Page 6 of Wild Omegas (Wild Skies Ranch Omegaverse #1)

Luke

Josie and I leave early the next morning.

I’ve learned over the past week that Josie is an exceptionally early riser.

Learning that she had her own bakery explains that, but I’m still surprised to find her wide awake and jumping into work even earlier than we are.

Although I can’t imagine a week of straight paperwork has made her feel great. Getting out now is a good thing.

Luckily, Fairwater Falls has just what she’s looking for. I tag along for the most part, watching as she selects an Android to replace her iPhone, which isn’t too strange. But I do catch the customer service representative asking why she’s swapping phone carriers.

“Have to,” she says quickly with a wave of her hand. “That’s all. I hear your service is better.”

The customer service representative doesn’t push her further, but I can’t help but latch on to the information. Swapping carriers and phone types. It happens, sure. But in conjunction with a major move to the country from the city?

Is Josie running from someone?

My fists clench immediately and so tight that I have to turn away. The idea of anyone hurting or following Josie makes my blood boil. The feeling is so swift and so intense that I’m not sure what to do with it other than track down whatever or whoever the issue is and handle it for her.

Someone taps my shoulder. I swing around a little too hot and nearly bowl Josie over.

She chuckles—tightly. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.”

Good fucking job , I scold myself. “You’re fine. Are you okay?”

Josie lifts her chin up at me. “I’m a lot harder to hurt than that.” She holds up her collection of phone items in a branded paper bag. “All set. Thank you again so much. Getting a new number was so much quicker and easier than I expected.”

A whole new number, too? I tuck that piece of information away with all the rest. “I’m glad it’s all taken care of now.”

Josie smiles at me again and leads me back outside toward my truck. We were the first ones in here this morning and the day is still young. “We could head back unless you’d like to grab some coffee out here?”

Josie considers it while studying the cars passing by on the street. “Yeah, you know what? I’d love to. I haven’t been home to Fairwater since Christmas. Ever been to Cozy Roasts?”

“Can’t say that I have.” We hop into my truck and I pull out of the parking lot. Josie is almost small enough to need help climbing into the rig. “Usually when I come out to Fairwater Falls it’s to see family or for groceries. I spend… maybe too much time on the ranch.”

“Is there such a thing?” she asks.

Josie pulls up the GPS on her new phone and shows me where we’re going. Signal is pretty shoddy out here, especially on the new carrier she picked up, but I’ve seen enough to find Cozy Roasts.

I laugh. “I suppose not, no.”

We get onto the main road and follow it through town. A giant sign depicting a cowboy riding a bull dominates the road on one side proclaiming: Rodeo Competition Soon — Sign Up Today.

Josie laughs.

I look over at her. “What? Not into bull riding?”

She holds up a hand. “No, sorry. I just didn’t realize that was a thing done in Fairwater Falls.”

I can’t believe she’s missed it. “Every summer.”

Josie bites her cheek. “I spend most summers in Cape Cod with friends or working busy tourist times in the city.” Her smile falls. “Well, I used to anyway.”

Before she ran to Wild Skies Ranch. Before whatever happened with whoever she’s running from.

I want to know everything. I have to stomp down on this selfish need to know before it becomes a problem.

But it’s so clear this omega needs help—or at least, help dealing with whatever happened to set this chain of events into motion.

But after a week, none of us know anything more about her than what she’s already shared.

She’s a Rose, her family owns Wild Skies Ranch, and her grandmother is letting her take over for a year. But she doesn’t know how to run a ranch and so she needs us. And she came here very suddenly.

It’s clear she doesn’t want to talk about this, so I settle instead for changing the topic back to the rodeo. “Your grandfather won the competition a bunch in the past. Obviously not once he was a grandparent, but before.”

Josie’s eyes widen. “Wait—really? Wait… how did I not know?”

I shrug but I’m smiling. “Not sure, Josie. Seems there’s a lot about our childhood you’ve forgotten.”

She scoffs. “Have not. I remember you, and running through the horse fields with you. At least a few holidays with both our families.”

