Chapter Fourteen

Thorn

Of all the times to be in demand.

It's like the last several months away from work have suddenly caught up to me, my private accounts blowing up with requests. They vary in intensity, but even still, it's hard to keep up.

Baxter quirks a brow. "Already?"

"If you think it's too soon—"

"I'm just surprised. You weren't exactly eager about the last one."

"I won't be away from the den this time." I consider. "Well, maybe for a few hours. But most of these jobs I can do from the shed."

Baxter shrugs, returning to his computer screen. "I told you, Thorn, you don't need my permission."

Once upon a time, I wouldn't need those words repeated. But something is different now—and it's not just the fact we have a pregnant omega.

Baxter glances up. "What's really bothering you?"

There he goes again—the only person (well, the only alpha) able to see through me. Is that the power of a head alpha, I wonder, or just the right kind of head alpha?

"It's a little unusual," I confess, "to be inundated with jobs like this."

"You're at the top of your field," Baxter says, then, at my look, smirks. "I assume. Maybe the right people are starting to take notice. Or, at the very least—" he gestures, "the wealthy kind of people."

I glance at his computer screen, open on the latest transfers from my account. I guess I was particularly generous after my last job.

"Figured we could use the extra cash," I say nonchalantly, "for the upcoming expenses."

"Uh-huh. Feels more like you were proving something."

I say nothing.

"I'm sending back the extra, but don't take that as another reason not to work." Before I can argue, he goes on, "You're paranoid, Thorn. It's one of the things I like most about you. The only trouble is when you mistake paranoia for something else."

I go quiet again, waiting.

He smiles. "Homesickness."

***

Baxter's words clang about my head as I set up in the shed, clearing the bench and dusting off my laptops.

Homesickness .

Yeah, right , I wanted to tell him. But now I'm sequestered in the shed, I start to see what he meant.

Eve is barely five minutes away and I already miss her.

I tell myself it's all worth it. The money really is good, and as much as Baxter resists it, I like the thought of contributing something extra for Eve and the pup. Even so, I take every break I can possibly rationalize to check in on my omega. She offers to visit me in the shed, to which I respond—

"Not happening. Too many wires. And grease."

"I can help you clean it up," she suggests excitedly.

"Not in a million years, omega."

She curls up on the couch in protest, but I don't mind. At least she's resting. Normally the only way to convince her to take a nap is if one of us is napping, too. It works in my favor, at least, as my overnight jobs require me to get in a couple hours during the day. There's nothing sweeter than having her wrapped against me, sunlight streaming over us, as we doze off.

I jerk my head towards the stairs. Nap. Now . She all but bounds after me.

Only when we're in the nest together, practically fused in each other's arms, do I scent it. The dull edge of fatigue. A hint of sweat.

"You're exhausted," I note. "What've you been up to?"

She burrows deeper into my chest. "Everyone's working today. I wanted to keep myself busy."

"Doing what ?"

Her body stiffens.

I force myself to release a breath, asking again, softer, "Doing what, omega?"

"Well … getting some air, at first." My chest rumbles disapprovingly. "Nothing strenuous. It's so nice out—I wanted to make the most of it."

Tempting as it is to chain her to the nest here and now, I have to restrain myself. Eve has already spent so much of her life locked up—I won't do that to her out here, where she can finally feel the sun on her face.

"I wish you had asked someone to go out with you," I say at last.

"I am capable of entertaining myself, you know," she smiles, checking my face to see if I'll soften. "Marcus keeps lending me his laptop before he goes to work. I think he wants me to buy stuff for the pup—leaves veeeery conspicuous tabs open."

Sneaky bastard , I almost laugh.

"Find anything tempting?"

"It's all tempting, alpha."

"Good. Buy."

She nudges me with her forehead. Warmth spreads out from everywhere she touches. Then she quiets down, her breathing slowing.

"I also noticed some headlines."

I freeze. So far, we've been pretty good and keeping Eve away from the media coverage. If she asks, sure, we'll tell, but too much of that crap is poison.

She says, "I don't think I realized how high-profile Baxter is—or Carson, even. It's crazy how much the world knows about us."

"They don't. Not really."

"It got me thinking about my sisters." She pauses, as though giving me a chance to cut her off. When I don't, she goes on, "How haven't I seen a single comment about them? Or my mother? Are omegas really of so little importance?"

To high pack society, they don't even warrant a footnote . I decide not to answer.

She sighs. "I know it's hard for the rest of you to understand, but I can't help but worry."

I'm quiet another moment, assessing the question. What does she need to hear right now? And what could hurt her?

Cautiously, I explain, "The fact that they haven't been in the press is probably a good sign. It's not in any new pack's interests to reject their omega. So long as they can avoid the scandal, they should be safe."

"But you'd know if they'd been rejected. Wouldn't you?"

I hesitate, not liking where this is going.

"Do you have a way to contact them? S–something discreet, so no-one would know—"

"No," I say, firmly now. "We've discussed this, Eve. That court order against your brothers extends to all Pack Carson members, current or otherwise."

"But what if they're in trouble?"

"Then they're only going to get into bigger trouble by talking to you."

Eve shrinks, making me worry I've spoken too harshly again, but I don't try to take the words back. Every one of them was true. She needs to know that—needs to sit with it.

She's silent for such a long time I start to worry I've actually pissed her off, but then I hear her slow, steady breathing, and feel her body relax into mine. Asleep already.

Despite everything, I'm not far behind.