Page 44 of The Twelve Knots of Christmas
“Love you too, girl.” Lyla waved at us as we left and returned to her chair by Miss Eloise’s bed.
No matter that I knew I had to leave for Artemis at least, the guilt still hooked me and tore at my insides. Tears stung my eyes, and I bent my head forward into the furry collar of the coat.
Balthazar wrapped an arm around my shoulders and pressed me to his side. “Everything will be okay, baby. Anything you need, I’ve got you.”
I melted against him. It was always me looking out for myself. Even with my friends’ support, I was the stoic nurturer. I was the one who took care of others. So to have Balthazar saying he was going to take care of me, I wanted to step away and stubbornly say I could do it myself. Yet at the same time, I needed his strength and so much more.
And for some reason, I didn’t have to fight myself to accept it. Maybe it was my needy Omega side, but I let him guide me out of the hospital to where Jasper was waiting for us in the pickup. Then I snuggled with Jasper, his purr calming me as we drove to Primrose House.
Yet when they got out of the truck to come inside with me, I stopped them. Primrose House was a sacred place. No Alphas were ever allowed in. With Miss Eloise battling for her life in the hospital, I especially didn’t want to ruin the safe and cozy home she had built for Omegas.
“We’re not leaving you by yourself here.” Balthazar’s intense gaze dared me to try to get rid of them.
“I have Artemis.” And a persistent throbbing between my legs that was making it hard to think.
“The dog isn’t going to help you with your heat.” Jasper stood on the other side of me by the front door. He smiled,seemingly casual, but his body tensed as if he were ready to grab me if I tried to run from them.
He was right, so I dug in my heels further. “You’re Alphas. You can’t come inside.”
“Tonight is surely an exception.” Balthazar snorted.
“No exceptions!” I put my foot down. Literally stomped one boot onto the porch. A twist of pain and desire had me wince. Why was arguing with them turning me on?
“Then stay the night at the farm.” Jasper, sexy and wise as he was, offered an alternative.
“Artemis will love it,” Balthazar added with a smirk.
I huffed, ready to protest, but even if I wasn’t in heat, I didn’t want to be alone.
“Be a good girl. Go get Artemis and pack a bag. We'll wait here.” Jasper leaned against a porch post. His deep blue gaze slid over my body. “Don’t take too long, or we’ll come in to fetch you.”
I would have protested that they weren’t allowed again, but there was no nonsense in that look. I glanced at Balthazar, and he raised a brow, as if he was waiting for me to fight them on this. To drag them in and have both of them rip this dress off of me…
Unlocking the door, I gritted my teeth and ran up the stairs with my boots on. No time for proper manners. My body was screaming at me to be highly improper.
Tonight we’d break rules, but not here. Not at Primrose House.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN – Jasper
Mariska’s creamy cinnamon vanilla scent had grabbed ahold of me before she even got to the truck and wouldn’t let go. There was a heavier musk in her perfume which had me hard as hell and desperate to eat that sweet pussy again. Her heat was progressing faster than we’d thought, and all we could do was roll with it.
I fingered her on the drive to the farm and made her scream in the backseat of the truck. Balthazar cursed from the driver’s seat that he wanted to taste her delicious juices, but I licked my fingers and shot him a grin. Mariska snuggled against me lightly dozing.
We had Lucian prepare the guest room, but also the pack room. Mariska could choose any bedroom in the house to stay in, but we wanted to show her we were prepared to care for her. Forever. There was space here for her. If she wanted her privacy she could have it, and if she wanted us all in the pack room with her, the bed was large enough.
When I picked up Mariska from the truck to carry inside, she wiggled and nudged me. “I can walk on my own.”
“Yes, but your bare legs would turn blue from the cold without my body heat.” I chuckled and set her down, only for a gust of wind to swoop in and prove my point.
Balthazar let Artemis out, and the dog ran around jumping in the snow and biting at it as if she had never seen winter before. He carried Mariska’s bag and laughed at Artemis. “She’s definitely a winter dog. Poor girl is going to miss the snow when you move to California.”
I expected a glare from her at him for that comment, all fire and ice, but she didn’t make eye contact with either of us. What was going on there?
We walked up to the wrap-around porch which was lit by multi-colored twinkling Christmas lights. There was a Douglas fir wreath on the door decorated with holly berries and a big red ribbon. Home always made me feel warm and whole, but Mariska gave the wreath a look as if it were a screeching guardian telling her not to enter.
“Welcome to our home.” Balthazar pushed open the front door, grinning from ear to ear. Artemis nearly bowled me over as she dashed inside.
“Artemis!” Mariska yelled and the dog swiftly came to sit in front of her, stiff and alert. “Stay. Could I borrow a towel to dry her off so she isn’t getting anything wet from all the snow on her?”