We hit a red light, for which I’m grateful, because I look over at her. It’s so easy to get lost in her beautiful hazel eyes and her wild heart. “You have a lot less freckles now.” And a lot more curves.

I had a huge crush on Josie when we were young teens.

I never in a million years would’ve thought we’d be in the same place again, let alone as scent matches.

It’s been a week since the realization and I’m still not sure what to do with it—or whether Josie wants to do anything with it.

Even now her floral honey scent cocoons me in an all-encompassing wave.

So much about her is a mystery, and I just want to unravel it all. And her. Preferably in the bed of my truck.

A blush creeps up Josie’s cheeks. “Happens as you age, I think.”

“And now we’ve met twice.” It seems stupid once I’ve said it but it makes Josie’s smile warm brighter. For a moment, it feels like the rest of the world has fallen away while she looks at me like that. I never want it to end.

A dozen memories flash by my mind like a movie reel. Christmases on the ranch. The time my father helped deliver a baby horse and Josie and I stood by in awe. Watching fireflies on summer nights and stargazing in the winter with her grandfather and his telescope.

Does she remember as clearly as I do?

“So we have,” she finally says before shifting almost uncomfortably in her seat. “Do you ride?”

The sudden topic change catches me off-guard. Our moment of suspended time is over in an instant. I know she can’t mean riding horses since I work with them all day, so she must mean the rodeo competition again.

“I’ve been known to join the competition from time to time, yes.”

Her eyes light up. “Really? That’s wild.”

“Have you ever tried?”

She balks. “Me? Ride a bull? Hell no.”

“Really?” I click my tongue and laugh a little. “You struck me as the risk-loving type.”

“Did I?” She looks incredulous but even she can’t help but laugh. “Well, risks in the city are much different than out here I’d say.”

“Not much of a country lady?”

Josie glances out the window. “Not as an adult, it would seem. But it’s growing on me.”

Her words give me a hope I’m not sure I can explain. A hope for what ? That she’ll stay? She’s already staying. No, it runs far deeper than that.

I want her to stay long enough to get to know her. To build something.

“I did used to love visiting all the time as a kid, though.” Josie has a faraway look in her eyes and a smile on her face.

“My cousins and I, we got up to all the trouble in the world. And my grandparents always said that Wild Skies never lets you go for long.” She points out the window toward the road that will take us all the way back to the ranch.

“Guess they were right. Do you believe it, too?”

Wild Skies has felt like more a home to me than my own for far longer than I can remember.

Maybe that was the ranch itself or the generosity of the Rose family.

Or maybe it was Josie all along. “I’m still here, aren’t I?

Yeah, I believe it. Josie.” I turn to her for a brief moment before we hop on the long, winding road with no signs and even less cars.

“Let us help you run the ranch. I know your ankle is better now, but we’ve been here for years. You’ll need our help.”

Her body stiffens. “I’m not pushing you out.”

But you’re pushing something away. “I get the impression you’re not sure what to do with us.”

“Three alphas and an omega on a ranch in the middle of nowhere,” she says with a dry laugh. “Maybe that’s why.”

The elephant in the room. Can’t blame her for being worried about it. I shake my head. “It doesn’t have to be a thing. All I’m saying is: Wild Skies Ranch is our home. It’s your home. You need help running it. We’ve been keeping it going for a while now and we’re not going anywhere.”

Her gaze is on the horizon where the early morning sun is starting to rise higher. “I know. I’m not pushing you all out.”

“You’re pushing us away,” I clarify.

Josie’s body stiffens and I know I’ve gone too far. “I have to. Work the ranch, fine. But otherwise let’s not get entangled. Thank you for bringing me out here today.”

Shit. I hate myself immediately. But sometimes wild mares need to see help is there even if they don’t want it. And I haven’t forgotten the purpose for our trip today and what it implies.

I’ll help Josie even if she doesn’t realize she wants it. Whatever or whoever she’s running from will no longer be a problem for her if it’s the last thing I do.