Page 31 of Small Town Shy Omega (Applewood Falls #1)

Layla

E verything was right. Everything was neat, cozy, snug, safe and warm.

I settled into my nest, my big strong Alphas surrounding me. It was the first time inviting them into my nest.

My Alphas and I just came in from a rainstorm. We’d rushed through the forest, grateful that my little cottage provided safe shelter. We’d been collecting wild clover and I wanted to enclose the flowers in a clear vase.

We settled into my blanket, the spring shower falling outside the window.

The May rain was nice and tranquil. It was cozy in my nest, very safe and snug.

My homemade apple blossom-scented candle flickered sporadically, painting shadows on the wall.

Outside my cottage, rain fell and clouds gathered.

The weather station said the shower would last all afternoon, but here we were safe.

I loved my nest, I thought as my big paperback spilled out across my lap. I flipped through the pages lazily, a relaxed sigh escaping me. But I loved my Alphas more.

Blake put a soft pillow behind my head. “There, there, little Layla,” he purred, his voice gentle and kind. “Nice and cozy. Just for you.”

Josh let me nuzzle into his arm, and he whispered, “I baked you fresh sherbet cookies, Layla. Your favorite to eat during the rain.”

I thought of all the wonderful moments we spent together. The laundry my Alphas did. The gas they put in my car, the gutters they cleared.

They worked long and hard courting me, and I was grateful they put in the effort.

Big tears—like glass beads—welled in my eyes. “Thank you,” I whispered, munching on the sherbet cookie Josh slid to my lips. “I didn’t believe I was worthy of a pack. I only wanted a book boyfriend. You three showed me what true love is. What a pack really means.”

Dreydon nodded, brushing out my hair. He was braiding a little bow into it, I realized. A pink bow.

“Baby,” Dreydon growled, his voice deep and true, “you showed us what an Omega is. Before you, we were a pack without our queen. You are our queen. Forever and always.”

My heat had come and gone, but I was no longer content being single. In my heat or out, my pack belonged beside me.

They weren’t just here for heat relief, or to relieve me when I burned.

No, they belonged with me for life.

Blake drug his lips up my neck, touching my bond mark. “Ours,” he growled, and I surrendered to his soft kiss.

The light notes of Thalia’s latest single wafted through the nook. I sighed, sipping my hot raspberry tea that my Alphas prepared for me and eating sherbet cookies. I was happy in my nest, and now I’d finally opened my nook up for my Alphas.

I’d always be shy girl, living in an extravert’s world. Now, I had a pack who accepted me just the way I was. Not only that—they helped me break out of my shell, do things I was scared shitless to do, like opening my own glassworks studio.

“I’m at my peace,” I said softly, my blankets surrounding me. Warm fuzz pressed against my face, and I didn’t recall ever feeling so cozy. “I love you, pack.”

“We love you too, Layla.”

Even Whiskers was happy. Meeeeow.

My homemade apple blossom candle flickered down, and we spent all my afternoon buried in books. Josh was enjoying the Nora Roberts paperback I lent him. Soothing indie music reached my ears, and I made a note to never forget this afternoon.

To my great surprise, Blake slid something onto my finger.

“Look when you’re ready,” he said quietly.

When I peeked down I saw it was a diamond ring.

Lifting the diamond ring to my mauve-and-sparkle eyes, I gasped. “Oh, Blake!”

“Will you marry us, Layla?” Each of my Alphas purred.

There was only one answer for my Omega. “Yes!”

Thank you so much for reading!!!