Page 148 of Pack Scratch Fever
“Yes,” I agree.
“So, let me phrase it this way,” he says. “This will always be a place for you to go. You willalwayshave somewhere safe to be.”
I shake my head and look away. “Poe, I don’t?—”
“It will always be on your terms,” he promises, interrupting me. “It’s not about deserving it,” he adds quietly. “You are enough.”
“I’m a mess,” I mutter, staring at the bed instead of him. “I’ll shut down again if we argue. I’ll pull away.”
He shrugs. “Doesn’t matter to me. I’ll wait however long it takes.”
I throw everything I can at him.
“I’ll push all three of you away,” I confess. “That’s what I do. That’s just who I am. I can’t be a perfect Omega for you or your packmates.”
“We don’twant you perfect,” Poe says, taking a step forward. “Do you think I’m perfect? I’m an asshole workaholic who almost lost the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Maddox is obnoxious and doesn’t know when to shut up. And Avery is sensitive as hell and is terrifiedhedoesn’t deserveyou.”
I frown. “That’s ridiculous.”
“But that’s what I’m saying,” he continues. “We want you asyou.Iwantyou to challenge me. I want this to be difficult at times, because when it goes right, I’ll be the happiest I’ve ever been.”
I sigh and shake my head.
“Give us your worst parts, because you’ve seen ours. You’ve seen mine.”
He takes another step forward and closes the distance between us. His arms wrap around my waist, and I bury my face into his chest, inhaling that calming, delicious scent.
“This home is yours,” he promises, kissing the top of my head. “Spend as much time here as you want.”
I stay in his arms for a good amount of time, exhaustion taking a toll on me. When I finally pull away, he moves a lock of hair from my face and cups my cheek tenderly.
He looks at me so tenderly that I forget I haven’t had a proper shower in a few days.
“We’ll be here when you need us,” he says, then steps away from me and leaves the room, shutting the door behind him.
I stare at the door for a few moments, memorizing the feel of his hand on my cheek.
Finally, I make my way to the shower, groaning in satisfaction once the hot water runs down my body. I wash away the hospital smell from my hair and scrub each body part twice.
I ignore the trickle of slick that flows out of me, likely a side effect of the new suppressants.
I don’t have the mental capacity to think about my Heat showing up right now.
Once I make it out of the shower and stumble into bed, I burrow myself under the thick, luxurious nesting blankets.
These must have cost a fortune, and they feel exquisite on my skin.
I eventually drift off to sleep, armed with the knowledge that the rescue is saved, and I’m safe.
I’ll always be safe from now on.
29
AVERY
Piper staysin bed for two days.
Maddox, Poe and I do rotations, checking on her and making sure she takes her meds.
