Page 50 of All Packed Up

Nic shook his head. “We don’t need to do that, I swear. We’re so over it’s not even up for discussion, and there’s no need to complicate this whole mess more than it already is.”

Wendy deflated a little, and Nic wished his tone had been less sharp. But he wasn’t going to make themselves more of a burden than necessary. And Griffith was already loaning them his home.

Besides, it wouldn’t work. After everything that had happened, Nic wouldn’t even be surprised if Grif hated him. There was no jealousy left, at least not for him.

“Let’s just… try to stay out of his way,” Nic suggested.

“Fat chance!” Wendy argued. “Have you seen this property? I want to explore, and so does Knuckles,” she said, pointing to the cat.

The black cat pawed at the door as if to echo her claim.

“Maybe he just needs to use the litter box,” he offered, pointing to the box still filled with his bed and other items.

“Nic!” she groaned dramatically, but crossed the room to unpack all the cat’s things.

“Let’s settle in first, and then we can explore fresh tomorrow. Aren’t you tired?”

“Strangely, no,” Wendy said, furrowing her brow.

And yet after Nic took on the job of organizing their things, Wendy organized the nest by piling blanket after blanket on top of the air mattress and curled right up.

“Not tired, huh?” he asked, voice tapering off into the darkness.

“Shut up,” she mumbled and scooted over to him to lay her head on his arm. “I’ll deal with you tomorrow.”

Nic chuckled and stroked his hand along her back. As her breathing evened out, Nic couldn’t stop his mind from running circles around itself.

Grif still looked as good as ever.

It made him look less dangerous somehow, but Nic had faith he could put anyone in their place if needed.

Nic tried not to think about how hot that was.

Honestly, Nic tried not to think about a lot of things. Like how much he liked feeling Wendy against him.

And how Griffith was likely cuddled up alone.

Well, Nic amended. He probably had Daisy in the bed, like he’d always promised.

“The trouble of finding an omega is too much,” Griffith used to say. “Plus, what am I gonna offer them? Boxing lessons?”

“Hey, you never know, you might find an omega who likes that kind of thing.”

Griffith snorted. “Shut up.”

“What? You never know…”

“I know that I’ll be just fine on the farm, where Daisy can run around all she wants. Besides, who needs an omega when I have you to annoy me?”

“You’re so lame,” Nic scoffed with a roll of his eyes.

And here Grif was, on the farm and all alone. After all these years, the alpha had to have changed his mind. He needed an omega, even if he didn’t know it.

And Wendy?

He stared down at her, the soft curve of her cheek and silky hair spilling across the bed, partly obscuring the bite mark.

She deserved an alpha who would treat her with love.