Chapter 24
BLAIR
A week.
It’s been a week of the best Heat of my life.
A week of being pampered and worshipped by my scent matches.
The pack made everything as seamless as possible for me, and I’ve never felt so cherished before.
Despite my protests, they’ve cleaned and changed the beddings of my nest more than they needed to.
I’ve always been able to do it myself during my Heat, but Travis gave me a warning growl the first time I tried to.
Rowan offered me five different fabric softeners for me to choose from, worried that he wouldn’t be able to find one I liked.
Ryland purchased me cozy, oversized sweatshirts that I could snuggle in, and Travis has kept me up to date on Mervin and Marlin.
He purchased a camera and set it up in my apartment for me to keep an eye on them when Piper isn’t there to feed them.
The three Alphas continuously dote on me when they’re not fucking me senseless.
They’ve gone above and beyond for me and done far more than enough.
“I love these blankets,” I murmur to Travis as I luxuriate in my nest. I’m wrapped in one of the crocheted throws, the fabric thick and warm against my body as I curl up against him. I breathe in deeply, inhaling his smoke and woody scent. “Where do you find these? They’re amazing quality.”
Travis shrugs and kisses my head. “At the blanket store.”
It’s a strange answer, but before I can question him on it, Rowan walks in, holding out a green smoothie to me. I sit up and take a sip.
“I feel like I’m on vacation,” I murmur, forgetting about Travis’s bizarre answer. “You three have been doing far too much.”
“You’re in Heat, babe,” Rowan says, joining me in the pile of blankets. “It’s practically a national holiday.”
“You know I’m going back to work today, right?” I raise an eyebrow at him. “It’s been a week.”
Travis sighs next to me but doesn’t say anything. He knows there’s no use in arguing with me. If he had it has way, I would spend two weeks here, but with my proper suppressants and scent blocking gummies, I will be fine going back to work.
Rowan looks like I stabbed him in the heart.
“I miss the rescue,” I tell him. “And my cats. This is the longest I’ve ever been away from them.”
I took my time here, enjoying the attention and luxuries that the Alphas offered me.
Knowing that Piper would be house sitting for me also helped me relax.
Merlin and Marvin love her.
Along with Travis and her updates, I knew they were in good hands.
Still, I miss my furry tuxedo boys, and all the cats at Furs and Purrs.
“I’m not good being idle,” I add to Rowan, who pulls me into his arms and nuzzles me. “If I’m not productive soon, I’m going to lose my mind.”
“Orgasms are productive,” he mumbles, and I sigh at his touch.
“I also need money, Rowan,” I remind him gently. “I have bills.”
Ryland enters the room, Ash trailing behind him, followed by the three energetic kittens.
“Technically, you don’t have to worry about money,” Ryland says gently. “If you didn’t want to.”
I know what he’s saying.
“You don’t have to worry about supporting me financially, Ryland,” I say. “I don’t expect that from any of you.”
Travis gives out an irritated huff behind me but remains silent.
But Ryland’s smile stays gentle as he joins me on the bed.
Ash hops up, along with Josie, Posie, and Rosie, the bells on their collars jingling while they climb over the blankets.
Rowan, sitting on the opposite side of me, gathers each kitten and places them all in his lap, alternating between petting them.
“Blair,” Ryland says calmly. “You know this is more than just a casual thing for us, right? We don’t want you just for your Heats.”
I narrow my eyes. “I know that,” I say slowly.
“We want to date you. As in, be in a fully committed relationship.”
“Yeah,” Rowan adds, as the kittens climb all over him. He winces when Josie digs her nails into his shirt and climbs up his chest. “We want to ‘court’ you or whatever the fuck it’s called. Be your boyfriends and do fun boyfriend stuff.”
“What they mean,” Travis says, and I turn to face him, meeting his earnest expression. “Is that we’re in this for the long haul. You’re the one, Blair. And it’s not because you’re a scent match. It’s because of who you are.”
The vulnerability in his dark brown eyes makes my heart beat rapidly.
“Oh,” I murmur. “Well, when you put it like that.”
“And that means letting us spoil you, babe,” Rowan adds.
“I’m fine spoiling myself,” I say.
“Too bad. I get hard when I dote on you. Deal with it.”
Ryland puts his face in his hands and sighs. “What the hell, Rowan.”
But I laugh, and suddenly, I’m lighter.
I wonder if this is what it’s like to be happy.
The whispers of guilt fade into background noise.
Fuck Annette.
Fuck those ghosts of my past that show up when I experience the tiniest bit of joy.
