Page 45 of Cost of Courting (When it Raines Omegaverse #6)

Chapter forty-two

Selene

“That’s it. My house is empty. I don’t live here any longer. This is so weird.”

Kingston wraps his arms around me from behind. “Are you really sad?”

“No, I’m relieved. It just feels weird putting Luna’s stuff in storage. It’s like I’m abandoning her.”

“Jo sent the email. You read it.”

My scowl returns. Jo’s email had given little information, just that Luna needed to heal, mentally as well as physically. He will not tell us where they are, as per her request, and she’s not sure when or if she’s coming home.

“I can’t help but feel like I failed her in so many ways.”

“You didn’t,” Kingston says. “We failed you. You did the best you could here, raising her alone. Unfortunately, you can’t control the rest of the world.”

He takes my hand, swinging it as we walk up the street.

I lift my free hand and wave to Mr Match sitting on his porch.

The damage inflicted by Hammer has not gone away.

He’s struggling these days, and it’s like all his years have caught up with him, but he’s got everyone.

And there is a lot of everyone in the neighborhood.

Even as I watch, Mercedes jogs up the steps to sit beside him. He’s been teaching her history and helping her with her schoolwork. Though I think Mercedes might be heading into aged care as a career path when she’s old enough. She’s got the heart for it.

Two blocks. It feels like a different planet, but it’s just two blocks.

We arrive at the old home. The repair men finished a week ago. It’s been cleaned out and painted and rooms assembled. The biggest surprise was when the four of them brought home four giant motorcycles. I totally forgot about them.

I've been fidgeting and unhappy about the cleaning of the house because I knew they needed to do my nest, but I haven’t been in there yet to look.

I don’t want to be disappointed and accidentally let them see how devastated I might be.

But I’m going to have to go and look.

This is home now. Mael contacted his mother, and she gave him the house.

He surprised me with it two weeks ago, and we’ve been packing since then. Which has been a small nightmare, but it feels like a new page.

I walk up the steps and inside, stopping to take in the changes. There are a lot. The dark and cozy house has been stripped back and painted in a modern and cool way that leaves the house feeling so much larger.

I go inside and stop when I see the brand new couch. It all feels a bit much.

Rip the bandaid off.

I turn quickly, ducking away from Kingston, and trot down the stairs as quickly as I can.

I hold my breath until I see it.

It’s different. That’s my first thought. The space has been transformed. The space has been enlarged, and now there’s a row of floor-to-ceiling bookshelves stuffed with pillows, blankets, candles and…sex toys.

Okay, now we’re talking.

I go over and investigate a set of nipple clamps that vibrate and then pick up an octopus tentacle.

Wow!

I put them back and move to the closed cupboard against the other wall. I open it. Inside is a fridge fully stocked and, on the other side, a cupboard stuffed full of snacks. I stop when I see the first aid kit.

I don’t know why that hits me the strongest, but the snacks and everything else are just, you know, nest things, but the fact that they have made sure there’s a first aid kit means they intend to take care of me, too.

I walk backwards until I’m sitting on the massive bed. It’s so big, and when I lay down, there are fairy lights in five distinct spirals pinned to the roof.

I feel him but don’t acknowledge him until he straddles me.

“Do you hate it? Did we fuck up?”

“I love it. I love how much you care. How perfectly you’ve thought about everything.”

Mael nods his head. “We did.”

He reaches past me and presses a button. The side of the bed pops open. I turn my head quickly and see a draw full of weapons .

“Mael Donahue Dread, what the hell is that?”

He laughs. “Do you love it?”

“YES!”

“Good. Now come upstairs and trust that we’ve created you the perfect home.”

My eyes burn, but he pulls me straight up and wraps his arms around me. I lift my legs and allow him to carry me up the stairs.

He drops both of us on the couch, pressing me into it, and, to my surprise, it feels amazing, and it smells good, too.

“All right! All right! I love it!” I shout.

He chuckles and kisses me, his lips lingering against mine.

“Happy?”

“I am now,” I whisper back.

“Good.”

He pulls back, and I roll my head in time to see Kingston, Bailey, and Edric walk in with take out.

They set it up on the coffee table and start dishing up plates. I sit up and take mine.

“I know you guys were looking forward to making this house a home,” I say softly, my cheeks burning. All four of them have stopped and are watching me intently. “But can we just have a sit on the couch and go to bed early night?”

Kingston chuckles. “Thank you. I was trying to rally up the energy, but I’m beat.”

“Same,” Bailey says and flops back. “Getting a house ready to inhabit it in a couple of weeks has been grueling.”

“So, we’re agreed? Let’s just watch a movie?” I ask.

“Yes. Food, movie, sleep.”

I wake up when the movie finishes and find my alphas curled up on the couch asleep all around me.

There are no watermarks on the ceiling or walls. There is no urgency or threat to listen for. The only sounds I can hear are the peaceful rumbles of my pack snoring.

For a moment, there’s panic, but the pack shifts and starts waking. I’m pulled into Bailey’s arms, and Kingston crawls up on top of us.

“You’re safe now, crazy girl.”

I close my eyes and go back to sleep.