23. Claire
Never had I been more grateful that I’d decided to promote Corey and hire an additional staff member to work the front end. It meant not having to come in early every single day and actually having weekends off.
I was beginning to find the balance between my career I strived so hard for and my personal life which was flourishing.
I knew I’d made the right call voicing to the others that I wanted to see what living together was like.
Sure, we may eventually need a bigger bed, but I cherished how close we got to snuggle in the one we currently had. And I was way behind on watching some of my shows, but I’d gladly trade that all for the experiences and opportunities we’ve had to learn more about each other.
Which was why I was planning a trip over to my cottage today to bring over a few more things I wanted access to.
I missed my cottage, but I also knew there was no way we’d all fit in there. Hell, Riley and I barely fit in there. And with my books, and plants, and blankets, and antique teapots, and macrame…well, there just wasn’t a lot of available wall or floor space left to be honest.
“You’re thinking hard about something,” Adrien said, breaking me out of my musings.
“Just thinking about some of my things,” I answered honestly. “I was going to stop by and grab a few things unless we have any other plans?”
“No hard plans, but speaking of things, Vance and I wanted to sit down and talk a few things out with you and Riley.”
“Why does that sound like we’re in trouble?” I asked. “It’s all the throw blankets, isn’t it? You hate them.”
He chuckled, wrapping an arm around me and placing a kiss on my head. “I could never hate anything you love, mon chou. Come. The boys are in the den, I believe.”
Sure enough, we found them there, Vance sitting on the couch with his laptop in hand typing merrily while Riley leaned against his shoulder, reading the book of Vance’s I just finished.
You could learn a lot about someone from the stories they wrote.
Reading Vance’s book made me admire him more. The way he crafted his worlds and built his network of characters, the witty humor and dramatic plot twists that were woven throughout. He was beyond talented.
“What part are you on, Ri?”
“Well I’m hoping that Melinda is about to bang Commander Swanson’s brains out,” he said. “They’re arguing in his office and the tension is just—”
Vance let out a chuckle, closing down his laptop and setting it to the side. “Good things come to those who wait.”
“Well then, I’m fucked,” Riley said, using a bookmark and then closing the book. “My patience is basically non-existent.”
Giving into the urge, I joined them on the couch, climbing onto Vance’s lap burrowing my face into his neck as his free arm came around me.
“You were certainly more than patient with me, Ri,” I said to my friend as I stretched my legs to lay in his lap.
“That wasn’t exactly patience,” he said with a roll of his eyes. “But it got us here, so yes, I will take all the credit for us having this awesome pack.”
“That’s actually what we wanted to talk to you about,” Adrien said, taking the last open spot next to Riley and taking his hand. “What are the next steps the two of you want?”
“Like as a pack?” Riley clarified.
“As a pack,” Vance confirmed, kissing the top of my head.
“You first, Claire Bear,” Riley said. “I know we’re on the same page but I want to hear it from your lips. Make sure you don’t leave a single thing out.”
Whereas once the question would have given me anxiety to answer, I felt a sense of peace about it now. I trusted the three of them, and I felt comfortable enough to be honest and communicate, the very thing that my alphas had asked from me in the beginning.
“I don’t want to keep going back and forth between houses anymore, and I want us to officially all move in together completely,” I said, starting with the thoughts I had this morning.
“I already told Claire I wouldn’t be going back to the orchard after the renovations are done,” Riley said. “Where she goes, I go.”
“Would you want to finish moving in here? Renovate your place? Or find something new altogether?” Vance asked.
I tried to envision what I saw for us in the long run. “Maybe here for now? Then eventually we could look at getting a new place altogether, or building one? I don’t see myself getting rid of my cottage altogether, though. Maybe I’d rent it out.”
“I agree that it makes the most sense to move in here first, but I like the idea of building our own place together in the future,” Adrien said with a grin. “We’ll make sure to have an extended closet for you and Riley. For all your clothes.”
