Page 117 of Knot Your Possession

“Yeah,” River answered. “There were no utility connections out here, so it had to be, to keep it secret. Most of Mom and Dad’s new farm workers don’t even know it’s here.”

“Looks like it’s in an easily defensible position, but with good escape routes too,” Wolf noted.

Ryder just chuckled. “Yeah, that was deliberate, too. We didn’t know how much heat would be on us once we freed Ava. There’s a hidden panic room underneath the house, too. It doubles as a fireproof bunker. We’ll show you later.”

“Nick, I was thinking we could do a supply run and see if we can find some gear and set you up with a security office in one of the spare bedrooms,” River said. “It would be good if we could get you connected to the satellites that are still working, the same way Max is, but also with cameras and security feeds for the farm. We need some kind of connection to our parents too, in case of an attack, seeing as how we’re so spread apart.”

“That sounds great,” Nick said, as his face lit up. It meant a lot that River trusted him to run our security. He didn’t trust easily, but Nick had more than earned it.

“You’ll need to figure out which room you want first, Angel,” I said, kneeling down in front of her. She’d been holding Cary’s hand and following us around, but she wasn’t her usual perky self and it had me worried.

“My room?” She asked, and her brow crinkled in confusion.

“Yeah, your room,” I confirmed.

“You want me to live here, too?” She asked. Her voice lifted at the end in hope, but her posture was tense, as if she was wary.Had she been worrying we’d leave her at the farm?

“Not just live here,” Cary said, as he kneeled down too. “We want you to be part of our pack.”

“You want me to be part of your pack?” Angel asked, repeating his words. She seemed to be taken by surprise. Her eyes looked suddenly huge in her face as she turned to me. “Would that make you my mom, and Cary my dad? Would River, Ryder, Wolf, and Nick be my dads, too? Forever?”

I was too overcome with emotion to speak for a moment. Cary jumped in and rescued me.

“If you can handle a mom, and five dads, that’s what we all want. But only if you want it too, chipmunk,” Cary said to her.

“It’s okay if you don’t, or you need to think about it for a while. We’re not going anywhere either way,” I added, finding my voice. I needed her to know she had a say in this. She’d had so little, like every omega. But we’d been allowed childhoods. She hadn’t. I was determined to make sure she was taken care of, no matter what, and that she had a childhood filled with all the hugs and cookies she deserved.

“Yes, please. I want to be in your pack,” she cried and nodded vigorously. Big fat tears streaked down her face as she sobbed silently, overcome with emotion. I hated that she’d learned to be quiet while crying. I grabbed her and held her tight as my mates surrounded us. Hers weren’t the only tears. My face was wet too, and there were plenty of glazed eyes surrounding us. Our bond glowed brightly, despite the tears.

“Does that mean GG is my family now, too?” she asked Nick when her crying subsided. She’d already figured out where the cookies were going to be coming from. She was a smart kid.

“She sure is,” he answered as he stroked her cheek lightly, brushing away her tears. “You’ll also have an entire farm full of aunts and uncles, including Maia and Lexie. River and Ryder’s family, who we just met, will be yours now, too.”

A huge grin split her face. “I always wanted a family.”

“Me too,” Wolf said to her, his voice sounding haunted.

“We can share,” Angel whispered as she reached out for him, and he hugged her to him. His purr started up, and she sighed in happiness as it eased them both. She squeezed him tight, and I could see the bond between them already. Two people with so much aching loneliness, who’d found a home together. “I wish I’d kept looking for you.”

He shook his head. “You found me when the time was right, my Angel.”

She snuggled into him, and we just watched them for a moment, as I rested my head on Nick’s shoulder.

“I want to live here, but can we go back for the big bonfire tonight, Daddy River?” she asked, perking up quickly as she turned to him. The use of the word daddy slipped out so quickly, I figured she’d been waiting to use it for a long time.

He swallowed hard as he nodded. Ryder looked like he was choking back a sob.

“Sure thing, baby bird,” River said. And my heart exploded.

Ibroughtanewcarafe of chicory coffee out to the big dining room. Breakfast this morning was a strictly serve yourself affair. Yesterday afternoon we’d made an enormous batch of creamy overnight oats and cut up fruit to go with it. It was all in the big kitchen fridge, ready for when people trickled in throughout the morning.

The bonfire last night had been a massive celebration. We’d ended up inviting River and Ryder’s parents, and their farm workers, too. I figured if we were going to be working closely together in future, it was a good way to start. There had been singing and dancing, with Nick and a few of the farm guys playing guitars and bongo drums. We’d also emptied the bar from the function center, but nobody had cared. It had been worth it. The end of Maven was worth celebrating. There were a few sore heads around the farm this morning, though. So the chicory was essential.

Arms came around me from behind, and I smiled as Dio’s lips met my neck. My guys loved to kiss over my bite marks, and not just their own, they kissed each other’s too. I’d taken to putting my hair up in a ponytail to give them easy access. I loved it as much as they did. Both Dio and Dave had been extra attentive since we’d gotten back the other night. Heading into a battle with me after not having seen me for days, so soon after my heat, had been rough on both of them. Me too.

As if I’d conjured him, Dave’s mouth met the other side of my neck.

“What can we do to help?” Dave mumbled against my skin.

---