Page 79 of Where There's Smoke
On the CCTV footage from behind the animal shelter.
Hewas the one who’d set the fire.
Chapter 38
Melody
None of us were in a particularly good mood after Reed’s visit, but Elliot seemed extra put out. When I’d asked him a question about dinner, he just grunted at me in response. That in of itself wasn't too unusual for Elliot, but combined with his stiff posture, the barely meeting my eyes, I was starting to feel uneasy.
Was I too much of a burden? Over the past few days, I’d had two brothers turn up out of the blue and invade Elliot’s place of work. I could understand why he was cranky. That would be enough to piss anyone off. But it sucked that it was my family drama that was dragging him down.
“I think he’s mad at me,” I admitted as I stirred the large bowl of pasta I was making.
Samson and I were in the kitchen. I was cooking a huge pasta bake that would feed all the firefighters on shift. There were only six or seven firefighters on duty today, but considering they were all alphas with extremely physical jobs, they ate the same amount as several people put together each.
Plus, I felt bad for having disturbed their peace twice with my brothers, so cooking was a good apology-without-apologizing. Something I was excellent at.
Samson, who was observing instead of helping, as he wasn’t the best cook, frowned at me. “What makes you say that?”
Putting the ladle down, I turned to him with raised brows. “You know full well he’s grumpier than usual.”
“Well, that’s true. But Elliot is quick to grump. He cares about you. Of course, he's going to be peeved when your brother shows up and starts making threats and acting aggressively.”
“Oh. I didn’t think about it like that,” I admitted, guilt washing over me as uncomfortable as wet jeans.
“We’re a thing, Melody. Of course he cares about you!”
I shook my head. “I know he does, it’s just…It’s taking a little time to get used to it. I read so many romance novels where an omega dates an entire pack, but the fantasy and reality areverydifferent things.”
He nodded in understanding, patting me on the shoulder. “There're a lot of personalities to balance. We've had years to fully understand each other's quirks and idiosyncrasies, whereas you just recently met us. Things take time.”
“I know that, I really do.” I sighed, taking a deep breath and mulling over my words.
“You’re even tenser than Elliot.” Samson faced me, pulling me to do the same by the shoulders. “Talk to me. What’s going through your head?”
“I don't know you guys completely. There's no way I can understand the dynamics like you all do. We've only known each other for a matter of weeks. And what if you decide that this relationship isn't for you? I mean, we’re only dating. We’re not anything that serious yet. But what about the rescue and all the help you're giving me? I'm worried that I'm messing things up by dating you.”
Samson crossed his arms. “And Elliot made you feel this way by being grumpy today?”
“No!” I shook my head, holding up my hand in defense. “Not at all… Well, okay, maybe it's made me realize that if he really was angry at me over something, I could potentially be in a really bad situation. I adore you guys, and whatever this is”—I gestured between us—“is amazing, and I am loving it, but I don't want my plans to change drastically because of it.”
“Trust me, Elliot doesnotwant you to change your plans. And even if for some reason, which Ireallydon't think it's going to happen, we decide that this relationship isn't for us, we're not just going to abandon you, Melody. Your rescue is going to be rebuilt, and you’re going to be stronger than ever.”
He said the words with such confidence that I almost believed him. Lord knew I wanted to, but apparently, nerves are a little hard to shake.
“Someone should have warned me that dating as an omega would be so weird and complicated,” I muttered, picking up the spoon and starting to stir the pasta again.
A warm, rich chuckle echoed in my ears as Samson wrapped an arm around me from behind. That rich, deep scent I was becoming totally obsessed with washed over me. It was like crack. Maybe that was why mates ended up meeting young, because they found the scent that was like crack to them and couldn't risk losing it.
If I was honest with myself, the idea of losing any of the guys made my chest burn with an unknown emotion. I couldn't put my finger on what exactly it was, but it wasn't good. I wanted nothing more than to stay at the firehouse with them, but I also needed to sort out my life. I needed to rebuild my rescue and find somewhere to live, even if it was at the new rescue.
It was one thing to develop this new relationship while we were in close quarters, spending so much time with each other,but would it be the same once I wasn't living at the firehouse? Some said absence made the heart grow fonder, but what if it just put a wedge between us that we couldn’t work around?
“Look.” Samson’s voice practically coated me in good vibes, and I sank into his embrace. “We’ll figure this all out together. Okay? Give Elliot a few days, and he'll calm down. He's just an overprotective ass.”
I chuckled lightly. “I imagine in a day or two,Fitzwill do something to piss him off.”
“That idiot does live to get under Elliot’s skin, doesn't he? I actually think Elliot has the patience of a saint for dealing with his shenanigans.”
