I glance down the hall, then back at the others.
“She shouldn’t be living in that shoebox,” I mutter.
Court arches a brow. “Shoebox?”
“The pool house,” I say, sharper than I mean to. “It’s too small. No proper nest. No space for all of us. No…” I gesture vaguely. “Nothing she needs.”
“She likes it,” Thayer points out mildly. “She’s close to Haven.”
“She likes a lot of things that aren’t good enough for her.”
That shuts him up.
Because we all know it’s true. Namely us. But we’re working on it. On being better for her.
Court’s lips twitch, like he’s been waiting for me to say it. He digs his phone out of his pocket and flicks the screen on, turning it toward me, his eagerness singing in the bond.
“Funny you should mention that, love. I also had the same thought.”
I take it, frowning. It’s a listing.
Not far from Haven’s pack house. Large. Private. Gated. Enough space for a full pack, and then some.
My pulse kicks as I flick through the pictures, imagining living there, cooking in the kitchen, cuddling in the media room, watching our kids play tag on the lawn. The nest room is cozy, but big enough for all of us. I can see Ren setting up a dance studio in the sunroom off the porch where she could do yoga or practice ballet, and, god, I want that.
I want that vision so badly.
Court slides into the chair Ren vacated and wraps an arm around me, tugging me closer to brush a kiss against my temple. “You like it, baby?”
I nod, feeling weirdly choked up. “I do.”
“Do you think she’ll like it?”
The door opens again before I can say anything else and all of us jerk to our feet, pointing toward her like the needle on the compass.
Ren steps out, softer somehow. Calmer. Like something in her has settled.
“She’s beautiful,” she breathes, eyes shining, fingers clasped together in front of her like she’s trying to contain her joy. She fails though. We can feel it humming in our chests. “Haven’s okay. The baby’s perfect. You should-” She stops, looking between us. “They said only family for now.”
“We’ll meet her soon enough,” I assure her, reaching for her again, needing to feel her.
She melts into me without hesitation, nuzzling into my chest as I rock us gently. I want to take her out of here, want to sweep her into my arms and bundle her away to a soft bed where she can sleep.
But I also know that request needs to come from her.
“How are you doing, killer?” Thayer asks, as the rest of the pack circles us. “You think we can take you home and get you settled?”
Or I guess he could just ask.
She hums her agreement, sagging even more against me. “I think I’m about to fall over.”
Court scoffs as I sweep Ren into my arms, loving the weight of her there. “As if we’d ever let you fall, Pix.”
We make a bed in the living room of the pool house by dragging the mattress from the bedroom out, and the cushions off the couch. It's the best we can do in a pinch, when our omega informs us she needs all of us around her to sleep well.
Grieves glares at the subpar sleeping arrangements, but there’s not anything we can do about it at the moment so when Ren holds up her arms from where she’s bundled in the middle of the ‘bed’ and makes grabby hands at us, we all hurry to comply.
The next morning we’re all blurry eyed, and the pool house is devoid of any sort of food or coffee, seeing as it’s been unlived in for weeks. Ren sleepily leads us into the big house, unlocking the door and pushing inside.
