Page 21 of Golden Desires

The largest of the buildings turned out to be a low-roofed barn that has an area for feed, three stalls, and a small tack room. Chickens run around our feet as Aldair tells me about how they built this home together.

A yearning to belong somewhere, to have a home such as this, clogs my throat as I appreciate the beauty around me.

I blink away the memory and slip Bear the carrot I snagged for him on my way out here for a little visit. I’d wanted to come visit him last night, but it was dark, and I was scared, if I’m honest.

Not only that, but after the day I had, all the food I’d eaten, and the stress of it all, I was dead tired. Plus, when we went back inside, Aldair offered me a sugar cookie, and by the time I finished eating the largest cookie I’d ever laid eyes on, I was ready to fall asleep standing up.

I’m ashamed to admit that it made me so comfortable, I let my guard down too much. I forgot to be cautious. I want to be grateful, but I need to keep my wits about me. I need to be vigilant and observant. At the first sign of trouble, I need to get my ass the heck out of here.

The reality is, I don’t have anywhere to go. If these men were going to hurt me, I don’t think they’d waste time trying to show me so much kindness, right?

They’re Alphas. It would be easy for them to overpower me, and we are so far from other people that it’s not like anyone would hear me screaming…

I swallow thickly, and Bear huffs at me, no doubt sensing my unease.

“You’d warn me if you sensed danger, right?” I ask him, giving him a narrowed, side-eyed glance. “You wouldn't let the food and comfort trick you into a false sense of security?” Bear nips at my clothing, before trotting around me in a circle, shaking his head as he goes. “Alright, alright, there’s no need to sass me. But you need to keep your guard up too.” I wag my finger at him, deciding right here and now to be cautious but open to the possibility that these men aren’t like the ones I’ve always known.

I give Bear some more pats, before getting hungry.

“I better get inside. I don’t know how early the–”

“Goldie!” Kylan hollers behind me, and I spin around, startled to see him out here so early.

“I wasn’t leaving!” I yelp, putting my hands up, readying myself for a fight. Will he attack me? What will he do if he doesn’t believe me? My breathing picks up, and Kylan frowns.

“Woah, hey, it’s okay…” Kylan’s tone is soothing, gentle. “You have nothing to fear from me, sweet Omega, you’re safe…” he keeps his hands raised, as he slowly approaches me, like I’m a frightened animal he’s just spooked, and he’s trying not to startle me further. “Hush now,” he adds, when he’s close enough to reach out and touch me, but he doesn’t.

It’s odd. Rather than cowering away from him, I want to…lean into his space, I think. His scent washes over me, clover and leather, filling my lungs in a way that has me desperate for another sniff. Then he purrs. This soft, rumbling sound that makes me damn near melt into a pile at his feet.

He doesn’t make a move to get closer to me, just stands still before me, purring, and watching me with his kind, gentle amber eyes. The more he purrs, the better I feel.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to frighten you, I was just surprised to see you out here so early,” he chuckles, and as if my brain had been protecting me from the sight until this exact moment, I realize he is very shirtless.

“Oh, my…” I whisper, as I shamefully take in the sight of his muscles. I have never seen a man with a body like this. Do his brothers look similar? Tanned, fit, and strong? Could Kylan easily carry me to safety if I were in danger? He sure looks like he could.

My eyes travel across his body, down to the hair below his navel, that disappears beneath the laces of his trousers. Kylan reaches a hand up, grabbing the back of his neck as his cheeks pinken, and his purr cuts off. The playful way he smirks at me has me blushing bright red when I realize I was just ogling him!

There’s no denying it either, he watched every second of my bad behavior.

“I had better tend to the animals,” Kylan adds in a sheepish tone, and I swallow hard, the saliva thick in my throat. “My brothers are both still sleeping. If you hear something that sounds like a grizzly, don’t worry, it’s just Cillian,” he teases, before stepping around me, and I nibble my lip as I watch him go. “Oh, and help yourself to anything you find, but particularly the food in the kitchen,” he adds, and I nod. Bear huffs as if he’s judging me, and I whirl around to glare at him.

“Oh, you hush!” I scold him, no real bite in my tone. Bear simply flicks his ears, unbothered, before turning away from me.

I rush back into the house and wash my hands in the kitchen sink. It has running water, but I’ll need to heat it over the fire if I want hot water to cook with. I look around the room, nibbling at my lip once more. The nervous tick is something that got worse over the years.

This morning, I am very nervous, and my lip is paying the price.

The whole reason I got up so early was because the scent of Kylan was driving my Omega instincts wild. Last night, the Alphas set me up in the same room I took my little nap in. Finding out the space belonged to the shy Alpha had me blushing.

“I just need to grab something to sleep in, Goldie,” Kylan says, as he dips his head in the doorway. He’s gesturing to the trunk at the end of his bed.

“Oh, of course. This is your room,” I say dumbly. “Where will you sleep?” I frown, and Kylan smiles.

“Yes, this is my room, and I’ll sleep…in another room,” he says, blushing. He blushes a lot. I can relate.

“I can sleep anywhere. You should sleep in your bed!” I protest, but Kylan shakes his head.

“No, no. I’ll be perfectly comfortable, Goldie. Sleep here. I don’t mind one bit.” He grabs his things, before stopping in the doorway on his way out. “Sleep well, sweet Omega.”

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