Chapter 38
Chapter
Thirty-Eight
Dhara
“This is it,” Conrad announced as we drove up a gravel-lined path. It looped past several buildings before we found the cabin that was our new home for the next week.
“It’s so cute,” I said as I took in the rustic cabin. It wasn’t exactly tiny, but small enough to be perfect for what we needed.
My nesting supplies were packed up in the back of the truck. Nearly all of them. I wouldn’t let them take down the fabric on the walls or lights.
They had every intention of helping me re-create the nest in our temporary home. It was still hard to let anyone do nice things for me. Independence and knowing you were likely going to be let down were some of the things that kept my sanity all these years.
Without my mother’s presence looming over me, I was starting to shift those expectations to knowing that they were the opposite. They’d never let me down and would always put me and Gavin first. I knew that, but the pessimism lingered.
I wanted the bond because I wanted to be close to my pack. To feel them and let my omega know she’s protective. But I also wanted the reassurance that would bring. To know their true feelings to chase away that nasty, little voice in my head.
“You coming, gorgeous?” Lachlan’s amused voice startled me. I hadn’t realized I was sitting here after they’d all climbed out.
“Yes,” I said, cheeks heating at my weird behavior. They didn’t comment on it at least. They knew how nerve-wracking this could be.
As my feet hit the gravel, my phone dinged in my pocket. My first thought was Gavin but I snorted when I saw Roxie’s text on the screen.
Roxie
Have fun getting fucked within an inch of your life, girl. You’ve earned this
Lana
It’s going to be amazing. I promise. Having a good pack makes ALL the difference
Roxie
And when you’re back, we’re definitely having a girls’ night so you can tell us all about it.
“From that smirk, I’m assuming Roxie and Lana are teasing you?” August asked as he pulled me closer. I snuggled in as I answered.
“They’re great,” I admitted. “They make a heat sound like a dream.”
“You’re going to enjoy yourself. I promise you that, omega,” Lahclan rasped, his eyes dragging down my body and a wolfish grin tipping up his lips.
My omega was on board. If only I could shake this anxiety.
“Come on, baby. Let’s go look around inside before your strong pack carries in all your things,” Conrad offered. He saw right through my mood and held out a hand. I put mine in his with no hesitation. Everything seemed a bit easier to handle with my alpha.
The inside was even nicer than the outside. It was rustic but clean and, clearly, had an omega’s touch. It was a bit too impersonal for my taste but this wasn’t my house.
“It could use a bit of work,” Conrad offered as if he knew where my thoughts went. “After your heat we can talk renovation ideas.”
Wait. ‘Renovation?’ My jaw dropped and I turned to face him. He chuckled at the look on my face and shrugged.
“No. You did not buy a whole heat cabin,” I argued.
“You’re right. We bought several,” he countered, looking smug as hell. What the fuck was with this pack?!
My mouth opened and closed to argue but I couldn’t find it in me. Had this not been the exact outcome I’d hoped for when talking to the girls?
“At girl’s night we talked about cabins, actually,” I said instead. Clearly, the universe was finally looking out for me.
“What about them?” August asked as he hopped on the kitchen island and pulled me between his legs, arms wrapped around me. I settled into the touch.
“I wanted to find something I could do that let me be out of the house and still travel. We thought it might be fun to set up a cabin rental situation. I could find rental software to run through a website and do renovations I could oversee. The funds was the issue,” I explained.
Conrad’s brow furrowed as he looked at me, innocently confused. “We do have the funds, though.”
“You do,” I said pointedly. “I have a hundred and fifty in my account, Conrad.”
“What’s ours is yours,” Lachlan said firmly. “We know you’re not a gold digger or taking advantage, but we pulled you out of that life and we will support you. You’ll have access to a joint account and we will put money into a private account for you as well.”
I started to protest but snapped my mouth shut as August squeezed me tighter.
“Usually, I’m on your side, firecracker. But this is what being in a pack looks like. You trust us to help with Gavin and give you a home, you also have to trust us to provide for you. It will get easier but if we can help make this job a reality, then we will.”
“What if I fail?” I argued weakly.
“Then we sell. If you end up hating it, we can also just hire a management company to run it that way we still have another income stream. Who knows, if you hate it, Gavin might love it or one of us.”
“Just like that?” I asked. It was so insane to wrap my head around. No matter what I threw at them they had a ready and calm response.
“Yes,” Conrad said with a shrug. “I think investing in property is smart as hell. Eventually as it takes off you can add to the joint pack account if you want. We’ll help or find help figuring out the business side, but we’d much rather help this idea take off then you work yourself to death.”
I deflated at that. It wasn’t worth arguing and I knew I was being combative because I was nervous for this heat. They loved me and wanted me safe and cared for and if this gave me a life that I had control over, why fight it?
“Did you grab the meds?” I whispered.
