Norah sticks a rose in the vase with unnecessary force. “Mr. and Mrs. Maddox are wonderful people. They’ll love you.”
“They don’t even know me.”
“They know Levi. And Levi loves you. That’s all they need to know.”
Her certainty doesn’t touch the panic rushing through me. I rub my arm, staring at the neat row of chrysanthemums by the window.
“What if they don’t like me?”
“They will,” Norah says it firmly, then softens as she takes in my expression. “And if they don’t, that’s their loss.”
Norah’s arm brushes mine, grounding me. She glances sideways. “Are you limping?”
“No,” I say too quickly. Heat floods my cheeks.
Her smirk says everything.
“Maybe,” I mumble. “A little.”
Her grin widens, sly and knowing.
“Shut up,” I laugh, nudging her shoulder.
“Don’t need to say a word,” she teases, her eyes sparkling. “Your glow says it all. You’ve been… busy.”
That’s an understatement. The amount of sex I’ve had since agreeing to be their Omega is insane. Insatiable.
They fuck me like I’m theirs every chance they get, and I—God help me—I let them. Because for the first time in my life, I don’t just want it. I crave it.
My body flushes with the memory of Beau’s hands, Simon’s mouth, Levi’s teeth grazing my shoulder. I shake my head, trying to chase it off, but Norah’s knowing smirk only deepens.
“Let me just see the bouquet,” I mutter, desperate for distraction.
Norah sweeps her arm toward the counter, where a bouquet waits wrapped in soft ivory paper. White hydrangeas, blush roses, sprigs of eucalyptus that spill like green lace.
It’s elegant, classic, nothing too loud, but impossible not to notice.
“Wow,” I breathe, reaching out to touch one of the petals. “It’s gorgeous.”
“Of course it is,” Norah says, dusting her hands together. “I worked on it all morning.”
I can picture handing it over, can picture the older woman smiling, maybe telling me she likes it. Maybe telling me she likes me.
Norah pulls me into a hug, her arms strong around me. “It’s going to be fine, okay? More than fine. You’ll charm them. You’ll see.”
Her words melt into me like warmth against my cold edges. I cling back for a moment, whispering, “I hope so.”
“You will,” she says again, her confidence unshakable. “You’re part of their pack now, Wren. Remember that. They wouldn’t let you go into this blind. And I’ve met the Maddoxes, they’re nice people.”
I bite my lip, my eyes burning with sudden emotion. She’s right. I’m not alone. For the first time in years, maybe ever, I’m walking into something with people at my side.
A pack. A best friend. A life that feels like it could be mine.
“Fucking hell,” Simon mutters as he adjusts his glasses, the corner of his mouth twitching.
I pause halfway through smoothing the front of my dress, frowning at him. “Do I look okay?”
He looks up fully, his eyes dragging over me in a way that makes my skin flush hot from the inside out. Then his gaze settles on mine, his jaw tight.
