Page 54 of Truth or Pack

I guess they liked this plan.

“Really?” Holt asked, like he was afraid to hope.

“I mean, this feels like a home. Maybe weekends by the lake, I’d still like my shop to be in town there, but this feels like more of a real home. Why choose, right?”

“I’m just happy you’re thinking of our future, princess,” Ash grinned as he pecked me on the lips. Our bond was thrumming with his excitement.

“It might be complicated, but I kind of like the best of both worlds,” Mathias admitted. “Let’s sleep on it, but for now, I’m starving.”

Twenty minutes later, Holt was standing behind the grill at the main house, and the scent of hamburgers filled the air. A few of the farm hands came by and introduced themselves and stayed to visit as they waited on dinner. They had a gorgeous cooking area and pavilion right out the back door.

“Do you cook like this every night?” I asked, as I walked up beside Holt. It felt as natural as breathing to wrap my arms around him and lean into his side, my cheek brushing the soft flannel of his shirt, the blackberry-cobbler scent relaxing me further. It all just felt so domestic.

Is it weird that I love it?

He flipped a burger before answering, “Yeah, most nights. I like to keep the hands happy and their bunkhouse isn’t too far on the other side of the barn.”

“How’d you go from being an asshole in college to such a great guy?” I questioned. Not trying to be harsh but he wasn’t the same Holt I remembered.

“I think working hand in hand with everyone here helped. And all the day-to-day as well. If I was always an asshole, no one would stay and this place is bigger than just me. It takes a village to keep all our animals safe and healthy. I respect anyone who cares for them like I would,” he explained as he plated a few burgers.

He leaned down and brushed a kiss over my head, breathing me in as he did. It was nice to know I wasn’t the only one constantly breathing them in.

“Want to come check on the babies with me?”

“Yeah,” I said a bit too quickly, making him chuckle and give me one last squeeze before turning to the others.

“Ash, can you man this?”

My other alpha gave him a nod and ended the conversation he was having with Buck.

“Taryn and I are going to check on Daisy and the twins,” he told him as he gave him the spatula.

Holt held out a hand for me and I slid my hand in his as we walked back to where Daisy and her babies were.

“I really love it out here,” I said as I took in a breath of fresh air. It was different here than at the lake, but I still loved it. “I don’t know much about farm life, but I think I need a pair of boots.”

“Anything you want,” he smiled indulgently at me. “You’re still going to chase your dreams, but live on mine.”

“So, you’re okay with me setting up shop thirty minutes away?” I asked as he pulled me into the barn.

“Of course, darlin’. That little town could do with some fresh revenue. Plus, it’s better than having you up in a big city where I can’t be close to you,” he said as he stopped in front of the gate that kept the cows in.

Daisy was letting one of the twins nurse and the other was running around. They all seemed a bit better than the last time we were with them.

“There ain’t nothing cuter then calf zoomies,” Holt said, smiling at me.

“That’s what it’s called? Zoomies? It’s almost as cute as the babies are,” I laughed, breaking away from his stare that had my chest warming, to the babies again.

“Do you want to pet one?” he asked, unlocking the gate to enter.

“Will momma like that?” I asked as he slid in, my own movement hesitating until he answered.

The calf that had been zooming around slowed their speed as it noticed Holt was getting nearer.

Daisy gave off a warning moo to Holt but he crept forward to his girl.

“Did you think that I just came for the babies? You should know me better than that,” he told her as he gave her pats on the head.

---