One Week Later

Carys

“ S mile, Carys,” Preston says., corners of his lips twisting into an inhumane smile. “Happy omegas are pretty omegas.” His mouth grows, consuming his face as he consumes my fear like a five-star meal. “Don’t blink,” he says as he slowly raises his fist into the air.

I stare right at it, unable to disobey him. His biceps bulge, his body seeming to expand and grow right before my eyes. He's huge. A vicious mountain, and I’m a wayward sheep about to be crushed by a landslide.

“Please,” I whimper. “Don’t ? —”

His fist moves, and I flinch.

My eyes fly open and I flinch as I’m ripped from the horrible nightmare. My hands move to my nose, then lips, half-expecting to feel blood, but there’s nothing. Just a faint pulse of imaginary pain.

Exhausted, I force myself to sit. My tightly wrapped blanket makes the movement difficult. I push my messy hair out of my eyes, trying to cool my flushed face.

My dreams have been especially bad this week, but I don’t have time for this. Not today. Because today is the first day of the rest of my life. Today I get to meet my whole pack, and if things go well, I get to go home with them.

I had my last treatment yesterday, and while there’s still a deep ache that creeps up my spine, I feel so good.

Dr. Ambrose has taken every chance he’s had to talk me out of leaving Havenfield so quickly, but my mind is made up. As far as my medical chart goes, I’m perfectly healthy. Maybe even cured. It’s true that they don’t know about the pain I endure after my treatments, but that’s a small detail in the grand scheme of things.

After all, omegas only die if they’re immediately re-mated after being rejected. Not after a year of treatments.

I hope.

Slipping out of bed, I glance at Mari’s bed. It’s empty, her bed poorly made. Her pillow sits in a lopsided lump, making me think that perhaps she threw it. She’s been avoiding me all week. The second I told the omega I was being claimed, she turned into a ghost. And as mean as Mari can be, I know she’s just like the rest of us. She wants to be loved.

I brush my hair, then put on my soft pink dress, loving the way it flutters around my knees. I smooth my hands down my waist and the curve of my hips. Kofi compliments my shape all the time, especially in this dress. For half a second I think about putting on a scarf. I usually wear one around the dorms to hide the hideous mating bite on my neck, but something inside me tells me to leave my throat exposed. Alphas love to see their mate’s necks, even if mine is already blemished.

“Good morning.” There’s a soft knock on the door, then Ms. Tacken steps inside. Her wild hair is set in a messy bun on the top of her head. I’m sure it wasn’t meant to be messy, but her frizzy tresses seem to be impossible to tame.

“Good morning.” I can’t help but giggle. I haven’t had many chances to be genuinely happy in this place, but today, no one could kill my joy.

“Are you ready?” Ms. Tacken eyes my small suitcase. I packed it three days ago.

I’m keeping the few cheery outfits I own—including a worn pink nightgown—but I decided to leave behind all the clothes that Havenfield gave me. They can be given to another omega who needs them. There are so many here that have nothing, but one day they’ll find love too. Because if a rejected omega can find love, then anyone can.

Ms. Tacken talks about what will happen in the meeting room as we slowly make our way through the dorms. I glance around at the omegas I’ve met since coming here, not really hearing anything she has to say. I’m too busy soaking up every memory I can from the place. As much as I want to leave here, my new life is possible because of this place. Without Havenfield, I would have never found Kofi. I wouldn’t have been given a chance to have love or to possibly have a baby.

It's all I’ve ever wanted—a child.

“We’re here.” Ms. Tacken stops in front of a bright red door. The brass doorknob beckons to me, the only thing between me and complete happiness. “Now, remember,” she says, leaning down to look me in the eye. “You are allowed to change your mind. If you feel that the other members of Kofi’s pack aren’t a good fit, you can leave at any time.”

I want to laugh at her for saying something so ridiculous. “Yes, ma’am.”

Ms. Tacken assesses me. Her gaze lingers a moment too long on the long scar along the side of my face. I bow my head, allowing my hair to swing forward, hiding that ugly mark. “You know they don’t make the kind of money that most omegas are used to. Right?” she whispers, and I snap my head up. “This will be a very different life from what you’re used to.”

For some reason, her comment makes me angry. “I share a room, in a dorm filled with dozens of other broken omegas,” I say simply, purposefully ignoring her obvious reference to my old life. “I don’t care about money. I care about making my new pack happy.”

Ms. Tacken doesn’t speak at first, she just stares at me. Not sure what to do, I drop my gaze, submitting to her intense presence. “I’m so happy that you’ve found love again, Carys,” she finally says.

No. Not again . Preston never loved me. But there’s no sense in saying that now. So I smile widely, looking her right in the eyes. “Thank you.”

“Remember,” she says softly, “if at any time you change your mind, we can?—”

“I won’t,” I interrupt her, surprised by my own boldness. But it’s true. I’m ready.

“Okay then.” Ms. Tacken nods. Her long fingers rest on the doorknob and my heart pounds. This is it. I’m about to meet my new pack.

