A Pack for Autumn (Cozyverse, #1)

by Emilia Emerson

I am not a stalker. I am not a stalker. I am definitely not a stalker.

If you have to say this…you a stalker

I wasn’t harassing her, and how would I even know it was unwanted? Okay, she might have turned me down when I asked her out on a date—twice—but I wasn’t stalking her.

Sweet child lol

Olive deserved all the smiles in the world. I just wanted to be the one to give them to her.

I, on the other hand, coughed again, this time to cover my laughter. My girl was so fucking funny.

Sir you are dululu…DO IT AGAIN

My scent, however, was out full-force, declaring to all in the vicinity that I was completely obsessed with this omega. Olive stared straight ahead, but I thought I caught a tinge of pink on her cheeks. It gave me a tiny spark of hope that she wasn’t as unaffected by me as she acted.

A meow alerted me to the presence of Sir Cat, the fluffy orange, white, and brown stray who had been sitting by my front door the day I moved in.

You were given the privilege of being the caregiver of Sir Cat. Don’t fuck this up!

So then… why did it feel like my heart was breaking at the thought of Easton giving up on me?

The fantasy of forming a pack with someone like Easton, or even going on a date with him, was just that: a fantasy. I scrubbed a tear from my cheek and closed my eyes, pulling the blankets tighter around me.

Poor baby :(

The same scent I’d smelled six years ago, that had haunted me ever since.

My eyes were wild as I scanned the cafe again. I whipped my head to the door. She must have left. I would follow her scent until I tracked her down and convinced her that she was mine, ours.

“I just want to get to know her better,” I said. Liar liar liar my alpha chanted, but it wasn’t like I could say Olive is mine even though she doesn’t know it yet and I’m going to bite her and fuck her and take care of her forever.

“You okay, Olive?” I asked. Tell me what’s wrong, baby. I’ll fix it for you.

His head turned, glowing eyes fixed on mine. Not the alphas. Not the alphas. I tried to send the message to him telepathically. An expression came over him that could only be described as smug. He turned back to the cards and lifted a decisive paw up to Option B. Moonlight Restoration. My heart pounded as betrayal washed through me. It was ridiculous to feel this way—Felix was a cat.

WE DONT DISRESPECT FELIX !!

“I know you don’t need a knight to rescue you, but just let me pretend. It will make me feel a lot better to know you got home safely.” That sounded good, right? Because what I actually wanted to say was, how about I follow you around at all times and implant a tracker under your skin just in case we ever get separated?

I turned around to leave when I caught a hint of it on the wind—pumpkin spice. I whirled back around, my heart pounding so hard I could barely stay upright. She was here. The omega from all those years ago. And she was staring at me. A strangled sound I was sure I had never made before emerged from me, and she bit her lip, looking anxious. Fuck. I needed to get my shit together. Put her at ease.

God, if I had more than one functioning brain cell in her presence, this would have been obvious. Everything was making sense now. Olive was the woman Easton had been secretly obsessed with, the reason he’d applied for this job. I’m sure he was convinced we would all fall in love with Olive the moment we met her, and he would be fucking correct.

I could picture her leaping into the ocean and turning into a mermaid if she got overwhelmed. And I’d fucking follow her. Even if it meant drowning.

His scent was all pine and bonfire, earthy and masculine like the alpha himself. I’d had to stop myself from climbing into his big lap and running my hand through the strands of blond hair escaping his bun. He’d made me feel instantly safe.

I cleared my throat. “It was nice meeting you.” And then I fucking fled like a coward.

You bitch!!!!!!

“Felix ran away with our lunch,” Lars said, shaking his head. “He’s been acting so weird lately.”

FELIX TO THE RESCUE!!!

I clutched at my chest. How could I risk it, giving so much of myself to another person when I could lose them, too? I just… I couldn’t. Even though my cowardice would cost me everything.

I think that’s a stupid reason not to go for her but I mean it’s your happiness jackass

I thought the tights were cute, but did they too obviously shout, Hello, I’m fishing for dick?

He lowered his forehead to mine. “Please, Olive, I’m begging you. Put me out of my misery. Just one kiss, one taste of your sweetness. I won’t survive without it.” My lips parted and I brushed my cheek against his, his stubble rubbing against my skin. My breath hitched. Was I dreaming? Well, if this was a dream, I might as well take advantage. “Yes,” I murmured. “Easton, yes.”

Lars tightened his hold on my hair, tugging slightly to break our kiss. I whined, and he chuckled. “Our little needy omega. What should we do with her, Easton?” “I say we strip her down right here and make her come on our cocks before filling her up. Preferably more than once.”

