Chapter Eleven
Anathea
I had a physical reaction when I realized the alphas were about to leave. Weird since they were virtual strangers, but I couldn’t deny how strongly my wolf and I were already tied to them.
In a place inside me I didn’t know was alive anymore.
“Anathea, would you mind if I slept on your couch tonight?” Elias put up his palms and faced me. “No funny business. I swear it.”
He didn’t have to swear for me to believe him. I did. Trust with these three came easily as well, and that scared me most of all.
My omega purred with delight at having them near. My apartment, my home, felt warm and comforting, whereas before, it was cold and echoey in a way that I hated. I’d grown up in a pack, so there were always people around. While my wolf liked being alone, these visitors were more than welcome.
“I don’t know.” I did know but I didn’t want to seem too eager. My wolf, on the other hand, wanted to display herself to them for their approval. Silly, omega wolf. Wanting to preen and show off in front of her alphas. No. Not hers. Not ours. Just alphas.
All of a sudden, my life was complicated.
“I’ll sleep outside by the front door, then. As my wolf. At least we will know you are safe.”
I would absolutely not stand for that. The thought of Elias or any of them sleeping outside on my account sounded awful. I wouldn’t get a wink of sleep. They wouldn’t.
No reason for all of us to suffer.
“You’ll do no such thing. It’s fine if you take the couch. It might be the only way I get any sleep tonight.”
The need to hug them swept over me but I refrained. Barely.
“Good night, Anathea,” Carter said. “You can still call or text us anytime, even with Elias here. He snores, by the way.”
“I do not,” Elias said and then turned to me. “I do not.”
“It’s okay. I lived with a pack. Snoring is the least of the noises I can tolerate. Except for a branch against the window, apparently.”
Still felt silly about that.
My wolf didn’t. It brought her…it brought these three to my doorstep.
“That settles it, then.” Jayden moved toward me slowly. “Good night, sweet omega. You can text me, too. Anytime.” He placed a kiss on my forehead. Finding out he was single was the best news of the night.
“Goodnight.”
I wanted all three of them to stay. And not on the couch. Surrounding me. Taking up all the space in my nest, not leaving room for any of my fears and doubts.
Carter and Jayden left, and I wrangled up some blankets and a pillow for Elias. He accepted them with his sweet smile and tried to convince me he would be comfortable.
“Good night,” I said, craving more. Any touch would do. Damn, it was like I was in heat all the time around these three. Not a true heat but something damned close.
“Come here,” he said, and I all but sprinted into his open arms. He held me close and wished all kinds of calming things with his mouth against my hair. His warm breath touched my scalp and caused tingles to finger through my body.
“Thank you,” I said, trying to encompass all that I wanted to show my appreciation for. It fell short.
“Get some sleep, Anathea. I’ll be here in the morning. I promise you.”
Never before had I believed an alpha’s promise, but coming from him, I found myself leaning into it. Tucking it against my chest, right next to my heart.
I went to bed wrapped up in a warm blanket, not physical but woven from their care. They showed up when I asked them to and went above and beyond when I didn’t.
My wolf was already in love.
Calling them mates. Calling them her pack. Her pack. Our pack.
Fuck. I was so in trouble.
That night, I slept better than I had in ages. Before the expectations. Before the contracts and alphas peeking at me like meat on a hook. A time when I wasn’t running for my life.
A time when I wasn’t hunted or haunted.