Page 23 of Wild Omegas (Wild Skies Ranch Omegaverse #1)

Josie

I’m skeptical of what Luke and Carson are actually doing when they leave the ranch, especially when they leave Brooks behind, but it leads to a quiet night which I can’t complain about.

If I never have another wild night in my life I think I’d be just fine with that.

Although I wouldn’t mind giving the mechanical bull at Wild Rodeo a go again.

I’ve lived the busy life in New York City, and the wild one that came after. The burning barn and the eerily quiet week that followed are the perfect reminders of why I came to Wild Skies Ranch and why, I think, I may never leave again.

Damien might have been the reason we all met. He might even be the reason we’ve spent a week vigilant for more arson. But he’s not the reason this pack loves each other so much. We’ve built that, and we’re going to keep building a life here.

I spend the evening baking. Brooks and I played some cards for a short time but he fell asleep a bit ago after a beer.

The way the kitchen and living room are angled, I can just make out his legs stretched out on an ottoman from the couch.

I keep an eye on him as I bake muffins and cookies.

Honestly, with as much baking as I’ve done since coming to Wild Skies, it’s a wonder my alphas haven’t all gained weight.

My cheeks warm. There’s been plenty of exercise, too.

Once I’m done baking and cleaning up I head into the living room to check on Brooks who still hasn’t moved.

He’s passed out cold with a beer bottle teetering precariously on the edge of his grip and the couch arm.

I carefully pluck it from his hand without waking him and place it on the coffee table.

It must have been a long work day. I’ve never seen Brooks that out cold before. Maybe it’s his old law enforcement instincts or maybe he’s simply a light sleeper, but usually he’s up at the sound of anything really.

Good then. I grab a blanket to tuck him in. “Sleep well, love.”

I turn off the living room light while leaving the one in the main hallway and foyer on for when Carson and Luke return. Brooks will wake up to that I’m sure and they’ll all join me in my nest then.

They’ve all been so kind since the fire. Worried about me, I think, more than anything else. But that’s not fair. The only good news is no one was hurt. Not Carson nor any animals. Everything else that fire means is… not good at best.

Damien.

Me literally managing my family’s legacy.

I push the thoughts out of my mind. Lately, it takes quite a Herculean effort to do so.

My mind likes to spiral and twist all these negative thoughts this way and that, finding new ways to make the same situations worse.

I’m working on it, but it’ll take time. Which is why the pack wants me to see a professional. They’re not wrong to ask it.

I pad into my bedroom and head straight for the shower.

We’ve all built up my nest quite a bit since my heat.

I designed much of it or told my alphas what to grab and where to put it.

But they’ve all added little touches of themselves too.

I welcomed a little stuffed horse from Luke and plants from Carson.

Brooks added an incredibly soft blanket depicting lambs in meadows.

Hanging plants cover the ceiling and twinkling faerie lights illuminate the space without having to use the one bright light in the room.

It’s cozy. A place full of love.

I shower quickly and dry my hair before diving into that nest to sleep for the night. As I lay back, my head brushes something pointy that doesn’t belong.

I reach back and prick my finger on whatever the item is. “Shit.”

I scramble for the larger light’s switch and flick it on only to find my bleeding finger holding a thorn-stemmed rose.

A rose. Randomly here. In my nest.

A rose with a small note attached to it. A cursive “D” adorns the front. My breath catches. No. It’s been a week. Why show up now ?

Dread sends icy spiders down my spine. I’m glued there, barely dressed, staring at this rose with Brooks passed out a few rooms away.

My gaze jumps to my closet. My breath picks up and my heartbeat thunders loudly. Is Damien in there? Is he here in the house still?

There’s one place I know he’s not. I leave the rose on the bed and rush back into the bathroom and lock the door. It still doesn’t feel safe enough.

I climb into the shower and sit on the floor with my arms wrapped around my knees. Damien is here in the house.

Damien is here . Again.

I rock myself and try not to drown in the onslaught of memories. Fire and Damien’s anger in the street as the flames burned. At his promise of revenge, and my fleeing of the city I called home.

Of Carson with a foal in his arms surrounded by fire.

I can’t do this anymore.

I’m not sure how long I sit there rocking back and forth, but eventually footsteps sound outside the bathroom door. I freeze and try not to breathe, as if anyone who comes in won’t see my shadow through the frosted glass doors of the shower.

“Josie?” Carson.

Relief floods me. I spring up and open the shower doors. “Here,” I try to say but my throat and mouth are far too dry. It comes out croaked and weak.

Carson opens the door at the same time I unlock it and we both jump back. His brow is creased and his eyes serious, but when he sees me, he pulls me in tight to his chest. I wrap my arms around him.

“Damien,” I get out.

Carson doesn’t let go. “We know.”

Luke appears in the bedroom door and waves to us in the attached bathroom. “Brooks is waking up.”

My eyes widen. “Brooks! Oh god. I?—”

Carson tucks hair behind my ear. “He’s okay. Drugged, we think. But okay.”

Carson doesn’t sound calm, though. Something else has happened.

“Carson,” I plead, hoping just saying his name will be enough for him to understand.

Brooks stumbles in ahead of Luke. He sighs with relief when he sees me okay. “I was drugged.”

Luke and Carson meet gazes. Luke says, “We should’ve never left the ranch.”

“Where did you even go?” I ask. “Why did Damien feel so safe coming into the house?”

“Because we were out looking for him in Fairwater Falls,” Luke explains. “A bad idea as it turns out.”

“Did you find anything else while out there?” Brooks asks.

Carson shakes his head. “Nothing.”

So Damien wins again. If he’s here at Wild Skies maybe going back to New York City would be safer.

“He was in the house.” Are they not understanding the severity of this now? “What are we going to do?” I feel the walls closing in around me. A need to run as fast as I can. Into my car, get on the road, and drive until I hit the closest airport.

Nowhere is safe.

Brooks carefully steps toward me. My body reacts on instinct, pulling back, but I can’t stand it. I don’t want to run from my pack, just Damien. Tears well in my eyes.

“Josie,” Brooks says. I focus on him as my vision narrows. “We’ll check the rest of the house. Any open food containers and drinks will go.”

“We can hit the grocery store tomorrow morning and replace it all,” Luke offers.

Carson’s already got his phone out. “I’m ordering the fucking security cameras. Might take a whole team too.”

I squeeze my eyes shut. Their swiftness to protect me is everything but it’s just so much .

Carson walks down the hall while making a call despite the fact it’s 3a.m. Brooks withdraws a holstered gun from his waistband and takes off with Luke to clear the house.

They go room by room with Carson and I trailing behind them.

Every closet is opened and every piece of furniture with enough space to hide a body beneath is checked.

Damien is no longer in the main house, but he could be anywhere on the ranch.

When my pack has done all they can at the present moment to secure the house and all of us, we meet up in my nest and sleep there for the night.

Well, rest at least. Sleep doesn’t come.

There are far too many unknowns, and every time the house creaks, I jolt awake only to be lulled back to sleep by the purrs and warm touches of my pack.

Despite the comfort provided by my alphas, Damien is still winning.