Page 52 of When She Needs Them Most

Jesus fucking Christ. She’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.

“Yeah, sweetheart.” Like I could deny her anything…except space from me.

I’m going to need her to get on board with the fact she’s found her pack before I do something stupid, like kidnap her ass and refuse to let her leave.

My lips push against hers, and my hand tightens on her ass. She smells strongly of Arden and Kase. A low growl rattles out of my chest. My instincts ache to cover her in my scent too, but that’ll have to wait until I’m clean.

If we play our cards right, she’ll smell like me and my packmates all the time. Her scent will hold tinges of ours once she’s permanently claimed. And seeing my mating bite marring her perfect skin will be damn satisfying.

A physical warning to the rest of the world that she’s taken.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Lincoln

My head tilts as I make my way into the nest. It’s a den style, with three steps up to the platform the mattress is on. The bathroom is right next door, and both rooms are only accessible through the primary suite. I vaguely wonder if Arden managed to talk her into moving into the main bedroom. It would make things easier, since having her downstairs isn’t my favorite.

The curtain is pulled closed, and I make it a covert mission as I sneak up the carpeted steps. Chelsea is busy grumbling about something under her breath, and I pull the curtain.

She’s on all fours in the same borrowed T-shirt and sweats I saw her in before my shower. She’s busy shoving something under the row of top pillows. Arden’s shirt is large enough that it hangs around her front, making it possible to see the bottom curve of the baby belly. It’s unreal how it sticks out several inches on either side of her body.

Her hips wiggle, and she buries her nose in the pillow, letting out a very omega-like coo. It’s basically the contented sound omegas produce when they’re happy, similar to the way alphas purr.

“Can I climb in here?” I ask, tugging the curtain closed behind me.

“Yeah.” She peeks at me over her shoulder, and she’s so goddamn cute that a ridiculous smile crosses my face.

I take the carpeted steps and slide around to the end table beside the bed before dropping my phone next to hers and climbing onto the mattress.

We’ve never bothered trying to be matched, but it’s crazy how much having an omega around seems to make me more fulfilled. I’m glad I never knew what we were missing, or I might have pushed harder. Then we might have met someone else, and I’m fucking grateful we didn’t go that route.

Chelsea rolls over and snuggles into me. Her cold nose dances around my skin as I pull her closer with a hand on her ass. “Mmm, I like the smell of your body wash. Not as much as your natural scent, but it complements your smell.”

“Thanks.” I chuckle, teasing my hand over her hip. “How did your appointment go?”

“Good,” she says. “Everything was fine. The doctor seemed to be in a hurry, but Arden handled it well, and I got all my questions answered. Only, I got a call from my old neighbor a few minutes ago. She’s one of the few people that I gave my new phone number to. I didn’t answer, but she left a voicemail.”

“And?”

“I’m not positive, but it sounds like a package was delivered to my old apartment. It sat outside the door for a few days, but she took it inside. She asked if she should mark it for return to sender or forward it to me.”

“Did you forward your mail?” I ask.

“No.” She shakes her head. “I don’t think I ordered anything, though.”

“Well, it’s not late. Why don’t you give her a call, and I’ll help walk you through what to do?” I bend and brush a kiss overthe top of her head. “We can always have it sent to the office, if you’re concerned it might be from the guy who was bothering you.”

“Okay, will you hand me my phone? I am kinda wondering what it could be. I purposely didn’t give anyone my new address.”

I snag the phone, handing it over.

She dials and waits. A woman’s voice answers, and Chelsea makes small talk, asking how she’s been.

Once the conversation veers toward the package, I whisper, “Can you put it on speaker?”

She nods, pulling the phone from her ear and clicking the speakerphone button.

“I didn’t, like, steal your package or anything, but I did bring it in because I didn’t want anyone else to be tempted.”

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