Chapter 44
Slight jostling wakes me up from the best sleep I’ve had in months. Cuddling up to Greg feels amazing, but these are next-level snuggles. His scent is still nearby, and it adds an extra layer of comfort to the low rumble that’s going on under my cheek. My body stretches and turns over, burying my face against warmth that reminds me of a summer day and playing outside. The vibration intensifies and a warm hand strokes down the back of my head, fingers running through the short ends of my hair over my neck. Another hand strokes over my back, rubbing softly between my shoulder blades while cradling me warmly. It feels so good and then I feel Greg’s nimble fingers running up and down my calves. He gives the best massages ever after working out, and I’d know his touch anywhere.
That is at least one hand too many.
What the fucking fuck?
My body snaps upright, eyes flying open, and I feel something knobby crack hard against the back of my skull. My shoulders droop as I try to take stock of my surroundings. The first thing I notice is a window over my head. It looks like a car window, the van we rented, so at least that’s familiar. Deep inhale and the main scent is grass, leather, and an unpleasant iron tang. Ugh. What the hell. Underlying scents are my beta, my BFF, and his pack. So that tracks. A loud groan sounds next to my ear and I scramble backwards, trying to put space between me and the stranger who I’m apparently lying on. My mind whirls as I end up sprawled half across Greg and half in the floorboard of our rental. I look around. Teddy is in the front seat, staring back at me while Sam’s voice comes from behind me, in the driver’s seat. “You ok back there, Sarah? Did you have a nightmare? Do you need us to pull over? Please tell me if you’re gonna be carsick.”
I’ve never had motion sickness a day in my life, but at least the panic is subsiding as I stare up at Greg. His hands are up, trying to show me he’s harmless, but I already know he is. He’s mine. My eyes turn to the big alpha next to him, the one holding his catcher’s-mitt-sized hands over his nose as blood drips over his lip. His eyes have a wet sheen as he looks at me and offers me a tight-lipped smile. It’s Moose, er…Spencer, the big alpha I met yesterday and then again today at the store.
And I just broke his nose, didn’t I?
Well, this is awkward.
It comes flooding back that he started purring and I just conked out. He even let me sleep on him. Not that I had a lot of control over the situation, I just kept trying to cuddle between him and Greg. Greg is mine, he’s safe, but this guy. I wanted to climb him like a cat tree and fall asleep wrapped around him, despite not knowing him. He feels nice and cozy, like flannel pajamas, and cuddling with Shaggy. I wonder if my bun would want to nibble him, considering how much he smells like a fieldof grass. I have to bite my lip to not smirk at that mental image, especially since I’ve hurt the poor guy. Though he seems to be taking it really well. I mean, his face is bleeding. I really should apologize and check the damage.
I crawl out of the floorboard and climb back onto the seat. Greg offers me a hand, silently asking where I want to sit. He scoots over to give me space beside the alpha that really puts the mini in this minivan. Spencer’s spikey, unkempt hair is flattened against the roof while he smiles down at me again, more open this time. There’s blood on his teeth too. How is he still grinning like an idiot with all this?
My whole body turns to the oversized alpha, trying to appraise the damage I can’t see. “Teddy, hand me that box of tissues out of the glovebox, would ya…please.” Maybe I can help the big guy get cleaned up.
My bestie opens the bin and hands me the small plastic packet, which I tear open while turning and grabbing the Spence's hands, trying to move them away from his face. “Shit Spence, I am so, so sorry. I didn’t mean to…I panicked when I woke up with three hands on me.” I hear my beta mumble behind me, and his palm comes down on my back, rubbing a soothing pattern up and down.
His nose might be broken, and his lip is definitely bleeding. I feel like such an asshole, especially as he continues smiling at me. His voice is a quiet rumble but at least that coma-inducing purr has finally stopped. “It’s ok. I’ve done a lot worse on my own. Heck, my sister’s done a lot worse when she was taking regular karate classes. She always wanted me to help her practice, and she broke the stupid thing three times. It’s not like it’s gonna look much worse.” His smile turns self-deprecating and I’m not sure where to touch without hurting him worse. I dab lightly at the cut in his lip, and jerk back when he winces slightly.
“I’m not sure…how can I…? You know what, here you go.” I push the opened pack of tissues into his hand and he pulls two out, quickly twisting them into cones and shoving one in each nostril before grinning at me again. The effect is slightly lessened when he grunts at his busted lip. There’s no way I can apologize enough for this; it’s just horrible, and there was no reason for it. The guy was just purring for me and letting me nap on him, and honestly it felt amazing. I think that was the problem—I was in a deeper rest than I’ve been in what feels like forever and I panicked.
But I don’t want to say that in front of Greg—he’ll feel like he’s not doing enough if he knows I’m not sleeping well. He tries so hard, and it’s not his fault. I’ve been so stressed out and on edge. The whole situation with John and his pack. My parents at Christmas. Plus, poor Lily and Adam, I don’t know how to help those two. She won’t come out of her room unless he’s with her, and he’s running himself ragged trying to help her feel safe. If I could get ahold of those fucking alphas, I’d fucking castrate the sons of bitches.
Greg’s hand rubs more firmly against me, drawing me back to the present, and making me realize that I’m breathing heavily. I still haven’t told Thicc about that. He wasn’t close friends with them, but he knew them both. Not as well as I’ve gotten to since he left, but they got along. Now’s not the time, though. I don’t want to add extra stress into this car ride, and Spencer is looking at me hopefully. What the hell do I say here, other than another apology that’s just going to sound lame?
