Chapter 29
Chapter
Twenty-Nine
Kota
“Oh, I get you all to myself, don’t I?” I teased the omega next to me as I slid my hand into his, pulling him along. The heat had passed without throwing our second omega into one as well.
We’d taken a day to recover and had only one left before reality was going to creep back in.
It still felt surreal that we were all here together. This house that I truly loved was finally full of noise again. Not just silence and memories, but loud voices and family.
“You do, and I’m going to need to know how to navigate my way around here. Do we have a map or something? I got lost trying to find the utility room the other day. I just needed a screwdriver and it took me twenty minutes to find a familiar room again.”
“Oh, it’s not that big,” I argued. He just gave me a bored look that said he knew I was lying.
I tried to look at the estate from his perspective, but this place was so familiar to me that it was impossible. It was more of a home than my apartment had ever been. I should have embraced it from the start.
“Just show me around, delta,” he said as he poked me in the side. I pulled him closer, breathing in my omega and sighing happily.
“Well, you obviously know where the bedrooms are,” I said, gesturing toward the hallway we were passing. We went the other direction into the opposite wing. “There are two side-by-side offices over here. My grandparents each had one. Past that is a library and a lounge.”
“Lounge? Like billiard table, bar, and swanky leather chairs?”
I nodded and smiled. “My grandpa loved late-night cigars and whiskey. I felt like such a big deal when he finally shared a drink with me in there.”
It was one of my last memories of him and I wished there had been so much more time. They would have loved Rylan and Roxie and the others. This was the kind of pack they always wanted for me.
“Tell me about him?”
The question took me by surprise, but I suppose it shouldn’t have. Roxie asked the same kinds of questions. Omegas were full of compassion, and they saw right past our insecurities. Not dismissing them, but giving them space.
That wasn’t something I was used to in my family. Everyone kept to themselves. We didn’t talk about the things that were real.
“My grandparents met young. I think they were both in college when they scent-matched. My grandma’s family was the one that came from money, and Grandpa was from the kind of family that worked with their hands.
They didn’t really understand why he’d want to be with someone who had a trust fund worth more money than they’d ever seen in their lives. ”
“Money isn’t everything,” he scoffed, angry on her behalf. “If they were happy then that was all that should matter.”
I knew that was a sore subject with him.
When they found out he was mated to a man they disowned him.
Imagine if they saw our pack now. I was never shy when out with my omegas.
I loved our connection and always had a hand in theirs or on their backs as we walked out in public.
This pack was authentic, we weren’t going to dim our light for anyone.
“He agreed. Anytime they brought it up, he always told them he didn’t care one damn bit about the money she had. He just loved his omega.”
Rylan’s smile turned soft and sappy.
“That’s exactly how it should be.” His expression dimmed slightly. “When I first met Greer, that’s how it was for us. That’s why I didn’t tell them for so long. I didn’t want them to ruin something so perfect. Though, I guess it wasn’t perfect, was it?”
“It is now,” I countered. “The past is where it belongs and we’re going forward. This pack we’ve built, and are still working to make perfect, is everything we both needed.”
“You’re what I needed,” he promised. “I know Greer and I have history, but that doesn’t mean you or Roxie mean any less to me. I love that you’re so open and genuine. You make me laugh and bring out the lighter side of life. She makes me stronger and more confident. Helps me see my worth.”
“I feel the same way about you both. Everyone in my life has always dismissed me. You both look right past everything the rest of the world tries to shut down and embrace it. I genuinely believe that we all found our way to each other exactly how we were supposed to.”
He leaned up and I met him halfway, pressing my lips to his. The kiss was sweet and slow. Every time I had one of my omegas in these vulnerable moments it felt like the rest of the world faded away.
We pulled away and started walking again, my story picking back up as I told him about the legacy that was built within these walls.
“My grandparents worked hard, and they raised my mother to know what hard work was. Unfortunately, she married for money, not for love. My parents were so cold and distant. They wanted me to be this perfect delta who was building a reputation, and they kept trying to set me up with omegas who were ‘proper.’”