“Yes, of course.” Conrad answered before walking over to the counter and picking up a pharmacy bag. My hands shook as I took it from his hand. This was it. The medicine that would change our relationship.
“We should talk about the heat,” August said gently as he gave me a reassuring squeeze. “We need to know what scares you, what you’re excited to try, how you feel about claiming bites. All of it. There’s no embarrassment here.”
I snorted. “Yeah right.”
“Okay, a little. But this conversation has me hard already so let’s get it going,” he teased, adjusting himself to make a point.
I blew out a breath and looked at Conrad. He didn’t smile or falter, just waited calmly for me to start this conversation.
“I love you and I want your bite,” I said. “All of you.”
Conrad’s smile was blinding as he lurched forward and swept me into his arms, kissing me as he spun me in a circle. “I love you, too.”
Lachlan snatched me away just as easily, wrapping me in a real bear hug. “I love you, too, gorgeous. I’ll proudly wear your bite, too.”
I buried my face in his chest, breathing him in. “I want to try everything. I trust you to know what my omega doesn’t like.”
“We’ll keep you safe,” Conrad promised easily.
“Then it’s time to take your meds, firecracker. I know you’re brave enough,” August challenged.
I wanted to argue. To throw the meds away and let this come on naturally. But the doctor’s warning rang in my ears.
This could be far worse without it.
That means more time away from Gavin and putting the hockey season off. I owed it to our entire village to keep it together and do this right.
“I’m also on birth control. I don’t know if I want kids,” I admitted the words that had been simmering for a while now. I’d already raised one baby and though I knew they’d be amazing fathers, I wasn’t sure if I wanted that.
“That’s okay. This is our first heat of many, baby. We want what you want, even if you change your mind,” Conrad promised, speaking for the others though they nodded along.
Every worry was out there and they’d calmed every one of them.
With a bit more resolve than I had before, I opened the bag to find a small bottle filled with liquid. I don’t know what I expected, but this wasn’t it.
Lachlan took the instructions and read them out loud. “It says drink the whole bottle on an empty stomach. We haven’t had food yet, so you could now, but it warns it can work fast or slow but should kick in within twenty-four hours.”
“Bottoms up, baby,” Conrad said with a grin. He turned and snagged a drink out of the fridge, twisting the cap off and holding it, waiting for me to take my meds.
I twisted off the cap and stupidly took a sniff. My nose wrinkled at the medicinal smell that was masked by cherries.
My eyes locked onto Lachlan who was in front of me still. He gave a small nod of encouragement.
Without breaking eye-contact, I tipped my head back and drained the bottle. Despite the off-putting scent it was sweet enough that it didn’t make me want to spit it out.
I swallowed it down and Conrad was there, tipping a bottle against my lips. The drink was icy cold and I drank it down to make sure every trace of the medicine was off my tongue before pushing it away gently.
“Thank you,” I said, glancing around. The anticipation in the room was rising and it hadn’t had a chance to kick in yet.
“Come on baby, let’s go set up your nest,” Conrad said, leading me to the bedroom and nest while the others started carrying in my supplies.
Two hours later and the nest wasn’t right. Everything was wrong. My skin was too hot and my mood was plummeting and a low ache was starting in my stomach.
“No,” I groaned, snatching the pillow from August who looked more amused than annoyed. I tucked it into the corner and stood back.
Everything was set up how it should be. New lights, dark fabric on the walls they’d also bought new. Then a bundle of my favorite blankets and pillows.
They’d even brought an entire tote full of their clothes for me to mix into the rest.
Then what was my problem?
“Let’s take a break and get something in your stomach, firecracker,” August urged, leading me away.
“No,” I growled, tucking my arm back. My eyes skimmed over the nest before a whine crawled its way out of me, rising as distress hit me.
I felt out of control and I didn’t know how to fix it.
“Come on,” August said, tugging me down onto the nest and piling blankets around us. “Guys!”
Seconds later, Lachlan and Conrad were there, sinking down around us.
It was them. That’s what was missing.
My omega immediately settled as they surrounded me. Their scents were stronger and their warmth was seeping into the blankets and my skin, making the crawling sensation calm.
“I think it’s close,” I admitted, my voice shaking.
“We’ll be here the whole time. We’ve got you, baby,” Conrad promised. August didn’t protest as I crawled into Conrad’s lap and settled in. The moment I sank into his embrace, my scent perfumed, filling the nest with a sweetened version of my scent.
All three of my mates groaned in unison. Conrad’s cock hardened under me and without thought I rocked my hips over it, slick dripping onto his clothes.
My first clue that the heat had hit, was the fact I didn’t care. I liked that I’d marked him.
That and the urge to get my mouth on my mates was almost feral.
My senses heightened and they were the only thing on my radar.
Their scents were stronger, more enticing.
I could smell the salty sweat as it formed on their skin and the warmth of their scent as their bodies heated in response to mine.
The fear was gone now. The only thought my omega and I had was that this was right.
They were mine.
Forever.