Page 49 of Packed in the Fire house

Luka was giggling as the rabbit nibbled on the greens in his hand. “He seems to like her,” I said.

“She’s really gentle. She loves attention. Rabbits are meant to be in pairs, but I didn't think it was fair to get a second bunny tolive at the fire station. When we buy a proper pack house, I’ll get her a friend.”

“You don't have a proper pack house?” I asked, cocking my head to the side. That was unusual. Most packs got their home organized before, if not pretty soon after, filing the paperwork to officially become a pack. He had mentioned having an apartment that was being fumigated, but now their living situation was more prudent, considering I was technically part of their pack.

Rune shook his head. “Nope. We've never really needed one. We've just kind of crashed at our old apartment a few days a week, but we're usually here, working. I guess that's going to have to change now…” As he spoke, he looked at the mark on my neck.

I shook my head. “I don't want to change anything. I don't want to cause any disruption to your lives. It's not like I can afford to contribute to a pack house.”

There was nothing I could offer these alphas, and that realization weighed heavily on my chest.

“You shouldn't have to contribute financially,” he said, his face confused.

I raised my brow. “Of course, I should.”

“No. You’re our omega. Now we take care of you and this little man,” he said, beaming down at my son in his lap.

I glowered at him. “I want to contribute to my future home.”

“Then you can, but don’t rush it until you’re ready. Focus on studying, then you can contribute however you want. I won’t stand by and watch you run yourself into the ground trying to study, parent, and work, when I could do something to help.” His voice had a firm, no-nonsense tone.

My eyebrows rose. “You seem to be taking this in stride…”

Rune shrugged again. “Honestly, I'm kind of looking forward to it. Don't get me wrong—I intend to court you properly beforewe do anything, but we were all interested in you and trying to do the right thing and wait until you're out of the firehouse.”

I sat up straighter. “Wait, what?”

Rune chuckled. “Did Walker, in his infinite wisdom, not tell you that? Blaze and I have been all in for a while now, but we wanted to wait until you were standing on your own two feet before courting you, because we didn't want you to feel obligated to date us. So, this”—he gestured to his neck, indicating my bite mark—“is no big deal. Actually, it is a big deal, but not in the way you think it's a big deal.”

“I have a son, I have baggage. You can't just take that on.”

“Who says we can't? The moment you and Walker got bitey, you became my omega, and this little guy became my son.”

As he spoke, he looked down at Luka in his lap, his expression calm and caring.

My chest tightened as his words sank in. Could it really be that simple? Rune spoke about the world in such easy terms, and I wanted it to be easy.

“I have a past,” I admitted.

“We all have pasts, Cher. That's the great thing about having a family. We deal with it together.”

I huffed, glaring at the hulking alpha playing with my son and a bunny. “Why am I the only one freaking out?”

Rune chuckled, reaching over to grab another sprig of herbs and hand it to Luka so he could feed the bunny. “Because we were already obsessed with you before this happened.”

“It’s all happened so fast…” I mumbled.

Rune cocked his head to the side. “I agree, it did, but that doesn't mean that anything else has to happen fast. From here on out, everything that happens is at your pace.”

I chuckled in disbelief. “You would be okay with me taking my time courting you and Blaze, even though I just got knotted and bonded by your pack mate?”

“Hey, I didn't say it was going to be easy. I've been hard as a rock since the moment I felt you enter the bond, but I respect that your life is in chaos right now and we need to take things at your pace.”

“Bun!” Luka declared happily.

Rune’s face broke out in a smile. “Yes, little man, bun! Good word.”

My heart hurt with how sweetly he handled Luka. This gentle giant sat on the floor with my toddler and a bunny, a huge grin on his face, like he was the happiest alpha in the world.

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