“Hey.” Ryland tilts my chin up gently. “We’re not going anywhere, ever. Do you understand? We’ll go at your pace, as long as it takes. And anytime you want to talk through anything, I’m here. Nothing is ever off limits. If you ever want to talk about…them, we can.”
How Ryland saw it on my face, I’ll never know.
But I simply nod and bury my face in his shoulder.
Rainwater and moss swirl around me, calming my heart.
Everything will be okay.
I just know it.
Marlin and Mervin receive all the kisses in the world before I go to work.
Piper fed them too many treats, though, and they beg for the ones that sit on the top shelf of my pantry.
“They’re almost as loud as the girls,” Rowan observes, lounging on my couch.
After arguing this morning with his packmates, he was the one that got to take me back to my apartment. My car is parked in its usual spot, thanks to Ryland, who handled it the other night at Scents.
Yet Rowan insists on driving me to the rescue today, which I’m fine with. The three of them will pick me up tonight for dinner.
My after-Heat effects are still there, and the thought of being away from them for almost a day makes my inner Omega panic.
So, we have a reservation at a gastropub where we can have a few drinks and enjoy each other’s company.
Even Travis is off work tonight.
“They’re very food driven. A lot of cats are,” I say, nodding to Mervin and Marlin. “It’s hard to rewire their brains once they’ve gotten a taste of something they really like.”
Rowan smirks and a wicked glint shines in his eyes. “I know the feeling.”
“You’re impossible,” I huff at him, but can’t hide my smile.
“You love it,” he says casually with a wave of his hand.
And the whole ride to Furs and Purrs, I try not to think of the word ‘love.’
I care for my scent matches, sure.
But love?
I’m not sure I remember what it means, or if I’m even capable of it anymore.
I had loved Justin, Aaron and Cody, yet I came to realize it was more of a friendly love.
My feelings for them didn’t burn in my chest like they do for Travis, Rowan, and Ryland.
And I still don’t know if I can even call these feelings love.
The word is still spinning in my head when Rowan stops at the front door of the rescue and leans in to kiss me gently. “It’s nice to see you like this,” he murmurs against my lips.
I step back and tilt my head curiously.
“That wall,” he says. “There’s a wall behind your eyes, sometimes, when you look at us. Like you’re hiding a portion of yourself with little mental bricks you’ve built. And every time I see you, I try to take at least one down.”
I blink at him, silent.
“Today,” he says, searching my eyes, as if he can see what he’s describing, “all of them are gone. They’ve been gone for the last week.”
“I…” I swallow, “I don’t know what to say to that.”
I suddenly can’t breathe.
His grin is lopsided, as if he didn’t just strip me bare. “That’s okay.” Then, he presses a kiss to my forehead. “Your eyes are brighter like this.” Then, he takes off his black jacket and wraps it around my shoulders. “Have a good day, baby. We’ll see you tonight.”
I watch as Rowan heads back to his car, dumbfounded.
After a moment of staring, I gather my wits and enter the rescue.
Alvin is the first to greet me, flopping onto my feet and showing off his striped belly. Then, a whirlwind of chamomile and a flash of purple hair knock into me so hard I almost fall over.
“Oh, my god! You’re back!” Maeve says, squeezing me tightly. “Oh, and you smell good.” She inhales dramatically. “Like, flowers but also all this other good stuff. Yum.”
I pat her hair awkwardly. “Thanks?”
“Okay, Maeve, you can let her go now,” Piper laughs from behind the front counter. “Give the girl a chance to breathe.”
But Maeve’s joy makes me chuckle. “I missed you too, weirdo,” I murmur fondly. “But Piper said you two held the fort down.”
“Along with Mari. She’s here, by the way. She’s been asking about you all week.”
I groan. Mari is worse than Rylee with the way she’s obsessed with everyone’s love life.
In reality though, I think it’s because she doesn’t have her own partner. She’s an older Omega, and I’m not sure what her dating life has been like.
Maybe she’ll let us play matchmaker for her one day.
A new cat-sized blanket is spread out on the front counter as well—this time dark grey with little white cat faces embroidered on it. It’s covered in Alvin’s fur, which tells me he’s been spending a considerable amount of time on it.
“More of these?” I murmur, running my finger over the fabrics. “They’re such good quality.”
Piper nods. “I’ve given up trying to figure out who they’re from. Whoever is making them is so talented—I mean, the detail is insane. But there’s no return addresses on the box.”
It’s been a whole year now of receiving these, and every time they come in, I’m amazed at how lovely they are.
“There’s a blanket for every kennel, now,” Maeve adds. “It’s so sweet. Every cat gets one to cuddle in.”
I glance at the kitten playroom and see a couple of familiar faces pressed against the glass.