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I could have reached out and touched him.

I let out a breath, as the adrenaline finally hits me.

At least I’ll have a good story to tell Paige.

Angel finds it easy to talk to our Omega for hours.

Rhett can talk to her with long, smoldering looks and winks. But then, he manages that with Angel as well.

I have never understood it when he tries that with me.

Does Paige find me boring like the kids did at school? I never knew how to talk to them. But she doesn’t seem to.

In fact, she appears to like it when I’m myself with her.

It’s the most common thing that professionals would hiss at me, before presenting me to yet another prospective foster parent: just don’t be yourself.

Who else was I meant to be?

I stalk to the length of barbed wire, shaking my head.

I can’t leave this here, in case another animal becomes caught in it. I grip it with my gloved hands, rolling it up.

Then I heft it up with a grunt, tucking it under my arm, before I trudge back to the truck.

It’s late. I better head back.

My heart lightens.

This is my final shift before the Omega’s heat.

An unexpected happiness washes over me. It shocks me.

Isn’t craving an Omega in our pack Angel’s thing? Why am I feeling like this toward Paige? Why do my teeth itch to bite her neck?

I toss the barbed wire into the back of the truck, before I drag open the front door and climb in behind the wheel.

I’ll build Paige a fresh nest every day I am lucky enough to live with her in Acorn Inn.

She liked my first nest.

Maybe I’m not a bad Alpha…

I pull my computer onto my knee to log my report, distracted by the plans of the nest that I am going to build.

I cock my head, thinking hard, while I type.

There are special nest products. I have read the research studies. I could do a comparative study of them, comparing the best blankets and pillows by softness, fluffiness, and absorbance for slick.

Then I will order the best.

My thoughts are cut off by the sudden silence.

Shocked, I look up.

I know what these forests sound like better than I know what the town center of Oak Hollow does. But suddenly, the bird song and insect calls have stopped.

I shove the computer off my knee onto the passenger seat.