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FIFTY-THREE

“Are you comfy?”

Stacia relaxes back into the tub, surrounded by bubbles. She keeps her feet planted, and she’s taking steady breaths while focusing on the scent from the candle on the counter that I lit for her.

“Yes,” she finally says, opening her eyes to meet mine. “Thank you, Alpha. Will you join me?”

I push her still-dry hair behind her ear.

“I have to start directing the others so we can get your stuff moved in by tonight. The others will get too distracted if they’re left in charge, but I can send one of them to you.

Who would you like to comfort you right now?

” Her pout and slight whine makes me smile.

“Besides me, angel. I promise you can have my full attention when we get back. I’d love if you’d cover my bed with your scent and stay with me tonight. ”

That seems to satisfy her as she gives me a smug expression. “Fine. Send Ciro in, he’ll probably complain more than help so we can knock out two birds with one beta-shaped stone.”

I cough up a laugh at her scarily accurate assessment. It almost feels like we’re now working in tandem when it comes to our pack. We know what the others need and how to provide it.

We’re also pretty good at knowing each other’s needs, too.

I look upon her face. It’s flushed from the heat of the bath and the ends of her hair are dipped in the bubbles. She gives me a self-conscious look, knowing that I’m observing her, watching her intently.

“Can I help you?” she finally says, tilting her head at me.

She’s so beautiful .

“I’m just admiring what life gave me,” I whisper before kissing her forehead. “I’ll send in Ciro. Please try to relax. We’ll be on our way home soon, okay?”

She hums. “Home.”

I make my way into the living room, where everyone else has congregated. It feels much smaller with so many people. I pat Ciro’s back and point my thumb over my shoulder. “Can you go keep Stacia company? We’ll worry about moving everything.”

“You don’t have to ask me twice.” His readiness as he starts for Stacia’s room makes me laugh.

“That’s my cue, too. I’ll have to do some last minute packing for her. Her room… doesn’t look great.” Rory goes by me in a hurry to follow Ciro to her room, leaving the rest of us to start the hard labor.

“Thanks again, Sam,” Kendall states, “for helping us move, yes, but especially for what you did out there.”

Sam waves them off again, pointing to the boxes on the floor. “Are these Stacia’s?”

Opal comes out of the kitchen then, answering his question.

“Yes, they are. And so is this one.” She places the box she was holding in his arms, halting once she lets go.

Her eyes widen at him, her nostrils flaring.

There’s a moment of silence where she seems to work through something in her head before turning to me.

“Um, can you please tell Stacia that I’m sorry I can’t see her off like I said I would? I have… an emergency.”

I start to reply but she’s already on her way out the door. When it shuts, we all stare at it for a long moment.

“That was… weird,” Kendall states.

Sam arches a brow. “I hope everything is okay.” He shakes his head a bit and then shrugs. “We should get on it, though. Especially if you guys are planning to get everything done today.”

We all grab a box, marching out with our omega’s stuff in tow so we can finally get her home. The next step of making her officially ours.

A blur of red hair flies around the corner of the neighbor’s hedge, leaving me curious once again. I make a mental note to tell Stacia to check on her friend before I continue on the task at hand.