Thank fuck I’m saved by Teddy. He looks smugly between me and Greg and Spencer. “Hey, Spence! You got any preferences on food stuff? Would you rather us grab stuff for burgers and brats or sandwich fixins?” There seems to be some of this conversation I missed since Teddy’s attention turns to me. “I know what you like, Shorty, no worries.” His eyes flick to Greg.“How about you man, thoughts on food stuffs? We’re gonna stop and grab something to take over to Pack Miller’s house so we can drop Spence off and check out their new place. Sam will feel better if we all have something to eat.” The big alpha grumbles unintelligibly from the front seat and Teddy leans over to him. “Oh, you know I love you, Alpha. I like you taking care of everybody, it’s sexy.” The tips of Sam’s ears blush a bright red and he leans over, brushing his lips across Teddy’s cheek.
Greg’s voice is close beside me as he pulls me into a hug, but he speaks to Teddy. “I’ll eat anything, man. Hell, before I met Sarah, I pretty much lived on ramen ’cause it’s cheap and easy, so whatever everybody else feels like is good to me.” Teddy nods in understanding. He was the same way when I wouldn’t drag him to the commons to eat real food.
Spencer chuckles beside us, and I’m coming to realize this might just be a guy thing until his voice comes out clogged and nasally. “Hey, frozen burritos are good too, and super easy, if you just need a change up.” Greg reaches over my head and gives him a fist bump.
Fucking hell, what have I gotten myself in the middle of?
Chapter 45
It takes longer than I would like to buy all the pillows and blankets and get back on the road. We have to move all the paint to the frunk and then stack everything else in the backseat of Nadine. I can’t say I’m sorry not to be crammed back there for once. I know that logistically speaking, it’s the only way for all three of us to fit in this little car; it doesn’t mean I enjoy the experience. I hope Spence enjoys all the new pillows. I know Al wanted to do something nice for the big guy. I’m just not sure I can trust his motive behind it. It’s not like he’s made a secret out of not wanting an omega. Hopefully, he just wants to help our packmate out.
Alistair mutters to himself as we finally make it to the grocery store where Billy works. It’s the only one in town, so I know it’s where Sam’s pack was planning on stopping. We pull up beside the minivan parked near the front and I see Spencer hop out andlope over. He practically has to squat to look in the window and the first thing I notice is his bright red nose with tissues hanging out of it. I know those signs. “What happened this time?”
He’s grinning at me despite the bloody lip. “Sarah head-butted me, but then she gave me tissues. Isn’t she sweet?” Alistair is boggled beside me, looking at our packmate like he’s lost what little bit of a mind he has, but I’ve known Spencer forever. His nose gets broken at least once a year during football season. Not to mention his sisters. It barely fazes him anymore. I’ve had it happen twice, and it’s always miserable with the eye watering and the throat clogging taste of blood. Maybe he has some sort of sensory deprivation issues. “I’m gonna call Mom when we get home and ask if Penny got back yet. She usually helps me re-set it so it’s not crooked.”
I pinch the bridge of my own nose, staring at the big grinning lunatic. “That’s because she’s the one who usually breaks it. She had to get good at re-setting it to keep that mug of yours so handsome.” Spence ducks his head, a blush coming over his cheeks and ears as he stands and shuffles inside the store at high speed. I just know Billy’s gonna ask about it. That boy is a bigger gossip than the entire bridge club combined.
Sam stalks over; that’s really the only way to say it. He has two speeds: an easy lope and a stalk. Since he left the rest of his pack and visitors in the van, he seems in a rush. “Sorry about Spence’s nose and lip. Sarah woke up in a panic and accidentally head-butted him, trying to escape. I’ll check with Teddy later if she’s alright, but I wanted to check in on Spence too. The big guy said he’s fine, but he was bleedin’ like a stuck pig back there.”
He looks back and forth between Alistair and me while he speaks, and since my packmate chooses not to respond, I take it upon myself. “Yeah, no. This happens. More than you’d think actually. Between football and his family, he’s probably gonna have some massive sinus issues in the future. It doesn’t seemto be more than a mild inconvenience at the moment, but I’ll let you know if it gets worse. Here, lemme go inside to get food with you. Spence is already in there, probably telling Billy how adorable the omega that broke his nose is.”
Sam seems to surprise himself with a loud bark of laughter before shaking his head. “He’s got it bad, huh? I’ve only met Sarah once before this weekend. She’s a firecracker, that’s for sure. But she’s also protective. I thought she was gonna kill Garret last time she saw him. She also threatened to un-man Vee over the phone, so, don’t let her size fool you. She’s a spiteful little thing when she needs to be. Not that I think Spence would ever give her reason, just a heads-up.”
I climb out of Nadine and give a low hum of approval ’cause I can imagine that. She looks like she could be either sweet or salty. And woe be to anyone who makes her salty. I duck back down so I can meet Alistair’s eyes. If any of us is gonna get on her bad side, it’s gonna be him. Thought, he can probably match her for saltiness, if not sheer destructive force. He just nods at me, letting me know he understands that she’s important to Spencer, even if he doesn’t understand why.
Speaking of the devil, he’s leaned over the checkout counter, paint swatches in hand, showing them off to Billy when we walk through the door. Spence’s hands wave in the air, probably trying to explain what he wants to do with the room, as Billy stares at his nose and bloody lip. I bet the big lug didn’t even tell him what happened—that, or he just forgot about it. He has a one-track mind most of the time, and has been known to wander off in the middle of projects, completely oblivious to everything around him. He’s so tied up in this, I doubt he’ll get much of anything else done except for work—and he may even forget he’s on the schedule for that.
