“He was so crushed his body didn’t shift back to human. It was my fault.”
“No,” Perry and I say together.
“Don’t say that. Don’t blame yourself,” I say.
“You were a child,” Perry says.
“I know, but—” Buckle sighs. “That’s it.” He shovels more food in his mouth.
“Thank you for sharing,” I say. “I know I take up a lot of the, uh, emotional stuff with my baggage from Hawk Ridge.”
“It’s not a competition,” Perry says softly. “I think we all have a lot of baggage. It makes us who we are. But I don’t think it keeps us from our full potential.”
I nod and go back to my food. “Mine just keeps me afraid.”
“Sweetness. Look at me.”
I do, but it’s hard to keep eye contact. He’s so intense.
“I understand the fear. I had it too when I lived in Opossum Nook. The Nook isn’t as bad as Hawk Ridge, I’ll admit that, but they oppressed us in a lot of the same ways. Sex was frowned upon, even for Omegas in Heat without partners. I still haven’t had a Heat with a partner out of fear. I left home. Left my family. Left my friends. I couldn’t live that way anymore. I had to find someone to smuggle me out. My best friend wouldn’t come with me because she didn’t want to abandon her family. I’m selfish. I wanted peace and freedom. I wanted to be me, not a scared Omega. They were going to auction me off when I turned twenty-one. I wasn’t having it. I ran and found Mink Hollow. I’d do it again. I love my siblings, but I couldn’t stay and watch them make the same choices and mistakes as generations before us.” Perry sighs and nods. “Feels good to let it out.” His shoulders drop and he relaxes before taking a few gulps of water.
Buckle nods. “It really does feel good to share. Mom doesn’t blame me, at least she never has to my face and I appreciate that so much.”
“I’m glad to know.” It gives a little more insight to why Buckle is so protective aside from him being an Alpha. “We should cuddle after dinner.”
“I think I need that,” Buckle says. “Seconds anyone?” He lifts his plate as he pushes to his feet.
“Full,” I say, pressing a hand to my stomach.
Perry follows Buckle back to the kitchen.
There really is something about learning more about these two that makes me happy.
“I’d like to cuddle in my bed,” Buckle says when he comes back. “The couch is comfortable, but I’d like to hold you both.”
“That’s fine by me,” I say.
“I’m agreeable to that,” Perry says as he sits across from me again. “It’s my preferred way of cuddling.”
We chat about the upcoming festival and dance. Both of them grilling me for information.
“The offer still stands if you’re interested in a booth,” I say to Perry.
“I think we’d like that. Elsbeth came by and pretty much said we had to have one.” I grin into my water glass before taking a drink.
I fight off a grin. “She was very adamant at the meeting. Something about naughty Valentines and I agree.”
“Then it’s a go,” Perry says.
“I can help somehow too,” Buckle says. “Maybe I can run between both of your booths for support.”
I nod. “We’ll need runners for various things if you’re serious.”
“So serious!”
We finish dinner and wash up before filing down the hall to Buckle’s bedroom. It’s not as intimidating as it was last time I was in here. Plus, there’s more color than last time.
“You decorated a little,” Perry says.
