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Yet my three new Alphas worked on it together, ready for our bonding.

Now, I just have to push open the door.

I reach out, shakily.

“Take your time,” Luca says. “You are in charge of everything today. This bonding. The nest. Us.” He leans on the wall next to the door. “You don’t need to be ready because we are.”

Tremors are running through his arms, and he’s panting. Despite not removing his patch this time, the rut is hitting him hard.

I expected Angel to be the most excited, but it’s actually been Luca who has been fixated on our bonding for the last month.

Obsessed with my becoming his forever Omega.

The corridor smells of fresh paint and sanded floors.

The Coles have worked tirelessly to help me prepare for the grand opening. I’ll be ready to open the doors to Acorn Inn for the first guests at the start of next month.

Sophie and Angel have paired up (I should have realized how well those two would get on), to tirelessly spread the word about the inn, as well as brainstorm advertising.

The idea of throwing open the doors to the inn would have terrified me before the Coles came into my life. All I wanted was to throw the blankets over my head and hide away from the world.

I could barely get dressed.

Knowing that Devlin’s ass is in jail has finally made me feel safe. It turns out his daddy’s influence wasn’t enough to buy his way out of those serious charges.

Now, I am finally ready to work for my dream again.

“We’re here with you.” Angel jumps up and down, attempting to catch my eye over Rhett’s shoulder. He’s been tearing around the inn preparing things for my heat for the last day in an attempt to work off his energy. “Blame me if the painting sucks, but I needed to do something to be part of this. The giant Alpha here is a perfectionist because he’s good at this shit. But we all wanted to prepare the nest. And he’d already moved in his ancestral bed, which at least was too large to sell when he got rid of his other heirlooms to raise enough to buy⁠—”

“Hush your mouth.” Rhett glares over his shoulder at Angel. “You’re spoiling the surprise.”

“I hate surprises,” Luca points out. “Why don’t we just tell her?”

“Because I like surprises,” I reply. “I’m glad you’re still spending some time in Cole House.” I lick up Rhett’s throat, and he shivers. “I’ve loved discovering your home as well.”

“Hell, darlin’, half the town already reckons we’re the strangest pack in Texas.”

“And I’m the strangest Alpha.” Luca crosses his arms.

“Let them. We keep both places, and we don’t give a damn about their gossip. I don’t see why every pack member needs to sleep under the same roof every night.” Rhett glances at the carved decorations on the door. “This place belongs to the Monarchs too. Cole House contains memories of my family, always will.”

I both love that he understands me, while hating the reason that he does.

“Also, our schedules are a mess, beautiful,” Angel adds. “We come in at all hours. And this one…” He risks his life…or ass…by poking Rhett in the back. “Comes stomping in smelling of smoke and looking like he lost a fight with a dragon.”

“Smartass.” Rhett growls. “I’d win a fight against a dragon for my damsel. Look, she’s in my arms.”

“Sure you would.” Angel risks his ass yet again by patting Rhett on the back, while leaning around him to wink at me.

I chuckle.

“Also, it is quiet.” Luca glances down. “I won’t like strangers in the inn, slamming doors and talking. I will need Cole House, and sometimes, the woods. I warned you.”

“And I told you,” I reply, “that I only care about what you need.” His shoulders relax. “Then we have two lives.” Happiness settles over me at the thought. I can imagine it now, and somehow, it feels even more right. “Here and in Cole House.”

“Sounds right.” Rhett brushes his knuckles over the back of my cheek. “It ain’t conventional, but neither are we.”

Luca snorts. “Who decided that conventional should be anyone’s goal? I only need to know where home is, and that the people in it won’t leave me.”