His hands followed the trail of Easton’s kisses, cupping and squeezing. “I love this,” he moaned, hand on my stomach. I squirmed a bit, but he just held me tighter. “You are a fucking goddess.” He kissed the spot behind my ear, and I squirmed again, but not out of self-consciousness this time.

“Easton,” I whined. “I want to memorize everything about you. I want to know the shape of you, the feel of you. You are my obsession, Olive.”

Olive Olive Olive. I dipped my head down to her neck and scent-marked her. Intellectually, I knew she was already covered in my scent, but I wanted the entire world to know that Olive was mine. Ours.

“I hid this so Felix wouldn’t get it this time, but I’ve got lunch for all of us.” Olive snorted out a laugh, and I looked down to see that her eyes were open. “Oh, you thought that was funny, did you?” Easton asked. She sat up more fully, and I had to stop myself from pulling her flush against me. Instead, I helped her maneuver so her back was to my chest, making sure she was still covered by the blanket. “Felix was doing me a favor.”

“Glad Lars’s monster cock didn’t scare you off.” I reached out to smack him on the head, but he dodged me. “Mmm, not at all.” Olive froze before twisting to face me. “Wait, are you still naked?” I grunted. “I had a very tired omega who wouldn’t let me put her down.” She let out a little squeak and moved to get off my lap. I tightened my hold on her. “Where do you think you’re going?” “I want to see,” she said, shocking me even further. “What?” I spluttered. “I didn’t get to see before,” she whined, her omega coming to the fore. “You were behind me.” Her eyes were fixed on my blanket-covered crotch like she was hoping to develop x-ray vision. “Yeah, Lars.” Easton leaned back against the wall with a shit-eating grin. “Give us a little show.”

“I’ve got it under control.” “What do you mean?” His nose skated down the side of my face until he was pressed against my neck, scent-marking me. “Does this have anything to do with pickles?” I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him close. “Maybe. My plan for revenge.” He pressed me even harder against the wall. It was hard to take a breath, but I didn’t mind. I would be happy to be crushed by Lars’s body any time of day. “If you need more ideas for your revenge scheme, let me know. I’ve lived with Finn for many years. But sweetheart, please give him a chance. Give us a chance.” I ran my fingers through his beard. “Please don’t break my heart,” I whispered. “Your heart is safe with me. I promise.”

“So beautiful, so gorgeous. Fuck, I’m so damn lucky.” I was a boneless heap, my limbs weak from pleasure. Lars pulled out of me, his eyes fixed on mine as he brought his fingers to his lips and sucked them into his mouth. A fresh burst of slick drenched my underwear at the look of pleasure on his face. “Be a good girl tonight.” He patted my pussy. “And no touching yourself until we’re back.” I took a sharp breath. “What?” “This pussy is just for us to play with.” He gave me a stern look and kissed my forehead. “Now, get inside, sweetheart. Do you have food for dinner?” I nodded, still a bit stunned. “What a good girl. Make sure you eat a nice big meal. You worked hard today.”

“Finn, honey, Fredrik didn’t leave you. He died. He had lived a long, full life, and his body gave out.” “But he knew it was coming,” I spit out. “You just said he could sense it.” “He probably could. But honey, he didn’t leave you alone. He left you with your family. Those two over there are your family. You’re not alone. Not if you don’t want to be.” She patted my cheek and stood up. “Grief can make us hide within ourselves, but Fredrik was never one to run away from suffering or pain or love.”

“Aren’t you worried they’ll get tired of you? That they’ll think it’s all too much work?” “Olive,” Rosie said, her eyes soft. “When you find the right alphas, they’ll never make you feel like you’re too much because you won’t be. You’ll be just enough for each other. If they think you’re too much work, they’re not the right alphas for you.”

“Are you sure?” she asked, chewing her lip. “Are you sure you want… me?”

She's breaking my heart!

But Lars said we shouldn’t pressure her and to let her come to us. Well, just goes to show how much Lars knows. The more space we gave Olive, the more she doubted us. No more space.

I wasn’t sure why I was being so grouchy—that was usually Finn’s territory—but it had been excruciating to leave Olive yesterday. I wanted to sleep in her bed, carry her around so her feet never had to touch the ground, and make sure she ate and got as many orgasms as she needed. Now that she was back in my arms, I didn’t think I had the strength to let her go.

