Chapter 18

18

Ruby

A s I stepped out of the car, my eyes widened at the sight of Wayne's house. It was big with intricate stone carvings, surrounded by lush gardens and towering trees. I blew my nose, trying to keep myself together after sobbing the whole ride here.

"Welcome home, Ruby," Wayne said, his voice filled with warmth as he led me towards the entrance while holding my hand in his.

As we walked inside the house, I wished I was in a better mood to appreciate what I was seeing. The house was beautiful, with high ceilings and elegant furnishings. A chef bustled around the kitchen while two butlers showed up to carry my suitcases.

"Oh wow," I mumbled through my teary eyes. Even though my heart ached, I couldn't help but feel impressed.

"My staff knows you are the lady of the house," said Wayne. "They will obey your every order. Whatever you like, they will assist in whatever way they can."

I yawned in response. I was overwhelmed and also exhausted from the long trip.

"I'm so sorry," I said, quickly apologizing.

"No worries."

"Let's show her to her room," said Rufus. Wayne nodded as we followed the butlers who were carrying my suitcases up the stairs.

"Your house is beautiful," I said, looking around in awe as we passed by stunning watercolor paintings that were hung. The hallway to the bedroom also had beautiful decor on the walls.

"We work in construction, so it better damn be," said Wayne gruffly. "We're finally here. This is your room. I've been waiting for years to show you this, my promised omega."

He opened the bedroom door, and my breath caught in my throat as I viewed the wonder inside.

The bedroom was all silver furniture, dominated by an enormous silver and pink nest in the center—sheer curtains draped around it, creating an intimate sanctuary. I had grown used to the nest at the hotel, but this one was on another level.

"I hope you like it," said Davy, uncertain of my response.

"This is amazing," I whispered, unable to tear my gaze away from the luxurious nest covered in velvet pillows and blankets. This was better than any bed in the world. Just looking at it made me want to snuggle up in there with my alphas and forget about everything else in the world but birthing babies for them.

Wayne grinned, his eyes darkening with desire. "We hired a nest maker. You can change the colors anytime you want. And once you're my bride, we can change it to white if you'd like."

My stomach somersaulted at the thought. Excitement mixed with fear raced through me. Was I really meant to be Wayne's bride? To an alpha who didn't even believe in love?

"Wayne," I started, unsure how to put my feelings into words.

"Not saying we're getting married right now," he said gently, his hand brushing against mine.

"Everything's happening so fast, and it's a bit overwhelming," I said slowly.

He looked into my eyes, understanding and concerned, softening his features. "I know."

"Is it okay if I had some time to myself right now?" I said hesitantly, but he didn't seem to mind at all. His pack cleared out of the room in seconds, and he hovered at the door before closing it.

"I will give you all the time you need, okay?" he said, and I nodded. "I'll be back to check on you after you've settled in."

With that, he gently closed the door behind him as he left the room. Once alone, I wandered around the spacious bedroom, my heart aching at the memory of Jasper ending our relationship. Gazing out the giant window, I recalled our last kiss under the sunlight. I wanted to call him, but I stopped myself. I had to give Wayne and his pack a real chance at love and get to know them.

I explored the bathroom, which was covered in silver and pink decor. It was the perfect omega bathroom, even though I hated the color pink. If I ended up having real feelings for Wayne and his pack, I would change the colors for sure. I peeled off the clothes that I'd been traveling in for hours and quickly turned on the shower.

I stepped into the warm spray of water, letting it wash away the stress that had been building up inside me. As I slathered myself with the luxurious soaps and shampoos, I couldn't help but think about what my life would be like now.

Part of me was still in shock that I had agreed to spend time here. It wasn't something I ever thought I would do, especially since, in the beginning, I only wanted Jasper. But then again, everything about my life as an omega was unexpected.

As I rinsed off and stepped out of the shower, I wrapped myself in a plush white towel and made my way back into the bedroom. The pack had left a few outfits for me to choose from on the bed, all in shades of pink and silver. While they were beautiful, they weren't really my style, so I unpacked a couple of my suitcases to look for something comfortable to wear.

I chose a comfy outfit of white leggings and a loose shirt. With my heart so heavy, I curled up in the nest and allowed sleep to take over as I snuggled into the soft sheets.

