“Can we come back tomorrow?”
“But the chicks were put out today. Tomorrow’s chickens are the leftovers,” I pleaded. We could wait until next week, but…
“Okay, how about if we see if we can pay for everything and ask Jett or Evan to bring them home?” he asked. “Um, where are we keeping them?”
“We can just keep them in the kitchen until they’re big enough for the coop,” I replied. “Though sometimes I’ll probably put the brooder outside on the porch.”
Brennan nodded. “Okay, we actually have hawks, but if the chickens are in their little house they should be okay. We might need a net or something if you have an area for them to play outside the coop.”
“Oh. That’s a good idea,” I replied.
“Why don’t you pick out the chickens, and I’ll see if we can have them hold everything for pickup, okay?” Brennan gave me a kiss.
“Okay.” While he left, I watched the chicks, noting which ones looked healthy and active and were eating, drinking, scratching, and joining in with the other chicks, but not too bossy.
An employee came over to me. “Would you like to get some chicks?”
“I would.”
I asked some questions and then told her which ones I wanted as I carefully selected some from each group, until I had five, using some of Riley’s suggestions.
“I’ll let my alpha pick out the last one,” I told her. My mouth shut. Why did I say that?
But he sort of was. Brennan was mine. Even if he wasn’t ready, which I respected, I’d claimed him in my head.
“I get to pick?” Brennan beamed. “Oooh, what about that big one?”
“In my experience, the big bossy one ends up being a rooster, which we’re not allowed to have.” I put my arm around him, keeping him close. He heard that? Shit.
Brennan picked one, and she took them to the counter so we could pay.
Anxiousness shot through me. “I slipped and called you my alpha, I’m sorry.”
“Grace, Iamyours.” Brennan kissed me. “I want to be yours.”
He did? My heart danced.
“I want you to be mine, too.” I kissed him back. “Now let’s go pay for our chicken army.”
“I meant what I said,” Brennan said softly over the coms in our helmets as we drove back to the house. “I was so afraid when you arrived here. The last time that someone came into our life, they tried to ruin it. I was so convinced that you would do the same that I refused to see there was a chance that you wouldn’t. Um, I’m sorry for the damage I caused because I was blinded by the past. I don’t think I ever properly groveled for that night when you got sick because of me.”
“You don’t need to grovel, Bren,” I soothed. “I really don’t understand why it’s a big deal. If anything, I feel bad undoing all of Evan’s hard work.”
“Sometimes I forget that you’re not from here. Also, Wes and I are used to being more hands-off than a lot of alphas because that’s what Evan needs. We’re having to learn how to take care of you the wayyouneed. I’m glad we have Spencer and Jett to help us, and Evan, of course,” he added.
“Evan’s very good about knowing what I need before I do,” I replied.
Brennan was quiet for a moment, and I let him compose his thoughts. It felt like he needed to say things, so I’d let him.
“One thing that my mother said when you first arrived was that yes, you wanted something from us, but that didn’t mean what you wanted was a threat to us. It really didn’t take long to realize that you didn’t want our money. But what you wanted from us was far more terrifying. You wanted our love andacceptance. Evan once said that opening up your heart means opening yourself up to the possibility of heartbreak…” His voice grew ragged.
The stoplight changed to red, and I came to a stop. I reached over and squeezed his hand.
“Bren, I’m not going to break your heart. Also, you’re allowed to be wary of bringing strangers into your pack. After all, I was hiding something.” It meant a lot that he was saying all this, even if I already understood it on some level. The light turned green, and we started moving again.
He chuckled. “Yeah, that was a lot. For a moment I was so mad. That night Wes and Spencer told us where you were from, I ranted to Jett. And you know what Jett did?”
“What?” I didn’t know much about what happened on their end after I was taken other than they went to the cabin and Evan had his heat.
