Chapter 25
Chapter
Twenty-Five
Dhara
After a few more days of recovering, the doctor finally cleared me to go home. I couldn’t have been happier to leave. Between the pitying looks, the hovering nurses, and the drop-ins from police to get our statements, I was over it all.
It felt like someone was trying to poke holes in my story. Maybe I was just terrified this time would be like all the others. They’d tell me it wasn’t enough.
But the guys reassured me that there was too much evidence this time. No one could deny what she’d done. Not with my medical records and the video that the police couldn’t confiscate.
We stopped by our old house long enough to pack up our things. There wasn’t much that either of us wanted to take with us. Gavin packed a few clothes and his favorite belongings, but the rest was someone else’s problem now.
The pack reassured us that we’d get new things. This was our fresh start and they didn’t want us to have any reminders of that life we didn’t want to have.
The lake house was just as beautiful as I remembered. The inside was almost unrecognizable from the empty space it was before.
They’d poured so much love into it.
Brand-new furniture filled the spaces that had once felt empty. A massive dining table stretched across the dining room that was big enough for us and guests.
Maybe I’d finally get to make friends now. I could invite Lydia and her pack out sometime and repay all the free meals they’d given us over the years.
This was the start of a new life.
“Come upstairs,” Conrad encouraged. “We want to show Gavin his room.”
Gavin didn’t need to be told twice. He practically sprinted up the stairs before the words were out of Conrad’s mouth. I followed behind, smiling as the guys laughed, but moving a little slower.
Lachlan stayed behind to help me up the stairs. They were trying their best not to hover, but I selfishly wanted them as close as possible now.
The room they’d made for Gavin was perfect. Hockey memorabilia decorated the walls without overwhelming the space. There was still plenty of room for him to make it his own.
A television hung on the wall and they’d hooked up several game consoles to it. When Gavin opened the entertainment center, he audibly gasped. It was already stocked with more games than he’d seen in his lifetime.
They didn’t just put in things to entertain him. He had a bookshelf set up beside a sturdy desk. His backpack and a laptop were waiting and ready for him to do his homework once he was settled back in school.
The bedroom in the next room held a much bigger bed than he’d ever had before. The guys had gone above and beyond to fill the closet with clothes. I didn’t even need to check the sizes. None of them would’ve missed a detail like that.
Gavin stayed behind to unpack while the guys guided me farther down the hall toward the omega suite.
I’d expected something simple but I should have known better.
The work they put in stole my breath. This was like something out of a magazine. The large bed in the room was big enough to fit us all. A cream, plush comforter was pulled across with an assortment of throw pillows and blankets.
Beautiful artwork filled the walls without making the room feel crowded. I spotted some of my favorite products and the basic things I’d need already set up.
They truly thought of everything.
“This is incredible,” I whispered as I turned in a slow circle, taking it all in.
Lachlan smiled before walking over to another door. He pushed it open to show off a nest.
A complete nest.
The walls had been painted a deep charcoal gray and it already smelled like my pack. The scent settled over my omega like a warm blanket.
I’d never had a nest before. Never even imagined one like this.
Soft fairy lights twinkled overhead, drawing you into its warm, soft light. Layers of blankets and pillows filled every corner. Everything about it felt warm.
Safe.
Nestled among the blankets sat an adorable plush cat. Without thinking, I slipped off my shoes and climbed inside.
Picking up the plushie, I hugged it against my chest before lowering myself onto the mountain of pillows and breathing in deep.
I looked around, trying to comprehend everything they’d done for me. It all felt like too much even as they continued to reassure us this was the bare minimum for a pack.
“Can we come into your space?” Conrad’s voice was quiet. My first instinct was to laugh. Why would I tell them no? It was their house.
Then I caught myself.
No. It wasn’t just their house anymore. It was ours. They’d bought this place for me and Gavin, too.
They’d built this nest just for me.
For the first time in my entire life, I had a space that belonged to me. If I told them no, they’d walk away without hesitation.
They’d respect my needs above all else.
