“Pack brothers?” he says and I smirk.
“Pack brothers. But that doesn’t mean you don’t still get on my nerves sometimes,” I say and he pulls me closer.
“Same,” he replies, letting me go, and I let out a huff of irritation. “We make it official when she’s ready, and I’ll talk to Wells about making sure that everyone has their own time with Claire.”
I’m not sure if I should hate that I was right about him being pack lead or if I should reward my maturity.
“I’d appreciate it,” I say with a nod.
Forrest takes a deep breath, putting his hands on his hips.
“We still have another truck to unload,” he says with a groan.
It’s the reality of having a high maintenance Omega, but I know we wouldn’t change anything about her for the world.
Chapter 34
Claire
The first nightin a new place is always difficult. This might be especially true for Omegas. That's why I asked all of them to sleep in my room tonight. Maybe I also wanted my room to soak up their scents so that it felt extra cozy.
But when I turn to my left, there’s only a sleeping Wells, Forrest is nowhere to be found, and that makes my stomach drop.
Elliot is passed out on my right, clearly having no issues sleeping in a new place. It makes me smile. I didn’t know how he would react to moving here and accepting his new reality of being in a pack, but he’s doing better than I imagined.
I wasn’t worried about Wells for a second. In fact, he literally looks like he’s smiling in his sleep. Forrest is a wild card. I haven’t known him my whole life like Elliot to know how he’s feeling. It brings an ache to my chest, because if we were bonded I’d know how he was feeling right now.
As quietly as I can, I slip out of the bed. I check Forrest’s room first. Maybe he wasn’t able to sleep, but all I’m greeted with when I open his door is a plain, exceptionally clean room. I softly pad down the stairs, going to the kitchen. He isn’t there either.
The house is large and I remember that he showed us where his workshop was but that we didn’t go in. I know it’s right by the garage, and when I walk in, there he is, goggles on his face as he drills a hole into a piece of wood.
He takes a moment to notice me; when I go to approach him he holds his palm to me to halt. He puts down his power tool and goggles, coming up to me and picking me up with one arm and sitting me down on a clean desk.
“There’s a lot of wood and debris on the floor. You don’t have shoes on. Did you have a hard time sleeping? Do you feel okay?” he asks, and I smile.
This big Alpha is always worrying about me and I wonder if he can get used to me returning the favor. I push back his hair and drag my hands down his chest.
“I woke up and you weren’t there,” I say and his face softens.
His large hands rub my thighs and he kisses the side of my face.
“I couldn’t sleep and I haven’t had a project to work on in a while,” he says and I glance over his shoulder to see what he’s working on.
“What is it?” I ask.
“The start of a bigger dining table for our pack,” he says.
I feel like I’m going to cry again and Forrest must sense it too, as he wraps his arms around me, soothingly rubbing his hands along my hair and back.
“Why couldn’t you sleep?” I ask him.
I swear there’s a slight tint of pink to his cheeks as his gaze looks down. I grab his waist and he kisses my cheek quickly, his hands gripping the table, boxing me in with his large arms.
“Elliot told me he thinks I should be pack lead.”
“He did?” I ask him with shocked, wide eyes.
That’s a big fucking deal. The hugest deal actually, but I’m trying to keep my cool right now.