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Chapter1
Autumn
If you told me I’d end up in handcuffs my first night back home in Holiday Hollow I’d have called you crazy. I’m not the type to break the law or cause trouble, but it seemed that this town might not be as welcoming as I’d imagined.
“Peter, I can’t do this right now, Gladys is telling me to turn right in the middle of the corn field,” I told him through the car system as I drew closer to my destination.
“I still can’t believe you named your GPS.” His chuckle filled my car cabin as I cursed the navigation gods once again, my words causing him to become concerned. “That’s a sure fire way to get a flat tire. How far out are you? Are you safe? Should we stay on the phone?” His alpha side was not loving that I was alone in the middle of nowhere… at night. But he wasn’t my pack and therefore didn’t really get a say in my safety or choices. Though I knew he meant well.
“Almost there,” I replied, starting to recognize the signs and sights around me that led back to the place I’d spent most of my summers growing up.
Holiday Hollow was a small town in the middle of North Carolina that thrived on all things, you guessed it, holiday. For every single major holiday, and even some minor ones, there was a festival or event of some kind. Hell, they even celebrated some of the more obscure National holidays, making each and every day special. The town put its heart and soul into those and tourists would come from all over to witness the spectacle.
Honestly, it was my happy place. Especially this time of year. Maybe it was a bit much for a girl named Autumn to love all things fall, but I really did. Give me crisp fall air, crunchy leaves, and pumpkin and apple scented everything.
“Alright, I’ll let you go then. Just be safe please, and think about our offer, Autumn,” Peter asked. His voice had visibly calmed now that I was no longer ‘lost’.
I knew exactly what he was referring to and I had absolutely no decision made about it.
Living life in the city exclusively to finish my MBA with a specialization in marketing these past couple of years had been a big change, but I was one determined omega who sure as hell showed everyone that not only could I keep up, but that I could excel.
Of course now that it wasn’t mandatory for omegas to pack up as soon as they were eligible, that led to a ton of not only job offers, but potential pack offers as well. Hell, some were a combination of both like Peter’s.
He was an alpha who I met during my program and while we did have a rather fun one-night-stand tryst during our first year, we were more friends than anything else. Which was why I had been so surprised when he’d approached me with his pack after graduation. They were a nice pack, caring even, but there was no spark for me. Maybe I was just old fashioned, but I wanted to be drawn to my pack, unable to keep them out of my mind, hell, maybe even let an alpha keep me safe once in a while. Most alphas in my life made me feel like I had something to prove. When I found the right pack, it wouldn’t be like that.
“You still there?”
“Yeah, sorry, just trying to pay attention,” I replied with a sigh. “You know that I’m not making any decisions this fall, Pete. I’ve been busting my ass for two years straight and I need to take a step back and think about what I really want. I’m not looking to pack up right now.”
The last thing I needed was ties and complications while I tried to sort out my life and my orchard. My handy dandy bag of toys a la knots would do the trick just fine thank you very much.
“I hear you, Autumn. Can’t blame a guy for trying when you’re such a great catch,” he replied good naturedly. Though he couldn’t mask his disappointment completely. “I’ll let you go now so you can concentrate. Drop a friend a line so I know you’re still alive down there.”
Most people couldn’t understand why I wasn’t chomping at the bit to be courted or start a new position at an agency. That was the life I’d worked so hard for, after all. But moving to Holiday Hollow wasn’t just about nostalgia and wanting to live my days in happiness, though those were definitely bonuses. It was to take over my grandparents’ orchard.
I spent every single summer of my childhood there, surrounded by the apple trees and their copious amounts of barn cats. My late alpha grandpa Roger swore they kept the birds at bay and I didn’t mind the snuggles under the trees. Though my beta grandfathers joked he had a soft spot for the cats.
Grandpa Roger was a stoic man, he didn’t say much to anyone. Well, except for me, I was the exception. He always had an old story to share, and I loved to listen to them. I’d soak up every detail and thrive on his passion. His pale blue eyes would sparkle and the full force of his smile would come out. Those moments and his love for the orchard are what made me love it too. He never pushed me to come, or even to help, but there’d be a look of pride every time I asked him to teach me something or helped around the orchard. He lived for that place, and I was determined to not let it die with him.
My beta grandfathers were the charismatic ones. Grandpa Allen would crack jokes anytime he could, while grandpa John was more the sweet, loving type. Together they kept grandpa Roger’s grumpiness at bay and they all made grandma so happy. Honestly they were the reason I believed in having a pack. Without them I’d probably have given up on packs long ago… the dating pool in the city was a hot mess and the new laws definitely reinforced that I didn’t just want to settle for anything.
A pang of sadness cut through my chest and I took a shaky breath to ward off the tears. I hadn't seen my grandparents in so long. When I hit high school and then college it always got harder to come back. My heart ached at the thought of grandpa Roger up here all alone after grandma and the others had passed. But I was doing what I needed, getting my degree that I knew I could put to use and make sure everyone knew this place was amazing. It was just sad that grandpa didn’t live long enough for me to make him proud.
The fact that he left something that meant so much to him, to me, was humbling. Then again, grandpa Roger always said I could do anything I put my mind to and supported me. Ever since I presented as an omega he had been sure to reinforce that it wouldn’t hinder my dreams. Omegas had worked damn hard to be afforded the same opportunities as everyone else, and I was going to make sure I proved him right.
The large wooden sign that said ‘Welcome to Holiday Hollow’ came into view. A grin spread across my face at the sight.
“It looks like I'm finally home,” I said to myself, trying to pretend that I wasn’t intimidated as hell. It'd been so long that I was afraid I wouldn’t remember what I was supposed to do or how to care for the farm. My only saving grace was that I wouldn’t be alone.
Grandpa Roger had hired an orchard hand a few years ago after he’d lost the rest of his pack, and from the few times I spoke to him, I knew he’d been a good fit. That only compounded when grandpa passed and our friendship grew into weekly and sometimes daily calls and updates. Riley had been amazing and stepped in while I finished my degree and would be here to help ease me into the orchard running life. I seriously would be at a loss without him.
Though I wasn’t crazy enough to think I’d be able to run it just the two of us, but without a pack I’d have to figure it out until I found my happily ever after. Something I’d believed in a little less with each passing year. The reality was that even though omegas had fought hard for their place in the world, not a lot of packs wanted an independent omega working just as hard as they were. And I certainly wasn’t the stay at home and dote on her pack type.
The town itself was small, one of those places with an old downtown like you saw inHallmarkmovies. A large square right in the middle of town, cute shops lining the streets around it. Close to downtown was even a good sized grounds where they held the bigger components of the festivals.
As I drove around the square to get to the other side of town, I noticed that only half of the shops were recognizable. That had me excited, the prospect of exploring and rediscovering the town was exactly what I needed.
But now wasn’t the time. I continued toward the outskirts of town, where my orchard awaited. The pavement quickly gave way to gravel, my small car protesting a bit but it managed to handle it all the same. I wound my way through the twisty road until I could see the trees on both sides. They definitely were not up to grandpa's standards, which wasn’t surprising with one person running the whole show.