But being alone was the last thing I wanted. My omega was desperate to keep them close, to have their touch.
“Please.”
The smiles they gave me had my chest warming. Lachlan looked genuinely excited. Conrad looked relieved. August wore that familiar, devilish grin. The one that reminded me of stolen kisses and promises interrupted by my mother all those years ago.
Then the lessons he gave me before she ruined it.
My omega perked up instantly. I ignored the warmth growing low in my stomach. The doctor had made it very clear that I still needed to recover.
“I know I’m supposed to rest,” I said slowly. “But do you know what I’d really love?”
“Say it,” August rumbled as he settled beside me. “Whatever it is, it’s already yours.”
“I want a family dinner. A real one. I want all of us sitting around one table and talking and laughing. Cooking together and cleaning together. The works.”
No one would scream or ruin it. It would be a taste of what family life could have been.
I looked around at the three men who’d fought so hard to bring me home.
“I want to be with my pack.”
“Good thing we’ve got a personal chef.” Lachlan bumped Conrad’s shoulder with a grin.
I laughed at Conrad’s blush, the sound unguarded and free again. I’d barely escaped my prison and already I was back to being my own person again.
God, I’d missed that.
“It’s nice seeing you happy, Firecracker.” August reached over, gently tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear. Then he leaned forward and kissed me.
The kiss was impossibly gentle. I felt it in every cell of my body.
“You know...” I smiled softly against his lips. “I never got to say it back when you were outside my window every night. I heard you.”
His breath caught and I pressed my lips to his again.
“I heard every single one.”
“You did?” he whispered, looking more vulnerable than I thought possible.
I nodded. “I wrote ‘I love you, too.’ in my journal every night.”
His eyes widened.
My voice cracked as I explained. “I couldn’t risk saying it out loud. I was afraid I’d run after you.”
Silence settled over the nest and I waited for August to look at me before finally saying it out loud.
“I love you, August.”
He stared at me, completely stunned. He should have known I’d felt this way since we first met.
“Really?”
“Yes,” I said with absolute certainty. “You sat there every single night outside my window. You made me feel less alone when I felt like the walls were closing in around me. And honestly, I think I’ve loved you since I was seventeen.”
August’s breath caught. Then he kissed me again. This kiss wasn’t tentative and careful like before. It was hungry and possessive, his delta coming out to play. He told me with his mouth just how much he held back before while silently protecting me.
Even now, he treated me like I was something precious. His hands cradled my face instead of pulling me against him, mindful of every bruise still healing beneath my skin.
When he finally pulled away, I instinctively looked toward Conrad and Lachlan.
Conrad was practically beaming and Lachlan looked just as relieved.
“Don’t worry, Gorgeous,” Lachlan said softly. “We’re just happy you’re opening up to us. We know your history with August is different. But I fully intend to surpass him as your favorite. Just give me a few weeks to spoil you rotten.”
Conrad nodded in agreement. “I’d wait for you forever, Baby. Don’t ever doubt that.”
My chest warmed, something stirring under my skin that had my omega perking up. I swear I could almost feel them there, even without a bond.
I settled farther back into the mountain of pillows and breathed in my pack. My omega let out a soft sound that had them smiling down at me.
Needing to touch my pack, I reached for Conrad’s hand. The alpha’s presence was a constant reminder that I was no longer the broken omega I always thought I was.
“Tell me more about these classes you’ve been taking.”
The guys shifted, making themselves comfortable inside the nest now that I was settled.
“I kind of stumbled into the first one by accident. Lachlan and I were shopping for a present for you and the omega assumed I was there for it. I stayed because I realized there was a lot I didn’t know about taking care of an omega,” he explained.
“Lachlan keeps calling them cooking classes, but they’re more than that.
I’ve learned a lot about taking care of an omega.
How to recognize what you need before your omega asks. ”
“Oh, wow,” I said, stunned that he’d gone to all that trouble for us. For me.