“Oh, arranged dates? That sounds brutal,” he said, wrinkling his nose.
A shudder ran through me. “They were awful.”
“How bad?” he asked with a grin. “Were they trying to set you up with a high-maintenance omega and you just couldn’t handle it?”
“I took one date to a fancy Italian restaurant. The kind of dress code that should consist of suits, blazers, business attire. She showed up wearing a literal ball gown. Then she proceeded to order vegetable pasta—as in, they made the pasta out of vegetables—and demanded it be made with no seasoning, no butter, no oil, no fats. Then she made a big production out of the salad, picking everything out until it was basically lettuce and sadness.”
Rylan laughed loudly. “That sounds like something my old boss would do. I swear the woman was half-bird.”
“Speaking of bosses, how is working for the Narwhals going? Until the heat, of course,” I asked.
He considered it. “So far, pretty good. I’ve mostly worked with Greer.
Not having consistent physical therapy didn’t do him any favors.
I got to help a few of the other guys out before the last game and they were all great.
The best part is no one hovering over me every step of the way like a psycho. ”
“Good,” I said simply, taking him up the stairs to the third level, pointing out the extra rooms up there along with the attic stairs.
My omega glanced at his watch and winced.
“Chorizo should be here any second. The dog sitter is bringing him by at noon,” he reminded me right as I moved to pull him closer again. My delta didn’t like to see our omegas anything but happy.
Rylan pushed me away with a laugh. “You are so not helping.”
“Fine,” I groaned. “But later I’m going to fuck you senseless, omega.”
“Good,” he said simply as he pulled me downstairs. “And I feel much better about the top two floors at least.
“The first floor is the easiest,” I said. “You’ll learn it soon enough. The place is big but not unmanageable. We just haven’t had the time to really get used to it.”
It had been far too big for my grandparents, but with us, Chorizo, and maybe a few kids we’d have it filled properly. I could picture little, raven-haired kids running through the halls, laughter echoing out no matter where you were. Playing together because I couldn’t imagine only having one kid.
“What has you smiling like that?” Rylan demanded.
“I was just thinking we could take apart some of these old rooms and repurpose them. Have a couple nurseries. Make a big family room… if that’s the life everyone wants.”
As much as I loved the idea, it was more Roxie’s choice than ours.
Loud barking downstairs had Rylan grinning. “I guess it’s time to go check out the backyard. Thank god it’s fenced.”
“No kidding. Chorizo and I are new friends, but I have a feeling he’s full of boundless energy.”
When we got downstairs, Greer was trying to wrangle the puppy who wanted absolutely nothing to do with being contained. He was in a new environment and ready to explore.
“We’re going to lose him in this place,” Greer muttered, grabbing the puppy before he could dodge around him.
“Let’s take him outside first and let him burn some of that energy off. Then we can figure out gates or something,” I reassured him.
“Really, we just need to close the doors,” Rylan said. “Gates would be a nightmare in a house this size.”
“We’re also going to have to figure out a cleaning schedule,” Greer said, glancing around. “Not just to keep an eye on Chorizo and his messes, but to keep up with this place.”
“Oh, I’ve got a house manager that handles that,” I admitted.
I braced myself for judgment. Usually people hated what they weren’t used to.
Rylan perked up, holding up a hand.
“You mean to tell me we get this incredible pack house and it comes with cleaning service?”
My grin widened. “I’m way too busy to take care of this place. It’s huge.”
“Yeah,” Rylan deadpanned. “I’ve noticed.”
“Was that my Chorizo?” Roxie called as she rushed downstairs. She slid into the room on her socked feet but had shoes clutched in hand.
“He’s home,” I confirmed.
“There he is,” she cooed, looking just as happy as Rylan as she greeted the wiggling pup.
“Let’s get him out before he bursts,” Greer said, wrestling the puppy toward the door.
He hesitated at the door, looking back at me.
“You’re sure he can’t get out?”
