Page 47 of Where There’s Smoke (Fire House Omegas #2)

Melody

Reed

Look, we can’t keep delaying. You need to come home. You’re stressing Mom out. I thought you would be responsible and stop us from having to get the authorities involved.

I stared at my phone disbelievingly.

“Everything okay?” Elliot asked as he handed me a slice of pizza. Our little pack was in the den, watching some boring documentary and eating copious amounts of pizza.

Fitz and Samson were debating about historical artillery, so they hadn’t noticed me responding to the text.

Elliot, on the other hand, was next to me, his arm thrown over the back of the couch where I sat, legs tugged underneath me.

I had no doubt that he'd seen the text message, but he was still asking me.

“My brother is just continuing to be an ass,” I muttered, turning off my phone screen.

“Have you told him that, legally, you don't have to come back?”

I bit my lip. “I've been putting it off,” I admitted in a whisper.

“How come?”

I sighed, nuzzling into his side. His arm moved from the back of the couch, wrapping me up in his embrace. Pressing my nose into his chest, I inhaled his deep, rich, minty scent, easing the lingering tension with just Elliot’s presence.

“I've been enjoying the aftermath of bonding and didn't really want to ruin it with him.”

Elliot chuckled, my entire body moving as his chest jiggled with laughter. “Yeah, I get that. Unfortunately, another day or two, and we're going to have to get back to real life.”

I groaned, pressing my face deeper into his chest. “I don’t wanna,” I mumbled, knowing how ridiculous I sounded but unable to care.

We’d been living in a little post-bonding bubble for nearly two days, and I didn't want it to end. The other guys at the fire station had left us to our own devices, so it had been just our little pack, eating, snuggling, and doing… other things.

I was surprised I could still walk, honestly.

“Unfortunately, we can't avoid it. We've got to go back on shift soon.” Elliot kissed the top of my head. “As much as I wouldn’t mind spending more time with you indefinitely.”

I sighed, an overdramatic sound that had Elliot chuckling again. “I also have to get back to work. Everything's just been so peaceful the last few days.”

“It's been pretty perfect,” Elliot agreed, cupping my face, forcing me to look at him.

Our eyes held, my entire being zeroed in on my broody pack lead and the way he oozed care for me.

His lips brushed over mine gently, this quiet acknowledgement of how much we wanted to stay here and how we both knew reality was waiting.

I could feel the way he supported me through his touch, which helped to bolster me.

Pouting, I looked down at my phone. “I guess I better tell them.”

“Just put your phone on silent after you send it. We can watch that horse movie you’ve been talking about,” he offered.

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Elliot Wilder, are you bribing me?”

He smirked, pulling me closer. “That depends—is it working?”

“Maybe,” I grumbled, pulling away with a smirk and picking up my phone.

Melody

Actually, you have no reason to get the authorities involved.

As of a few days ago, I am officially part of Pack Wilder, and you have no say in the matter when it comes to a bonded omega.

While I appreciate your concern, I can ensure you that I am very happy and looking forward to settling down with my pack.

I didn't appreciate his concern, if I was honest. It was a thinly veiled attempt to be polite, and I was sure he understood how angry I was. After all, he practically wrote the book on passive aggressive behavior.

The message had been sent for only a few seconds before dots came up on my screen.

My stomach twisted and turned as my pulse ticked up.

I’d really just told Reed off, my parents by extension, and I knew there was going to be serious fallout.

But I did what the fire chief said and put my cell on silent.

It was done, and I couldn’t go back now.

I placed my phone screen down on the arm of the sofa and cuddled into Elliot’s side.

He kissed the top of my head. “I'm proud of you,” he said, his voice quiet, but I could still hear him perfectly. The praise did something funny to me, melting my insides and making me inexplicably happy. I was going to hold on to that feeling because my family’s anger was only ramping up.

I had naively thought that, by not answering their texts, my family would get the message and leave me alone.

After so many years, I really should have known better.

Sitting on a blanket I’d lain out on the grass at the back of the firehouse, I watched Dotty as she ran around, chasing a butterfly. She was now a rambunctious little puppy who wanted to get into everything, and thanks to her way-too-clever little brain, she usually did.

At one point, she tumbled over her own feet and looked at me like she was personally offended by her own accident.

“Sorry, I can't keep you from falling over your own legs,” I cooed, chuckling.

Part of me could have sworn that the puppy gave me the stink eye before continuing on with her chase. Attitude, thy name is Dotty .

“She’s going to be a terror, isn’t she?” Samson asked as he joined me in the yard, sitting down next to me with a lot more grace than I thought possible for a man of his size.

“There's going to be a crazy puppy phase for sure,” I agreed.

Without even bothering to ask, I crawled into his lap and nuzzled into his chest. Relishing in the comforting scent, I melted into his strong arms. He wrapped me up in his embrace, kissing the top of my head as we both watched the puppy.

“I think I'm going to have to buy her more chew toys.” Unsurprisingly, considering how good he was with dogs, Sam had taken to spoiling our little firehouse princess quite often.

“That may be a good idea. Though, I do think her favorite chew toy is Elliot's socks.”

Samson chuckled. “I think he's only just started to forgive her for that.”

Dotty had been getting into everything and chewing anything she could find. She was just a puppy and eager and excited. Thankfully, we'd been able to keep her out of anything dangerous, and she was quickly learning.

The only thing she seemed to refuse to learn was to not chew Elliot's socks.

Thankfully, my pack mate was quite forgiving with the adorable puppy. It was hard to stay mad at her when she made those adorable faces at you. Elliot liked to pretend otherwise, but he was a sucker for her, just like the rest of us.