The bright red door creaks as it opens, and cool air hits my face. At first all I can smell is fresh cut roses, warm tea leaves, and something sugary. Like cookies or cakes. And then it hits me: Kofi’s warm scent. That lavender and sandalwood aroma wraps around me, making me feel fuzzy. Dizzy. Giggly.

Too excited to wait another second, I suck in a deep breath, then step through the doorway.

Three men stand on the other side of the posh room. One of them I know. Kofi. My kind alpha smiles at me, flashing his perfect, white teeth. I duck my head as I blush, turning my attention to the alpha next to him. And I instantly know who he is. Swanley has been described to me a thousand times. Kofi told me he has an intimidating air about him, and he was right. Swanley is almost as tall as Kofi with dark red hair parted to one side and a matching trim beard. He looks strong, big hands hanging loose at his sides, and his especially muscular thighs test the fabric of his black slacks. But it’s the dark look in his eyes that catches me off guard. It’s…hot.

I can’t help but wonder what it would feel like to be pressed between the pair of mighty alphas. Would they be gentle? Rough? Demanding?

Warmth pools in my belly, and it takes everything in me not to gasp out loud. It’s been so long since I felt that kind of stirring.

“S-swanley?” I stutter, trying to force away the growing need in my belly.

“Yes, ma’am,” Swanley bows his head, giving me a sexy squiggly grin. He looks like a Cheshire cat. Mischievous and maybe even a little bit dangerous. But I’ve spoken to him too many times to be scared.

“And Isaac?” I look at the dark-haired beta next to Kofi. Isaac is exactly as I pictured—shaggy brown hair that falls into hazel eyes, prominent nose with a slight bump in the middle, a kind smile, and a gentle presence. He’s perfect. They all are. And they’re mine.

“How are you, gorgeous?” Kofi’s deep baritone tickles the soles of my feet, vibrating through my whole body. If my body was capable of producing slick, I’m sure I’d be soaked right now.

“I can’t believe you’re here.” I take a single step, wanting to run into his arms, but then I freeze, suddenly very aware of Ms. Tacken moving behind me.

“How about we sit down?” Ms. Tacken motions to a pair of overstuffed couches in the center of the room.

Kofi holds out his hand, motioning for me to go first, and my feet move. I glance around as I sit, finally taking in my surroundings. The walls are a soft cream color and the curtains are a complimentary deep blue, but there’s nothing else hanging on the walls. No pictures or flowers, just a small coffee table sitting between the two couches. There’s a pot of what I assume is tea, four white teacups, and a platter of butter cookies. Overall, it’s a nice enough space, considering how sparse it is.

“Thank you so much for coming so early.” Ms. Tacken sits next to me, forcing my new pack to sit across from us. I wish I could sit with them. I’m dying to know what Swanley and Isaac smell like. “I know it was a long drive.”

“A long drive?” Confusion pulls my brows together, and I immediately look at Kofi. “Your house is far away?” I ask.

He lets out a soft chuckle, and I press my knees together. “Yes,” he says in his sexy, deep voice. “It’s about a four-hour drive.”

“Kofi is pretty much married to his work,” Swanley says. “But I’m convinced the only reason he comes here is to see you.” He slaps Kofi on the back. “Maybe now we can get the bastard to actually take a vacation.” He lets out a vibrant laugh, and I can’t help but smile. Swanley has such an amazing energy. Loud and fun.

“Do you drive that every day?” I ask Kofi, struggling to believe it.

“He’s got an apartment nearby,” Swanley answers for him, “but once we put our claim on you, we decided to get a house in the country.” My tummy flutters as he licks his bottom lip. “Our mate here,” he glances at Isaac, “read that the mountain air and abundant wildflowers are good for omegas.”

A wash of warmth blooms in my chest as my words fail me. They bought a house. For me.

“It's a beautiful cottage,” Isaac says, and I instantly lean toward him, wanting so badly to touch the beta’s hand. “There’s a garden and a pond out back. Swanley and Kofi redid the kitchen, and I’ve almost got the built-in completed in the living room.”

“I can’t wait to see it.” I clasp my hands under my chin, trying to imagine what my new home will look like.

The next few hours fly by. Isaac talks endlessly of the additions Swanley has made to the house. The red-haired alpha tells me that he’s eager to build me a gazebo too, but he wanted to wait until I moved in, so he can make it exactly how I want it. I laugh as he and Isaac share wonderful stories about how they all met and what they did on their last vacation to the beach. I’m lost in a sea of their amazing stories when Ms. Tacken clears her throat loudly.

“It seems we’re out of time,” she says, showing me her phone. The note app is up, and a string of text is displayed to me.

Do you want to go with them?

I nod like a madwoman, crossing my arms to try to contain my excitement.

“Well,” Ms. Tacken sets her phone on the coffee table, “everything is in order. You can take your omega home.”

Both Kofi and Swanley turn to me at the same time. Their expressions mirror each other, intense, powerful, hungry .

Hungry for me.

My thighs tense and my clit tingles.

I’m ready to start my new life.