AllFreeNovel
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“We having an omega party over here?” Koji asked, hopping over the back of the couch nest to land next to Luca.
“Not quite,” I said. “Just bakery chat, and we’re missing Allie, Kendra, and Opal to make it a proper omega party.”
“Oh yeah, I forgot you had a bakery,” Koji said to Jasper. “Did Hana ever show you my cookie designs?”
“No, I don’t think so,” said Jasper.
Koji fussed with his phone and turned the screen toward Jasper and I. There was a whole series of photos of cookies that were basically artwork: a plethora of whimsical designs in a rainbow of colours, geometric shapes, and replicas of famous paintings.
“Holy shit, these are great!” Jasper snatched up the phone and scrolled through them, zooming in to get a better look.
“Have you ever thought about offering custom cookie designs at your bakery?” Koji asked.
“These are well beyond what I personally have the patience for, not to mention they require artistic skill none of my staff possesses. It's a little fussier than I would usually consider, but I love the idea. Are you asking because you want to work at the bakery?”
Koji shrugged. “I was thinking it would be cool. I sell the cookies on the side sometimes. It might be nice to get involved in some other baking. Do you do cookies at all?”
“Not at the moment, but I can’t see them not being popular if we expanded the menu. My current location isn’t set up to display stuff like this, but we could look into it for a second location if all the Billie stuff works out.”
“Cool.” Koji grinned. “Hit me up when it's moving forward. Are all the rest of you working at the bakery?”
“None of them at the moment,” said Jasper. “Luca and I are talking about him apprenticing in the future. He’ll have to do all the food safety classes and whatnot on his own, though when it comes to the actual baking I think that anyone can be taught.”
The group of us sat together until the mimosas ran dry, and by then I was starting to feel a little claustrophobic with how many people were around me.
“Do you want me to take you outside for some air?” Jasper asked.
“Please.” I smiled and nuzzled his cheek, wondering if he’d sensed my need for a break through the bond. “That would be lovely.”
We excused ourselves from our guests with promises to return shortly.
My omega and I walked hand-in-hand down the stairs from the main level deck to the backyard below. He paused hesitantly in front of the greenhouse, and I couldn’t help but wonder if he was remembering the last time we had been in there together. That wouldn’t do. Jasper shouldn’t have uncomfortable memories associated with his home. I had enough of those because of Alphonse, and I didn’t want Jasper to have them because of me.
I pulled him inside and shut the door behind us, enveloping us in the thick scent of earth and plants and the warm heat of the little conservatory.
“Since we’re here, I wanted to talk to you about something important,” I said.
Jasper swallowed hard. “A good or bad important?”
“Good, I promise,” I said, taking his hand to assure him. “First, I want to officially apologize for making you feel like I rejected you about your heat. I’m not going to apologize for doing what I thought was right for myself at the time, but I’m so sorry that it hurt you. I never want to do that again.”
“Now that my brain is less of a hormone soup, I completely understand why you didn’t feel like you could be here. I’m glad you came back, though.”
“Me too.” I burrowed into his arms and listened to the frantic thump of his heart. “This pack is so important to me.Youare so important to me. I’m going to keep working on my self-confidence, and I’m going to do whatever I can to make every single member of this pack feel as incredible as you’ve all made me feel.”
His arms tightened around me, and his sweet chocolate cinnamon scent overpowered the plants, tinging my every breath. He moved us over to the round couch in the middle of the conservatory, and I snuggled as close as I could get short of straddling his lap.
“I hate that I wasn’t there when Alphonse broke in,” Jasper said, voice cracking. “I want to be able to protect you.”
“Youdoprotect me. You don’t have to fight someone to do that. You protect me by making me feel safe and loved, and you’ve done that right from the start. Jasper—”
“Nicky—”
“I love you,” we chorused.
The two of us burst into relieved laughter.
“You said the magic words,” Jasper chuckled. “Now you’re stuck with me.”
