“He has such a big heart—he wants to fix everything, but doing so is too much for him. He wants Thatcher to have an omega and a partner, but for the longest time, he ignored that it wouldn’t be with me. He wants to prove to his grandma that he was worth the extra heartache of raising him. And he wants all of us not to have to lift a finger for the rest of our lives, but he doesn’t understand that we can’t do that. We have to work together to make this pack work, not just let him take the reins so he can bear the brunt of the stress for us.”
It’s a lot of information to process at once, but somehow I understand right away. Sam is a natural leader, of course, but he has a savior complex. Nothing feels perfect, and he’s always working overtime to make things better for the people around him.
I sigh, thinking it over. If he’s always saving everyone, who saves him?
My omega whines in my chest.
The front door opens and Thatcher walks in, his hockey bag slung over his shoulder.
“You’re back earlier than I expected,” Kit comments.
He grunts. “Coach had to leave early for something, so we get a tiny breather.”
“Awesome! Now you can hang out with us.” Kit moves his legs slightly and pats the spot between us on the couch.
He places his bag down by the door and saunters over. “What are we watching?”
“The Hobbit!” When Thatcher sits down, Kit swings his legs over his lap. The alpha lets out a hum of approval before placing his hand on Kit’s shin, caressing it back and forth like it’s the most natural thing in the world.
Seeing them like this makes me giddy, because it didn’t seem possible when I first showed up. The longing glances between the two of them as they hid in the shadows and watched the other was difficult to watch, especially now that we all know how happy they are with each other.
But still, a weird twinge pulls at my heartstrings. I’m not sure where the disconnect is, but my omega is trying to tell me something. I don’t know what it is until I catch Kit looking at me, his lips curved into a mischievous smirk. He leans forward and pulls my legs on top of the alpha between us.
I let out a squeak. “Kit!”
“What?” he says, acting coy. “You need to stretch out!”
“But—” I look at Thatcher, my cheeks flushed. The uneasy throb I felt moments before fades as our legs continue to touch. “I’m sorry. I can move them back if you want me to.”
He thinks about it for a second, tilting his head. “Are you comfortable?”
My lips part. “Yes.”
“Then I want you to stay.” He puts his hand on top of my leg to emphasize it should stay, but a strike of something unusual shoots through me. Heats pools beneath my skin where his palm touches me, binding us in a temporary comfort.
I watch him, making sure there’s no sign of discomfort, but he just turns to the movie blissfully, his mint scent a sweet and glorious calm.
Ultimately, I nod my head. “Okay.”
“Okay,” he repeats.
Fuck, I am in so much trouble when it comes to this pack.
THIRTY-SEVEN
“Yes, sir. I’ll look it over,” I say, but my patience is running thin. Mr. McMillan has practically doubled my cases, and with my schedule at Bensen, it’s becoming much harder to manage. Not to mention, I’ve been an emotional wreck since I realized I needed to fix things with Opal. Our first kiss feels tainted now, all because I was insecure and ended it prematurely. I assumed things would be better if I didn’t feel this way for the omega staying in our house, but I realize now that it’s her house, too.
Andweare hers, as well. All three of us. I was just too late to catch up.
I barely listen to my boss as he chirps more nonsense in my ear. I’m almost at the Dean’s office when I finally hang up and let out a big breath.
“Long day?” I hear from behind me.
“Long year, to be honest,” I say without thinking. Then, the voice fully processes, and I turn to see Roger Alston standing there. I look around me. Did he just jump out of a portal?
He chuckles. “I was in a meeting with the Dean,” heinforms me. “My firm helps with Bensen’s civil proceedings sometimes.”
“Right.” I nod, but I definitely didn’t know that. I feel like it’s something that should have been on my radar. “Well, I’m heading there now. I have some folders to drop off. It was good seeing you again, Mr. Alston.”
