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Anton just gave me a soft grunt and kept piling bacon on my plate while William leaned against the counter, watching me with steady eyes.

I looked around at all of them, at this warm kitchen filled with a pack that was everything I could have ever wanted.

I've never been so scared in my life.

"Okay," I whispered. "Let's talk."

Chapter 19

Drew

The cabin smelled like her.

Warm syrup. Sweet skin. Sleep mussed hair and the soft, clean scent that made my Alpha settle every time she got near.

Christa moved like she belonged now. Almost like something inside her had finally clicked and she knew where she belonged.

It made something tight in my chest loosen every time I saw her glance at one of us and smile like it was safe to do so.

"We need to figure out what comes next," William said, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees. "As much as I love being here, and getting to know you, Christa, we can't stay here forever."

Anton gave a quiet grunt of agreement from the other end of the table. "The cabin is comfortable for short term living, and thenest is passable for a night or two, but not for an Omega in full heat."

My cock perked up at the mention of an Omega in heat, but now wasn't the time for it.

Christa glanced between us, then down at the coffee cup she held with both hands. She didn't speak right away, and that silence felt loud.

Annerly cleared his throat. "It's not about rushing anything, sweetheart. But we've all got jobs, a home, back in Wondersburg."

"And we're not asking you to give up what matters to you," I added quickly. I leaned in a little, just enough to brush her knee with mine and grab her hand. "We'll stay and start new lives here if that's what you need. No question."

She looked up at me then, eyes wide and honest. "You'd really do that?"

"Of course," I said, knowing I didn't need to double check with the rest of the pack. They'd agree.

And they did.

"But..." she started, then paused, her lips twitching like she wasn't sure whether to smile or cry. "I think it's time to move on."

"You don't have to," Annerly said gently.

"I know," she replied. "But it's not just about me. I love Jo. And Honey. But I'm not the girl who ran into this town two years ago. Honey's claimed and settled in with her pack. In a way I think that means she'll stick around and keep an eye on Jo. It's time to make space for the next lost girl who stumbles in, scared and alone."

My throat tightened, pride, love, and sadness warring inside me. I hate knowing Christa was once that scared, lonely Omega, but she's come so far, and she's survived so much.

"So, we go home?" William asked.

"Yeah. We go home," I agreed.

Together, we cleaned up the last of the breakfast dishes and headed down the road toward town. The diner was quiet from the outside, and we'd obviously missed the breakfast rush.

In our time here, I'd grown used to the small space, the people inside it.

What I'd not grown used to was the scent of my fucking mother filling the space, almost drowning out the smell of grease, eggs and coffee.

"Fuck," I muttered.

"Fuck indeed," Christa returned, her scowl focused on the female Alpha sitting in a booth, her arms carefully folded in front of her.