He wasn’t wrong.
“Ordinarily, I’m not.” I gestured to a photo on the wall showing more than twenty of us—my parents, sisters, in-laws, and niblings—gathered together. “I enjoy my peace, but my sisters and their families visit often enough that I decided to make sure they would always have a place to stay.”
“How are they supposed to have a place to stay if we’re here?” Madison asked. “Do they use the nest?”
“They won’t visit until things are more settled. The nest has never been used. No one but you has ever, or will ever, staythere. I thought it might be a bit premature to plan so far ahead, but I have no opposition to transitioning from apartment to house for the sake of additional bedrooms.” A bolt of anxiety silenced me for a second. “Of course, that’s assuming you’d want them to stay with us. I feel like I’m rambling. I’m getting too far ahead of myself, aren’t I?”
Madison rose to her feet and wrapped her arms around me, halting my spiral. She was so warm against me. “You’re so considerate of everyone. Obviously things are still up in the air, and I’d like to meet people who would be staying with us if we all live together, but I’m not about to nix family gatherings. The only family I have I don’t talk to. I think it would be nice to have some.”
The buzzer heralded the arrival of our dinner. Nathan took my elevator card and went to fetch it so I didn’t have to extract myself from our omega.
What a concept.
Not once had I considered that if fate delivered me my mate, she might come with a pack in tow. I suppose they weren’t technically a pack. It seemed we were strangers to each other. How did fate think we would mesh together with such a mix of personalities and experiences? I should’ve considered that. Beau was far more like me than he was like his packmates, but he always spoke highly of them, and there was an aura of love threaded between the alphas as well as through their omega. Perhaps I should have more trust. I had been through a great many things in my life where I couldn’t see the final destination and simply had to trust that I would get there eventually.
If a person could travel from one end of the country to the other with nothing but the road lit by their headlights in front of them, then I could navigate the path ahead of me. One foot in front of the other might lead me from where I was now to having a pack I loved, and an omega we treasured. Whether or not wewere incongruous puzzle pieces now didn’t mean we couldn’t fit together in the future.
I could be patient.
Nathan returned with a stack of pizza and a mile wide smile. “Dinner is served.”
I didn’t hope they had magically ascertained what my favorite flavor of pizza might be, but I was delightfully shocked to find Nathan had the same favorite—black olives and Italian sausage. I earned myself a high five from him for having excellent taste.
Madison joined me to collect plates. Seeing her move about my kitchen was surreal, but I loved every moment of getting to observe her. While I may not know what fate had in store for us, my anxiety was quieting for the first time, and I was actually excited to find out.
Islept surprisingly well, all things considered. Poppy and Pepper had lain on top of me all night, purring away in my nest. I’d briefly considered asking Jude or one of the alphas to stay with me, but that would cut into my musing.
Everything had changed.
Hopefully for the better.
I sighed, using the rhythmic movement of petting my cats to soothe myself. Someone was moving around in the hallway, but I was still working up the energy to get vertical. The nest was even more comfortable than my old one, and more importantly, there was no trace of Tyler in it.
Poppy headbutted me and Pepper made biscuits on my stomach. They were my fuzzy world, and I would be forever grateful that my scent matches had helped me make sure they were safe. Jude had warned me not to fall into old patterns, but I felt how effortless that would be, how easily gratitude could become more.
What did I actually want?
My cravings for my scent matches were simple. The life they potentially offered me? Not so much.
To avoid another Tyler situation, I had to be financially independent. That meant getting a job, no matter how willing to provide for me the men outside my door might be.
Pepper hopped off the nest and cried at the door, pawing at it while looking to make sure I was paying attention. It was nearly seven. Earlier than I’d like, but I might as well get a move on with the day.
“I’m coming.” I nudged Poppy aside and climbed out of bed and padded to the door, trying not to feel self-conscious about my ruffled appearance.
Poppy bolted out ahead of me, and I grabbed the door frame so I didn’t trip when she zipped between my legs.
“Good morning, little one,” Alve’s gentle voice carried from the living room. “Look what I have for you.”
I wandered out with silent footsteps, peeking around the corner to see Alve proudly showing off what appeared to be a litter box disguised as a house plant. He looked nervous when Poppy stuck her front half inside to check it out, digging around in the fresh litter before hopping all the way in.
He was already dressed for the day and I glanced down at my pajamas, belatedly wondering if I should have done the same prior to coming out. Tyler had never liked when I’d come down in pajamas, but I had to keep an eye on the cats so they didn’t cause trouble.
Poppy emerged again, meowing plaintively at Alve.
“Did it meet your exacting standards? I have some breakfast options for you, but I don’t know what you like.”
Pepper trotted over to join them, taking her turn with the litter, and by then, Alve had caught sight of me.
