Page 55 of All Packed Up

I can do better for them.

Derek’s smile was brighter than she’d seen it in a long time, and it made the nerves in her stomach relax.

“That’s our girl,” Josh said, leaning down to kiss her on the head. It was quick and a little too hard. “That’s the right answer.”

Wendy blinked the memory away, the familiar twist of nerves in her stomach starting to tighten. They couldn’t do this for her. She refused to put herself in the same position twice.

“No thank you,” she said a little louder, interrupting them as they continued to plan. “I truly am okay on the air mattress. The pillows and blankets I have make a fine nest.”

Arlo cleared his throat, staring at her sleepily between Tate’s and Griffith’s shoulders. “An omega like you deserves something better than ‘fine,’ and I think everyone here would agree.”

“So, it’s decided then,” Griffith said, clapping his hands together. “Arlo, I’ll get you a measuring tape and you can do your thing. Just text me what we need, and I’ll run to town and pick it up at the hardware store.”

“Now hold on,” Wendy snapped, fists clenching as the alpha’s tone of finality irritated her.

Maybe he was just the most randomly caring alpha she’d ever met, but Wendy couldn’t let herself believe it.

However, as all four of them turned their gazes to her, she was suddenly filled with embarrassment. They were mid action, already rising from their seats to build her a fucking bed, just like that!

“Come on,” Tate urged with a grin. He was all puppy dog eyes as he stared hopefully at her from his seat. “It’ll give us something to do.” He lifted a hand to his mouth as if to hide what he was saying. “I heard Griffith only has Netflix. Bor-ing,” he whisper-yelled.

Her nerves eased a little at Tate’s easy demeanor.

Fighting them on this matter seemed like more trouble than it was worth. What if she was being even more of a burden by not letting them do this? It would most certainly get her out of their hair quicker. And if she was getting a comfier bed out of it…

“Fine. But I want to help too,” she agreed. “That’s my only condition.”

Tate’s expression fell. “Now, Wendy, don’t be like that. Let us do this for you.”

Gritting her teeth together until they creaked in protest, she sucked in a deep breath before grimacing as she forced the words out.

“Please take this in the most respectful way possible when I say that I don’t want any more alphas catering to me.”

The words hurt her throat because it just made her feel pitiful. That she couldn’t let these alphas be nice because she was too paranoid.

It was like Josh was still there, in her head as much as Derek fucking was.

“Wendy,” Nic said softly.

Her gaze cut to him. Wendy stilled, and her focus narrowed down to Nic and his pretty amber eyes.

“We’re not like those alphas,” he said, voice soft and low and yet no less fierce. It was simply fact.

Wendy found herself nodding, because of course she knew that. She knew Nic well enough to trust him, and if he trusted everyone here…

“I know,” she said, dropping her gaze. Wendy crossed her arms.

“Okay,” Nic said, voice low and smooth, comforting and yet still giving her a pause to interrupt. Wendy stayed stubbornly silent. “Grif will get the supplies after Arlo does the math, and you can help us any way you want.”

It soothed the cracks in her armor, and she offered him a small smile.

The other alphas were quiet for a split second, arguments poised on the end of their tongues, but one look at her expression, and they shut their mouths.

“I’ll go get that tape measure,” Grif said, moving slowly as if he expected someone to tell him to sit the fuck down. Wendy stayed quiet.

“Arlo, come with me,” he said, waggling a finger at him.

The alphas disappeared unscathed, Arlo offering a soft smile that made butterflies threaten to take flight. Even fresh out of bed, the alpha still looked just as handsome as ever. Maybe even more so with that tousled sleep look he had going on. Wendy could just imagine herself crawling into bed with him and cuddling until the sun went down.