Chapter 11 #2
“What’s the pack name?” I ask curiously. I am softening more as I see how hard they’re trying. They’re upending their lives for me.
“Pack Thunder,” Storm says. “I’ll actually remember it since it’s close enough to ‘storm’.”
“Smart,” I say, enjoying how pink his cheeks get. “I’m going to go shower then.”
“I have a surprise for you when you come back down,” Lore says as I begin to walk out. As I glance over my shoulder, he shakes his head. “Nope. Not till after.”
It’s about three in the afternoon so I have more than enough time to get ready.
Heading upstairs, I find the bathroom, and have to admit this brownstone is really nice.
Whoever sold it to them upgraded things for the next buyers, so they not only have the history of the building, but also have pretty hardware too.
This bathroom has a rainfall shower head with handheld combo, and I feel a surge of happiness.
After the Haven’s finicky water pressure, I nearly squeal with excitement when I turn on the shower and find the complete opposite here.
Pulling off my borrowed shirt, I press the material to my nose to inhale deeply.
The scent of caramel and salt fills my lungs, and I immediately know it belongs to Wilder. I haven’t wanted to nest in ages, and I certainly have never wanted to steal an alpha’s shirt. They’re making me lean into my instincts.
Forcing myself to put down the shirt, I look through the bag of toiletries and smile.
They thought of everything. I take a long shower, shave, brush my hair out in the warm water, before finally getting out and drying my body.
I’m naked and rubbing lotion into my skin when someone knocks on the door.
“Come in,” I call out, not having locked the door behind me.
Lore opens the door, and his eyes move over my body before he gazes at my pussy, since my foot is currently propped up on the toilet seat.
“I’m going to kidnap you,” he says softly.
“You can’t, you have to leave,” I say, winking at him as I put my foot down to do my other leg.
“You’re right, I do. I just don’t remember why anymore,” he mutters, moving to steal the lotion from me. “I’ll do that. Is this why your skin is always so soft? All the lotion?”
“I haven’t thought about it,” I say, shrugging. “It’s just something I’ve always done. I don’t like to have itchy skin, and it dries out easily at the hospital.”
Lore sits on the toilet seat and places my foot on his thigh instead. He’s wearing a pair of joggers and isn’t wearing a shirt. He looks really relaxed, and dare I say it? Normal?
That is, until you see how meticulous he is as he rubs the lotion into my skin, and the way his eyes move over me. I’ve never had anyone else look at me like this. This is the gaze of someone who notices everything, because if he’s distracted, people could die.
Damn, that got dark fast.
“You’re brooding,” he murmurs, his hands rubbing the leftover lotion into my hips and stomach.
“I am,” I admit.
“Why?” he asks, digging in the plastic bags for a pack of panties. Tearing it open, he pulls one out and helps me step into them.
“My brain is really busy,” I say, watching as he finds me a bra as well. “How did you figure out all of my sizes?”
“Storm is really good at guesstimating sizes. Though, he’s never had to use it like this before,” he says.
“Like what?” I ask, finding the bra fits perfectly as I put it on.
“He’s never bought a woman clothes before,” Lore says.
“Are you saying this so I won’t get jealous?” I ask. “I’m an adult. I do know that we all have pasts.”
“You’re way more of an adult than I am then,” he huffs out, handing me a pair of black cargo pants that fit perfectly. “I hate the idea of you being with another man.”
“It really was more for biological purposes,” I say, trying to make him feel better. “Tommy is a cock blocker, and having a heat alone is really painful.”
“Is that why you’re on blockers?” he asks.
“Mmhmm. Being around your scent matches but not being bonded to them can make heats even worse I’ve heard,” I tell him, pulling out a shirt to finish off the outfit. It’s a plain white t-shirt but it works.
“Explain, please,” he says, his arms folding over his chest.
“The only person that will make an omega happy once she’s found her scent match is…”
“Me,” he says possessively, making my lips twitch.
“Yes, Mr. Caveman. If I go into heat without you, I could lose my mind or die. Since I’d rather neither of those things happen—”
“Why won’t you move in with us?” Lore asks, standing. His feet keep moving until he’s caging me against the wall with his arms. “The biology is laid out in front of you in black and white and you’re still sticking your tongue out at it.”
“I don’t like to be controlled,” I say mildly. When people growl, they hate when you remain calm.
“I don’t want to control you, not unless you’re willing to hand it to me the way you did earlier today,” he says.
“That was about push and pull. I didn’t see any control there,” I say.
“Maybe ‘control’ is the wrong word,” he grumbles. “I like to lead, and when you push back, I want to find a solution to make you bend until you combust into a million shards so I can put you back together again. That’s what I want.”
