But I swear it’s fate. How is it that the one Omega—the only Omega—that’s ever tempted me to want to pack up with happens to be the same girl that Jake’s been crazy for… for six years? And the same one Charlie grew up with and has been in some sort of love with since they were kids?
That is some crazy shit.
My Alpha rumbles with satisfaction at the thought.Ours. Meant to be ours.
I pull up the long drive that winds toward the ranch house—a big, beautiful Craftsman perched on the hill. Open fields roll out for miles, disappearing into the morning fog.
This place used to be one of the biggest cattle operations in the county, but it hasn’t been a working ranch in years. When we talked about retirement, one of the dreams was always bringing it back to life. The land wants it. You can feel the memory of generations in the soil, waiting for someone to listen again.
Charlie grew up here—had it a lot better than I ever did growing up. I pull up behind the barn and grab the bag of biscuits, figuring I’ll go to the tack room before heading to the house. But just as my foot hits the ground, a tiny football-sized ball of fur launches himself at my legs.
I reach down to pick up the yapping ball of chaos and give him a good scratch behind the ears.
“There you go, buddy,” I say. He’s a mottled color of gray, brown, black, and white. Why Charlie ever named him Buttercup, I’ll never know.
I set Buttercup back on the ground just as I look up and see Charlie sitting on the porch wearing a pair of hot pinksweatpants with tiny popsicles on them. I don’t even know where he finds these things. He waves me over, and I forgo my trip to the tack room.
“Did they make it home?” he asks, gesturing to the bag under my arm.
I level a hard stare at him.
“Look, man. I said if those pants are on you, I’m eating your biscuit.”
I love razzing him about his pants. Charlie has a massive collection of the most whimsical, ridiculous pajama bottoms it’s possible to have. It’s so at odds with the large-framed, virile Alpha in front of me.
“What? No! You love me,” he says, wagging his eyebrows at me. He’s always been the charismatic one, able to charm his way out of anything.
But I reach into the bag and pull out a biscuit anyway. Who am I to deprive a man of a Hattie Belle biscuit?
“Where’s Jake?”
“Still upstairs moping.”
I move past Charlie and notice him stiffen and take a deep breath.
“Why do you smell like buttercups and vanilla?” he asks, a distinct knowing tone in his voice.
“Come on, Chuck. Inside.” I ignore the question, though I’m sure he knows her scent. They grew up together, and another wave of envy swims around my gut, knowing how many years he got to smell her.
How many summers did he spend running wild with her while I was fighting my way through the amateur circuits, trying to make a name for myself? I remember her father, and not for the first time in the last forty-eight hours, I wonder if I ever crossed her path before.
It doesn’t take long for Jake to make it downstairs into the kitchen. When we’re all sitting around the table, I throw out the elephant in the room. I’ve never been one to mince words, and Lord knows I probably could take lessons in being a little more subtle, but it’s just never been easy for me.
“So, what are we doing?”
Two pairs of eyes look up at me, a mix of confusion on their faces.
“What do you mean?” Charlie asks.
“Willa James.”
Dropping her name is the equivalent of sucking the air out of the room. Record scratch. Mic drop.
“What about her?” Jake says, and there’s an edge of defensiveness there that wasn’t there before. His Alpha is already rising to protect her, even in conversation.
“Well, it seems to me that we might need to have a proper conversation.” My own Alpha instincts rush to the surface, demanding that we stop talking and bring her here right now. The rudeness of it is jarring. It’s been years since I’ve wanted a woman this bad, and never has my Alpha desired an Omega like this.
I look at my brothers, my pack, the men who have stood by me and supported me for years. I look at them, willing them to want her, too. I take a deep breath.
