Chapter Seventeen
Sovann
Instead of taking her out to dinner where there would be more prying ears, we decided to take dinner to her.
She volleyed our idea with some excuses but, in the end, we won.
Now, I had the chance to show off for our mate.
I picked up groceries from the market and brought along some things from my kitchen, not knowing how hers was equipped.
We decided on New York strip steaks and garlic mashed potatoes with a salad. Easy, simple, but impressive in its own way.
I was surprised Hema folded to our idea. Then again, I was also shocked she asked Altan out first. Our omega put up walls but they were slowly crumbling.
“Ready?” I asked as we gathered in front of her apartment door.
“Ready.” Orin knocked and we stepped back to wait.
She opened the door, and I gasped. It struck me then. There were many sides of our omega. The professional one from the florist. Dressed in nice pants or a dress. Hair up. Earrings. Sometimes makeup.
And then there was our omega at home.
Bare-faced. No jewelry. Jeans that fit her ass and hips like a second skin. A lacy white top that left one shoulder exposed.
Goddess, that shoulder gave me ideas. If we took our time with her, she would one day bear our marks on that shoulder.
And I would happily bear hers.
“Hi,” she said, and stepped back, waving us in.
“Hi, yourself.” I placed a kiss on her cheek before thinking better of it. Orin hugged her and so did Altan.
“This place seems small, all of a sudden.”
We chuckled at her as she blushed and shut the door. The place wasn’t tiny and was perfect for a single omega.
“Kitchen this way?” I asked.
“Oh. Yes. You really didn’t have to do this.”
“He did. He’s been planning all afternoon. Went to the store three times. Couldn’t make up his mind.”
“Shut it, Orin. You changed your shirt three times.”
Orin was astounded by my revelation. Not really, but he made a face like it. “Altan wouldn’t shut up about getting the first date.”
“Hey,” Altan said, rolling his eyes. “Enough. It’s too early in the relationship to show her all our crazy.
Give it a minute before you start the bickering.
” He turned to Hema who was laughing and swiping at her eyes.
Maybe we were funny? “I apologize for my brothers. They are very excited, and they get chatty.”
She smiled. Not the one for the customers at the flower shop but a big one. “Chatty is good. I really want to get to know you all better.”
I’d made the mashed potatoes and salad in advance and only had to cook the steaks, which didn’t take long.
While I prepared them, I took a look around her place.
It was all Hema. A bright yellow couch. Throw pillows and several soft blankets in yellows and greens folded over the back.
Her scent was everywhere. It filled the air but unlike the first time we saw her, the scent soothed my wolf.
We were in her presence and no longer being thrown out the door.
She wanted us here, and that changed the whole scenario.
We were far from being accepted as her pack, but progress was progress.
We finished dinner quickly. All of us were hungry but more than anything, I wanted to get to the part where we talked.
Altan got to speak to her at lunch but mentioned some things about her background.
Maybe she would tell us tonight.
Orin washed up the dishes and cleaned the kitchen with Hema protesting the whole time. “Should we leave, or would you like us to stay?” I asked. This was her space. Her nest. Everything was up to her. Even if we were at our home, it would all be up to her.
“Stay. Please. We could put on a movie and pretend to watch but really talk.”
We chuckled. “I like that idea very much, omega. I really do.”
We froze. Yes, she was an omega. Yes, we were alphas, but calling her that meant we were getting serious. Or more serious.
Hema didn’t miss a beat. “Me too.” She rubbed her arms and took a breath. “I know I turned you down the first few times, saying I didn’t date shifters. I thought maybe I’d finish explaining why. I want the three of you to understand me. I might be weird sometimes, and I want you to understand why.”
Orin sat down and patted the couch, signaling for her to sit. She sat near him, in between me and Orin. “Apparently, there’s never been an omega from our pack. Ever. Not once.”
A bad place to start.
“So once my designation became clear, about a year ago, I was kicked out of my pack. They didn’t want a needy omega to mess with alphas and their scents, and they said I would break up matings and be nothing but trouble.
So they made me leave. Gave me a little money and put me out on my ass.
I knew very little about being an omega and our biology.
I had to learn on my own. Thank goodness for the internet. ”
I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and tugged her close. Fuck the rules of first dates and being careful. Our omega needed touch and reassurance. She leaned into my hold and rubbed her cheek on my chest. I was right. Our girl was touch-starved. “That was so wrong of them. I hope you know that.”
“I do now but…that’s the reason for swearing off alphas and shifters.
I left that place promising myself I would never rely on a pack again.
I would avoid alphas and shifters and packs.
I did break down and go out on a couple of dates, but that just confirmed my opinions.
Until I scented you three. Goddess, that sounds desperate. ”
Orin took her hand, threading their fingers together. “Trust us, Hema. It’s not only you. We scented you and went nuts. But that’s just biology. It brings us together but it’s how we care for each other that makes us a pack.”
She nodded. “I didn’t think alphas were like you three. But I talked to Karissa and Tawny and they are so happy. Their packs treat them so well. I want that. But I still have my walls and I get skittish.”
“Go on. Get skittish. Question us. Think and second-guess. We’ll be here, no matter what.
We’ll be here waiting for you, no matter how long it takes.
One day, we hope you might trust us but there’s no time limit.
No one here is in a hurry. You take your time and when you decide, whatever you decide, we’ll respect that. ”
“Even if I decide not to be your omega?”
My heart cracked inside me. Did she think our love would end because she didn’t love us? No. My love for her wouldn’t ever end or have an expiration date. “No matter what, we will always be here for you.”
I wiped away her tears and for a long while, we just sat there, pausing to take everything in.
“Can we watch a movie now? I need a distraction. I…you three have given me so much to think about.”
“Absolutely. Let’s choose a comedy. We could all use a good laugh.”