Then Cam’s arms were around me. He lifted me onto the kitchen island and caged me in with his body.
“She needs something for her hands,” Ben said softly.
A growl rolled through Theo’s chest as he took in the raw skin before he stormed off.
I watched him leave with wide eyes.
Ben cupped my face. “He’s just worried, precious. We all are.”
“What were you doing?” Cam asked, frowning at my hands.
Ben responded when I didn’t answer. “She said she was cleaning the gym.”
“Why would you do that?” Theo asked, stomping back into the kitchen with a small tub of lotion.
“Just wanted to be helpful,” I said, my lower lip trembling.
“We have people who come clean,” Theo said, rubbing the cream tenderly onto my hands. They stung a bit but weren’t too bad.
“You do?”
“We asked them not to come while you’re settling in,” Theo responded. “Research shows omegas settle in better to a new place when there aren’t strangers coming in and out.”
“Oh.”
“Is the house not clean enough for you, sweetheart? Because we can clean,” Cam said, his hands firmly planted on my thighs.
I shook my head.
Fuck, now they thought I was criticizing their house. I didn’t understand how this entire day had backfired so spectacularly. My chest squeezed with anxiety. I wanted to run back to my nest and cover myself with blankets.
Ben wrapped an arm around me. “I don’t know what’s happened to make you so upset. If you’re not ready to tell us, that’s okay.” He glared at Cam, who looked very much like he disagreed, before continuing. “But we’re not going to leave you to be upset alone. You have us now. That means you don’t have to suffer alone.”
His sweet words broke through the barriers I’d erected, and I released a sob.
All three of them pressed against me immediately, arms wrapping around me in a tangled pile.
“Sweet omega, what happened?” Cam asked as he held my face to his chest.
My sobs intensified, and he kissed my cheeks before grabbing some tissues and gently wiping my face.
“You shouldn’t be with me,” I whimpered.
“Why not?” Theo asked, eyes darkening.
“Because I’m not good enough for you. You should make me leave.”
“What? That’s not true. What are you talking about, gorgeous?” Ben asked, gripping my neck.
“You deserve someone better.” I tried to move away, needing to create some distance between us. None of them gave me an inch.
“Josie, what happened? I thought you were happy here with us,” Theo said.
“I am happy here,” I whimpered.Happier than I’ve ever been.
“Good, because we’re not letting you go. Now, what happened?” Theo asked again.
“My mom called,” I whispered.
