Even if I feel like I’m going to throw up in the process.
There’s a knock on the door and I swear to fuck if one of these Alphas came here early and messes up my grand plan…
“Who is it?”
“Effie dear, is everything okay?”
I open the door, and the second I do, Effie’s eyes go a little wide. She recovers quickly and doesn’t even bring up my scent.
“Hey, Effie.”
“Maisie, how are you? I have exciting news!”
I give her a small smile, because Effie just has that kind of effect on someone. “What is it?”
“We had five bookings this morning. We’ve been listed as an Omega-friendly B&B on this webpage, look,” she says, handing me her ancient iPhone. I'm not even sure I could buy a case for this thing anymore as I scroll the article.
It’s one of the simple photos I took, my face isn’t even in the frame, but I’m by the hearth reading a book and my caption talks about how comfortable I’ve felt in town and how welcoming Effie and Angus have been to me and my sister.
As I read on, the article goes on about safe and cozy places for Omegas to stay throughout the UK.
“This is amazing news, Effie. Right?” I ask her, and when I look up at her face, it’s streaked with tears.
“It’s the best news. I can’t think of a better compliment to be considered a safe and cozy place for Omegas. I told Angus we’re going to need to buy more of those deodorizing systems. What do you think about us updating our door locking system to something electronic?”
“I think they’re all amazing ideas, Effie.”
“Would you help me with them?”
“What?” I blink at the older woman.
“Help me make this place what it could be.”
“I don’t know if I’d be good with guests,” I tell her honestly and the woman looks at me with shock.
“Why would you think that? Most people aren’t coming here to have a companion to talk to all day. They just want good hospitality, and you’re more than equipped to do that.”
“You think so?”
“Absolutely. You and Birdie have been the biggest delights to have at Heather Beag.” I don’t answer her with words, instead I wrap my arms around her waist and hug her. She holds me tight in such a maternal hug I’m nearly about to combust into a crying fit. “You’re going to stay, aren’t you, dear?”
“As long as they’ll have me.”
“They’d be fools not to. I’d have to disown them, and then who would come and fix the sink?”
I laugh but we don’t break away from the hug.
“You’re a brave, strong, wonderful woman, and those men are absolutely smitten. Even if they weren’t, you’d always have a place to stay with me here. No matter how much time you need to figure life out, you’re always welcome here.”
I cry into the older woman’s chest, and she doesn’t seem frightened by my emotional outburst. She just continues to hold me.
“Let me go fix you a cuppa and a snack,” she says, breaking apart our hug.
“That sounds nice,” I tell her and she pinches my cheek.
This place feels more like home than Chicago ever did, and I’m ready for tonight. I’m letting everything go, all my fears, all the worries, because even without those Alphas being my scent matches, I feel like I belong here no matter what.
My life might not look like what I planned. I might not be a single CEO Omega dominating corporate America, but I’m something I never could have expected…I’m happy, and that’s fucking priceless.
