I took her hand in mine. I needed to get my point across and hoped my alpha could reach out to her and soothe her, calm her. Anything would help. She shook with fear. No one could blame her, but that was the last thing we wanted, for her to fear us.“Millie, listen. We came to find you because you are our omega. We wanted you to join our pack. We’re not like the alphas you’ve clearly been around. We want to buy anything we can for you. Provide for your needs. Care for you. There’s nothing to pay back to us. Ever. You owe us nothing.”
She released a breath. Maybe it was our connected hands. Maybe she finally realized we were okay. She stopped shaking, that was all I knew. “This is going to take some getting used to.”
“That’s okay. We have all the time in the world. Now, it’s a few hours before we reach our home. Is there anything you need for the drive? Food? Drink?”
She looked back at the shopping center. “Can I go in there and change into some of my new, warmer clothes? I’m really cold.”
Goodness. I almost slapped myself in the forehead. All that shopping and none of us thought to ask her to change into something warmer. “Of course you can. I’m so sorry we didn’t think of that. We’ll get better. I promise.”
She picked out a sweatshirt and matching pants, along with fluffy winter sock/slipper things. Tyrone escorted her inside where she emerged later, dressed for the season instead of the thin dress she was given.
“I’m all ready,” she said, smiling and even though the sun was bright in the sky, the whole world lit up instantly.
“That’s quite a smile,” I said, touching the soft cheek someone had dared to touch in anger. “We’ll have to do more things to make that happen.”
We piled into the truck, and she buckled her seat belt. Cannon settled into the back seat next to her, the lucky devil. “Um, how long exactly until home?”
I practically melted on the seat hearing her call our home, home. “About three more hours.”
She looked out the window. “Far, far away from him. Finally.”
I hoped that was the last time she ever thought of the monster. But I knew better.
Chapter Eleven
Millie
My mates had told me that their place was rustic, and I assured them I didn’t mind. But as we pulled up to the cabin, I could sense their tension. They were worried I wouldn’t like it here.
Didn’t they know that freedom was better than the finest penthouse?
“We’re home,” Cannon said. “It’s not much.”
Felix reached as if to touch me but then pulled his hand back. “We’re making it better. It’ll be good soon.”
“It looks great to me.” The cabin was like something on a postcard.
We got out, and the guys carried bags of over-the-top clothing they had purchased for me. I’d felt bad as they kept insisting on buying me one item after another, but I could sense their happiness in doing so and didn’t fight too hard. I wasn’t going to let them make a habit of it, though. If we were going to be a sleuth, it couldn’t be all about me.
“We wanted to have your nest ready for you, but we don’t.” Felix looked to the ground.
“You will, though.” Tears formed, and I tried to hold them back, but one fell down my cheek and of course the alphas immediately noticed.
Cannon’s voice cracked as he promised that they’d make it up to me.
“You don’t understand,” I said. “These aren’t sad tears. I’ve never had anybody care about what I wanted before, care about what might be good for me.”
“We really do have plans,” Felix assured me. “We just…we didn’t know you were coming until Tyrone came, and then, well, there wasn’t a lot of time.”
It was going to take some time for me to convince them that I meant it and that I already loved this place.
“Tyrone? You weren’t with them before?”
“No, I came recently. We’ll tell you about how we all came to be here. But maybe we could bring everything inside and take a tour?”
“I’d like that.” I wanted to get to know each of them individually as well as all of them as a sleuth.
The cabin itself was quaint but nice. The kitchen was definitely workable. It had enough cabinets for anything I would ever use and an island for when I baked. I’d never loved cooking, but I was good at it and maybe if it was for people who were good for me, that would make a difference.
