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“Sure. Whatever. Can I just get my bags and go to my new room?” she says with a sigh as she rolls her eyes.

“Umm, sure. Let me grab your stuff for you, and I’ll show you to your room so you can settle in.” I move past Hunter and toward the Jeep. I can feel Autumn hot on my heels as I get to the tailgate and open it. Grabbing the backpack and large suitcase, I lug it out of the Jeep and carry it inside the house, and up the stairs to the bedroom we made up for Autumn.

Briggs and Clint have disappeared from the kitchen. I didn’t see them as I made my way upstairs, so I have no clue where they got to. “Well, this is it. I hope it will work for your stay, and if you need anything, just let us know and we’ll do our best to get it for you.”

“Thanks. Can I be left alone to unpack?” she asks. I nod my head, leaving the room and closing the door behind me. I thought Hunter would have followed us up here, but he’s nowhere to be seen, either. What the hell is happening with everyone disappearing on me? Heading back down the stairs, I hear Hunter talking to someone, and as I round the corner at the bottom of the stairs, I see my cousins have come out of wherever they were hiding.

“Well, she doesn’t seem thrilled, but she’s up in her room unpacking,” I tell them.

“She’ll warm up to you. She’s just pissed this was her only other option, minus comin’ to the clubhouse. She definitely didn't want to do that,” Hunter tells us.

“We’ll make it work. She has her suppressants, right?” Briggs asks.

“Yeah, she packed them. I also brought her a lifetime supply of scent-blockin’ underwear. Which was an awkward as fuck conversation and an even worse shopping trip, but I didn't want to put her at risk in any way. I trust y'all, but you’re still alphas, and she’s still an omega. You shouldn’t be able to smell her at all. If you do, have her contact me or Gidge, and we’ll get her squared away.” Hunter fiddles with his hands as he talks.

“Okay, we will. We don’t want any issues either, so I’m sorry it was awkward, but thankful, too.” Clint smiles.

“I gotta get goin’. I need to get back. Better get up there and say my goodbyes. I really appreciate this again, guys. If you need anything, you hit me up and I got you. Renegade owes you one.” Hunter leaves the living room and climbs the stairs to the second floor.

The three of us sit in the living room, letting the two of them have their moment to say their goodbyes.

Chapter

Five

Autumn

This room is boring and so lacking any personality at all. Honestly, from what I saw of the house as I entered and was led upstairs, the whole house is lackluster in the decor area. You can tell three bachelor alphas live here. There’s rope hanging by the door, boots lined up like they actually get used, and I’m pretty sure I saw a saddle by a kitchen table. Maybe they’ll let me spruce the place up a bit and give it some sort of style.

When we pulled up to the house, I expected the inside to be all farmhouse chic, but I was met with garage sale bargain hunters instead. The alphas, on the other hand, are sexy as hell. Big, broad, built like they actually do something physical for a living—not gym muscles, but the kind that come from hard labor.

I only saw Tripp in person, but I caught a glimpse of a picture on the wall with the other two in it. Tripp is tall and muscular, and his biceps look like they could snap me in half like a twig. He has dark brown hair, green eyes, and as he led me up here, I was almost drooling over his key lime pie scent.

My brother left me alone up here to begin unpacking, but he came up not long after and wanted to chit-chat, giving me more of his lame-ass excuses for pawning me off. I ignored him as I continued to put my things away, and he finally got the hint and stood to leave. With a tight hug and a kiss on the forehead, he left the room and I heard him trudge down the stairs.

Rushing to the window, I peer out the lace curtain–gag–and watch him get back into the Jeep and turn it around before heading back down the driveway. A lone tear trails down my cheek, but I quickly wipe it away. I’m not going to shed a single tear over that asshole leaving me. The truth of the matter is, he thinks he’s doing what’s best for me, and while I disagree, I’m going to make the best out of the cards I’ve been dealt.

My clothes are all put where they belong, between the dresser and closet. Now, I need to find a bathroom to put my toiletries away. Grabbing everything that needs to go to the bathroom, I quietly open the door and step out into the hall. I’m in the last room at the end of the hall, so I take a left and open the first door; nothing but a bed and dresser covered in dust.

Closing the door, I open the next and am met with the overwhelming smell of banana cream pudding. My mouth waters and my stomach rumbles. I should have eaten when we stopped on the way here, but I was being stubborn. The room is very tidy, with nothing on the floor or out of place. Even the bed is made but there is nothing to tell me whose room this is, so with a reluctant sigh, I leave and continue my search for the bathroom.

The next door I come to is the bathroom. I blow out an exaggerated breath and flip the light on. I place my shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and razor on one of the empty shelves inside the shower. Finding a drawer that’s also empty in the vanity, I drop my toothpaste, deodorant, and lotion inside and close the drawer. Lastly, I leave my toothbrush in the cup on the counter with theirs, and send a word of thanks to whoever the man in the sky is, that I remembered my toothbrush cap.

While I’m in here, I shut the door and pee, washing my hands when I'm done. Pushing the door open, I decide to check out the door across the hall, even though I know it’s the other alpha’s. I shouldn’t spy, but I can’t help myself. I want to get a feel for who these guys are. Holding my breath, I slip inside the room and look around, the smell of vanilla and coffee tickling my nose.

The bed is unmade and covered in a dark green plush blanket. The walls are bare, minus one picture of an alpha with caramel hair and eyes, a well-kept beard, and abs I could wash my clothes on. He’s standing in front of a lake, with an arm around two young girls who are identical on either side of him. They look like him, so I’m assuming they’re his little sisters, which has me smiling. He looks overjoyed being with them.

Finding nothing that tells me his identity, so I can put a name to the face, I leave as quietly as I came. There’s only one door left, and it has to be Tripp's. His key lime scent was in the other rooms but super faint. Twisting the doorknob, I enter the room and see utter chaos. Clothes, hangers, and other random shit litter the floor. The whole room smells like sharp lime, and I know instantly this is indeed Tripp’s room.

Voices from downstairs reach my ears, and my heart pounds faster in my chest. I’ve been here a short while, and am already snooping through their shit. If they catch me up here, looking through their rooms, lord knows what they’d do. Fleeing Tripp's space, I go back to my room and quickly shut the door behind me. I need to take my suppressants and find something to eat. This means I’ll have to put my big girl panties on and go downstairs and be face to face with my new roommates, or shall I say, wardens.

Pulling the pill bottle from my purse, I tip it, shaking out one of the last few pills into my palm. I’ll need to open a new bottle soon. Good thing I get enough refills for six months every time. Placing the pill on my tongue, I grab the bottle of water from my purse and swallow. I flop back onto the bed and lay down, thinking about what the hell I’d do if my heat hit while I was here.

I don’t know how long I’ll be here, and I don’t care to have my first heat in Montana with strangers. I’m not sure what I want my heat to be like anymore. If you asked me before, I’d have no doubts that I wanted to spend my heat with Peter. Now, though? That’s a hard fucking no.

My stomach growls so loud it wakes me up. I didn’t even know I fell asleep, but as I blink my eyes open, it’s obvious I’m still in this bland room and must have fallen asleep after taking my pill. The rumbling happens again, and I put a hand on my belly. “Alright. Alright. I’ll feed you.” Standing from the bed, I cross the room and head out into the hall once more, but this time, instead of snooping, I walk downstairs.

“Should we go check on her?” one of them asks.