“It’s my job to make sure our lives are stable and that no one falls through the cracks.” The change in him was obvious. He was such a gentle alpha, but now he had a confidence in his role that was unwavering.
“Thank you, Alpha.” My voice cracked around the words. “No one’s ever worked so hard just to make sure I was safe or loved.”
His gaze burned into me, stirring that feeling in my chest once again. “You’re never going to wonder if you’re loved again.”
Before I could answer, Gavin’s voice echoed down the hallway.
“What happens now?” I asked, curious how this dynamic would truly work.
Lachlan grinned. “Now? Now we take care of our boy.”
He stood before offering me both hands. I slipped my palms into his and let him help me to my feet before pulling me close enough that our noses brushed.
“I’m so happy you’re here.” His voice was barely above a whisper. “Seeing you in your nest... it does something to my delta.”
Then he was kissing me. His lips were soft and warm, so tender it nearly broke me.
I melted into him, breathing in his calming scent as the last of the tension slipped from my shoulders.
When he pulled away, I couldn’t help but smile like a fool.
“Thanks for my nest, delta,” I said, glancing around to appreciate it once again. He looked surprised and I gestured to the others. “They told me.”
“I needed something to channel all my nervous energy,” he admitted. “But I kept it so you’d have room to add your own touches.”
“It’s perfect.” I squeezed his hands. “Thank you. And thank you for loving Gavin as much as I do.”
“No one loves that kid more than you. But I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life trying to catch up.”
He finally stepped back, leading me toward the hallway. Gavin was already waiting there for me. The moment he saw me, relief flooded his face. I let go of Lachlan and wrapped my little brother in a hug.
“It’s okay.” I kissed the top of his head. “I’m not going anywhere. I promise.”
“I like it here already,” he whispered.
“We’re going to have family dinners and real holidays. I’m sure we’ll make a few mistakes along the way but we’ll figure it out. They’d never hold anything against us.”
He let out a watery chuckle and buried his face in my shirt. He pulled away and the pack ushered us down the stairs.
“What are we feeling for dinner?” Conrad asked. “We have plenty of options.”
“Nachos!” Gavin answered instantly. His entire face lit up at the prospect of food. Leave it to a twelve-year-old boy to solve emotional trauma with queso.
“We can absolutely do nachos,” Conrad promised immediately. “I need to run to the store first.” He looked toward me. “What about dessert, Omega?”
“Who says I even like sweets?”
He looked scandalized at the thought. “You forget. I have an omega sister.”
“You have a sister?” Gavin interrupted.
“I do. She works for the Westgrave Wardens. And she’s absolutely going to kick my ass when she finds out I never told her about you two.”
Conrad had a fond expression on his face and I could feel how much he loved her.
“You should probably fix that,” I said. Even if the idea of meeting their family made me nervous, he deserved to have her in his life.
“I will. But first, my pack is hungry.”
“Can I come to the store with you?” The question was so innocent. A normal request for a kid. It felt huge for us. I wasn’t terrified by the thought and he wasn’t scared to separate. This was progress.
Conrad didn’t answer immediately. He looked at me first, silently asking permission.
For years, I’d believed I was the only person capable of keeping Gavin safe. Now I trusted this alpha with my entire world.
“Go, just don’t let him load up on too many unhealthy snacks,” I teased.
Conrad’s expression lit up. “Of course, Buddy. I could use a hand.”
The pride shining in his eyes almost made me laugh. He looked genuinely honored that I’d trusted him with something so precious.
I knew without a doubt he’d bring my brother home every single time. For the first time in our lives, I wasn’t carrying everything alone. There were people willing to shoulder the weight.
My omega hummed contentedly. We both wanted this pack. I’d spent years believing no one could ever compare to August. Now I couldn’t imagine choosing between any of them.
I wanted all of it. The quiet nights, family dinners, movie marathons, date nights, morning coffee on our porch, lazy days in our pajamas. And one day, heats shared with people I loved and trusted.
Maybe, I was never a broken omega. I was simply an omega who had finally found a safe place to call home.