Page 45 of Consider The Lilies

“It’s okay,” Lucy says sweetly as she rinses the shampoo out of my hair. “I would love to be mated one day. I think it would be heaven with the right pack.”

I nod, instantly agreeing with her. I think about Jack and Bear, and how kind they’ve both been to me. Jack is still a little scary sometimes, but I think that’s just the way he is. It’s not personal…I hope.

It’s almost funny to think I wasn’t very fond of males only a few days ago, but now, I have two sweet alphas in my life.And one very intimidating she-alpha.

“I don’t think Yuki likes me,” I blurt out, unable to stop myself.

Lucy freezes. She holds a full cup of water mid-air before finally saying, “Yuki is a very guarded alpha.” She pours the warm water over my head, getting the soap from around my ears. “She simply hasn’t had a chance to get to know you yet, but once she does, I know she’ll adore you.” The beta speaks with so much confidence, it’s hard to argue with her.

“Do you really think so?” I ask, hopeful. I hate the idea of anyone hating me. Especially someone in my pack.

“Yes,” Lucy says firmly “Yuki Ito is a very passionate woman. She’s a hard nut to crack, but once you do, she’s filled with nothing but love.”

“Really?” I lean in, wanting to hear more. “How do you know?”

I swear fear flashes in Lucy’s eyes before she reins it in. “I’ve worked here for three years,” she says with a giggle. “I’ve seen her and her two alphas in some very private moments.” The beta reaches into the water, pulling the plug. “Come on. Let’s get you dressed and fed.”

Lucy holds up the towel, keeping it high enough that she can’t see my privates as I step out of the bathtub. I keep my body curled inward as I lean into the soft towel. She wraps it around my shoulders like a cape before leading me into the bedroom.

“Good morning, Bear!” Lucy greets the alpha with a bright smile.

He stands at the foot of the bed, wearing fitted jeans and another polo. This one is a deep heather gray with black stripes on the collar and the ends of his very tight sleeves. I swear his biceps could pop a bowling ball in half.

“Good morning.” He gives Lucy a little bow of his head before turning to me. “How did you sleep, Stefan?” His voice is so soft, almost a rumbling purr.I love it.

“Very well.” I duck my head as the memory of my shameful dream hits me full force. Honestly, the dream was a little scary, but what Jack and I did after I woke up wasn’t.Would Bear want to do that too?

My stomach flutters as I realize that I kind of hope he does.

“I brought you something.” Bear’s brown eyes sparkle.

I perk at that, excited. “What?”

The big alpha steps to one side, revealing a stack of blankets and a few large pillows. “Nesting materials.”

My mouth falls open as deep emotion grips me. “I’ve never had a nest before.” I move to the bed, staring down at the blankets. There are four of them. Two are black with one side covered in fur and the other side a smooth-looking velvet. Then there’s a blue throw and a patchwork quilt. The quilt looks incredibly thick and soft.

“Touch them,” Bear encourages me.

I slip my hand out from behind my towel, letting it rest against the top blanket. The black fur is unbelievably soft. My fingers drift, skimming each wonderful blanket one at a time. “I…uh…” My voice cracks, and I suddenly feel very overwhelmed. “Thank you.” I look up at the alpha, wishing like crazy I could hug him. “This is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me.”

Bear smiles, ducking his head, and my heart practically bursts.

I can’t believe I’ve been gifted such an amazing pack. They’ve all taken such wonderful care of me. It’s a little weird to find such kind alphas—and not at all what my sister prepared me for—but I’m happy…and the guilt is eating me alive.

“Stefan?” Lucy slips her hand across my back. “Are you okay, omega? You look sad.”

I swallow hard and nod, unable to fight my overwhelming emotions any longer. “I don’t deserve any of this.” I look up at Bear. “I don’t deserve your kindness.”

Deep lines settle between his dark brows, and anger flashes in his eyes. “You deserve this and so much more,” he says firmly.

“Sit down.” Lucy pushes the nesting materials out of the way. I let her guide me onto the bed, then she sits next to me. “Talk to me, omega,” she says in her sweet voice, fixing my towel so it covers the top of my bare legs. “What happened?”

I open my mouth, but I can’t bring myself to say it.

The fact is, it’s my fault Mari is dead. I was too weak and pathetic to save her. If I were stronger and fought harder, she’d still be alive. But instead, I’m sitting on a soft bed, next to a stack of plush blankets, and she’s rotting at the bottom of a cliff.

“I’m just a little overwhelmed,” I finally say. “You’ve all been so nice to me, and I feel like I haven’t done anything to deserve it.”

---