Page 38 of Pack Scratch Fever

“Hi, buddy,” Poe says gently, walking past me and toward the cat, extending his hand. Mister Whiskers chirps , gives Poe a few slow blinks, and nuzzles Poe’s palm.

I’m going to pass out.

“It’s fucking crazy, isn’t it?” Maddox says behind me. “He’s obsessed with Poe. Avery and I can’t go within ten feet of him or he’ll lose his mind.”

I watch the scene in disbelief.

I knew that Mister Whiskers tolerated Poe enough to clean himself in front of the Alpha, but I didn’t know he liked him.

“ How ?” I gasp.

The cat flops onto its back, and Poe rubs its dark fluffy belly.

“They have similar personalities,” Maddox supplies. “Ugly and insufferable.”

Poe narrows his eyes at him, then looks back at me. “I realize Whiskey is the one that gave you the infection, so I hope it’s okay with you that I adopted him.”

It takes my mind a minute to process his words. “Whiskey?” I repeat.

“Mister Whiskers,” Avery supplies. “We decided on Whiskey, though.”

I continue to stare at Poe and the cat, my mouth open in shock.

Poe… adopted …Mister Whiskers?

“If you’d prefer he doesn’t stay here…” Poe trails off.

I burst out laughing at the ridiculousness of it all.

My scent match, who claimed that cats were pests, has offered a home to the one cat I was concerned would be stuck at the rescue his whole life.

I laugh so hard tears well in my eyes, and suddenly, I’m sobbing like a child.

The stress of the last week leaves my body as I cry like I haven’t in ages.

Someone pulls me into their arms, and then I’m weeping into a broad chest while hands rub my back.

I can’t even apologize for my outburst. The tears don’t stop for what seems like ages.

“We’ve got you,” Maddox promises, his voice low at my ear. “We’ve got you, sweetheart.”

They’ve done so much for me, and I still don’t feel like I deserve it.

When I finally pull away, I look up to meet Poe’s eyes. His arms are the ones wrapped around me tightly, and his shirt is ruined with my tears.

“Let’s get you to your room,” he says quietly. “Take all the time you need.”

Vulnerable and open, I follow him to the nesting room they had set up for me.

When I see it, I have to fight more tears from spilling.

The walls have been painted a calming pale lavender, complete with plush cream blackout curtains for the window. The new canopy bed is roomy and elegant, with soft ivory drapes.

The room is beautiful and comforting.

“We did a bit of upgrading since you’ve been here,” Poe admits. “Avery knows more about color schemes than I do, but supposedly, this is the most calming way to have a room set up.”

I take in the room in disbelief.

It’s a five-star suite compared to my apartment.

“This is all for you,” he adds quietly. “In case you didn’t know by now, there’s only you for us.”

I swallow. I can’t look at him while he speaks, because that ugly, horrible voice is still in my head, saying I don’t deserve this.

“Piper,” he says. “Look at me. It’s just us now.”

I turn around, terrified of what I might find in his eyes.

“I think I know you well enough by now that asking you to move in would be too much,” he says, and I nod. “I’m the same way. I don’t want help ever. Or charity. It’s the worst thing someone could offer me.”

“Yes,” I agree.

“So, let me phrase it this way,” he says. “This will always be a place for you to go. You will always have somewhere safe to be.”

I shake my head and look away. “Poe, I don’t?—”

“It will always be on your terms,” he promises, interrupting me. “It’s not about deserving it,” he adds quietly. “You are enough.”

“I’m a mess,” I mutter, staring at the bed instead of him. “I’ll shut down again if we argue. I’ll pull away.”

He shrugs. “Doesn’t matter to me. I’ll wait however long it takes.”

I throw everything I can at him.

“I’ll push all three of you away,” I confess. “That’s what I do. That’s just who I am. I can’t be a perfect Omega for you or your packmates.”

“We don’t wan t you perfect,” Poe says, taking a step forward.

“Do you think I’m perfect? I’m an asshole workaholic who almost lost the best thing that’s ever happened to me.

Maddox is obnoxious and doesn’t know when to shut up.

And Avery is sensitive as hell and is terrified he doesn’t deserve you . ”

I frown. “That’s ridiculous.”

“But that’s what I’m saying,” he continues. “We want you as you. I want you to challenge me. I want this to be difficult at times, because when it goes right, I’ll be the happiest I’ve ever been.”

I sigh and shake my head.

“Give us your worst parts, because you’ve seen ours. You’ve seen mine.”

He takes another step forward and closes the distance between us. His arms wrap around my waist, and I bury my face into his chest, inhaling that calming, delicious scent.

“This home is yours,” he promises, kissing the top of my head. “Spend as much time here as you want.”

I stay in his arms for a good amount of time, exhaustion taking a toll on me. When I finally pull away, he moves a lock of hair from my face and cups my cheek tenderly.

He looks at me so tenderly that I forget I haven’t had a proper shower in a few days.

“We’ll be here when you need us,” he says, then steps away from me and leaves the room, shutting the door behind him.

I stare at the door for a few moments, memorizing the feel of his hand on my cheek.

Finally, I make my way to the shower, groaning in satisfaction once the hot water runs down my body. I wash away the hospital smell from my hair and scrub each body part twice.

I ignore the trickle of slick that flows out of me, likely a side effect of the new suppressants.

I don’t have the mental capacity to think about my Heat showing up right now.

Once I make it out of the shower and stumble into bed, I burrow myself under the thick, luxurious nesting blankets.

These must have cost a fortune, and they feel exquisite on my skin.

I eventually drift off to sleep, armed with the knowledge that the rescue is saved, and I’m safe.

I’ll always be safe from now on.