It’s my own fault. I accepted her desire to help, forgetting how clumsy she is. How she fell and scraped her knees when we met, how she’s almost fallen down the stairs three times already. Maybe I should knock down some walls and make the master bedroom downstairs, so she doesn’t have to risk using them so much.
I’m getting ahead of myself.
Later, nest first.
Securing safety for the uncoordinated beta as soon as I’m done with this.
While this place suffered massive disrepair, at least the bones are still solid. None of the drywall for the first part needs to be adjusted, and the bottom of each section goes down fast with Kelly leaning against each piece to hold it in place and handing me screws to anchor them to the wall studs. Things get a bit trickier when I have to start trimming pieces to fit. The ten-foot ceilings in this place are great for being able to actually stretch…but repairing the walls means cutting down two foot sections, and I have to have Kelly hand up the parts while I stand on a stepladder. Still, the extra help is very much appreciated and goes faster with her assistance.
It takes less than two hours for us to finish putting up the drywall, despite a few almost disasters due to lack of coordination. But we’re both safe and whole, and I’m a bit relieved when I can send her off to get cleaned up and ready for bed while I finish adding joint-compound to the newly constructed walls. We didn’t make too much of a mess, but she’ll feel better after a hot shower and getting the plaster dust out of her hair.
This part doesn’t take as long—there’s no measuring or hefting objects—it’s just tedious. By the time I finish, my legs feel likethey’re about to give out, and I have to drag myself up the stairs. That is definitely another point for moving us downstairs. My back is aching and getting old fucking sucks. My bed is full of people right now, and it’s hard to suppress my snarl when I remember that Teddy invited the two alphas to “preserve body heat”. Fucking bullshit.
He’s lying in the center with Steven wrapped around his back, and Kelly pressed to his front. Garret is on the other side of Kelly, his face buried in her hair, and they look so relaxed and peaceful that I want to kick these two alpha assholes out of my fucking house into the snow and let them freeze. As it is, I’ll settle for moving Garret over after I get cleaned up. Let him keep my spot warm until I get washed up, and can snuggle my pack properly.
Chapter 34
Loud ringing draws me out of a dream where Kelly and I embrace. Nothing overtly sexual, but holding her, caressing her hair, breathing in her lilac scent and just being warmed by her arms around me. The reality is sadly dissimilar. The ringing sounds again, and several mumbles are heard across the big bed before Sam finally rumbles out, “Shit!” There’s a long beep where he accepts the call and fuck, someone better be dying. It’s still dark outside. He doesn’t say anything, but there’s a voice on the other end.
Suddenly he’s wide awake and sitting up. He jostles Kelly, who was sandwiched between him and Teddy. She sits up too, panic written across her features. What the hell is going on here? He listens intently for a minute before his voice comes out roughened with sleep. “Shit, what about Pack Garcia? Moen? Allen? Well, can’t any of the police lend a hand? I know Miller would be…Shit. Ok, no….Yeah. No.”
His hand comes up to rub down his face. “No, I’m sure Joseph told you not to call, but fuck him…Yeah. Yeah, no. I’ll be there as soon as I can. Wait, is Pack Asher gonna be there? You knowLeo’s a vet, maybe some of his training…? No, I get it. Yeah, lemme just get my pants, I’ll be there as soon as I can. Shit, if they’re waiting on me just have ’em grab my gear, I’ll meet ’em on site.”
Another loud beep ends the phone call and then Sam’s crawling over me trying to get out of the bed. Kelly’s still sitting up, she looks adorable and sleep rumpled. I want to slide into the warm spot that Sam left and pull her against me, but something about the half a conversation I just heard pulls at my mind.
Sam has turned on the bathroom light so as not to disturb everyone else, and he rushes through putting on clothes. He’s struggling with getting socks on when I manage to pry myself away from the bed. “What was that about, is there some sort of emergency?”
Sam’s eyes flick up to me quickly, and then back down to what his hands are doing. “Yeah, fire, probably somebody’s kerosene heater or something. Unfortunately, with the storm a lot of us can’t get out. So, we’re down our normal first responders and three of our usual fire fighters. Otherwise, there’s no way my brother would have let them call me in. Fuckin’ asshole.”
