Chapter Seven

Wade

After Kurt left, my plan had been to climb under the covers and fall asleep. I was bone-tired from my journey, unable to remember the last time I’d had a decent night’s sleep. I was warm and the blankets ensured I’d stay that way. And for the first time in a long time, I had a full belly. It would’ve been easy to let slumber take over. But I couldn’t do it. It didn’t feel right.

My head was going a thousand miles a minute and all of the thoughts revolved around reasons I shouldn’t stay. The alpha had been so nice to me, and now he was trying to give me his bed. Trying wasn’t even the right word, he was insisting I take the bed—his bed, in the cabin he was paying for with his money.

It wasn’t like I could even offer to pay my share. I didn’t even have $50 to my name, and no money coming in the foreseeable future. This place could easily cost a few hundred dollars a night. It was absolutely stunning and had more amenities than anyplace I’d ever even read about. Staying here felt like I was stealing from him and the longer he was gone, the more that ate at me.

Instead of sleeping, I opted to do what I could by cleaning up. The place wasn’t dirty, but I’d made it less tidy than when I arrived, and that I could fix. I found a broom in the closet and swept the floors, removing any dust that came in with us. I wiped down the bathroom as best as I could, making sure the fresh towels from under the sink were out for him. Then I organized the food. There was actually quite a bit more there than I’d realized, including an entire mini-pantry. A lot of meals could be made out of what was here if we got creative.

No, not we—him. This wasn’t someplace I could stay, not really. I’d figure something out. I always did.

I grabbed the protein bars from my backpack and set them with the snacks. It wasn’t much of a contribution, but it was all I could offer. They would have to do.

After one last look around the cabin to make sure I hadn’t missed anything, I put on my coat and shoes, threw my backpack over my shoulders, grabbed the garbage, and stepped outside into the cold. Kurt’s clothes sat there. He was out there in his fur. Was he the same color as me? Or maybe he was an arctic fox? I bet no matter which, he was gorgeous. Not that I should be thinking about that.

The dumpster was easy to find but not ideal to get to, not with me waddling through the snow, but I managed. My plan was to catch Theo before he went to bed for the night. If anyone had a solution, it would be him. There had to be another place for me to sleep, one that wouldn’t be basically stealing from Kurt. He wouldn’t call it that, but I did. It’s what it was.

I waddled from the dumpster, through the snow, the wind howling even harder than before, and was glad to see the main building still lit up. I could sense that Kurt had been there recently—maybe he’d already asked for a new room. I wouldn’t blame him, not when he was supposed to be on vacation, instead dealing with some messed-up pregnant omega rescue.

I barely had the door open when Theo greeted me. “Oh, just the person I was looking for!”

“You were looking for me because Kurt came and told you I’m not supposed to be there?” It was the only thing that made sense.

The man started laughing, his belly shaking in a way that immediately reminded me of the old Christmas poem when it was like a bowl full of jelly. He must get called Santa a lot, or maybe he even leaned into it as a side hustle. I could easily see that.

“No, absolutely not,” he scoffed. “Elias and I made up a bunch of cookies and frosting for you guys to have with hot cocoa. Well, I say I did—my husband did and I supervised as the taste tester.” He rubbed his belly. “It’s one of our favorite traditions. Expect more of them throughout the week.”

I could envision the two of them in the kitchen, laughing, making messes, and eating gobs of sugar between kisses. There was no looking at the two of them together and not seeing how completely in love they were with each other.

“About that… I was wondering if maybe I could use a cot in the laundry room, or maybe the storeroom or basement until I can move on.” I didn’t want to promise it would be tomorrow. If the weather kept like this, that wouldn’t be safe. But I wasn’t planning on staying around forever. I wasn’t a squatter.

“Why would you want to do that?”

“Because I’m in somebody else’s room.” It wasn’t that complicated. At least I didn’t think it was. I was shocked he allowed us to both be in the same space in the first place. It wasn’t an ideal business move; that was for sure. He was in the hospitality business; he should give his paying customers what they wanted, right?

“You’re not in the wrong room.” He slid the basket of cookies and cocoa across the counter. “If you were, I’d have moved you already.”

“Oh, but he’s paying for the room, not—”

He cut me off.

“Not everything is about money.” He didn’t elaborate any further. “Now, take the cookies and cocoa and go back to your cabin. Enjoy the warm room, the delicious cocoa, and your bed.”

He looked me up and down then hesitated. “Wait a second.” Theo ducked into a back room and came back out with a small shopping bag. “They should fit you.” He handed it to me.

I peeked inside and saw red-and-green plaid fabric.

“They’re pajamas. And tomorrow, we’ll take care of your clothes, get them all cleaned up.”

I shook my head. “I can’t do it.”

“This is a full-service resort.”

“Yes—for customers. I’m not a customer. If anything, I’m a—”

“A guest. No, you aren’t a customer—you’re my guest. You’re in the room you’re supposed to be in, and you will be wearing clean clothes. None of this is up for negotiation, so you might as well give up. I’m pretty stubborn.”

“Theo, you are beyond stubborn.” Elias came seemingly out of nowhere and kissed the man on the cheek. “Ohhhh, you’re going to have a good night. These are some of my best work.” He looked at the basket of goodies. “Did you want help carrying them back to your cabin?”

The wind shook the windows, and I shivered despite myself. “No. I got it. Thanks for the food and…everything.”

As I stepped outside, the wind caught the door, and I dropped the basket while trying to grab it. Only, when I glanced down, the basket hadn’t hit the ground.

Kurt was standing there, holding it…buck-ass naked. His scent tickled my nose, delicious and calling to me. Hormones. Stupid hormones. That’s all it could be.

“I thought you’d be in bed.” Probably because I promised him I would be.

“I took out the trash and then came here trying to see if there was another room because—”

“Please don’t.”

The wind rushed around us again, and I found myself wrapping my arms around my body, as if that would keep me any warmer. Nothing could. Not with this wind.

“Let’s go back.” He glanced down at the basket. “It looks like our friendly innkeeper sent us some goodies.”

“Yeah, he sent cocoa and cookies. There’s frosting in there too, I think—for dipping.” I’d never done that before, but I was game.

He shrugged then took the bag of pajamas from me.

“No.” I snatched both back. “It’s way too cold for you to be buck-ass naked out here.”

He looked around and, as if realizing it was below zero for the first time, agreed and shifted, his wolf moving gracefully through the snow as I carried the basket and bag back toward the cabin. He was stunning and huge. You’d be able to tell he was alpha from a long distance, but even so, he wasn’t intimidating. If anything, there was something warm and welcoming about him.

I longed to snuggled up with him in my wolf form, but that wasn’t going to happen. Not only was I too far along to be shifting, I wasn’t here with him as anything more than an uninvited sidekick. Not even that. At least sidekicks were wanted.

I filled the silence by talking about the decorations I’d noticed in the main building, the way Theo laughed like Santa Claus, and how I’d cleaned up a little in the cabin.

Mostly, I was talking to avoid thinking—because thinking led to places where I wasn’t the only one in the bed.

And Kurt deserved far better than the likes of me.