“Your surprise is waiting for you at Stella House.”
“But you can’t come with me.” I wave at the gate. “Omegas only, remember?”
“This surprise isn’t for me.” A smile tips Orin’s lips. “Call me when you’re done.”
“Okay…” I eye him skeptically before I get out of the car and walk down the street, Orin’s headlights illuminating the path, watching every step I take.
Margie looks up from the true crime magazine she’s reading inside her kiosk, waving at me as I pass with a knowing twinkle in her eye. “Have a good night, hon!”
I briefly chat with the omegas I pass on my short walk to Stella House. Several are in costumes, on their way to Club Knotty.
I smile, remembering all of the fun themed nights the Stellas and I have spent together—the inner animal night, the monster masquerade, and so many more.
It’s the first time I’ve been back to Stella House since bonding with every alpha in my pack, wonderful memories warming me as I halt on the familiar porch steps. There’s a light coming from inside, shining through a gap in the curtains.
Confused, I go to the door and find that it’s left open.
“Hello?” I call out.
“Up here!” a familiar voice responds as a dash of orange fluff whips past my ankles, causing me to jump out of my skin.
“Holy shit, Larry!” I clutch my chest. “You almost gave me a heart attack.”
My jaw drops when I look up to see Delilah standing at the top of the staircase, beckoning me. “Come on, we’re all in the cuddle den!”
Before I can ask any questions, she scampers away. I follow her up into the attic, where I’m greeted by the comforting glow of the twinkling fairy lights. Along with Delilah, I’m stunned to see that Kady and Faye are here too. They’ve already made themselves comfortable, lounging out among the plethora of cozy cushions, but they jump up as soon as they see me. They’re all wearing matching pink hoodies that have a sparkly silver S on the front.
“What are you all doing here?” I cock my hip. “You’re supposed to be busy!”
“We’re never too busy for you.” Delilah gives me a hug. “Orin got in touch to say that he wanted to surprise you, and he thought a final night in Stella House might be what you need. So I rescheduled my flight to tomorrow.”
Mr. Grumpy-Pants strikes again with an incredible gift. I’ll have to thank him properly later.
“But what about the crisis you were dealing with?” I ask Kady as Delilah releases me. Before Kady can reply, I turn to Faye. “Or the special plant?”
Kady flicks her wrist. “Calder and Devon have it all under control.”
“And I helped with what I could, but Ezra can manage the rest on his own,” Faye says.
“Come on.” Delilah pulls me to my usual spot. “Sit down.”
A projector screen has been assembled, turning the den into a mini theatre. The others settle down around me, where there are piles of snacks and mountains of blankets.
“This is just like the good old days, right?” Kady remarks while loading up the movie. “Wow, I already miss this place.”
“I thought you were still living here?” I ask her.
“Actually, I decided to move my things into the guys’ apartment.” She shrugs. “After you moved out, I was spending more time there anyway, so it made sense to make the move permanent. Margie is already planning a big renovation for the place.”
“So…” A lump forms in my throat. “This is our last night in Stella House together, then.”
Delilah sniffs, dabbing at her eyes. “I never thought I’d feel so emotional about it.”
“Come on, Del!” Kady throws a cushion at her. “This is supposed to be fun.”
“We got these made.” Faye hands me the same pink hoodie that they’re all wearing. “We have the bathrobes, but we thought it’d be nice to have something to wear outside the house too.”
In addition to the sparkly silver S on the front, there’s a big Stella logo on the back in swirly text with little stars. I briefly clutch it to my chest before putting it on. Being encased in the soft material is like being hugged by a cloud. “This is so comfy!”
