Page 45 of Talk About… Secrets
Inside it was empty, smelling of cleaner and shone to perfection. The big garage was open and empty, waiting for us to find different ways to use it.
Except for the pole that jutted up into the second floor above. I had a feeling I’d have fun with that. It was already buffed, making it gleam in the afternoon light.
The kitchen was the most outdated, but that gave us a way to gut it and rebuild it for a pack, not the firemen.
Upstairs the living quarters were empty. There were at least five rooms, all fading carpets and worn walls. More blank slates for us to renovate.
When the realtor led us outside, I fell even more in love with the place. The yard was enormous, with a garden taking up one corner, a playground at the other, and the rest was wide open. The back patio was a sturdy outdoor kitchen that still had a grill, pizza oven, and a large griddle. Behind it was a sitting area still faded in places to show where furniture once stood and an empty, but swept-out, fireplace.
I could just imagine snuggling under blankets with a roaring fire as the nights grew colder.
“What do you think, Gracie?” Drew asked as he stepped closer, his scent teasing my nose and hand resting on my back.
My heart picked up its crazy beating as he warmed my side with his presence. I glanced up into the heart-aching smile he beamed down at me.
How I went all this time without it was insane. Right now with the rest of our pack hours away, I was ready to cling to it like a crazy, little omega.
“I think it has tons of potential. What about you?”
“I’m dying to get my hands dirty,” he admits. “I think a swimming hole out back, beef up that sitting area outside, get rooms ready and especially your nest, then let you spread your sweet omega charm through this industrial building until it’s a home.”
His voice was pure and wistful as he talked. I let that sink into my very bones, reminding me that I had a pack and no one was leaving again.
Especially, not him. You don’t build a life then walk away easily.
“Pull the trigger?” I asked, not bothering to hide the hope in my voice.
“Done,” he promised, brushing a kiss over my temple before disappearing, leaving me to walk around and picture all thepossibilities while I basked in the foreign feeling of not being alone anymore.
I’d always envied the Whitakers and their mates for the way they all came together in one big family. I was welcomed in, but on the sidelines. I was a close friend but never really felt like I wasn’t encroaching.
It was me and Hailey against the world.
Now she had a mate and…
I have mates, too, I had to remind myself. This was the natural course of life and I had to stop being so damn hard on myself.
I’d feel better with a purpose and a way to put this extra nervous energy to good use. Being seperated from a freshly found pack, no bites on my neck or set return date, wasn’t for the faint of heart.
Or the omega inside who was terrified they wouldn’t come back.
Drew and I just drove into town and right to this place, we had nowhere else to go outside of Hailey’s place, and if the alpha was willing, he wasn’t leaving my side yet.
“Hey, they’ll be calling soon,” Drew soothed as he pulled me into his chest. I wanted to soak in the reassurance but my heart was fragile right now. It was really hard to not feel rejected.
As if summoned by his words, my phone rang. When I saw a video call coming in from Cade, I didn’t hesitate to answer and walk outside.
“Hey, where are you?” he asked, eyeing the faded door and bricks behind me.
“Just a potential packhouse Drew and I found,” I smirked. “You can see it when you get here.”
“About that,” he sighed. My heart sank into my stomach, my scent souring around me enough that it choked the fresh air.
“What is it?” my voice wavered and I could see my stricken face reflecting back at me.
“The board is giving us kickback on the move to Rockwood Valley. Don’t worry, we aren’t easy to dissuade, just now we have to jump through a few unexpected hoops,” he admitted. “Beck is already in there ripping them a new asshole and Spencer is doing damage control. I wanted to keep our omega in the loop and promise her we’ll move mountains to be by your side soon.”
“I know you will,” I lied through my teeth. Somewhere, on the surface, that might be partially true. But, deep down, in the wounded omega of my soul, it was confirmation that they’d find reasons not to join me here.
