Page 78 of Forget me Knot
“You’re moving in with us,” he states without any pleasantries.
“Excuse me?” I ask with a raised eyebrow.
“You heard me. You are moving into the farmhouse with us. Today.”
“Am I now?”
“Yes. You are our omega, and we need to keep you safe and protected. We cannot do that if you are a million miles away and not even mated to us yet.”
“Wow. Ouch,” Jack mutters.
“I’m hardly a million miles away!” I burst out, getting a bit annoyed with his caveman attitude.
“No? Fucking feels like it when you’re stuck behind a tractor going two miles an hour. How are we meant to get to you in an emergency?”
I sigh, rubbing my temples, not even sure how to react to this. Yes, I want them and want to mate with and live with them in that gorgeous farmhouse, but the way he’s gone about this is a bit of a downer. “What about my shop?”
Max’s eyes soften slightly, but he’s not backing down. “I know I’ve been an arsehole about it, and we’ll work something out for the shop, but you’re too important to us, Lily. I’m worried sick something will happen to you when we aren’t there, and we can’t all stay here indefinitely. It’s not practical.”
Well, I can’t argue with that. My flat was not built for three massive alphas to share with an average-sized omega squashed in for good measure.
“Max,” Jack begins slowly, “you can’t bulldoze her into this. We need a plan that works for everyone.”
Max folds his arms and stares at the floor for a moment before looking back up at me. “Lily, please do this for me. I need to know you’re safe.”
“I get that, and I appreciate it, but I need to run my shop as well. What do you propose happens when none of you can be here, and I have to work?”
“You move your shop to the farmhouse,” Max says quickly. “There is a barn with electricity and lighting. It could be perfect.”
“But everyone knows I’m here.”
“And soon, everyone will know you’re there.”
“You’re being unreasonable!”
His blue eyes cloud over, and his face goes dark. “Am I?” he asks, striding forward. “Am I being unreasonable, Lily, to want you safe and with us? I want to know where you are every second of every day so that I know you are safe.”
“Max, you can’t know that, and you can’t say that to me. How do you think that makes me feel?”
Jack shifts uncomfortably next to him but says nothing. I can see just by looking at his face that he actually agrees with Max.
I take a deep breath, feeling the tension in the air. It’s hard to argue against their protectiveness. “Look, I get it. You’re worried. But you’re going about this all wrong. You can’t just dictate my life. We need to find a compromise.”
“There is no compromise when it comes to your safety. If you are here, you are in danger from Nigel and the Trial scouts finding you. If Emily was going to be sold, that means they are here, in the area, actively looking for unmated omegas. If they happen to find you by chance or whatever, then what? I know how I sound, Lily. I do. I sound like a crazed maniac who wants to lock you up in a tower, but that’s not what I mean.”
“I know,” I say softly because I know his words are true, and he has a point. I’ve lived the last five years scared that I will be found and dragged back. I don’t even really know why I’m arguing with him, but at the same time, I do. He has barged in here and started throwing orders around like my feelings don’t matter.
Max crosses over to me and takes my hands. “Lily, I’m sorry. I’ve acted like a real wanker, and I didn’t mean to. I was nervous about asking you and that makes me brusque.”
“No shit,” I mumble, but throw him a half-smile. “How about you back up a bit and actually ask me what you came here toaskme?”
He grins. “Okay, I can do that. Lily, would you do us the very great honour of moving in with Jack, Sam and me at our farmhouse and maybe consider moving your shop there as well? I am quitting the bank, I’ve already handed in my notice on the way over here. I’m going to write books and follow my passion like all of you are doing. I’ll be at home all the time, and you will be safe.”
Startled, I stare at him wide-eyed. “You want to write books?”
He nods shyly. “I’ve always wanted to. Why not just do it?”
“Why not indeed,” I say and grin at him. “That’s amazing, Max. I’m glad you’re doing this, and I accept your offer to move in with you now that you have left it to me to decide and have not just demanded it of me. I can be a bit stubborn and telling me to do something often leads to me doing what’s wrong for me.”
