Page 44 of Wild Omegas
Rowan’s shaggy brown hair is disheveled from a busy night of work. He shakes his head to clear it out of his eyes and gives Luke a sharp nod. “Anytime. Wild Skies is a staple. You really think it was arson?”
I glance around the bar while they talk. Of course it was fucking arson.
“Yes,” Luke answers. “It’s complicated, but we appreciate you keeping an eye out.”
A few drunk locals push up to the bar for more drinks. We back off and keep looking and talking to people, but there’s nothing suspicious to find. Not that we’re cops. Not that we canlegallydo anything even if we did find Damien.
I don’t care about legality. I just want Josie safe.
By closing time at most of the local establishments we give up and think about heading back. That’s when my phone goes off. Who the hell is texting me this late at night?
Jason: The deal’s getting hotter, Carson. You gotta come back from the country and join this, man. It’s going to be earth-shattering.
Somehow I doubt it’s as earth-shattering as finding your omega and home and then having it threatened.
I don’t reply to Jason. There’s no reason to.
I’m not taking the deal. I’m not working for another start-up ever again.
Wild Skies Ranch is my home. It’s where I belong, working the earth with my hands, not managing board rooms and money.
I just need to make my home safe.
CHAPTER 23
Josie
I’mskeptical of what Luke and Carson are actually doing when they leave the ranch, especially when they leave Brooks behind, but it leads to a quiet night which I can’t complain about. If I never have another wild night in my life I think I’d be just fine with that. Although I wouldn’t mind giving the mechanical bull at Wild Rodeo a go again.
I’ve lived the busy life in New York City, and the wild one that came after. The burning barn and the eerily quiet week that followed are the perfect reminders of why I came to Wild Skies Ranch and why, I think, I may never leave again.
Damien might have been the reason we all met. He might even be the reason we’ve spent a week vigilant for more arson. But he’snotthe reason this pack loves each other so much. We’ve built that, and we’re going to keep building a life here.
I spend the evening baking. Brooks and I played some cards for a short time but he fell asleep a bit ago after a beer. The way the kitchen and living room are angled, I can just make out his legs stretched out on an ottoman from the couch. I keep an eye on him as I bake muffins and cookies. Honestly, with as much baking as I’ve done since coming to Wild Skies, it’s a wonder my alphas haven’t all gained weight.
My cheeks warm.There’s been plenty of exercise, too.
Once I’m done baking and cleaning up I head into the living room to check on Brooks who still hasn’t moved. He’s passed out cold with a beer bottle teetering precariously on the edge of his grip and the couch arm. I carefully pluck it from his hand without waking him and place it on the coffee table.
It must have been a long work day. I’ve never seen Brooksthatout cold before. Maybe it’s his old law enforcement instincts or maybe he’s simply a light sleeper, but usually he’s up at the sound of anything really.
Good then.I grab a blanket to tuck him in. “Sleep well, love.”
I turn off the living room light while leaving the one in the main hallway and foyer on for when Carson and Luke return. Brooks will wake up to that I’m sure and they’ll all join me in my nest then.
They’ve all been so kind since the fire. Worried about me, I think, more than anything else. But that’s not fair. The only good news is no one was hurt. Not Carson nor any animals. Everything else that fire means is… not good at best.
Damien.
Me literally managing my family’s legacy.
I push the thoughts out of my mind. Lately, it takes quite a Herculean effort to do so. My mindlikesto spiral and twist all these negative thoughts this way and that, finding new ways to make the same situations worse. I’m working on it, but it’ll take time. Which is why the pack wants me to see a professional. They’re not wrong to ask it.
I pad into my bedroom and head straight for the shower. We’ve all built up my nest quite a bit since my heat. I designed much of it or told my alphas what to grab and where to put it. But they’ve all added little touches of themselves too. I welcomed a little stuffed horse from Luke and plants from Carson. Brooks added an incredibly soft blanket depicting lambsin meadows. Hanging plants cover the ceiling and twinkling faerie lights illuminate the space without having to use the one bright light in the room.
It’s cozy. A place full of love.
I shower quickly and dry my hair before diving into that nest to sleep for the night. As I lay back, my head brushes something pointy that doesn’t belong.