I don’t know what to say as he finds the hair dryer and plugs it in. He moves me in front of him and turns the dryer on, all while I stare at him in the mirror, dumbfounded.
Lore is very thorough as he dries my hair, and even uses a brush to make sure it lays well. When he’s done, he twists his lips in concentration as he looks at me.
“How did I do?” he asks.
“Really well,” I breathe. Lore drops a kiss on my forehead before he nods.
“Finish up and I’ll show you the surprise,” he says, walking out the door.
That reminds me that there is some mysterious surprise, and I quickly brush my teeth and pull my hair up into a ponytail. Lore did such a good job but I don’t like to keep my hair loose. Pulling on a pair of socks also from one of the bags, I walk out to see what Lore did.
I begin to wonder where my shoes and sweater are when I find them by the front door. They’ve thought of everything. Why the fuck am I fighting this?
“Ready?” Lore asks, picking up my sweater to help me into it. He’s wearing dark jeans, a long sleeved black shirt and his cut, just like Storm and Wilder are.
“I packed a sandwich for you to eat later,” Wilder says, handing me my bag. “I also put a big bottle of water inside too.”
“Thank you,” I say, smiling.
Storm drops to his knees to help me into my shoes, and I practically swoon once he’s done.
“We’re buttering you up. Is it working?” he asks, winking at me.
“It may be,” I admit.
Lore opens the door and we walk down the stairs together onto the sidewalk.
“Okay,” he says, appearing nervous. “You and Wilder had a conversation earlier about responsibility, right?”
“Yes,” I drawl, wondering where he’s headed with this.
“Do you see the blue SUV parked behind the bikes?” Storm asks, shoving his hands in his pockets.
“It’s pretty,” I say, spotting it. “Why am I looking at it?”
“Because it’s yours,” Wilder says, handing a key fob to me.
I’m speechless, and he hurries to continue.
“Your car has been really good to you, but Henry from the shop says he’s worried about you driving it at all.
He’s willing to sell the parts and give you the money.
We can store your things at the brownstone until you finally break down and see that your place is with us. ”
“But the car is yours,” Lore rumbles. “You need to be safe, and this car will do that.”
I still don’t know what to say. I know that they kept telling me they wanted to do this, but I didn’t really believe them. I figured it’s just something you tell someone.
They bought me an SUV. Fuck, it’s even a really nice one.
Warm arms crush me against his chest and I start to sob.
“This is just…so nice,” I gasp.
“I know,” Storm murmurs, holding me. “You deserve this. Marie, I literally don’t know anyone else who works themselves into the ground the way you do. Please take the gift.”
“I will. I just…wow.”
“You’re rarely speechless,” Lore says, standing in front of me. I didn’t even hear him move. Leaning forward, he kisses me gently. “I’m glad you like it. Come get a closer look.”
Walking together, I unlock the doors with wide eyes. Wilder steals me away to lift me into the driver seat.
“The seats heat when it’s cold, the windows defrost, and it has all wheel drive.
The tires will carry you until the first heavy snowfall.
We bought winter tires so that we can change them for you,” he says.
“We’re still going to follow you to work because we want to, but for the girl who loves independence, wheels that drive in all weather are important. ”
“I want you to think about staying with Storm tonight,” Lore adds. “You seriously look like you’ve slept for several days instead of a few really solid hours.”
Dashing the tears off my face, I nod. Ugh, I hate that he’s right.
“I’ll stay,” I say. “I don’t like holding a bed at the shelter if I don’t need to. They’ve been so supportive and good to me. I’m glad a place like that exists.”
“Well, it kept you off the streets, so I’m glad too,” Storm says. His eyes narrow as he watches me duck my head. “You were thinking about sleeping on the streets?!”
“I was going to sleep in my car before you destroyed it,” I amend. “There are also camping parks too.”
“I can feel gray hair trying to push itself out of my scalp,” Lore groans. “Marie!”
“Henry told me about Omega’s Haven,” I say. “That’s why I went there instead.”
“Well thank god for that,” Storm grumbles. “Let me lock up and we’ll drive with you to work.”
“I’d stay if I could,” Lore says once Storm leaves.
“I know,” I sigh.
“While we don’t need the money, people depend on us,” he continues. “Shit, you already agreed with me.”
I can’t help the smile as I nod, and he leans inside to kiss me until it feels as if my soul is going to detach from my body.
“My turn,” Wilder says, pushing Lore out of the way as he chuckles. “You’re the girl I could fall for, you know that?”
His lips cover mine, and I wrap my arms around his neck as I moan softly.
“We gotta go,” he whispers. “I’ll call you when I can.”
I wait until he closes the door and walks to the bikes before I whisper back, “Just come back.”