Page 164 of Scent to the Feral Cowboys
“Your grandmother likes ducks?” Boone asked gently.
A wave of melancholy washed over me. “Birds. She loves any birds.”
In that moment, as the sky burned with color and the lake followed suit, I felt a dangerous sense of belonging wash over me. Not just to this gorgeous place, but to the circle of Boone's arms, to the ranch, to the life that was unfolding before me like a gift waiting to be accepted.
Home, whispered a treacherous voice in my mind.You could make this home.
“We should probably head back home.” Boone sounded reluctant to leave.
He’d said ‘home’ as if he’d read my mind just now.
“Sure, let’s head—” I stopped abruptly, realizing I’d just about called the ranch ‘home’ too. “Back. Let’s head back.”
Behaichi needed little guidance on the return trip; the horse instinctively knew the path to his warm stall and food. I foundmyself drifting quickly, lulled into sleep by Boone’s warm body and the swaying of the stallion below.
“We’re back, Nelly.” Boone’s rumbling, tender voice roused me. We were just outside the stables. He got down first, lifting me to the ground for a second time. I swayed on my feet, not fully awake. “Come on, darling,” he said quietly, “I’ve got you.”
Boone helped me to the bench just inside the stables. Behaichi followed behind of his own accord. Once I was sitting, Boone made quick work of untacking, putting away the gear, and securing the stallion in his stall. For some reason, I was beyond tired. I could barely keep my eyes open. I tried though, standing as Boone approached me and fluttering my lashes quickly, trying to drive away the deep-seated tiredness.
Despite my efforts, I swayed on my feet again.
In one fell swoop, my Alpha lifted me from the ground and cradled me against his giant, impossibly wonderful body.
"Okay?" he asked quietly.
“Yes," I murmured. “I’m fine.”
And I was. I was fine.
I couldn’t remember the last time I said that and actually meant it.
38
COOPER
Six days later…
A response from Eros.
The email from Eros sat in my inbox like an unexploded grenade.
I hadn’t opened it.
Couldn’t bring myself to open it.
A handheld bomb is harmless so long as you don’t touch it. It can’t destroy everything if you don’t pull its pin.
I'd been checking compulsively, ever since I sent the damn query. Each day that didn’t bring a response was a good day. I could pretend we’d never get an answer. Yet now potential doom had finally arrived.Should I read it? Fuck, I don’t want to read it.
I found myself hesitating, finger hovering over my phone screen. The subject line gave nothing away. Just the automatic RE: added to my original subject line. Whatever their answer though, it would change everything for me, for my pack brothers, and most importantly, for Nelly. If we could break thecontract of our own accord, no headache, then our Omega could leave.She could fucking leave!But if we couldn’t break it, for whatever reason, then she’d be tethered to us against her will.
No matter what, there was a loser inside this email.
No matter what, there was heartbreak in the answer.
With a deep breath that did little to steady my racing heart, I tapped the message open.
The Eros Institute logo blinked at me. My eyes automatically skipped the formal greeting to get to the parts that really mattered:
