Dustin just sighs. “Then he’s a cow.” A chuckle follows his word as I give Moo-Shu a few pets, Kade’s voice carrying across the yard.
"You're too impulsive," Kade says, but there's no real heat in the words. "How many cows are we going to end up with if this is your solution every time you leave?"
"But she loves him!" Dustin argues, laughter evident in his voice. "Look at her face. How can you be mad when our Omega’s that happy?"
I look up from where I'm kneeling with the cow, catching the playful bickering between them. There's so much affection in the way they talk to each other, teasing and joking even when they're pretending to argue.
Kade's expression shifts into something more predatory as he looks at Dustin. "I think I'm going to go give you a shower as punishment. Did you fucking wrestle the goddamn cow to get him here?"
Dustin laughs, throwing his hands up in defense. "No! I bought him like a gentleman! The ranch helped deliver him and everything."
"Then how did you get so dirty?" Kade challenges, moving closer to Dustin with clear intent in his expression.
"I was grooming him!" Dustin protests, backing up slightly. "I wanted him to look perfect for Solana."
I blush at the admission, warmth spreading through my chest. He went to all that trouble, buying the cow and grooming him and bringing him here, all because he felt bad about leaving me alone.
Kade pushes out a chuckle, his shoulders moving with the sound. "We'll be back in a little bit, sweetheart. You hang with Moo-Shu, get acquainted. I need to have a talk with the little Alpha."
The way he says it makes it clear that "talk" is code for something else entirely. Heat flares in Kade's eyes as he looks at Dustin, the promise of what's coming evident in his expression.
"Don't be mean," I say, suddenly worried that Dustin is actually in trouble. "I really like the cow, okay? Dustin didn't do anything wrong."
Dustin's grin turns wicked, his eyes dancing with amusement. "No, Kade is never mean. Maybe a little firm but don't worry, I like it."
Kade sifts a hand into Dustin's hair and pulls back slightly, making Dustin's head tilt at an angle that exposes his throat. Dustin lets out a groan that makes my core clench with renewed heat, the sound so full of want that my body responds automatically.
"Dusty here likes it a lot," Kade says, his voice dropping into a low register that makes both of us shiver.
He guides Dustin toward the house with that grip in his hair, Dustin following willingly despite his protests. I watch them go, seeing the easy dominance Kade exhibits and the way Dustin submits to it without hesitation. The dynamic between them is beautiful, natural in ways that make me understand why they work so well together.
The door closes behind them and I'm left alone with my new cow. I turn back to him, taking in his sweet face and gentle eyes. He’s already settled down in the grass beside me, his legs folded underneath his body.
I reach out to stroke his head again, my fingers running through the soft fur. "I've never really gotten presents before," I tell him quietly. "At Harmony House, we didn't get anything. No birthdays, no holidays, nothing. And now these Alphas have given me so much in just a few days."
The cow makes a soft sound like he understands, as I experimentally lean against his side. "Dresses and pillows and a nest and now you," I continue, listing out everything they've given me. "They keep giving and giving without asking for anything back. It's so different from what I expected."
Moo-Shu shifts slightly, adjusting his position so I can lean more comfortably against him. The gesture feels intentional, like he knows I need the contact right now. A grin takes over my face as I realize that Dustin’s given me and Moo-Shu a new start on life. "I'm going to show you everything, Moo-Shu.Everything."
Chapter twenty-six
Solana
It's been two days since Dustin brought me Moo-Shu, and I haven't had any more heat symptoms. The desperate, painful need that sent me to my knees has faded into something manageable, something I can exist with. But my scent keeps betraying my thoughts, growing sweeter and more intense whenever Kade and Dustin are near, especially when they kiss me or touch me or just close enough that I can feel the heat radiating from their bodies.
They've been so attentive these past two days, touching me and loving on me, making sure I feel good. Kade traces patterns on my skin while we sit together in the living room, his fingers leaving trails of warmth that make me shiver. Dustin steals kisses whenever he passes by, sweet pecks that sometimes deepen into something more heated before one of us pulls back, remembering we're not alone in the house.
I've fallen asleep in Kade's lap more than once while he works on his laptop, too, needing to be closer to them. He never complains, just adjusts his position to make me more comfortable and continues working with one hand, while the other runs through my braids.
They use words I don't fully understand sometimes, talking about business and logistics and things that sound dangerous. But those words mean nothing to me when I'm wrapped up in their warmth, surrounded by their scents and their care. I trust them to handle whatever darkness exists outside our bubble, content to just exist in the safety they've created.
Most of my time is spent outside with Moo-Shu, though. The black and white cow has become my constant companion, following me around the property like an oversized puppy. I laugh because Thunder seems genuinely jealous of the attention I give the cow, the big horse huffing and stomping when I choose to sit with Moo-Shu instead of visiting his stall.
I find myself sitting in the middle of one of the fields, Moo-Shu grazing beside me, his tail swishing occasionally to ward off flies. Some of the ranch hands are working around us, mending fences and moving equipment, always staying a respectful distance away. They look over every now and then, but it doesn’t feel threatening.
Maybe because most of them are Betas. Or maybe because they bow their heads when I catch their gaze, giving me a respect I never had at Harmony House.
The openness of the field, the endless sky above me, the ability to just sit here without asking permission or worrying about punishment—it's intoxicating. I spread my arms wide, falling back into the grass and staring up at the clouds drifting overhead. Moo-Shu continues grazing, unbothered by my dramatic display.