“As sure as I can be. I checked everything.”
He nodded once, trusting me. The surly delta wasn’t just warming up to me anymore, he was treating me like a true packmate.
Chorizo let out an excited yip before racing across the grass in circles.
We were right on his heels, cracking up as the insane puppy ran at top speed through the grass.
Greer pulled a tennis ball from his pocket. Roxie held out her hands and he tossed it to her. She caught it easily and rushed out to the middle of the yard.
Chorizo froze, staring at the fluorescent yellow ball like it was his long-lost love. As soon as she threw it he was off, racing through the yard and tumbling over himself as he tried to catch it. He eventually managed to snag it in his mouth before proudly carrying it back.
They took turns throwing the ball until Chorizo stretched out in the sun, soaking in the warmth. I glanced back to find Hayes watching, too. His hair was wet from a shower and he was smiling softly out at our pack. I knew that feeling. I’d felt it often since we’d come together like this.
I sat at the patio table, looking out at the empty yard. It was another thing we’d have to fill. The gardens were long gone and it was just a stretch of empty land.
It drove me crazy how empty and hollow this house felt when my grandparents died. Family members claimed a lot of the furnishings. I didn’t mind at the time, but the lack of extras left it feeling even more haunted.
Now I was grateful for the extra room. It gave us a real chance to make this place our own.
There would always be a legacy here. We weren’t erasing it but adding to it.
“I was thinking we could make a garden out there,” I said, pointing toward the sunniest corner. “Fence it off so Chorizo doesn’t pee on everything we grow.”
Hayes walked over, looking where I pointed and nodding. “I’m thinking we could build a nice outdoor cooking station. Maybe some kind of covered structure for shade.”
Soon, he was listing everything he’d love to add—smokers, fire pits, an outdoor stove.
“We have to fix up that pool,” Rylan said. His eyes tracked to Roxie, then me and Greer. “Shirtless mates, Roxie in a bikini, hot summer sun, cold water. Sounds like a perfect summer to me.”
“Damn,” I laughed. “That does sound nice.”
“We should get those string lights,” Roxie added. “The ones with the round exposed bulbs. We could hang them over the whole area. And get ceiling fans so I don’t melt every summer.”
“We can make it happen,” I agreed happily, picturing each new thing they added and loving it.
We were all buying into the future we were building. There was no more worrying over age or incomes. It felt like the heat had put us on even ground.
“There are plenty of bedrooms upstairs,” Rylan added carefully, glancing at me, then Roxie. “We need to have more heats so we can start filling them with babies.”
Roxie’s cheeks turned bright red. “I could be persuaded. We’ve got a little while before another one happens. Hopefully, postseason, if we’re lucky.”
“Fuck that,” Greer said firmly. “Hockey isn’t getting in the way of whatever our omega needs. If it hits early, it hits early. We take the time off.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t lie about that. The last thing I want is to suffer through a heat without you.”
A collective growl of protest echoed around the patio.
Roxie rolled her eyes. “Can we go back to talking about what we want to do with this pack house?”
“We need a bigger refrigerator,” Greer said. “The one here is just a single fridge. Or one of those restaurant-style refrigerators with the glass fronts.”
I blinked. “Clearly you’ve never been in the pantry or the basement.”
Greer froze, tennis ball still in hand, poised to toss for Chorizo who was yapping impatiently.
“Are you kidding me?”
I laughed and shook my head. “There are a couple of commercial glass-front refrigerators in the pantry. More shelving than we’ll ever fill. The basement also has a wine cellar and a wine cooler.”
“Damn.” He actually sounded impressed.
Rylan shot me a look. “It’s not that big, he says. Lies.”
Roxie shook her head and dropped into Hayes’s lap. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close.
“Well, alpha? Are you still hung up on the fact that the youngest pack member is providing the house?”
“Not at all, little bat. I think this house might just be perfect for us.”
He tossed me a wink.
“A little extravagant, but perfect.”
I couldn’t agree more.