“You can sing?!” she exclaims to Jake, who just glares at Keelan. We all knew he could sing but I think only Keelan and Micah have actually heard him, and they found out on accident.
“Yes,” Jake answers hesitantly, looking uncomfortable.
“Would you show me one day? I’d love to hear your voice,” Thea says softly. Her excitement is clear in the bond but she’s tamping it down so as not to pressure him.
He doesn’t respond, except to scoop her up and place her in his lap. He leans in, whispering something to her that I don’t think any of us can hear. Oh well, they can have their moment. That’s what it means to be in a pack and share an omega. Whether it’s surprising or not, we’ve actually adapted to that pretty well. I knew from the beginning that being in a large pack meant there would be a give and take when it came time for us to find an omega. Though I think we are all surprised with how near seamless we’ve been able to build our relationship with her, while not trampling on anyone else’s. I’m sure all the therapy we did is part of the reason.
And even though a pack bond isn’t something as tangible as a bitten bond with a mate, we still feel it on some level and since Thea came, it feels much more at peace and cohesive. Something we haven’t felt in a long time as a group. Looking around at my pack, my brothers, it’s clear we are going to be okay. With Thea and as a family.
26
THEA
Ben had my replacement shadow me for a couple days before I was officially done working at the lodge. My replacement, Zoe Elliot, is nice. She lives in one town over. We seem to be around the same age. It’s nice having someone else to talk to besides my mates and Taz. We exchanged numbers and have been texting a bit. I think once this is over, I’ll see if we can hang out. I didn’t realize how much I missed having a friend.It feels like a different life sometimes, before all this started.
I’m officially jobless. Yesterday was my last day at the lodge and it was bittersweet. I’m going to do what Ben said about taking a break, and I recall what we talked about before all the mini heats, bonding, the actual heat craziness took over, about working on marketing for the lodge. I can still freelance if I want. However, with the stalker—no, Mark Henderson, we know his name now. He’s not some unknown monster. And with him still hanging over us, I don’t want to commit to anything.
I’ve been sitting in Jake’s nook and trying to read but my mind keeps wandering. The guys have been busy after New Year’s, some project Keelan needed help with. I basically just hung out with Taz during most of the downtime. We’ve gottenclose since he came up here. He brings a levity I think we all needed.
I remember the other day when he was driving me back home after my shift at the lodge, where he said, “If any of those guys do anything, you just call me and I’ll take care of it. I meant to say it after your heat but you were still all lovey with them.”
I could tell he was dead serious and because of that I didn’t laugh at his last comment. He’s like the big brother I never asked for but have anyways. I don’t mind it, and I’m pretty confident I’ll never need to take him up on that offer. I simply agreed and we left it at that.
The plus side of being home more now is seeing Duke more often. He’s always with Micah when he’s home so now I can try and win him over while Micah works. I haven’t found all of Duke’s spots that he prefers during the day, though. Parker tried to help me when I brought it up but I want to do it on my own. Duke did tackle me the first time we met so he must like me in some capacity. Maybe I’ll start walking him during the day. Parker hates it when it’s his turn, I’m sure he’ll gladly switch. I’ll probably have to run it by Harrison, but if I stay within their perimeter and they know Mark Henderson is still in Florida, there shouldn’t be a problem.
A tap on my shoulder catches my attention. It’s Parker and he has the biggest smile on his face. Sometimes he reminds me of a puppy when he gets excited like this. Before I can say anything, he’s pulling me up off the bench and leading me towards the hallway with their offices. Looking back at me, he says brightly, “We have a surprise for you.”
Everyone is gathered outside Micah’s office. Weird. I look at each of them. They all have varying degrees of excitement, except Micah and Keelan. Those two have the ultimate poker face. I blame the beards. I doubt they could hide their expressions as much without it. An image of both of themwithout their beards pops in my head and I use every ounce of willpower to keep from bowing over laughing. I bet they’d have baby faces, which totally undercuts their whole stoic vibe.
Jake steps forward closest to me, taking my hand, saying, “Thea, our omega, our mate. We have all worked on this courting gift for you.” Ben opens the door to Micah’s office before I can process anything. The light from the large windows on the wall opposite the door blinds me for a second. Eli nudges me inside from behind. I have only seen the inside a couple times and only brief glimpses, but it’s been completely transformed. A chandelier hangs from the ceiling now.Itsbase looks like branches with strings of crystals hanging down the two levels, reminding me of a weeping willow. The ceiling also has wallpaper of the night sky and different constellations shining through. Wait, are there actual lights where some of the stars are?
