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His smile is so bright it practically lights up the room and he kisses me softly before pulling me into his chest tightly. “I love you so damned much, Blake Wilder Beaumont. Having you as our Omega is truly the most precious gift I could have ever been given, and I plan on taking care of you for the rest of our lives.”
Kissing the top of my head, I squirm a bit at the new sensations before getting lost in his sweet orange creamsicle scent. I drift off to sleep in my giant Alpha’s arms.
ChapterTwenty-Seven
TAKEN UNDER THE STARS
Hades
After Blake and Rook’s new little nighttime soothing technique was discovered when Kas snuck in to sleep with them, we decided we all needed to take turnshelpingBlake with her nightmares. I thought it would be weird, but after only one night I’m kind of fucking obsessed. It’s my night again tonight, a week since our pack movie night, and I’m giddy to get my hands on my girl.
Blake’s been a little stressed all day, snapping at us and then crying because she feels bad, and making little nests all over the house. I panicked, thinking she might be going into pre-heat, but her scent is… off. I think she’s anxious, and I’m determined to find out why by showing her what we have built for her on every house we own.
Walking into the living room, I look around in confusion when I don’t see Shortcake. It takes me a full minute to recognize the lump of blankets on the couch as our Omega, and even then, it’s only because she moved and let out a tiny growl.
God, even when she’s upset, she’s still so fuckingcute.
I don’t want to startle her, so my steps are loud as I walk up to the couch, dropping to my knees next to it. Gently lifting the edge of her blanket up, I stick my head underneath and find myself nose to nose with my precious girl. The anxiety she’s feeling must be intense. Her normal sugary sweet strawberry shortcake scent has devolved into a sour, almost rotten smell. It’s a fight not to wrinkle my nose, but I refuse to make her feel bad about it.
I brush her hair gently back from her face so I can see her shadowed eyes and keep my tone as soft as possible. “Hey Shortcake. Not feeling very happy today, huh?”
Her eyes may not be very visible, but I can still see the tear that drips down her freckled cheek when I ask that question. Sniffling, she shakes her head. “No.” Her voice is barely a whisper.
“Sweet girl,” I murmur. “Does the world feel too big right now?” She nods, breathing out a quiet, hiccupping sob. Gently running my finger down her nose like I did when we were kids and she got scared, I kiss her forehead, my lips moving against her skin as I speak. “Will you come with me? I have something I think might help.”
My darling, temperamental Omega grumbles as she extricates herself from all but one blanket. She wraps the lone survivor around her shoulders and giving me a tiny, resolute nod. Holding back my laugh at her antics, I lead her up the stairs. I forgot how cute she is when she’s like this, all pissed off and looking like a disgruntled kitten.
I fucking love it.
When we make it to the top of the stairs, I grab her hand and bring her to the master bedroom she’s been sleeping in. There are enormous picture windows all along one wall that give you an incredible view of the mountains and forest. The other wall opposite the bathroom is windowless, at first glance.In the very corner of the room there’s a small hidden switch and when I flip it, a panel on the wall slides open, revealing a door.
Blake turns, gaping at me. “Where does that go?”
Smirking at her, I tug on the tiny hand I’m still holding tightly in mine. “Let’s go find out.”
* * *
“You built this…for me?”
We’ve been sitting on the custom-built flat expanse of roof for the last hour while I told her stories of our pack and all the things we did, hoping we would find her someday. The most important of which are these roof additions we’ve had built onto every property we own. This particular one is only accessible through the master bedroom and is meant to be a hideout spot for Blake when she needs it.
Smiling at her, I drop kisses on her cheeks and nose. “Of course we did, Shortcake. Have you not realized you are literally our entire world? After you were taken the first time, I had nightmares for months. Nothing I did eased the guilt I felt leaving you behind or the anxiety I had being away from you. I was sneaking up onto the roof of the Beaumont’s house almost every single night until one night Amy caught me.”
The memory of that night is a mix of emotions, but most of them revolve around the relief I felt at not having to fight alone anymore.
“I was so heartbroken, Blake. I had lost my best friend in the world and failed in my promise to protect you. Amy sat with me and held me as I cried, finally admitting I thought you were taken because of me and how I didn’t think I could live with myself,” I whisper. Blake gently climbs onto my lap, throwing her arms around my neck and hugging me tightly. Burying my face in her hair, I let out a grateful sigh and continue.
“Mama recognized the signs of depression and anxiety in me and the very next day she took me to see a therapist and that helped a lot. The therapist told me I didn’t have to stop looking for you, but I couldn’t keep letting myself feel guilty for something that wasn’t my fault.” I stop as I feel myself getting choked up.
Pulling back the slightest bit to cup her face in my hands, I lay my forehead against hers. As I stare into her incredible green eyes, I take a second to revel in her sweet strawberry shortcake scent mixing with my rich caramel apple. You wouldn’t think they would work together, but God, just the slightest hint of our scents together relaxes me and turns my dick to steel all at the same time.
“You need to know the other guys were with me from day one, Shortcake. They were there for every breakdown, every fruitless trip to another part of the country to find you. Every night I got blackout drunk because I couldn’t handle the pain. I mean, fuck. Achilles sat with me in the bathroom every single time I got too drunk or had a panic attack and would throw up. I loved you first, but they loved you before they knew you.” My voice is passionate with appreciation for my pack.
She’s crying freely, not bothering to wipe away the tears. “I love you, D. I loved you then, and I love you now. I love our pack. You guys never stopped looking for me and for that, I will never be able to thank you. And look at us now,” she murmurs, leaning in to kiss my lips.
Smiling softly, I pick up her hand and kiss her bond mark, biting down on it gently. “Look at us now, Baby.”
My sweet girl leans in to kiss me again and I quickly shift us, so she’s straddling my hips as I lay flat on the roof. The quick movement pulls bright giggles out of her and after how miserable she’s been all day, that sound is music to my fucking ears.
