Page 85 of Storm

"I won't," he promises, already reaching for another strip of bacon. "Save some adventure for me."

Fox rises from his seat. "Come on," he says, holding out his hand. "I'll show you the best spots."

I take his hand, surprised by how natural it feels. There's none of the territorial jealousy I'd expect from another omega—just a gentle acceptance that feels like friendship. Frankie stands as well, his movements slightly awkward as he follows us toward the back door.

"Don't forget shoes," Elena calls.

Fox grabs a pair of boots from beside the door, handing them to me. "These should fit. They're mom’s."

I pull them on, amazed to find they fit perfectly.

The moment Fox pushes open the back door, a rush of fresh mountain air envelops me. I freeze on the threshold, overwhelmed by how much land there is. Freedom. A safe place for me to just be…me.

"You okay?" Frankie asks, his hand hovering near my elbow.

I can only nod, my throat tight with emotion. I step forward, off the porch and onto the soft earth, feeling the ground give slightly beneath my borrowed boots. A laugh escapes me, giddy and unrestrained, as I spread my arms wide, tilting my face to the sky.

"It's beautiful," I breathe, turning in a slow circle to take it all in. The house sits in a clearing, surrounded by dense forest on three sides. Behind it, the land slopes gently upward toward the mountains, while before it, it descends into a valley lush with autumn colors. The air is cooler than in the city. The promise that winter will be here soon, but the sun is warm on my face.

"It's home," Fox says simply, a quiet pride in his voice. "Come on, I'll show you around."

Chapter24

Storm

Ifollow Fox down a well-worn path, Frankie close behind us. After a moment's hesitation, I reach back and grab Frankie's hand, tugging him forward until he's walking beside me. His fingers intertwine with mine naturally, his palm warm against my skin.

"I still can't believe we're here," he says quietly, squeezing my hand.

"It feels like a dream." I say. It really does.

Fox calls out, pointing to a flash of red in a nearby tree.

"Cardinal," he says, his face lighting up with simple joy. "We get quite a few up here. Follow me, I'll show you where they nest."

We veer off the main path, following Fox into the shade of the forest. The ground grows uneven. I'd forgotten how much I love this.

"How big is this place, really?" I ask, ducking under a low-hanging branch.

"Thirty acres, like Alex said," Fox answers. "But it feels bigger because of how it's situated. The mountains create natural boundaries, and there's no one else for miles."

"No neighbors?" Frankie sounds surprised.

Fox shakes his head. "Not close enough to matter. Elena—my mom—goes into town for supplies every few weeks, but otherwise, we're pretty isolated."

"And that's how you've stayed hidden all this time," I muse, understanding dawning. "No one to notice a male omega. And you get to come out here and have adventures. Must be so nice."

Fox nods, a shadow passing over his face. "It wasn't always this way. The first two years after they rescued me, I didn't leave my room. It took me a long time to venture outside into the fresh air. But once I did, I felt like I could finally begin to heal."

"Oh Fox, I'm so sorry. Last night's a bit of a blur—I shouldn't have said anything."

"No, it's okay," Fox reassures me. "It's something I've been working through. We were both in the Omega House, after all. Only I was living beneath you, not with you. I'm sure we would have become instant friends."

My mouth drops open. "What? You were under the Omega House?" The words tumble out before I can stop them. His eyes dart away and I instantly regret my outburst. "Oh god, Fox, I'm sorry. You don't have to answer that. I just think out loud sometimes." I reach for his hand, squeezing it gently.

"I was there until four years ago when they came for me. Reed, Jonathan, and Alex. I knew they’d come. They're the youngest alphas ever to run the Omega House. Did you know that?" His words leave me stunned.

"They got the job there to find you?" Holy shit. And all those years. I fucked with Jonathan. I was a bitch. And he was just there to save Fox.