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Rhett grimaced, however, as he glanced around, noticing signs of neglect beneath the more recent cleaning.

He swept his gaze over gutters, pipes, and windows.

I rolled my eyes at how obviously he was testing the creaking floorboards once we followed Paige inside, as well as rocking a loose stair rail.

My Alpha was itching to take out his tools, in more ways than one.

I bet that he’ll have the place fixed up by the end of the two weeks.

In the soft light of the bedroom, with the golden lamplight shining over the oak wardrobe and closed shutters, the sound of the hiss of the shower filters through the door from the ensuite.

Rhett is taking a shower, while I am relaxing Paige as part of her touch therapy.

I lean closer to her, taking a deep breath of her blackberry scent. I wish that I could lick down her throat.

I shiver.

Luca messaged me yesterday, when I couldn’t wait any longer to know how things were going, telling me that they had spun among the butterflies, held hands, and danced.

I stared at the message in shock.

Luca didn’t dance.

He didn’t hold hands.

And spinning was one of his stims, which he often did when overwhelmed but didn’t like to show outsiders. If he did it around butterflies, however, then it was more likely out of excitement.

“He likes her.” I almost dropped my phone.

Unable to hold back, I asked him about Paige’s scent because I had been missing it all week.

Ain’t her scent amazing? Have you nuzzled her yet? Describe it to me. Please.

Except, Luca’s response had been typical and frustrating.

Why? She’s not your scent match.

Pain lanced through me.

Why did I keep forgetting that Paige was Rhett’s?

And he didn’t want her.

Now, finally smelling her delicious blackberry scent for myself, however, I don’t care.

This is the Omega I want in my pack.

It doesn’t matter that Paige is not my scent match. We have spoken via text every single evening, sometimes for hours.

No one has allowed me to talk about everything and nothing at the same time before.

Rhett and Luca love me in their own way. I am a member of their pack. I have a place in their home.

Except, we’re all busy with independent lives. It’s how we both need and like things.

When we come together, things are easy. We can sit in silence or connect with a couple of words.

I’m younger than the rest of the Cole pack, however, and I know that they struggle with how much I need to talk.