Nate quietly relieves me as my arms become full, but I keep hold of the starry blanket, holding it to me as it’s joined by a beautiful silver furred throw and a crimson silk sheet that shines in the overhead lights.
Blinking, I realize we’ve reached the end of the aisle. My arms are overflowing again when I look down and then sheepishly at Nate.
“Beautiful,” he says, taking some and adding to the pile in the trolley.
“I can’t wait to see your nest,” he says. “I hope you’ll invite me in.”
“Maybe I will,” I tease lightly, “maybe I won’t.”
He growls, a loud, rippling pretend roar that sends me pelting up the next aisle with a giggling squeal.
I can feel the eyes, disapproving looks, but I don’t care. The only person I care about in this space is the alpha who directs the sales assistant to load up my purchases before pushing away my cash with a snort.
“No good alpha would let his omega pay for this,” he tells me firmly. “This is my privilege, to do this for you.”
The sales assistant’s mouth falls slack, her eyes sliding to me. She tilts her head towards Nate, her wide eyes sending a very clear message.
Why are you complaining? You freaking idiot.
Frowning, I stuff the small wad back into my pocket.
“Thank you,” I say, as we’re wheeling the cart back out to the car. “But I don’t need you to pay for everything for me, Nate. I have money of my own.”
He nudges my shoulder. “Indulge me. You’re used to doing everything on your own. I get that. But you’re notonyour own now, sweetheart. You have us. It’s alright to lean on that.”
I’m about to reply when my neck prickles. Spinning, I take in the busy parking lot. People duck and weave between cars, piling in groceries and shopping. Two betas shout at each other, arms waving out of their car windows as they argue over the same space.
Nobody is paying attention to us. There’s nothing to explain why I can feeleyeson me. It feels… oily. Wrong.
“Gabrielle?”
Nate has stopped, his posture tense as he moves closer.
“Everything okay?” He follows my eyes, his carefree expression melting away as he picks up on my unease.
My hand reaches up to rub at my neck.Stupid.
Now I’m imagining things.
“Everything’s fine.” Blowing out a breath, I scan the lot one more time before sliding into the car.
Nate’s words linger in my head as he drives us back, one arm slung comfortably over the back of my chair as he hums under his breath. His fingers stroke across the back of my neck with light strokes.
It’s peaceful. Soothing. So much so that my eyes start to drift closed, too many weeks of light sleeping and abrupt awakenings catching up with me.
Maybe it’s time to stop resisting, I think drowsily. Nate’s hand smooths over my hair.
“Sleep, kitten. I’ll wake you when we get back.”
I fall asleep with a warmth in my chest.
It feels a lot likehope.
ChapterThirty-Five
Axel
Gabrielle stirs, sleepy eyes blinking up at me before they widen.