That got a round of laughs all around and smiles traded about. “So what you’re saying is that Holiday Hollow is starting to rub off on you?”
“It was the trumpets,” Adrien confessed, his eyes filled with mirth.
“It may have frightened me the first time in the cafe, but now they are officially a war cry,” Vance said. “I’m pretty sure Sarah is my hero.”
“I’m telling you, she’s been practicing for the Sweetheart Swing coming up,” I said. “She’s going to turn up the heat.”
“Speaking of heat, what do you usually do for yours?” Vance asked curiously.
His question was innocent enough, but the thought of my heat coupled with the fact that I was surrounded by men I definitely wanted to be part of my next one had me squirming on Vance’s lap.
“I usually ride it out by myself,” I admitted. “I’ve suppressed it a few times, but it always made the one following it even worse. My next one shouldn’t be for a couple months and I-I’d like it if you were all there.”
“Thank fuck,” Riley praised as the alphas let out delicious growls. “If I have to camp outside your house with supplies one more time, I’m going to go crazy.”
“What?” I asked, confused.
“So I might have checked in on you a few or five times and refilled your fridge and tried to keep you stocked up on batteries and things like that,” he said, the words rushing out quickly. “I didn’t mean to overstep, but I just needed to know you were okay.”
I shook my head, remembering his scent throughout my space and in my head. I’d always written it off as a heat fever dream, hoping he would show up. “No wonder I thought of you.”
“You thought of me during your heats?” he asked, his voice thick with emotion.
“What part of the fact that I’ve been hopelessly in love with you for years do you not understand?” I said affectionately, bending over to kiss him.
“So damn lucky,” he muttered under his breath.
“And, if we’re laying it all out there,” I said, deciding to be brave. “I love the bonding marks you have, Adrien and Vance, and I can’t speak for Ri, but I’d like to have my own from both of you someday too.”
“Oh hell yes,” Riley said enthusiastically. “I need one on each of my good sides.”
Vance chuckled beneath me. “Why I thought this would be some serious conversation is beyond me.”
“For the record, I think we’ve made it perfectly clear, but just in case there was any doubt, we want the both of you as well, in every way possible,” Adrien said. “Which after our conversation hopefully means that you’ll accept the next gift we’ve been working on.”
“It’s time?” Riley asked excitedly, letting me know he’d totally been in on the surprise.
Adrien rose from the couch, tugging Riley with him as Vance rose from the couch with me in his arms. They led us down the stairs to the finished basement. From the stairwell and the shining dark wood I expected it to be fancy. Maybe a polished wooden bar and a plethora of fancy bottles, a reading nook, a fancy office.
But it was none of those things.
“Guys,” I whispered as I realized just what they had created down here.
The space was an open floor plan like a studio apartment. A small kitchenette rested in one corner with a fridge, small counter, sink, and microwave.
The floor was a polished dark wood and three of the walls were a soft white. The accent wall was covered in hunter green wallpaper with tasteful floral designs. The earthy vibe was continued with plants in every available space.
A comfortable sectional was pushed into one corner with several accent pillows that matched the pops of color in the wallpaper perfectly.
The large bed, more than big enough to fit all of us, was draped with a fluffy yellow blanket and had even more pillows resting on top. The canopy over top made it look even more inviting and cozy, and I wanted to bury myself inside it. There were shopping bags on the couch, but I couldn’t even bring myself to peek inside. I was too overwhelmed.
“You guys did this for me?” I knew a nest when I saw one, and this was definitely the beginnings of a nest. Even Riley-esque touches added life to the room, so I knew it was a group effort.
“We did,” Vance answered as he wrapped his arms around me and rested his chin on my shoulder. “Riley did the decorations while Adrien and I set up the space. We wanted you to feel just as safe here as you did in your cottage, especially if a heat hit.”
“We didn’t want to assume you wanted our help, but regardless, I needed to know you had a safe place to ride it out if you needed,” Adrien said.
