I simply wished things were different.
The house was still quiet when I walked back inside. Considering the rest of my pack was enjoying each other’s company until early in the morning, I was unsurprised.
“There you are,” Aspen’s voice startled me, her soft laughter echoing out as I clutched my chest.
“Woman, make some noise!”
“I figured you saw me when you didn’t say anything,” she teased. “Not the most observant, now are we?”
“In my defense, the house was quiet. I assumed you’d be asleep for several more hours.”
“Sleep is still not my friend,” she admitted with a sigh. I could see the dark circles now and I frowned. “I got a few hours after spending some time with North and Jack, and when I woke up, you were already gone. I’m worried about you, Cole.”
She set her mug on the counter and walked forward. She had a robe tied around her, hair hanging loose, face open and vulnerable. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her look more beautiful than right now.
Her delicate arms wrapped around me as if she could hold me together.
“I’m just a little nervous is all,” I said as I held her close to me, soaking in her sweet and tart scent. My alpha didn’t even mind that she smelled like the others.
They were pack, too.
“That’s understandable. Is there anything I can do to help?”
“You already are,” I breathed out as I rested my cheek against the top of her head, holding her like my life depended on it. “This is exactly what I needed.”
“Me, too,” she admitted.
My hands ran up and down her arms, eventually resting on the side of her neck. She shuddered, and I froze at the feel of the ridged skin there. A bite mark, a complete one from the way it was healing.
She realized I froze and leaned back to look up at me.
“North and I claimed each other,” she explained, as if bracing herself for my reaction.
I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face. “I love that you found each other,” I reassured her. “Though I have to admit, the alpha in me is a little bit jealous that he got to claim you first.”
“Don’t worry. There’s plenty of time for you to claim me, too,” she teased, leaning up and offering her lips to me.
I didn’t hesitate to kiss my omega. I’d never considered myself the type to enjoy kissing for hours, and yet I could absolutely kiss this omega for days and still never tire of it.
“You smell like them,” I teased as I pulled away, my nose skimming down her throat and making her shudder, despite the fact that my omega should be more than satisfied.
We pulled apart as footsteps echoed down the main staircase.
“He just had to cock-block me, didn’t he?” she said with a laugh as Jack approached.
“Yeah, I know that I really have no right to interupt you like this, but I do take satisfaction in it. At least there’s a good reason,” Jack tacked on at the end.
When I turned around and shot him a withering glare, he held up his hands, but he didn’t look a damn bit sorry.
“Asshole.”
He huffed, but forged ahead. “I have a lead on that place in town, and if we get our asses in gear and get out there in fifteen minutes, you can look at it. She’s got some buyers coming in tomorrow, but if we slip in there and an offer goes up, it’s first come, first serve,” Jack pointed out.
North was behind him, both of them dressed and ready to go, which really only left our girl.
“I’m on it!” she squeaked out, running up the stairs, taking them two at a time.
In her absence, my attention shifted to the other two. I didn’t miss the way they were leaning into each other as we waited for her.
