Page 36 of A Snowy Escape

“Nah,” he says. “Everybody looks out for each other up here. It was nothing.” He almost looks shy with the smile that tips his lips as his mess of brownish-black hair falls over his forehead.

Lawson leans close to me, wrapping his arm around the back of my chair. “You’ve barely nibbled at your breakfast, and you didn’t eat much yesterday while the power was out. Are you feeling okay?”

“I’m good.” I tilt my face until our eyes meet. It’s a little overwhelming to be having breakfast with three alphas that I barely know, and I didn’t want to overdo it and risk getting a stomachache. “You’re a great caregiver. Has anyone ever told you that?”

Lawson’s citrus and pine scent gets easier to pick out, and my system screams to lean into him even farther.

“That was a polite way to say it,” Luka chimes in. “I’ve always just called him a bossy dick.”

“My instincts find it very reassuring.” I chuckle, bumping my shoulder against Lawson’s. “I’ll eat a little more, but I’m not really a breakfast person.”

I make a point of picking up my fork and grabbing a bite of the hash browns.

Am I being too flirtatious?

I was always taught that alphas pursue omegas.

Why aren’t they chasing me?

Ugh.

Maybe I’m expecting too much.

They did say that I could stick around.

* * *

Luka and Bryant leave to check on their respective businesses, and I’m once again left with Lawson.

A lump forms in my throat as I realize he’s probably about to leave too.

Omegas get attached easily, but this is kinda ridiculous.

The man in question sits on the floor next to the dogs. While I’m only a few feet away on the couch, I have the most random urge to slither down to the floor so I can be next to him.

Omega instincts are so out of pocket.

I had no idea how strong the pull would be with a scent match.

I ache to be close to him, and I want him to be soothed by my presence too. Basically, I want him to be forced to snuggle me like he did when the heat was out.

Although I’m supposed to have a month left before my next heat hits, I’m prepared. I went to an omega clinic while I was staying with Tommy. I’ve had my IUD since before I moved up here to be with him, but I saw a new doctor who gave me a prescription for suppressants. The shitty part is that they have to be started right after a heat ends. That, or I can start them the first day my heat starts.

The medication should help make it not as severe, but I will likely have some breakthrough symptoms.

Basically, I’ll feel like crap for a week.

Hopefully it won’t be completely unbearable, though.

Lawson chuckles as both dogs try to climb into his lap.

Shadow makes that weird noise that isn’t a growl or a whine. He also smacks Echo in the face with his paw. I’m not an animal expert, but I think he’s trying to tell her to stop taking his human’s attention.

“All right, enough,” Lawson says, chuckling. “You can share my affection for a few more minutes.”

I pat my thigh. “Come on, Echo. Stop being a pain.”

She doesn’t even bother looking at me.