I grab my pants from the pile on the floor and start scrambling to yank them on, but his big hand on my shoulder stops me. “No way, you’re staying here. I don’t need a tag-along. This is gonna get fucked, especially once everything’s been put out and my family’s involved.”
I glare up at him, shimmying my legs to finish pulling up my jeans. “You’re short EMTs? Are you just planning on pulling a medic out of your ass then? No, do you have someone else to call who might have medical training or is going to school for a medical degree? Yes? No? Oh, I’m sorry, I heard you say a veterinarian was going to be there. Well, that’s just great!” He glares harder, but I just can’t seem to stop pushing now.
“Best case scenario: we get there, you don’t need my help, and I sit in the truck catching up on the Greeking Out podcast while you do your thing, then I can drive you home, or to the hospital as needed afterwards. Worse case, someone gets seriously injured, including you or one of the guys on your team, and no one’s there to help.” He starts to interrupt me, but I keep going. “Yes, I’m sure you’ve all had basic first aid training. But just in case. Wouldn’t it be better to have an extra set of somewhat knowledgeable hands on deck?”
He looks like he’s about to tell me no, but if he really cares about these people, I know he’ll relent. I get my pants fastened and yank my dirty socks and shoes back on. The shirt I was sleeping in will be fine for this. Though I do wish I’d brought a heavier coat.
Kelly’s sitting up in the bed watching us both. And she reaches for Sam. A small pang goes through my chest, but I know I haven’t earned that yet. He gives her a quick hug and a kiss on the head before he tells her, “Love you, Sugar, stay here, be safe. Call me if anything happens.” Then he bolts from the room and I hear his boots pounding down the stairs. Briefly meeting Kelly’s eyes, I wish I had something I could say, something profound. But I got nothing.
Instead, she speaks. “Keep him safe, please.” I nod as I turn to leave the room, and I barely catch her quietly whispered words. “Please be safe too, I need you both to come back in one piece.” If only there were more time I would pull her into my arms, promise her anything. Of course I’ll keep Sam safe. Of course I’ll make sure he gets home to her. But all I have time for is to turn, meet her eyes, and nod in acknowledgement before I’m following Sam down the stairs.
He throws me a heavy coat out of the closet in the living room, and I’m trying to get the zipper done in my still half asleep state when Steve clears his throat from the top of the stairs.
“Sorry, I was trying not to wake you all up. Sam got a call from the fire department. I’m going along to help in case they need an extra hand and could use someone with a medical background. Go back to bed and snuggle Teddy so he can give Kelly cuddles.”
His lip curls up in annoyance, but then he yawns so hard that I can hear his jaw crack from all the way down here.
Waving his arm at me, he turns and heads back towards the bedroom—I hear the door click closed again. Turning back, I see Sam standing by the door with his hand on the nob. “Shit, I’ve never left anyone alone in my house before, this is weird. He gonna be ok?” He nods back towards the top of the stairs where Steve disappeared, and I hope so. I know he wants Teddy, I know he doesn’t want Kelly, but I’m pretty fucking sure that Teddy would choose her at this point. We have a lot of shit to make up for, but that’s a future me problem. Current me needs to get the hell going before something burns down waiting for us.
“Teddy’ll keep him in line, one way or the other. Let's go.” Sam smirks at me, and I actually didn’t mean for that to come out sounding sexual in any way. But after what happened on the couch earlier it’s easy to see why it might come off as such. Letting out a heavy sigh, I open the door, getting smacked in the face with icy wind and snowflakes for my trouble.
I fucking hate the cold. This is why I live in Los Angeles. We might get a mild chill on occasion, but nothing like this crazy shit. Pulling the coat up around my ears, I plod down the steps and head for Sam’s truck, waiting on his slow old ass to unlock it. It takes less than thirty seconds, but I’m already glaring at him and shuffling from foot to foot when he arrives. He raises his eyebrows at me and opens his door.
Does no one in this godforsaken podunk lock their fucking cars?!
I feel like an idiot.
A frozen idiot.