My head snaps to Eli to confirm because who else would do that? He nods. No one says anything, just letting me take in the room. I thought I was in awe looking at the ceiling. Then I see the shelves. The door to the office is in the middle of the wall with built-in bookshelves on either side of it. They are only about hip height, leaving the wall space above it open. The shelves then wrap around the left and right walls; the only difference is these go all the way to the ceiling before curving to the far wall on the space on either side of the large windows overlooking the lake and mountains.
I look closer at the shelves where there are carvings everywhere, running my fingers over the dark wood. Trees, flowers, various animals. There are so many foxes. He remembered it was my favorite animal. Turning towards the window, I’m somehow just noticing the giant chair and ottoman—it’s the same one as Parker’s. It’s so cozy.
They made me alibrary.
I turn around to see them all now spread out just inside the room. I open my mouth to say something,anythingbut I’m speechless. It’sperfect.
“We all helped out with it. Keelan brought up the idea to do in a spare room, but Micah offered his office. Ben picked the chandelier, Eli picked the wallpaper on the ceiling, Keelan made the shelves, Liam and Jake installed them, and I got the chair,” Parker rambles out proudly, a wide grin stretching across his face. Micah had to have done that a while ago to give them all time to build the shelves and update the room. Yet he still thinks he has to do more to prove something.
I’ve been holding back tears since I saw the ceiling. I need to say something, thank them. “You guys—” My voice breaks and so does the dam holding the tears. Sniffling, I try again. “It’s perfect. Thank you all so much.” Then I’m moving forward and hugging Micah first. He’s clearly surprised by how he stiffens but he hugs me back. I hug every single one of them.
Moving to the center of the room, I take it all in, I feel their love pouring down the bonds.Connor, I wish you were here. I’m so happy.Happier than I thought I had any right to be after losing you.
Suddenly Eli is wrapping himself around me and flopping us both onto the chair, making us both laugh. Everyone ends up sitting where they can on the chair and ottoman, surrounding me. Feeling them in the bond is something I never will take for granted. Pushing everything I feel down towards them is the best I can do. Words just aren’t enough. I look to Micah, wishing I could better communicate with him in a way he’d receive it.
27
THEA
Ithink I live in this room now. I spend more time here than anywhere in the house and that’s fine by me. The guys put so much thought into this library and it shows. The carvings Keelan did…I’m always finding something new to be surprised by, even the wallpaper on the ceiling. There are so many different constellations hidden throughout it. I don’t have many books on the shelves yet. Most of my books are still back in Florida. I’m sure at some point we’ll go there and pack up the apartment, though I doubt if I’ll ever be ready for that. Honestly, I’m surprised Sophie and the dads kept it this long. I would’ve thought they’d pack it up a long time ago. I’ll have to ask her about it next time we talk.
Now that winter has started, it’s been getting dark early. Right now, there’s still a good amount of light streaming in from the large windows behind me. I still can’t believe Micah gave up his office. He’s such a workaholic. In all the time I’ve lived here, I don’t think I’ve seen him do any kind of hobby like the others. Eli has his astronomy, Parker and Ben their video games, Liam his reading, Jake his music and books, and Keelan…Well, his is the same as his work. So I guess not everyone has a hobby differentfrom work. Even so, he should have something he enjoys outside of that. I wonder if he set up an office somewhere else in the house. The only spare room on this floor is closer to Keelan’s workshop, which wouldn’t be a good idea to have an office nearby.
Maybe there’s a solution and it’s staring me in the face but I can’t see it. Or maybe by giving up his office, Micah is no longer going to work from home? I’d be shocked if that happened. I never got why he had an office when he has one at the lodge five minutes away by car.
I want to do something for him, for all of them. You know it’s always been dumb to me that courting gifts only ever go one way. I want to give them a gift. I can just hear my old teachers and even my mom lecturing about what it means and how omegas are treasured. Well, that’s fine but I treasure my mates just as much. Reaching for my tablet, I begin my search for courting gifts.