Wayne

The hot water cascaded down my body, steam filling the air as I thought about Ruby. My mind wandered back to the way she looked in the hotel while in her nest, her curvy, sweat-covered figure barely covered by the thin sheets. The memory of her glistening pussy sent a jolt through me, and I couldn't help but grow hard.

I wrapped my hand around my erection, stroking myself as I pictured her sweet, wet heat surrounding me. My breathing grew heavier as I pumped faster, imagining the tightness of her damp channel gripping me. Groaning quietly, I finally released, my come mingling with the shower water as it washed down the drain.

"Ruby," I growled to myself as I calmed down. I was hoping that the more time she spent with me and my pack, the more she would eventually forget Jasper. I knew it wouldn't be easy, but I was determined to win her heart, no matter what it took.

Finishing up in the shower, I slipped on black sweatpants without bothering with a shirt. As I headed downstairs, I noticed that Ruby's door remained closed. She'd been cooped up in there for hours, and I grew worried.

"Rufus, Davy," I called out to my packmates when I walked downstairs. They were lounging in the living room. "Did she come down for lunch?"

Rufus looked up from his book. "Give her time to heal, Wayne. Her heart's broken right now."

Davy chimed in, concern evident in his voice. "But what if she never gets over Jasper?"

"Hmm, Ruby will forget about Jasper soon enough. We just need to give her time, show her we care," I said finally. "Maybe we should check on her."

"Ha," said Rufus. "If this isn't love, I wouldn't know what is. "

"It's not love," I growled. "I just need to make sure she's okay."

As we approached Ruby's door, I knocked lightly. I was willing to give her all the time she needed, but I couldn't deny the desire that burned within me every time I thought of her.

"Ruby?" I called out.

"Come in," she replied, her voice as delicate as a feather.

As we entered her room, I found Ruby perched on the edge of her nest, her cheeks flushed and eyes glistening with unshed tears. The vulnerability in her gaze struck me like a blow to the chest. My heart clenched as I sat down next to her, wanting nothing more than to comfort her.

"Guys, I want to give you my all, but I just can't right now," she confessed, her voice trembling. "All I can think about is Jasper."

"Hey," I reassured her gently, placing a hand on her shoulder. "We're not expecting anything from you at this moment or even in the near future. We will give you time to heal and to grieve, okay, sweetheart?"

She nodded gratefully, "I think I just need time, but I don't want to lose you too."

"There's no fucking way we're going anywhere. Don't worry about hurting our feelings," I said. "We're grown-ass alphas. We can take it."

At that, she laughed, the sound like music to my ears.

For the next few minutes, we conversed casually, allowing her to forget her troubles, if only for a moment. The scent of her filled the room, sweet and intoxicating, setting my blood on fire the longer I sat there. I had to stop myself from ripping off every inch of her clothes. At this rate, I worried that I would go into a rut and would be unable to stop myself if I started to imagine her naked in this fancy nest.

"I hope you like your room," Davy commented, his eyes traveling over her body. I could also see the hunger he had for her in his eyes. I was glad it wasn't only me who craved her like she was dessert- exactly the way she smelled.

"Yeah, it's so much better than anything I've ever had," she admitted sheepishly. "But all the pink…needs to go."

"What- are you serious?" asked Davy in surprise. "I thought because you're an omega…"

"Just because I'm an omega doesn't mean I like the color," she said with a playful look.

Rufus walked into the room, but I didn't realize he had left. He walked in with a servant following behind, carrying bowls of soup and bread for Ruby.

"Oh, thank you," she said, her eyes lighting up at the chicken soup. "This looks so good. It must be nice to have a personal chef in your house."

"Wait until you see the rest of the house," Rufus chimed in before I could stop him from showing off. "We've got a pool, a gym, and even a movie theater."

"Really?" Her eyes widened with excitement, curiosity momentarily erasing the sadness from her face.

"Absolutely," I confirmed, trying to ignore the growing ache in my groin as her sweet scent emanating from between her legs continued to tease me. "You'll love it here, I promise."

As we chatted, she looked more hopeful with us. I knew it wouldn't be easy, but I was determined to show her the love she deserved and to help her forget Jasper.