed to be coated in a dusting as pristine as snow, adding another layer of perfection to the already picturesque town.
Sometimes, I can’t help but wonder how Cole ever left.
After being promptly kicked out of the estate the next day so Karina could handle the deliveries and order around the designers, we were ordered to spend the day in town. It felt like she was doing everything she could to ensure our little pack made it.
That and she loved to decorate. That was obvious from the state of their home.
Giving Cole’s hand a quick squeeze before letting go, I hurried to North’s side, wrapping my arms around his waist. My nose buried into his shirt, breathing in his gingerbread and nutmeg scent.
“What’s your favorite thing about weekends in Pine Ridge?” I questioned.
He considered my question for a moment before answering. “I always make sure to snag something for my mom from here. It’s our little tradition, but the spiced nuts are life–changing. I can take out a whole bag in one sitting.”
“Oh, well then I have to try them,” I said, glad to see his mood was already lifting.
My sweet omega dragged me straight through Main Street, my eyes skimming hurriedly over all of the vendors as we passed, taking notes of the ones that I wanted to come back to.
It was the usual craft fair type of things: handmade gifts, candles, and the occasional treats.
Some had antiques, but I was holding out for my shopping date with Karina still.
My mouth started to water as the scent of something spiced and sweet hit me, too good to ignore.
“Oh my god,” I groaned, breathing in deep. He grinned down at me, eyes lighting up.
“See?” he said pointedly.
It was funny that with me he was always so dominant, and then with Jack he was more submissive, letting the alpha take the lead.
I’d spent far too long with controlling men, true dominance was a welcome change. Even Cole was different. His dominance was smooth and subtle, the kind that came naturally to him, not forced, or some power play. It was just simply who he was.
Jack was more playful, though still protective. He was serious when you needed him to be, sweet sometimes, well rounded enough that it smoothed out some of the harsh edges. I had a feeling that there was a lot more to that man than he let the world see.
“What can I get you, sweetheart?” My eyes narrowed at the simpering beta behind the counter. She was batting her eyelashes, being way too obvious, as if he wasn’t standing right next to an omega. Our arms were literally linked together.
“I’d like the sampler please, but I also need two extra bags of the spiced cashews and the spiced pecans, please.”
“Of course, coming right up,” she said, flashing him another bright smile that he was completely and utterly oblivious to. That calmed some of my fiery jealousy, and when he quirked an eyebrow up at me, I knew I was caught. He could probably read it all over my face.
North leaned in, lips brushing mine. “Don’t worry, Aspen. The only eyes I have are for you and Jack. No one else.”
When he pulled away, she was no longer smiling as she handed over his order.
“Here,” her tone was sharp.
He bit back his laughter as he took it from her, dropping a five in the tip drawer before his hand wrapped around my waist this time.
“Some people just can’t take a hint,” he said.
Jack took the extra things from his hands while North popped open the cashews, holding one out with a questioning look in his eyes. I let my mouth drop open, and he pushed it inside, my lips immediately closing around the sweet treat, licking his fingers clean as he pulled them away.
His pupils dilated now, hunger in his eyes. That sweet scent spiked enough that a few alphas turned around, but ours closed in on us, drowning it out the best they could.
“You better behave,” Cole warned. It was playful, but from the way he was looking around still, he meant every word.
“Sorry, alpha,” I said, not feeling sorry in the least. From the look he gave me, he knew damn well that I wasn’t.
“You know, if you ignore us alphas for much longer, I’m going to start feeling some kind of way,” Jack teased.
I would have felt bad if he was serious, but Jack was grinning over at us. He loved seeing his omegas together.
Cole’s hand found mine as I started walking towards the stalls, North still on my other side feeding me bites of his treat.
We spent the next two hours checking out each booth, the guys getting into it just as much as I was. Cole found a set of fancy pens that were, apparently, rare enough to get him excited.
“Those might look nice in a new office,” Jack mused before moving on. I swear he never missed a chance to goad his brother.