“I love it,” I said as a wave of emotion nearly knocked me to my knees. Here I’d spent years alone, pining for a pack, and this one practically fell into our laps and was pure and utter perfection.
I never had a true nest before, and yet here it was, and they all had worked together to give me something so precious without me saying a word.
“So I obviously picked the colors, there are some more blankets and soft things in the bags, but we knew you’d want to add the finishing touches.”
“I ordered some products I thought you might like so that you can pamper yourself too,” Adrien added.
I nodded, but in my head, I was already making a mental list of the things I’d confiscate from them. Vance had a throw pillow he hugged on the couch I knew would smell like him, Riley’s favorite hoodie, Adrien’s favorite blanket. All of that would add their scents.
Okay, well not Adrien’s just yet, but that was only a matter of time. I’d probably steal everything of his and make him roll around in that bed daily until his scent came back.
“It’s great, I already know what to add. I need to run home,” I said absently, fully focused on my task now. I needed to get my things and start adding them. They didn’t even argue as I hurried up the stairs and quickly grabbed my purse.
The entire ride back to the cottage, I was hyper focused on what I’d pick. Their house was only so big and though I loved the stuff I’d collected over the years, I’d need to donate some and pack away the rest for the day we had our newly built, much bigger home.
But my small mushroom and forest themed knick knacks I found at an estate sale two summers ago would go perfectly in my nest. Small pieces of my cottage in my new space to make me feel more at home.
Even coming back to the cottage had changed. It no longer felt like the same peaceful place it once had been. It was missing my pack.
Grabbing a box from the stack Riley had brought over, I started wrapping my breakables and putting them in before grabbing the cute stuffed hedgehog from the couch. He was a bit rough for the wear after years of hugs, but he belonged in my nest.
My search continued, one box easily turning into two as I spotted more and more things I knew would make the space perfect. One common thing I noticed was everything I chose was already a play on the same colors Riley had chosen for me.
The beta was far more observant than I gave him credit for.
By the time I’d finished and loaded them in the car, all I could think about was doing something sweet for them. Nothing I could come up with on the fly would be quite so thought out, but the urge to spoil them was too strong to ignore.
The idea formed quickly as I drove through town, stopping by the grocery store and the small movie rental kiosk. If they didn’t have anything to play it on, I had my laptop. The guys were all talking about the newest action movie that had come to rental this week. Even Adrien, who didn’t usually watch television all that often was interested. Apparently, the lead was a fellow Frenchman which bought him my alphas support when it came to kicking ass and saving the world. It didn’t matter if I’d rather watch something else, I knew they’d be excited.
Just as I was sliding the bags into the backseat the clicking of heels on pavement had my blood running cold. I knew they hadn’t left, and before even turning, I knew Adrien’s mother had finally cornered me.
My hands shook as I closed the door and tried to go to open my front door, but she scurried around me to lean against it.
“My son is too good for you.”
I rolled my eyes. “Your opinion means nothing to me.”
“He has duties in France. He’ll be returning with us,” she said confidently. The fact this woman’s words didn’t waver for even a second meant she was either more narcissistic or delusional than I’d first thought.
“He owes you nothing. Your son is a grown man who has made his choices. He has a business here, a life. You have to accept that.”
She narrowed her pale blue eyes at me, and I couldn’t help but notice she looked nothing like her son. Maybe it was the cold eyes or her lack of smile, but it was like night and day.
“We will pay you.”
I tensed at her words. Surely I didn’t hear her correctly. But the moment she handed over a stack of papers I knew that this woman was far more vile than I could ever imagine.
My eyes scanned the page without taking it, heart stopping at all the zeros behind the number they had bolded so I couldn’t miss.
“Are you serious?” Her expression turned from mean to triumphant. Clearly she thought I was a money hungry gold digger and had accepted it that easily.
