Page 15 of Small Town Shy Omega (Applewood Falls #1)

Every bite was a miracle, a revelation into the secrets of love and life.

I saw a sign on the kitchen wall that my Alphas hung up that read, Home is where the Omega is.

My heart warmed, and while others might find the sign cheesy, I did not.

My Omega purred as she scratched at my chest. She desperately begged to be let out.

No girl , I warned my Omega, narrowing my eyes as I focused on my soup, you don’t get to embarrass me right now. We’re not even bonded to this pack yet. And who cares if they have sweet signs on their walls?

They could still leave. They could still turn abusive like the others.

Still, when I peered at them… I did not think they would.

Safe, I thought.

One word: safe.

And snug, and cozy, and caring, and warm.

That’s what this pack was, what Josh, Blake, and Dreydon were.

In a world where Alphas sought to take what they desired from Omegas and leave them worse for wear, these Alphas cared for me.

They cared about my safety, making me feel cozy and snug, and feeding me when typically? The reverse was common, exactly like Gretel discussed weeks earlier.

Gretel had been judged by a rude, mean pack on her date that left her in tears—a scary pack, too—who’d told her to be more of a Trad Omega, stay in the kitchen, serve her Alphas and change her blue hair.

My Alphas?

My cheeks heated, and I looked around with a flush. No, these Alphas would never try to control me, I thought with a grin, a big dumpling between my cheeks. They cook for me, they don’t expect me to do the dishes.

“When we finish,” I said as a test, chewing my dumpling softly, “I’ve got dishes.”

“Absolutely not,” Dreydon growled, fists nearly banging on the table, “you’re our guest, Layla. We cooked for you, and it’ll wreck the night if you do dishes.”

If only Gretel could see me now, I thought, hand going over my heart.

I felt guilty. Guilty because I had such good Alphas, and Gretel was still searching for hers.

I prayed for my friend. I touched my crystal pendant and prayed that Fate would bring her some Alphas like mine.

Alphas didn’t typically speak like this. They didn't tell Omegas that their nights would be ruined if the Omega dared lift a finger or do dishes.

These Alphas did.

These strapping, kind, sexy and confident Alphas—they wouldn’t let me do the dishes, they cooked and cleaned for me.

I had the sense that, sprawled out on my bed, heat torturing me, my Alphas would wait on me. Bring me dishes, plates of my favorite foods. They’d bake for me, giving me the best muffins and brownies, and when I finally entered my heat-snap, they’d be in my nest, rubbing and cuddling me.

It’s okay, I pictured the Alphas saying, my cheeks even pinker. You’re protected in our arms.

Okay.

I felt okay around my Alphas, and a warm shawl of goodness descended upon my shoulders.

“Thank you all for cooking for me tonight,” I said calmly.

“I had a tough day today, picking out cat treats and all, and my conversation with Gretel put some doubts in my mind about dating. She’s been striking out a lot, and I’m thinking it’s because some packs aren’t really mature enough to date a strong, independent Omega like her. ”

Dreydon nodded sagely.

“Mind if I share something?” His deep, low voice came out in a growl.

I nodded, eager to listen. “Please.”

“In my free time, I perform free work with younger Alphas who’ve only recently designated. There are a lot of bad actors in the space right now, thanks to the rise of social media, unfortunately.”

I furrowed my brow. “Bad actors?”

“Many older Alphas realized they could make lots of money filling younger Alphas’ heads with garbage…

selling courses.” Dreydon clenched his fists.

“They tell Alphas they don’t need an Omega, they don’t need a pack, and they don’t need the bonds of community.

They say they can be lone Alphas, though everyone with a brain knows this is nonsense.

This bullshit is reverberating across the world, and with social media in everyone’s pockets, even younger Alphas in small towns like Applewood Falls are affected. ”

Josh nodded. “Dreydon is doing missionary work.”

I turned my eyes toward Dreydon, the gentle giant with scars. Scars from war, scars from battle. “Do go on.”

I liked what Dreydon said, because I also knew that lone Alphas were scary. Typically in pack life if an Alpha was alone it meant he was a danger or mentally unhinged.

“My mission work is to help Alphas know they need to serve their communities. Respect, defend, and honor Omegas, who they serve. Doing what these course gurus teach is always a mistake, mainly because it results in a lonely life and never teaches an Alpha to empower himself and do what’s right.”

My heart fluttered.

“Omegas want to be attracted to Alphas,” I said, earnestly staring at Dreydon. “But some Alphas just make it so damn hard.” Was I ready open up about my last pack? Tears threatened—I knew I couldn’t. Not tonight.