A few stalls down, Jack found a few rare baseball cards. He, apparently, had been looking for them for years.
North found some books for his collection, especially now that he had shelves to fill. He didn’t even think twice when Cole offered to run them back to the truck. He was leaning into this omega thing more than he knew.
My arms were quickly filled with small finds and treats. Now that I knew I’d be at the estate, at least some of our time together, I didn’t hold myself back quite as much.
We snagged a few more ornaments for our tree, the guys getting more into this than I expected. They’d point things out, faces lighting up like kids each time. I was already gone for this pack.
A display of vintage clothes had me depositing my bags in Cole’s waiting arms and rushing ahead. They were seventies themed and absolutely perfect.
Jack was the worst about encouraging me to buy everything, his eyes blazing with heat as I held the dresses up to my body. It was nice to feel wanted. There was no one to watch, it wasn’t a show or obligation, he just found me sexy.
When I had paid for my purchases, Jack pulled me closer. We were now walking side by side as we kept each other warm. My omega was practically purring. she was so happy. That warmth they brought about was not just in my chest, but flooding through me.
“Tell me a little bit more about what you do at the paper. Is Cole as big of a stickler there as he is at home?” His brother glared at him.
“He’s known for being a bit of a stoic boss, but I really didn’t find any of that when I met him.”
“You sat in his lap and kissed him wearing a Santa suit,” he teased.
“No regrets on my end. Honestly, on the drive up here I think I saw more of his ‘real’ self than I expected. I already knew he was attentive and passionate about Pack & Co. but he’s so much more than that.
When I heard he was a Hawthorne I was ready to run.
That name alone carries weight. I assumed the man himself would be…
” I trailed off, trying to find the words without being an asshole.
“Arrogant, cocky, putting himself above everyone?”
“Exactly,” I agreed, “but he’s nothing like that. Neither are you.”
Jack looked down at me, that boyish smirk spreading across his face.
“If you think for a second that Karina or my fathers would raise little, classless assholes, you would be wrong. Just wait until you meet our dads. Hayes is exactly like that, just not as obvious as you’d expect.”
His face had hardened some, the playfulness slipping away, replaced by something more melancholy.
“Was it hard growing up and not having your dads around?”
“Sometimes,” he admitted. “There were times when I needed someone and they just weren’t there. I understand that this is the lifestyle they choose and my mom signed up for it, but we were just kids. We didn’t understand why they’d keep walking away.”
“You deserved better than they gave you,” I said gently, giving his arm a squeeze.
Scooting in a bit closer, I breathed in his peppermint and mocha, rich and decadent with a hint of cool mint. I truly adored it.
“I know what it’s like to grow up in a household that’s a bit too empty. Karina probably filled it with love, but did you have any sort of relationship with your dads?”
He thought it over for a moment before giving a half-hearted shrug. My heart hurt for the little boys who clearly still hurt over that abandonment.
“No, not really. I respect them and I knew some small things about them. They thought we were this perfect family, but they were strangers. Never bothering to consider how this would affect us. We were young alphas with no real alpha guidance.”
He took a breath, staring out at the glimmering lights glowing as the sun went down slowly. I gave him space to think over what he wanted to say, just listening and offering silent support.
“Mom hired nannies when we were growing up, but they were just there to call when she had things to take care of. She was trying her best to fill the void, I think. She raised us to love Pine Ridge as much as she did, but I think she lied to herself, too.”
“I’m not your typical needy omega,” I said, “but I don’t know how she handles being alone so often. Imagine going into heat and your partners are nowhere to be found.”
He winced. “I remember this one year she was going into heat. Our nanny swept us away like usual, keeping us in one part of the house, and I could just hear my mom crying out for them.”
Jack shuddered, the memory still haunting him.
His eyes shifted to mine, full of warmth and promise. “You and North will never have to know what that feels like. I will always be here when you need me.”