“Yes. Terms are that you cannot contact him or ever continue a relationship with him,” she started, trying to continue outlining terms that meant nothing to me.
“You need to find a therapist, lady. There is no way in hell I would ever consider something so vile. I love your son. And I’m a successful business owner… I don’t need your bribe.”
She scoffed. “Successful? Here? This town couldn’t possibly provide an income even close to this offer.”
“You’re right,” I said. “It won’t. But with four incomes, I think our pack will get by just fine. And let me be abundantly clear, I’m prepared to bond myself to your son. I love all of them, and I am sad for you that you’ll never know the wonderful man he’s grown to be.”
“Move away from her car.”
Boone’s voice was deep and rumbling, a clear warning. I hadn’t even realized he had seen her, but the hardware store was only a few stores down. He gently shifted me behind him, so I was safe before addressing her again.
“You are not welcome here and she asked you to move. Unless I need to call the sheriff about you holding this woman against her will, I suggest you move along.”
“Did you just threaten me?” she gasped. I rolled my eyes at her attempted theatrics. Boone didn’t buy it for a second either, letting out a dark, humorless laugh.
“One.” He pulled out his phone. She crossed her arms in challenge before he continued. “Two.” This time he pulled up the contact, showing her Hunter’s picture on the name so she had no doubts on who he was calling.
“Fine,” she bit out, stomping away like a petulant child. I was positive her husband would be getting an earful about her treatment but I didn’t care. Both of them were entitled, terrible people.
“Are you alright?” Boone asked. The concern in his voice was sweet, but I was fine, and I just needed to be home with my pack.
“I’m good, I’m heading back to Adrien and Vance’s now,” I promised.
“I’ll give them a call,” he said, still eyeing me with more than a little skepticism. He watched me pull away, phone to his ear and speaking. I knew I’d be getting the third degree the moment I walked inside.
Adrien was waiting by the driveway when I pulled in. He pulled me into a hug and I melted into the embrace. I hadn’t realized how shaken the encounter had left me.
“Claire?”
“I’m alright. Help me carry this in?” He didn’t argue, but it was clear he didn’t believe me, either. I left the boxes for later and gave him the few bags from the grocery store before grabbing the movie and my purse.
Vance was waiting by the door and gave me the same greeting his husband did. Even Riley, who was standing next to him, looked concerned.
“Guys, I”m alright. It wasn’t a long confrontation, and Boone was there to save me,” I promised.
“What happened?” Adrien questioned.
“She approached my car as I was buying stuff for us tonight and basically propositioned me and was really pushy about it,” I rushed out, the adrenaline finally leaving my body. “I told her in no uncertain terms to shove it and that I love you all and I can’t wait to bond with you. She knows we’re becoming a pack.”
Adrien and Vance’s smiles spread across their faces. It took me a second to realize I had just blurted out that I loved them. So maybe I wasn’t crushing the whole romantic thing, but the look on their faces was entirely worth it. Even Riley was happy, though he’d gotten the ‘I love you’ a whole lot sooner, but we had a history.
“I love you too, Peach,” Vance whispered before he kissed me thoroughly. Adrien was there the moment Vance let me take a breath, sweeping me into his arms.
“I love you. You’ve made our lives so much brighter.”
The moment was so charged that I knew if I didn’t break the sexual tension we’d never get out of the foyer.
“Is now a terrible time to tell you that they tried to pay me two million dollars to never see you again?”
The silence that followed was deafening. Three sets of eyes were wide and mouths agape.
“I turned it down,” I said quickly.
“Obviously,” Riley rolled his eyes. “Man, that woman has more audacity than the entire cast of Real Housewives. Now what did you bring?”
“Movie night. Let’s get it started,” I sang out, holding up the movie for them to see. Riley and Vance let out an excited whoop, already comparing rumors and the cast.
Adrien was more reserved, helping me plate up the snacks. Before I could walk away, he gave me a tight hug.
“What was that for?”
“For choosing me.”