Wiggling in Samson’s lap, I turned so I was facing him, my knees on either side of his hips. I hadn't thought the move through entirely, because he was already hardening, cock pressed right against my seam, making me heated and slick.

“Oh.” My face heated. As I went to move off him, his hands tightened around me, and he shook his head, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth.

“Nope, I think you're right where you need to be.” Sam pulled my hips closer.

Huffing, I shook my head before leaning in and kissing him.

What I had intended to be a quick, chaste kissed turned into something filthy when he grabbed the back of my neck and deepened it.

The feeling of his tongue sweeping against the seam of my lips was enough to change any thought I had about leaving.

He demanded entrance, and I happily let Sam in, forgetting about my plan to leave.

Our tongues met, dancing around each other, and my skin buzzed with the sensations and where my mind knew they could take us.

I was already getting wet; my body immediately kicked into overdrive when any of my alphas paid me this kind of attention.

This is exactly why we haven’t gotten anything done the past few days.

Our moment ended when Dylan, the lanky firefighter who worked with the guys, came out into the garden, clearing his throat. “I really hate to interrupt you guys, but a car just parked at the front of the station, and I'm pretty sure the woman storming in is Melody's mother.”

Samson and I looked at one another, groaning as we realized what that meant.

“It took her less than twenty-four hours to turn up here.” I sighed, my shoulders drooping as all the joy I’d been feeling disintegrated.

“I suppose we should get up and see what she wants.” He grimaced. “It’ll be better to just bite the bullet and deal with this now.”

“ Or we could stay right here and give her a show. Maybe she'll be scandalized enough that she'll run away and never return.”

Samson swallowed my laugh, kissing me quickly before pulling us both up to our feet. “As much as I like that idea, sugar, I would much rather have an audience of our pack mates than your mother. Besides, there’s no telling if she’d just walk up to me and yank me away by the ear. No, thank you.”

I nodded in agreement as I took his hand, still feeling deflated. “Fine. Let's go see what she wants.”

As we walked through the firehouse, I tugged my sweatshirt down lower on my shoulder, making the bite marks on my neck pointedly obvious.

Samson’s chuckle and approving nod made me beam with happiness, and I felt like skipping to the lobby where my mother was waiting. I held back, however, because it was still my mother, and nothing about seeing her was fun, even when joking because she always pinned me with that withering stare.

Once again, she was wearing a fake Chanel skirt and blazer, trying to make herself look more important than she was.

Within seconds of getting into the room, her eyes immediately homed in on the bites. The color drained from her face, and I half-expected her to stagger back, suddenly feeling faint as she literally clutched her faux pearls.

“So, it’s true?” she asked in a shaky voice.

“It is!” I nodded enthusiastically. “I’m happily bonded!

Isn’t that amazing ?” My smile was totally fake, but I wasn’t going to let her know I was nervous.

Confidence was key, according to Mommy Dearest, and if I’d learned anything useful from her, it was that.

She was going to see only what I wanted her to see. She didn’t deserve anything else.

Her eyes darted between my neck and my eyes several more times, making me roll my eyes. Her mouth open and closed as she tried to find the words she wanted to say, and I was getting really impatient.

“W-we can fix this,” she insisted, her eyes pleading as she took a step toward me.

I reeled back, my own mouth dropping open in shock. “What? Why would I want to ‘fix’ this? There’s nothing to fix. I'm happy.” I cocked my head to the side, raising my brows as I folded my arms over my chest, trying to maintain a calm exterior.

“No, Melody. You don't understand. We put a lot of work into setting you up back home. We bought an apartment for you and your new pack…and everything .” Her voice was tight, controlled, but there was a hint of panic beneath it.

“Well, that's a very nice offer, but as a member of Melody’s pack, I can assure you, we already have a house here, and we are very happy and settled.” Samson’s sickly-sweet smile almost made me cackle as my mother’s face somehow got even paler.

She hadn’t meant Pack Wilder when she’d referred to my pack, and Samson’s reminder that he was my new pack was glorious.

“How could you?” For the first time, I saw my mother’s pristine mask crack, a sneer breaking out over her face as she glared at me.

I actually stepped back, surprised and a bit terrified of her, if I was honest. I’d never seen her be anything but demure.

This wasn’t that. “You ungrateful—We went through all this work. And for what? Some trash that works at a fire station ? We have real alphas waiting back home, and you’re going to throw your lot in with-with them ?

! I have never met a more ungrateful, disobedient child in my life!

Don’t think for a minute this is over. You will regret going behind your family’s back and crossing me. Mark my words, Melody Annalee Smoke!”

My mother stormed out without another word, though she’d said plenty.

My stomach was rumbling as nausea pulled at me, and I was forcing back tears with all my strength.

I’d known she wasn’t going to be happy. Of course, I had.

But I genuinely hadn’t expected her to blow up like that.

My father, and Reed, maybe, but not her.

I was trembling when Samson put his hands on either of my arms, getting me to look at him.

“I think some lunch is in order after all that.” He smiled, the expression radiating warmth and compassion. A look I would never see on my mother’s face. “How about we go get some tacos at your favorite place, and we can forget all about entitled brats who threaten people? Huh?”

A tiny smile broke free. It was nice to hear someone else call out my mother’s behavior, and yet another reason I loved Samson so much. He was always there for me in ways my family never was.

“I love that idea. I love you.”

Kissing me, Samson looped his arm under mine and directed me toward the door. “I love you, too, sugar. Let’s go.”