39. Alejandro #2
Ember was bouncing around, while West added to her pile, reminded her not to forget some essential item, and then wandered off for his own bounty. Ember rotated through the store, making sure to swing by and rub her cheek against mine five or six times.
I grinned, finally settled. The omegas were happy, the burnt part of their scents mostly gone. This time I would insisted on paying.
She cornered me in the crystals section, in a small alcove where macramé plant hangers created a false sense of privacy. “Thank you. This was a great idea.”
“Anything for you.” Her red hair was back in a bun today, and I itched to pull it free. Her scent grew sweeter, and she smiled like I’d hung the moon.
My alpha instincts preened. Maybe I wasn’t a total screwup if she looked at me like that.
“I’m sorry things have been so crazy,” she started.
“Mi corazón, I’m a chef. Crazy is what I do. You never have to apologize that your life isn’t calm and orderly.” I stroked my hand down her cheek. “Even though I wish that for you, to save you some pain.”
Her lemon pound cake scent grew sweeter, and I briefly considered finding a dark corner. Somewhere. “You’re sure you’re okay, us all moving in together?”
“Yes,” I said. I kissed her on the lips, briefly. “We’re meant to be together, all of us.”
She nodded, looking determined and nervous at that statement.
“Bad things will happen.” I took both of her hands in mine. “But so will good things.”
“You’re right,” she said. “I just get scared that the bad things will take away all the good things.”
“Nothing will take me away from you,” I said, wishing I had the same way with words that Rian did. “You are mine, forever. I would bond you right now, if that is what you desire.”
“If you die,” she whispered softly. Fear filled her eyes. “You would leave me.”
“Oh, honey.” I pulled her against me. No wonder she was so cautious. I didn’t need her to spell it out, not when I knew her parents’ history. Anyone would be cautious after experiencing that. I thought about my parents, my dad giving my mother his heart every day, and receiving her own in turn.
“It’s brave, loving someone. Feels like the bravest thing you can do sometimes.”
She sniffled. “You’re right. But I can be brave.”
I held her against me until she stepped back, wiping her face. She gave me a soft look, and my heart flipped. I prayed I would be worthy of that expression.
“If you two are done making out,” West said, coming around the corner, “I’m starving.”
Ember laughed. “We’re not making out. If we started, we wouldn’t stop.”
“Too true,” I said. She linked her hand with mine, and we brought our spoils of war up to the counter. I paid for everything, and we swung through a takeout place on the way back to Ben and Rian’s.
Back home.
The chaise longue had to be delivered. We carried everything else in trips and settled at the kitchen table. Ben and I opened containers of Chinese takeout and passed around paper plates.
“We can swing by your apartment tomorrow?” Rian said, nudging my leg with his foot. “Get the rest of your stuff?”
“Yes, I’d like that.”
“You can pick out any bedroom you want. We can have our own space in addition to shared spaces,” Rian added, picking at the hem of his T-shirt, a telltale sign he was nervous.
I brushed my hand over his arm. “That sounds lovely. I look forward to annoying all of you by having to wake up ridiculously early.”
Ember looked thoughtful, and West poked her. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” She smiled. “I’m feeling a little better. Thank you, all of you, for letting me…uhhh, have a nervous breakdown.”
Rian snorted. “I have them, like, once a week. Get in line.”
Ember looked down at her plate, dragging her fork through her noodles. “Umm. My parents died in a plane crash.”
Ben looked solemn and Rian frowned.
“I don’t know if you guys knew that.”
“I sort of heard…” Rian started and then squeezed her hand.
“I was on the plane,” she said firmly. “I just—sorry to ruin the mood. I figured I’d explain.”
“You don’t have to explain anything to us,” Ben said with a frown.
“I know.” She sighed and relaxed. “All of you have let me work through this at my own pace, which is why I feel ready. I was on the plane, and it crashed, and my designation flipped and it was a lot.”
“Shit,” I said. I took her other hand. “I am so sorry.” My mind reeled at the level of trauma. No wonder she was cautious.
Ember let out a breath. “It’s okay. I’m mostly okay now, but sometimes…” She gestured around us. “The nest set me off.”
“We will always be there for you,” Ben said firmly.
“You’re showing me that.” She beamed, her red hair tumbling down her shoulders in waves. “Alejandro told me today that, no matter what, he was there.”
“Me too, us, yes,” Rian said, tripping over his own words.
“You’re ours,” Ben said, looking at West. “All three of you.”
West’s shoulders unhitched, and I brushed my hand over his arm too.
“We’re a pack,” I said. I wasn’t afraid anymore to say it out loud. It was the truth we all knew in our bones.
“We are.” Ben gestured at me. “Always. We can bond now, or in years. I’m happy with whatever.”
Ember nodded, looking down at her plate. “Thank you. I, uhh, not tonight? But knowing I’m not the only one…”
“Madly in love with you?” Ben smiled. “You’re not the only one. I’m madly in love with all three of you, and I’m so happy we’re moving in together.”
“Yes,” Rian said. “I know I’m grumpy but?—”
“Get in line,” West said, and Rian laughed.
“Pretty sure we’re all on board with the grumpy male omega.” I laughed. “It’s very sexy.”
“Yeah, it is.” Ember shifted so she sat between West and Rian. “And I have two of them.”
I sighed, feeling like I’d managed to have it all. They weren’t mad about my weird work hours and just moved their schedules around it.
Looking at them around the table, I realized the pack was my home.
“Can we watch TV?” Ember asked. She looked exhausted again, and I only felt a tiny bit guilty for having such a heavy conversation in the wake of the tragedy. “I want to listen to Rian and Alejandro judge the chefs on TV.”
“I would love nothing more,” I said, meaning every word.
As we snuggled down on the couch, I considered my colossal luck. I had my pack, and I would do anything to keep them safe.
I checked my phone again. Raina had looped me in on the investigation to who broke into the nest. Ember would ask soon, but until she brought it up, I didn’t want to remind her.
So far, the police had no leads and no forensic evidence. The urge to go door to door to see who could have hurt her was strong.
When Ember was ready to go back to work, we’d set up some safety measures. Until then, she was at the pack house and in my arms.
It was the best I could do.