The pack and I hadn’t really talked about presents, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to exchange them this year. Everything was a bit crazy, and we were just getting to know each other.
What I did do was spend time picking out small things that reminded me of my guys, and would make our wing feel like our own.
It was a bit weird to not have to worry about pricing or if it would affect my budget. I had a good salary and it was just me, but it wasn’t like my savings were endless, especially if I was going to have to figure out how to move all of my things here.
I didn’t want to be that omega that relied on her pack to cover everything. Moving to Pine Ridge was already going to be a huge hit.
If they let me cover my own expenses, at least.
My mind went back to the guys as I turned another corner, even more shelves ahead of me. This place seemed endless.
I found an antique watch that I thought looked like Cole, adding it to my basket as I hummed along to the Christmas music playing through the old, crackling speakers.
This place had its charm.
North was the only one I hadn’t found anything for yet, but when I reached the back of the store and it was full of books, I couldn’t help but stop and look around.
They had a few early editions with original covers of some of the fairytales. I heard Jack teasing North about his collection as he was stacking them into his nest. North didn’t care, taking it and laughing along with him, but protesting that he didn’t have a complete set. He was missing The Wizard of Oz collection.
I nearly screamed when I found it… a full set, with their vintage covers. I knew they’d fit perfectly.
Too excited to wait now, I bundled them up in my arms before rushing to the front. It was something small but meaningful for each of them, and the best part was, it was exactly the kind of gift I enjoyed giving, and one that I hoped my pack would enjoy receiving.
“I see you made out about as well as I did,” Karina said. She had a full basket and was already leading the way to the counter. When I saw two more waiting, I couldn’t help but laugh.
“You always clean me out when you come in here, don’t you, Mrs. Hawthorne?”
“Oh, you better quit it, Lucille,” Karina said, waving the older woman off.
She rang up Karina’s purchases, and then mine, chatting the whole time about each item and where she got it. This woman was just as passionate about her antiques as I was. I’d found my people.
“I’ll send the bulk of this up to the estate. Is there anything else you want to take with you, though?” Lucille offered as I signed the receipt with Cole’s name. “Or perhaps gift wrapped? I do offer that as well.”
“Actually,” I said, quickly setting aside the three things I’d chosen for my pack, “can you gift wrap these items for me?”
She reached under the counter and pulled out a pad of paper, sliding it over to me.
“Give me the details and I’ll make sure it happens,” she promised.
I jotted down who each item was for so she could put a name on the tag, before giving her my information and number in case there were any issues.
“Actually, I have the same for my mates,” Karina said, taking a notebook that Lucille slid over.
We were about to leave when Karina froze, her hand reaching out and gripping my arm.
“We didn’t even choose anything to wear.”
“I think I have the perfect dress,” I admitted. “I was just happy to come explore.”
“Oh, good,” she said, deflating a bit. “I was afraid you wouldn’t have brought anything. I didn’t exactly prepare you ahead of time for a dinner party.”
“Nothing about this vacation has been expected. I think I can go with the flow at this point.”
“My boys found the perfect omega,” she said, a fond smile on her face as she patted my cheek in that motherly way that made my chest ache.
Guilt slammed into me right after, reminding me that she thought Cole and I were engaged this whole time. Something must’ve shown on my face, maybe the damn guilt. She let out a little chuckle.
“I can read you almost as well as I can read my boys, and I’m going to assume that guilt means that you weren’t actually engaged to my boy when we met, were you?”
