Page 9 of Packed in the Fire house

His cheerful voice crackled through the speaker. “We have everything under control.”

Station Seventeen was also on the scene—I had seen Samson running around with Blaze earlier, so there were plenty of firefighters nearby. I wasn’t leaving anyone a man down by following Blaze.

Happy with the reassurance that the fire was under control, I jogged after Blaze. He was already back at the ambulance, and the sight that met me made my steps falter.

Sitting on the gurney, wrapped up in Rune’s arms, was the omega. My pack mate held her, his back straight as he looked down at her, utterly oblivious to his surroundings.

The omega was beautiful. I would have to be blind not to notice it. Even with her eyes rimmed red, and her golden tresses messy from the pandemonium, there was something magnetic about her. She clutched her son almost as possessively as Runeclutched her, regularly kissing the top of the baby’s head and muttering what I assumed were soothing words to the dozing toddler in her arms.

“Sunshine, this is our boss, Walker,” Blaze introduced me. “He’s also our pack mate, so he’s used to dealing with us.”

“H-hi,” she stammered, eyes raking over me, widening slightly as she took me in.

What is she thinking? Does she like what she sees?

Why am I even concerned with that?

I wanted her approval. Even though I had only just met her, something deep inside me wascravingthat approval. My chest puffed up in a tiny gesture that I’m certain my pack mates didn’t miss.

She held her hand out and shook mine, her skin silky, and I didn’t want to let it go. “What’s your name?” I asked.

Blaze had been calling hersunshine, and the name suited her. I was sure, once she was well rested and a bit less grubby, she would radiate warmth and light.

“Sunny Sanderson,” she whispered, her voice soft. My mind buzzed with the desperate need to hear her say more. I didn’t give a damnwhatshe said.

She could recite the manual to my decrepit old microwave back to front and I would listen like my fucking life depended on it. Everything about her fascinated me, from the way her bottom lip pouted, to the curving slope of her delicate nose.

It was easy to see why Rune was so taken with her. On the gurney, her child in her arms, she looked so vulnerable and fragile.

Protect. Keep. Claim, the voice in the back of my head shouted.

Taking a step closer, I intended to reassure her she was safe, but instead, I was hit in the face with that scent.

Sweet lemon.

So utterly perfect.

And so utterlymine.

“So, you’re coming back to the station?” I asked, keeping an easy smile on my face. I didn’t want to startle or intimidate the omega, since she was clearly stressed. Her scent, even though it was mind-numbingly delicious and I wanted to devour it, smelled slightly sour from her stress.

Everything in me wanted to fix the omega’s upset. Omegas shouldn’t be stressed; they should be spoiled. Wrapped up in a nest and fed all the snacks.

And all the knots.

Quickly shaking that thought out of my head, I focused on Sunny.

“I-uh, that’s what these guys are saying.” She looked between Rune and Blaze, who both grinned at her. “I don’t want to impose, though. I can try and find somewhere else to stay.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Do you have anywhere else you can stay?”

Her mouth opened and closed before a look of sadness overtook her features. Her unhappiness was like a punch to my gut, and I'd only just met her. “I…I suppose I don’t,” she admitted.

“Well, you're welcome to come and stay at the station for a while. Like these guys said, there's a private bedroom and bathroom you can use until you figure out something else.”

“I can go to the shelter that everyone else is talking about,” she said quietly, though I could tell by the way she bit her lip and her scent soured that she wasn’t thrilled with that idea.

“There is no way in good conscience I could allow you to stay there. Yes, it's a good facility, but you and your boy would be uniquely vulnerable there, and I would never forgive myself if something happened. You'll be safe at the station. The privatebedroom and bathroom even have locks, so none of us can enter. Not key locks either. I'm talking about deadbolts.”

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