Theo nods in agreement.
"Solid plan. I'm starving."
Grayson is already leading Snowfall into her stall, making sure she has fresh water and starting to remove her saddle.
"Give me five minutes to get her settled and we can go."
As if on cue—because my body has impeccable timing when it comes to embarrassing me—my stomach growls.
Loudly.
Embarrassingly, mortifyingly, cannot-possibly-be-ignored loudly.
It echoes through the barn like a whale song. Or maybe a dying animal. I can't decide which comparison is worse.
All three Alphas turn to look at me simultaneously, their movements synchronized like they choreographed it. Their expressions range from openly amused to genuinely concerned to outright entertained by my predicament.
I feel my face go hot with embarrassment, pressing both hands to my traitorous stomach like I can somehow silence it through sheer force of will.
"I... might be a little hungry. Maybe. Possibly. Just a tiny bit."
Why does this always happen? Why can't I be graceful and mysterious? Why does my body insist on announcing every single need at the worst possible moments?
Nash grins wickedly—that troublemaker smile that means he's about to tease me mercilessly—and walks over to ruffle my hair affectionately with his large hand.
"Hell yeah, food first. Shopping afterward. Can't have our Omega running on empty and passing out in the middle of a boutique. That would be bad for everyone."
I swat his hand away playfully, but I'm smiling so wide my cheeks hurt and my face might crack from the sheer force of my happiness.
"Stop teasing me! It's not my fault I haven't eaten since breakfast!"
"Never," Nash says with an exaggerated wink that makes me want to both kiss him and punch him. "Teasing you is my new favorite hobby."
Theo snorts from where he's securing his horse's reins.
"Your only hobby besides fixing cars and getting into legal trouble."
"Hey! I haven't gotten into legal trouble in at least three weeks," Nash protests.
"That we know about," Grayson adds dryly, still tending to Snowfall with gentle, methodical care.
I giggle at their banter, feeling warmth spread through my entire body that has nothing to do with Nash's flannel wrapped around my shoulders.
As I stand there in the barn with Nash's flannel wrapped snugly around me—still carrying his scent like a comfort blanket—watching Grayson care for Snowfall with gentle expertise and obvious love for the animal, hearing Theo and Nash bicker playfully about races and legal trouble and hobbies, feeling the warmth of being included and wanted and cared for in ways I never experienced with my old pack, I realize something that makes my chest feel tight with overwhelming emotion.
I'm excited by the idea that I get to spend the rest of the day with them.
Not obligated to be there.
Not anxious about doing something wrong or saying the wrong thing or being too much or not enough.
Not worried they'll get tired of me or find me annoying.
Just... excited. Happy. Content.
This could very well be where I'm supposed to be.
CHAPTER 28