My alpha was urging me to throw Olive over my shoulder and drive however long it took to find a 24/7 furniture store and fix this. Or I’d take her to my wood shop and fucking make her furniture tonight. I also hadn’t missed that she’d been about to say she hadn’t had the money for furniture. Hmm. That would be tricky. How was I going to convince my Olive to let me furnish her house?

“Olive, baby, if you’re not comfortable inviting me in, that is absolutely fine. We can go to my house or”—and I spoke these words through gritted teeth—“end the night here.” A startled laugh burst from Olive, and it was the best fucking sound. “You sound so angry at the idea of ending the night.” “Yeah, well, I’m greedy with you. I want all your time—every single second of it.” She ran her fingers through my hair. “My stalker.” “Yours, baby.”

“Want to come into my nest, alpha?” “Fuck yes, sunshine.”

I swore as the heat of her surrounded me, and I had to close my eyes and grit my teeth to keep from coming. Olive giggled. “You okay, there?” I opened my eyes and saw my omega’s amused expression. “Just trying not to embarrass myself,” I choked out. She ran her fingers through my hair again. “You won’t, Easton. You’ve already made me feel so good, and now I need you to move.” I wasn’t about to make her beg.

“You’re amazing.” “You are.” She traced her fingers down my chest. “Thanks for seeing me, Easton. For not letting me push you away.”

“Alphas,” she said with an eye roll. “It’s just the male ones that are obnoxious,” Harper shouted from the couch. Lars scrubbed his hand down his face. “I’m literally here fixing your wiring for free.” “As you should,” Jo said.

He chuckled, the sound rumbling through his chest. “You feeling a little possessive, sweetheart?” I nipped his neck. “Maybe.” “Good.” And then he captured my lips in a kiss, his tongue pressing against mine. His lips were so soft in contrast to the slightly scratchy texture of his beard. I wanted to feel him all over my skin. The sound of a throat clearing made us break apart. “I was sent to stop you from fucking in the kitchen,” Lucy said.

His strong hands ran up and down my back, soothing me. “That’s it, pretty girl. You were absolutely perfect.”

Pleasure Dom for sure

“Fuck,” Finn gasped. His arms banded tightly around me, hugging me to his chest, shielding me. “My naughty girl, being all greedy and taking your alpha’s knot.” “Mine,” I said, scent-marking his neck. Finn’s laugh vibrated against my cheek. “That’s right, sweet girl. All yours.”

I turned around to see my alphas still on shore but inching closer to the water. “I don’t think this is safe,” Finn said. “Come back here, Olive. You’ll get sick.” He injected his voice with that stern tone that made slick pour down my thigh, but I just fell back in the water on my back, the waves cooling my overheated skin. “I guess no one wants a blow job!” I called out. “Wait, what?” Easton took a few clumsy steps into the water, swearing copiously as a wave snuck up on him and drenched his side. “First alpha to come here gets a blow job.” I’d never seen anyone move faster. Lars, Finn, and Easton ran into the waves. Lars shoved Finn, who fell back and started shouting about a red card, and Easton seemed to fall over his own feet and crash into the water. Tears streamed down my face from laughter, and then Lars’s strong arms were around me, picking me up.

“And are you okay as long as you take the medication?” he asked. Ughh. Damn them for having follow-up questions. “Pretty much.” My voice came out in the most unconvincing high-pitched squeak I’d ever heard. There was silence in the kitchen, and then all of us burst out laughing. Lars put his arm around me, tucking me into his side. “At least we know you’re a shit liar.”

“You did so well, little omega.” “I’ve been practicing,” she said, cheeks flushed. My heart sped up. “Practicing?” I growled. “With a dildo,” she clarified. The growl in my chest intensified. “Stay right there.” I got out of the truck and checked our surroundings. Our area of the parking lot was still empty, and my body would shield anyone’s view of my omega. Being away from her for the few seconds it took for me to get to her door was too long. Possessiveness surged through me as I flung the passenger door open. Big brown eyes met mine. I leaned down and collared her throat with my hand. “You need a cock to practice on, you come get me, sweetheart. Understand?” Her lips parted, and I pressed my thumb inside her mouth. She immediately started sucking on it as she nodded her head.

I…I love!

Part of me wished we had stayed at home today so I could fuck her all day long, but she deserved to be taken out on dates and spoiled.

“You can’t leave me like this,” she whimpered. I lifted her out of the truck, making sure her body was pressed against mine. “I can.” I fisted her hair, tilting her head back. “I want you to be reminded with every step that your pussy is all pink and puffy and dripping because of me.” My chest rumbled, and Olive whined. I gently patted her ass. “Come on, sweetheart. Let’s get some books.”

…YESSSSSSS