Chapter Seventeen
Anathea
“You could stay with us.” Jayden shrugged while he said it.
“I don’t know if I can.”
Elias put his hand over mine. “Let’s work through it together. Tell us the reasons why you think you can’t.”
“I need my own space. And I pay rent.”
Carter nodded. “Here you will have space of your own. We have an omega suite with a bedroom, ensuite bathroom, and walk-in closet.”
“My lease is up next month, and I need to find a new place. I can’t stay there anymore.”
Jayden reached for an orange and peeled it. I was mesmerized by his movements. Like the rest of the pack, every move was purposeful. An orange became sexy all of a sudden. “We can put your things in storage until you find a place.”
He didn’t eat any of the ice cream. I wondered why.
“I would have to pay rent here.”
“Out of the question,” Carter said. The way he said it left no room for argument. Goddess, he was so the alpha of this bunch. I wondered if that bossing extended into the bedroom as well. I might like it. No, I would definitely like it.
“I can cook and clean,” I offered.
Three sets of stink eyes shut that down immediately.
“I can’t just live here and not contribute.”
“Why not?” Elias asked. “Who told you that just being yourself wasn’t enough. You’ve brought light into our lives, omega. Being you is enough. We don’t want your money or for you to be some kind of housekeeper. Live with us and be safe and well. That’s your rent.”
Sounded like the deal of a lifetime.
“This is only until I can save enough money to get another place.”
Carter looked wounded. Frowning, he nodded. “That’s your choice.”
Silence filled the room until I let out a yawn. “Okay. I’ll stay.”
They let out a collective sigh. “Good. That’s settled. Come on and see your room.” Jayden got up and offered me his hand. I took it and it felt like entering into an unspoken bond.
The bond had already begun. For me. For my wolf.
We walked through the house. I realized at the top of the stairs, that there was only one door at the top.
“This is…”
Jayden nodded and I heard the others make their way up the stairs too. My core throbbed. If I asked them to stay with me tonight. If I asked them to do more than comfort me and make me theirs that they would. It would be so easy and yet, I hesitated.
Fear held me back.
Fear held everyone back.
“Here we are. The omega suite.”
It hit me then. This wasn’t just a guest room in their house. This was the suite they intended for their omega. Their scent-match. Their fated mate. It felt wrong for a slice of time, only a fraction of a second but then as we walked in, it felt right. A puzzle piece slid into place.
A string tugged inside my chest. This was where I belonged.
“It’s gorgeous.”
My eyes were drawn to the window seat along one wall.
It had pillows for sitting and underneath, open spaces for books to wait to be read.
The bed was round, something I’d never seen in person before.
How in the world did they find sheets to fit that thing?
Between the three of them, they’d clearly found a way.
A soft lavender comforter lay across the bed, one side folded back, welcoming a sleeper.
Carter moved to the dresser and lit a candle there. Jayden checked the bathroom and mumbled something about having everything she needs.
I stood there in awe. This place was fit for a queen. A princess. Something more royal than anything I’d ever dreamed about or read in a fairy tale. If I had to make my own nest from scratch, I couldn’t have done it better than they already did.
Elias cleared his throat, pulling me from my zone-out. “There are more blankets in the closet. You are welcome to anything there. Plenty of hot water and we keep a few things on hand like shampoo and stuff but we can get whatever you need.”
Carter darted from the room and then came back, something in his hands. “Here. I know you’d prefer your own things but this is the softest set I own.”
The alpha ducked his head a bit and offered me a hoodie and some sweatpants along with socks. All his.
I raised the folded clothes to my nose and inhaled deeply. Not one ounce of embarrassment. “Thank you.”
All three of them nodded.
As they filed out, closing the door behind them, something stirred in my belly. The beginning of a heat maybe? Not pain. A cauldron of safety and want all curled up inside me.
Goddess, I wanted them. The truth became apparent by the second.