Page 53 of All Packed Up

“Yeah,” Nic said and cleared his throat.

“Alright then, it’s agreed. We just need to make some measurements when she wakes up, and then I can make the trip into town for lumber and shit.”

“What are you measuring?” a soft voice asked, and Griffith jumped in his seat, cranking around in his chair to find Wendy entering the kitchen.

The fucking woman was like a wraith, with dark hair and pale skin not unlike fresh cream and a scent just as sweet but cut with the tartness of a fruit he couldn’t place.

Nic’s eyes widened, his worried glance bouncing from alpha to omega and back again. “Uh…”

“A proper bed,” Griffith offered helpfully.

Because heaven help him and his hidden motives, but the faster this omega got through her heat, the faster he could level the playing field.

He watched a smile crawl across Nic’s face as he glanced over.

That’s my beta.

And Griffith wasn’t going to let this omega scoop Nic up without a fight.

Chapter 13

WENDY

Waking up in an unfamiliar, empty room sent fear striking through her for a split second. But the familiar, safe scent of Nic filled her senses and chased it away. The tension left her body, and she relaxed in relief.

Right onto the hardwood floor.

Wendy blew out a calculated sigh, pushing her hair out of her eyes so she could properly stare at the ceiling.

Getting off the floor made her feel far too old for her twenty-five years, but she wouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth. The air mattress wasn’t even that bad with all the blankets on it. Honest.

And cuddled up with Nic? She basically used him as a mattress anyway, so…

She snickered as fondness lit up in her chest.

And was instantly flooded with a familiar possessive jealousy that usually made her stomach cramp. But right then… she was so far away from Derek, she could take a deep breath for the first time in days.

Even though she felt far away from him, she was still left uneasy, and found herself seeking Nic and Tate and Arlo.

Voices drifted out from the kitchen as she stepped off the last step to the hardwood floor. It was noticeably warmer in the living room, and she took a moment to explore in the light of day.

The living room was modest and simple. A brown cloth couch and recliner were placed in front of the windows and surrounded a coffee table, all faced toward the source of the warmth. A wood stove heated the house, and she spied the flames burning through the small window.

The television, though it was turned off, was against the far wall, adjacent to the wood stove.

Knuckles was fast asleep in the recliner, and Daisy snored on the floor in front of it.

She chuckled. It would be just like Knuckles to take the dog’s sleeping spot.

Poor thing.

Voices pulled her in the direction of the kitchen, and she gathered her sweater closer as she approached.

“What are you measuring?” she interjected, coming in at the end of the conversation.

Nic’s ex, Griffith, jumped in his seat, and she almost laughed. The alpha was handsome, all tall, dark, and sexy. Still single, she noted, since there was only one size of shoes by the back door.

Not that she’d ever admit it out loud.