I didn't want to wreck our dinner.

“I teach Alphas to focus on work. Working for their tribe. And learn how to strengthen their minds so they can keep Omegas safe from harm. Given the choice between an Alpha and a bear 99% of Omegas would choose the bear. Well, who’s gonna teach Alphas how to be less of a danger to Omegas?”

My heart fluttered in my chest.

Dreydon saw a need in his community.

He stepped up.

“Dreydon’s fought in war,” Blake growled, eyes centering on me. “He’s not some course seller, who talks about being a lone Alpha. He really lived that life, he saw death.”

“He took a life,” Josh said in a hushed voice.

My heart raced faster, my eyes locking on Dreydon. “Oh. Is that the reason for the scars on your arm?”

Big, rugged scars ripped up Dreydon’s arm, and my heart broke that my paste hadn’t erased his scars. When he lifted it to flex it in the moonlight, I saw how deadly the battles he’d gotten into were.

“Yes,” Dreydon growled, a low rumble escaping him. “It wasn’t my proudest moment, but…”

My eyes pricked with tears.

Rushing up, I threw my arms around Dreydon. “Thank you for teaching other Alphas how to be better, Dreydon. You’ve fought through so much, and while most Omegas might think you’re scary and run to the other side of the street when they saw you, I’m not like most Omegas.”

“No, you’re definitely not,” Blake growled, staring at Layla approvingly.

“I’m shyer, more bookish—"

“And far more intelligent,” Josh growled, nodding affirmatively.

“And I just don’t understand why so many Omegas are so…

” I huffed, my voice ebbing off as tears pricked my eyes.

“They just don’t get it, you know? I try to explain it to them, that if you run into a really good pack of Alphas, they need to see Alphas for who they are, instead of always trying to harp on them even when they’re doing good work.

Maybe my perception is different because of the relationships I’ve had.

Many Omegas don’t understand me. They judge me. ”

“Other Omegas are jealous of you,” Josh growled, standing up as he walked to me, securing me in a hug.

“You shine, baby. You have an inner light, a radiance than a thousand Omegas lined up put together couldn’t outshine.

You radiate goodness, truth and honesty.

When you say you care for your Alphas, it’s clear you really mean it. ”

I sniffled, going back to my seat.

“W-When I’ve said I needed a pack in the past, I haven’t always meant it. Today, I do.” I turned my head up. “I spent the last few years of my life cooped up. The Alphas in fiction couldn’t hurt me. You three are different. Thank you for showing me all Alphas aren’t the same.”

These men… restored my faith in men.

I thought they couldn’t.

I thought that was an impossible task after my last relationship.

They… did.

Nothing over the top, nothing extravagant, like saving me from a dragon or anything… They didn't need to do that, I didn't want them to do that.

They just… helped me domestically, making my life so much easier.

Many Alphas just made your life harder than it would’ve been if you were single. That was why I stayed single.

These Alphas… were an asset, a tailwind.

They didn't drag on my life. They didn't keep me down.

Blake nodded. “I hear you.”

“You’re not a Labubu pack.” I whispered this out earnestly.

I needed them to hear this. “You’re not just an accessory.

I need you, and I’m ready to admit what.

What I wanted was a pack who saw me. Understood me, accepted me, and built me up into the Omega I was supposed to be. Around you, I feel like a queen.”

Blake put his hand on mine. “You are a queen, baby. Radiant and beautiful and true.”

The rest of the night passed wonderfully. After the snug chicken and dumplings dinner, which was not a “girl dinner,” it was far too delicious and rich—it was definitely an Alpha cooking for his Omega kind of dinner—the pack took me outside.

Holding Whiskers tight, I watched the stars come out.

Jupiter shone brightly, competing with the moon.

The soup was warm in my belly, and I felt well-nourished. Everything in my body felt centered, whole, and right.

The stars were bright and magnificent. Pink hues spread across the sky, blending with lingering puffy clouds.

The Alphas pointed out the constellations for me. There’s the Little Dipper, Blake whispered in my ear, and I felt like he was a bard teaching me a lesson.

I’d looked up at these stars many times. I didn't know much about them.

I wasn’t a stargazer.

I… was a book nerd, not a star nerd.

Never had I felt so small. In front of so much natural beauty, I felt so worthless.

How had I never truly looked at the stars?

Dreydon, Josh, and Blake told me all about the stars. And constellations. And various facts I didn't know.

Blake told me the myth of Perseus, who rescued Andromeda from a sea monster who threatened to eat her. The beautiful princess was chained to a cliff, and he saved her.