The alpha men follow behind us as Cassidy leads the way.
This house is so odd.
Bellamy hums under his breath in agreement as we gaze at all the crown molding and glance back at the pretty chandelier in the foyer.
“This house is very old,” Abbott says, as if sensing our curiosity. “It has a lot of charm, as do the neighboring homes. As soon as it came on the market, I bought it for Cassidy without a thought.”
At the landing, Cassidy blushes at his sentiment.
“I hate being further than a walk away from my favorite places,” she admits. “The parks are nearby, my favorite coffee places are too, and there’s always something fun happening. This city breathes with life. I want to be a part of it.”
I haven’t been conscious in Savannah for long enough to experience it outside these walls, but I want to. I don’t even remember where Madam Clara took us for her temporary set up. She kept changing her plans, as if someone was already hunting her.
“We have a run club that allows us to enjoy the city as well. Different scenery always helps me keep pace,” Ansel chuckles. “It also allows us to catch up with friends. How do you feel about exercise?”
“I’m not a fan,” I admit, wrapping my arms around myself as I walk along the hardwood floor.
I can imagine parties happening here with the previous owners. Cassidy and her pack don’t seem like the type to enjoy unknown people in their home. It’s why I don’t know how to feel that we’ve basically moved in and taken over a part of their lives.
“Spill, Little Dove,” Ansel murmurs behind me. “What are you musing over?”
“I feel like an interloper in your home,” I say, blinking at how quickly those words burst free.
There wasn’t an alpha bark or command to force me. How the fuck did that happen?
“You do seem like really private people,” Bellamy mumbles. “Scent matches or not.”
“Meh,” Shiloh says. “What’s the point of having this big house if it’s not for this?”
“I thought you bought the house for Cassidy?” I ask, trying to figure out what’s real and if there’s a lie I haven’t found yet.
“Correct,” Ansel agrees. “However, we’ve been in this home together for enough years that we wanted to find an omega.”
I nod, thinking that over as Cassidy opens a door and steps back.
“What do you think?” she asks.
Bellamy and I step inside a huge room that immediately feels like too much. The ceilings are too high, there are too many windows, and the bed is in the wrong place. Why isn’t it in a corner?
Bell and I clutch each other’s hands, while I wonder if it would be insane to ask to sleep in a fucking closet. I’m hyperventilating, as is Bellamy, and I don’t know how to ground myself.
I can’t stop, and black spots spread across my vision as my heart flip flops in my fucking chest. It wasn’t a big deal to sleep on the couch surrounded by bodies. It made me feel safe, and I was also very out of it.
“Winter…”
Now, Bell and I are spiraling.
“Woah,” Cassidy gasps, catching Bellamy and I as we weave on our feet. “Did we move too fast? I can sleep with you guys if you want. Or we can try the nest?”
“Why do you have one of those?” I moan, freaking out more. “Did you have an omega before this?”
Ansel, Shiloh, and Abbott circle around us and do the only thing they can think of: they purr. Deep, chest rumbling, purring.
The fierce fear trembles in the face of alpha purrs, but my eyes are still too wide, and my skin still feels too damn tight.
“No,” Abbott answers me. “There’s never been an omega in this house…ever. We attempted to court recently, but it’s been a bust.”
“Why?” I breathe. “Not all alphas find their scent matches.”
