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Oh, Goddess help me.

I half-turned at the top of the steps with some weird idea of going back inside, but there were people behind me waiting to get off, and the driver arched a dark brow in question.

“This is your stop, miss,” he said. “Everything okay?”

“Fine. I just thought I forgot something, but then I remembered that I didn’t.” Just like I didn’t make a lick of sense with my reply to him. But as I took the first step down, the reason for my desire to free still stood there, watching.

They were all tall, all muscular, and all the epitome of what an alpha wolf should be. Any omega in her right mind would be thanking the Goddess for sending her this way. She’d be hopping to the ground and running into their arms. But taking in their serious expressions and motionless stance… I was so scared. What had I walked into. Stepping onto the concrete, I looked up and down the platform for what I wasn’t even sure. An escape route? To where? These three males had shown up to meet me, and we had been talking all the way across the country in text. Not one red flag had been flown or I’d have changed my route and never arrived here at all. They’d be blocked from my phone. Obviously, I had that skill.

Then, one of them lifted his hand. “Evren.”

As if magnetized, my body moved in their direction, closing the few yards between us before I could panic again. My wolf growled encouragement from deep inside me, and soon I stood in front of them, head tipped back to meet their steady gazes. Holy…everything. What had I gotten myself into?

Their scents blanketed me, but not in a suffocating way. Safe. Pleasant. Sexy. Everything good and clean. Soap and the green fragrance of the woods. Each a little different, but kind of the same. Was this how a pack was supposed to smell?

Because frankly the one I came from was more like dust and sweat, at least in general. And the alpha smelled sour, like something had turned bad. If I’d had to sleep with him every night, I’d have been sick all the time.

These three? I could imagine snuggling in for winter with all three of them cuddling me, smelling so good, and then —

“Evren?”

“Hmm…um, yes?”

Rain was reaching out. “Can I take your backpack?”

“Oh, yes. Thank you.” I worked it off my shoulders, and passed it to him, cheeks heating as he looked down at B-Bear. “He’s…that is I’ve had him all my life.”

“Then welcome, B-Bear,” said Lark. I recognized each of them from their pictures. They were similar in appearance, almost like the brothers they chose to be, but their features were distinctive. Lark’s nose was a bit longer, his brows very straight.

“Thank you.” His kindness was so helpful. I couldn’t imagine any male in my former back greeting my childhood stuffie best friend like that. “

Warren who stood an inch or two taller than the others and had a brooding countenance moved toward the bus. “I’ll get the rest of your luggage.”

“No.” I took a step toward him. “This is all I brought.”

“I see.” His brows furrowed. “Okay.”

Shoot. “It’s not that I brought just a bit. It’s all I have, essentially.” I’d left some things behind, but I’d never be going back for them, even if I could they were old and not worth the trip.

And now they knew that about me.

“Then we can go.” Rain led the way to a dark SUV. “I’ve never taken a long bus trip. How was it?”

“Not bad. It was my first one, as well, so I didn’t know what to expect.”

Lark opened the front passenger door and took my hand to help me inside. I didn’t need help, but his touch was so gentle and heat crept up my arm. That sounds okay,” he said, closing the door and climbing into the back seat.

When we were all belted in and the car rolling along the street, I said, “The one thing that was hard was the transfers. I had to find the other bus and get on it in time. Once it was in another building down the street and I had hardly any time to get there. I was sure I’d miss it.”

“That would have been unnerving if you’re not used to travel,” Rain said.

“It was. Also, there were stops where we were supposed to use the restroom and get a snack and they were so short.” So short, I hadn’t always gotten off and once had the misfortune to need to use the bathroom for a very long time before the next stop. Some of the busses actually had a bathroom. That one did not. But I didn’t want to get into details like that with three males I’d just met. “But I made it.”

“Yes, you did,” Lark patted my shoulder. He seemed to be the one most comfortable with casual touch and probably had no idea how it affected me. I could barely breathe. “And we’re glad you are here.”

No one had ever said that to me before. At least, not that I could remember.

Chapter Twelve