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“Don’t worry, we’ll handle that someday.” I flushed, my chest and cheeks heating as I realized he was serious. Everything was moving so fast but I had no regrets. They were already an important part of my life.
Being the center of their world was a bit intimidating but I was equally as excited. They already treated me so well, showed me that I had no idea what love or being cared for truly felt like until now.
My stomach let out a loud growl. The sound echoing off the walls was so intense and we had to suppress our laughter.
“That would be embarrassing if I hadn’t already gone through a heat with you,” I joked. “I guess it’s time to feed the beast.”
“One second,” Collin said, washing his body quickly. He shut off the shower then grabbed two towels, wrapping one around his hip before drying me off carefully. He even went as far as drying my hair.
I didn’t bother wrapping one around myself, instead going out and searching his dresser for a pair of boxers and snatching a tee from the nest. I didn’t know whose it was until I pressed it to my nose and smelled the citrus and spice. Atlas.
We tiptoed our way into the kitchen but I had a feeling that the rest of our pack would be joining us soon enough.
Collin refused to let me help, telling me to sit at the table and sliding a book over.
“Serenity dropped off some supplies, including a new book,” he explained at my confused look. It was a book I’d never had before. “Walter thought you’d like it, so he sent it with her for recovery.”
“He’s such a sweet, old man,” I said as I opened up the book and dove right in. I heard him say something a few times but it barely registered as the world faded away.
A hand waved in front of my face and I blinked, glancing up to see Dean. He laughed as I blinked up at him.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen anybody concentrate on a book that hard. We’ve all said your name a few times,” he teased.
Ezra, Atlas, and Dean had all joined us at some point. I was so far in that everyone had already showered. My face tipped into a frown at the sight of dark circles lingering on everyone’s faces.
“Sorry, it’s a real problem I have,” I joked. “I get lost in these things.” I’d already finished a good chunk of the book and I snagged a napkin off the table, using it as a makeshift bookmark so I could set the book aside.
Collin had cooked an entire meal while I wasn’t looking but my stomach growled again as I took in a deep breath of spices in the air.
“I thought you could use some protein,” Collin said as he slid a steak in front of me along with a helping of asparagus and mashed potatoes.
“You cooked all this?” I gasped, shocked that he managed to do it while I zoned out. I felt a bit bad but he looked too proud of himself to truly let it get to me.
The best part was that they didn’t judge me for my reading. They just accepted it as part of my personality. They all grabbed their own food and joined me at the table.
“I should probably let Walter and Micah know that I’m back from the dead. Poor Micah is probably chomping at the bit to get back to work,” I told Collin.
“He sent me a few pictures. He’s been working on some of the stuff he can do himself to keep the progress going,” Collin said.
“Don’t worry about Walter, your job will still be there when you’re done,” Atlas promised me.
“How’d you keep the diner going?” I questioned Ezra.
He shook his head and laughed. “Does everybody just think I live and breathe that diner?”
“Yes,” we all answered at the same time. He threw up his hands in mock exasperation.
“Despite popular opinion, I do have employees and I have a few people who are willing to help out when I need them. Now that I have a pack, I might just have to add on a few hours for each of them.”
That had me smiling happily as I shoveled food in my face, clearing my plate before any of them had a chance to.
The guys talked around me. It was random small talk, filling each other in about things we missed over the last week. Just seeing them so relaxed together made me so happy.
I had a pack.
Collin
Ever since Ellie’s heat our lives had all changed. It felt weird sleeping apart from her and not seeing her every day. The other guys were feeling the same. We’d been tossing ideas around in the group chat and knew things needed to change. But we needed a solid solution first.
