Bonnie
Chapter Eleven
How in the world did this happen?
And moreover, why is my wolf so damned happy about it? Is this the sleuth or the pack that I’ve always dreamed of?
I had limited knowledge about packs and pack dynamics. Hell, I barely knew things about being an omega, but what I did know was that the person who raised me not only wasn’t my mother but also had lied to me my entire life.
There was no way in hell I could go back there and look her in the eyes.
“Here we are,” Dallas said, parking in front of the most beautiful little cabin.
It was something I’d imagined out of one of my books.
We sat there for a minute while I took everything in.
Plants hung by the front porch in baskets.
The front door had one of those mats and a swing on either side of the porch.
I could hear animals and, to the right, a group of goats munched away at grass.
My insides shook as I thought about going inside but at that moment, Dallas lightly touched my arm. “I swear no one will ever hurt you. None of us would ever hurt you.”
Nodding, I swallowed around the boulder in my throat. “I know that in my head, but I’m nervous.”
“Understandable. Archer and Justice are inside waiting, but take all the time you need.”
I forced a smile. “I can go in now. Rip the bandage off.”
Dallas cringed. I didn’t know what I said wrong, but he got out and opened my door. I hesitated because of my fear, but he thought I wanted him to open my door. Gosh, I was already causing trouble. “Welcome to our home, Bonnie.”
We walked up the stairs and to the door.
Dallas opened it and let me in first. The place smelled fantastic.
There were the alphas scents, of course, taking up space and making me the slightest bit dizzy but underneath, there was more.
The smell of foods. So many, I couldn’t place what exactly was being cooked.
The cabin was clear and orderly. Dishes done and nothing much on the counters. I guessed I would be expected to keep it that way. Comfy-looking couches sat in front of a large TV, and soft lamps lit up the room.
“Hi, Bonnie. It’s nice to see you again.”
Archer. He was the shortest one and the…
beefiest one. He was handsome and something about his smile eased some of my nerves.
Justice, the tall and thin one, stood against the counter, hands in his pockets.
His mouth showed neither a smile or a frown, something in between.
Maybe one day, I would be able to read him.
“Hi. Thank you for this. I know it’s trouble for you, and I’m so…”
I didn’t get “sorry” out. Justice pushed off the counter and shook his head. “It’s no trouble. Really. We’ve been waiting for you. Would you like to see your room, omega?”
The name caught me off guard. Justice seemed like a serious type. Perhaps that was just his way.
“I would like that. Thank you. A shower would be nice if that’s okay.”
Archer came over, smiling. His alpha power wrapped me up in soothing waves. “Of course. This is your home now too. Can I show you your room?”
I nodded. He took my hand and led me down a hall, pointing out the other rooms and the bathroom. I’d never shared a bathroom with a male before but from what I’d read and heard about from the woman who raised me, a man’s bathroom was nasty business.
“Here we go. We hope you like it.”
I walked into the room. He touched my lower back as I passed and it triggered a shudder.
Goodness me. This room was nothing like I expected.
This wasn’t some extra space they had available.
This was the biggest bedroom I’d ever seen.
There was a huge bed, and in the corner, a very large nesting pillow.
The walls were painted a soft lavender, and the windows were open, letting in fresh air.
It was too much for one person, and suddenly I had the urge to share.
“There’s a lock. I installed it.” Justice stood by the door, not coming in.
“A l-lock?” Goddess, had I left one prison in exchange for another?
Dallas came over and touched my arm. Instantly, I was calmer, but not by much. “Bonnie, the lock is for you to keep yourself safe. You are the only one who has a key. It’s to keep others out, not to shut you in. We would never lock you up.”
Justice nodded. “Sorry. I didn’t explain that right.”
“It’s okay. I’m a bit on edge. I…could I have a minute to myself?”
Dallas nodded. “Of course. Why don’t you shower and get cleaned up for dinner. I can smell your hunger.”
All three of them left and as the door closed, the key on a hook near the door, I finally was able to fully exhale.
My wolf told me I was safe here. These alphas would never hurt me. Never.
I took a shower in the bathroom attached to the bedroom and picked some clothes from the ones that were neatly folded on the bed. They had bought all of this for me. I had a lot to pay back but I was grateful. And Dallas mentioned there was more in the closet and dresser.
I put on some jeans and a soft black shirt and went toward the kitchen. In addition to the clothes, there were hairbrushes and hairbands, body wash and shampoo. Enough supplies to last me several years.
They went overboard, but again, things could be worse.
On the way, I thought about something easy to have for dinner. They’d told me to clean up, so I suspected I was cooking despite the smells of good food in the air but as I rounded the corner, I found out how wrong I was.
The counters were full of so many dishes. Meats, tons of vegetables, salads, two kinds of freshly baked breads. And so many desserts, my teeth ached.
“We eat together every night but we were waiting for you. Sit down. Let me make you a plate.” Archer. I had the feeling he was the nurturer of the bunch and it showed.
“You made all of this?” I asked.
He pushed out his chest. “I did. You’re welcome to anything to eat in this house. And if you didn’t notice, there’s a fridge and a cabinet of snacks in your room. That’s all yours as well.”
I hadn’t noticed that. I was too in awe of the room and everything they’d done for me.
More than anyone in my entire life.
Justice handed me a plate and our fingers brushed. I could barely speak. The touch was so intimate and yet, not. “Thank you. Thank you all. I don’t know how, but I promise to pay you back for this.”
“You’ll do no such thing,” Justice responded. “We gave you those things freely. You owe us nothing, female. Go on. Eat.”
Another thing he called me. I just wanted to hear my name on his lips.
Strange thing to desire.
They piled their plates high and when I didn’t, I got some encouraging looks and with a nudge from Dallas to my arm, the nervousness subsided. I got a lot of everything while my mouth watered.
“There’s so much cake,” I laughed.
“Archer went a little overboard once he heard I was bringing you home.”
I looked across the table to see Archer blushing. Cheeks red as could be. Even his ears.
“Thank you for all the trouble. I haven’t had cake in…well, since you sent some home with me the other day.”
I suspected the gift with consignment thing was a ruse, but at that moment, the smell of baked bread and honey was so strong in their shop that there was no way I could resist.
“Do you like to bake or cook?” Archer’s question tipped off a mountain of more questions from the three bears. They wanted to know everything about me it seemed, but as the food on my plate disappeared, the whole thing became demanding.
Too many questions. So much had happened in one day and I was overwhelmed, tired, and frazzled. Not because of them but because of me.
“I’m sorry but…” Goddess, I didn’t want to sound ungrateful. “Today has been a lot for me. I want to take the tour and explore this beautiful house, but I’m not sure how much I have left.”
Dallas nodded. “We understand. We have time for you to learn the house and anything else. Get some rest, Bonnie. We’re so glad you came to live here.”
I stood but realized that with all the cooking meant all the dishes. “The clean up?” I asked.
“Not for you to worry about,” Justice said. “I do the dishes. My thing.”
An alpha who did the dishes. Another alpha who cooked. And a third who offered me a home and a job.
Not at all what I’d been taught about the so-called stronger sex.
“Thank you again for everything. Good night.”
Minutes later, dressed in a new set of pajamas that were a bit baggy on me, I went to sleep happy but concerned.
When would the other shoe drop?