He meant every word. I couldn’t help but smile at the alpha who wore his heart on his sleeve.
“I know that already,” I promised. “That’s why I’m not scared to be with you guys. Everything you’ve shown me so far has been the kind of treatment an omega dreams about, but isn’t sure she’ll ever find.”
“And it’s only getting started,” he said, pulling me to a nearby stall. He spotted a winter crown that was made of branches, sprigs of holly, and a dusting of fake snow on top. He paid for it quickly before putting it on my head, a happy smile on his face as he looked at me.
“Add some red lipstick and you would look like a Christmas queen,” he said, leaning down and pressing a kiss to my lips.
The temperature was quickly dropping, but I barely noticed thanks to the others always being so close to me. After Jack and I talked a bit, the others joined us again. I loved that we weren’t afraid to give each other time like this, strengthening those tentative bonds we were building.
One of my mates was always touching me, fingers brushing my arm, pressing themselves into my back, as if they couldn’t keep their hands off me. It made me feel special and desired. Maybe it was my childhood trauma talking, but it was nice to feel like somebody genuinely cared about me.
I’d spent half my life being a ghost, and now they refused to let me hide.
I was going to do the same for Cole. He was so lost in his work, and as much as I talked at the beginning about helping him find ways to make the magazine more real and improving how his workers saw him, now I wasn’t sure I wanted to stick with it.
Not because he was my boss, but because I needed a job that filled me with excitement and joy.
A position where I could write about things I truly cared about. Stories with heart and soul, not just trends and inspiration. Pack & Co. was important and meant a lot to a lot of people, but I realized more and more that I was also important, and what I wanted mattered.
What I did with my life mattered.
As we reached the end of the booths, we were all shivering, the snow melting against our coats. Cole pulled us into a diner to warm up. The Pine Ridge Pancake House smelled like bacon, coffee, and the best sort of greasy food. The kind that could cure just about anything.
“Did you hear anything from Mom?” Cole asked me since she promised to call me the moment she was ready for us to come back.
“No,” I said, “but we can always check in after we finish eating, give her a little bit more time. If she’s anything like her son, then she’s going to want everything perfect.”
“Not to mention someone hired an entire team of interior designers and nesting specialists to come help us,” North said, eyeing Jack, who looked completely unapologetic about that.
“I apologize for taking care of my omega,” the alpha snarked.
North rolled his eyes, but he looked secretly pleased.
“It is kind of nice to have them go all out for us, isn’t it?” I whispered to the omega.
North’s eyes danced with amusement. “It does. Makes it feel not so bad that we waited so long to find our way together.”
He smiled over at Jack who took his hand, rubbing gentle circles against the back of it without thought. Cole and I shared a look as well, the sight of them making us both equally as happy.
It was insane how easily I was falling for these men. Jack and his easy smiles and sweet thoughtfulness, the way he was soft for us but also ready to fight to make sure we had everything we deserved.
Cole’s quiet care, the way he owned me body and soul already, and that I got to see sides of him that no one else had ever witnessed.
Then sweet North, the omega that accepted the change as if it always belonged, and I couldn’t help but feel a tiny prickle of pride that I might have contributed to that, at least to some degree.
He had a softness about him and the way his bright teal eyes watched us all, like he couldn’t believe how lucky he was, was a sentiment I could understand completely. I was still practically pinching myself every day.
By the time I’d finished my hot cocoa, pancakes, and more bacon than one omega should eat, I was starting to get tired.
My phone rang, and I let out a relieved breath.
“See? There’s Karina now,” I said, glancing at the unknown number and realizing that I never put her number in my phone the right way. “Hey, Karina, is it done?”
When a husky voice answered back, my smile faltered. Ice ran through my veins as I fought back a sob.
“Nice to hear you, omega. Where the fuck are you?” I dropped the phone on the table, their angry words echoing out.
My eyes flickered up to my pack who were all looking at me now, trying to figure out what happened.
“It’s my exes...”