“I don’t know him very well, obviously,” I said. “But he doesn’t seem the type.”
“You’re right. He’s not. But you don’t know him like we do, and I’m not going to have you uncomfortable here. We want you to feel safe.”
“I do,” I reassured him. “Everything’s fine.”
“I just want to do right by you, Lana. You’ve been through hell and back.”
“I have,” I agreed. “But I’m here to recover, and I can hold my own. The heat just took it out of me. A temporary setback.”
“One that never should’ve happened,” he countered.
“On that, we agree,” I said as he finally pushed open the door to my new room. Shockingly, it wasn’t the plain room I expected to find.
The walls were painted a soft, pretty sage. There was a black-and-white floral rug on the floor, and the bed had silky black sheets with a fluffy white comforter over it. There was an assortment of green, black, and white throw pillows, and someone had even stuck a cute green frog plush in the middle. The walls could definitely use some artwork, and it needed a touch of personality, but it was perfect.
“We knew you’d need a nest, but the house wasn’t really equipped for one. Mason, Wilder, and Kieran renovated your walk-in closet here.”
He pushed open the door, and for the first time today, real tears burned my eyes.
These men, who knew nothing about me, who had no idea what my style was, had made a far better nest than my own pack did.
The same silky black sheets covered the soft mattress that filled the space. Someone had strung lights around the corners of the ceiling, giving it a soft glow. Most of the nest was filledwith comfortable pillows, and there was even a small bookshelf secured to the wall.
On one of the hanging shelves was a potted vine that was now steadily creeping around the walls, secured by plastic hooks that were just barely hidden. They’d given this effort and thought, and it was small and cozy. Exactly what an omega needed.
This was what I needed far more than the monstrosity my old pack gave me.
“Mason filled the closet in your bathroom with just about every product an omega could need or want, and then some. We also put in an extra dresser since you don’t have a closet now. Hopefully this setup works, but we’ll figure out whatever else you need.”
“This is set up like you expect me to stay a long time,” I whispered, just loud enough for him to hear.
Conrad pulled me into one of his comforting bear hugs. “I expect you to stay as long as you need. There’s no need to go anywhere. I’m going to be on the Wardens’ team for the foreseeable future. My contract has another four years, and I’m going to make sure that you feel safe wherever you are,” he said firmly. “I wasn’t kidding. I want you to join us on away games, and I plan to speak to the coach about a team nutritionist that also cooks well. We currently have people coming in from the hospital once a week to prep meals and stock the fridge at the arena, but it’s not exactly ideal, and it’s not tailored to the team like you would do it.”
His offer was incredible, and I would think it over more when I was properly rested. He must have realized I was about to fall over.
“Right now, your only job is to rest and eat properly.”
“I think I’d like a shower,” I admitted. “And maybe a long nap.”
“You do that. We’ll be out here when you’re ready,” he said. He tapped the doorframe and walked out, closing the door behind him.
I sat heavily on the bed, but still, I didn’t fall apart. Not for them. I had my brother as my anchor, and I knew that even if the next few weeks were rough, I’d find my way eventually.
I was nothing, if not resilient.
Chapter
Six
Lana
It was dark outside by the time I emerged from my new room. It didn’t take me long to realize that I probably should’ve kept more clothes, but I’d much rather buy more than spend another day wearing things that no longer felt like they fit me.
That was Lana from another life, one where I was a trophy and not a person, and I never wanted to feel like that again.
Time to make an order. Grabbing my laptop, I opened the door and headed out, ready to see what the rest of the house was doing.
The doctor said my body would automatically be hungry more often, trying to replenish those lost calories, and he wasn’t kidding. My stomach was already making itself known despite the pizza I ate with the guys. At least I no longer felt like throwing up every time I tried to put something in my body.
