“Bye, thank you,” I say, smiling as they all wave, then turn back to their gardens.
“So, what did you think?” Vee asks.
“They were…” I trail off, and she chuckles.
“They can be a lot, Siobhan especially. I don’t know Wren all that well, but they welcomed her with open arms when she showed up a few weeks ago.”
“They seem nice. I think I’d like to get to know them better. And Bea said they’d get me a library card.”
“I didn’t know you wanted one,” Vee says, glancing down at me as she holds open the back door of the shop. “We’ll swing by this week.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
Riley
Brooks has officially moved in as of yesterday, claiming one of the other guest rooms as his. As soon as Sage turned her doe eyes on him and Vee, they caved. I think they both want him here too, as do I, so I suppose we all owe the omega a thank you for making it happen sooner rather than later.
Despite him not leaving every night now, and Sage having gone on dates with all of us, I’m still afraid something bad will happen. That somehow the pack won’t work out.
I’ve fallen hard and fast for Sage, and I’m currently falling hard and fast for Brooks, too. Things feel unfinished, like I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop. I suspect part of it is that Sage doesn’t have her nest set up yet, and the other part being her brother and his friend that she was staying with—and that missing person’s notice they put up.
We don’t know much about them, which means we don’t know what they’re capable of.
I desperately want this pack to work out, for all of us to be together, but there’s a part of me that’s holding back. Scared to hope for it or accept this as our new reality. I’m fine whenI’m around the others, but when I’m alone in my room like this… That’s when the thoughts creep in.
Is Sage safe with us? Is there anything I can do to help? To ensure she’s okay, safe, happy? Sage has already wormed her way into my heart, so if something happens to her, I truly don’t know how I’ll survive. It’s terrifying to think you might care about someone more than they care about you. I’ve always felt secure in my place with Vee, but with her former pack looming behind us, and another alpha here now, I don’t know how to move forward.
Like she can sense my distress, Vee knocks on my cracked open door.
“Yeah,” I call, and she nudges it open further.
Her beauty strikes me, as it often does, even after being together for years. Rich brown skin that glows in the soft light of my room. Lithe and tall, toned arms and legs. Big brown eyes, and lashes for days.
She purses her full lips when she sees me curled up in bed, then she steps in and pushes the door closed behind her. Her steps are soft but sure as she crosses to the bed.
“What’s wrong, Sour Patch?” she says, her voice soft as she curls her body around mine.
I relax into her, inhaling her warm cedar wood and fresh eucalyptus.
“I’m afraid this isn’t real,” I whisper. “Sage…” I trail off, no idea how to put into words my feelings and concerns about Sage. “And Brooks, I’m scared they’re going to leave us, or that he won’t want me the way I want him.”
Neveah strokes her hand through my hair, scratching my scalp with her nails. The blue is starting to fade; I’ll need to re-dye it soon. She places a soft kiss on the side of my neck, then wraps her arms firmly around me.
“I know what you mean,” she says. “I get in my head about it too, sometimes. It feels surreal. Too good to be true.”
I hum my agreement, and she continues after a few moments of quiet cuddling.
“I think it is, though,” she murmurs. “Real, I mean. I think they’re here to stay, Riley.”
I don’t reply, choosing to focus instead on her steady, comforting presence, and she holds me tight for a few minutes.
“Why don’t you go spend some time with Brooks? I think it might make you feel better.”
“You don’t mind?” I’ve heard how pack life is supposed to work, but Vee is my safe space. I won’t do anything to jeopardize our relationship.
“No, love,” she says, teasing her fingers through my hair again. “In fact, I would love nothing more than for you and him to spend some quality time together.”
“Okay,” I whisper.
