Safe Haven

ChapterSix

Briar

My eyes burned as I stared at the screen, scrolling through endless marketing jobs. The issue was that most of them wanted in-person interviews and consultations, meaning they’d take one look at me and rescind their offers.

“This is useless,” I groaned, banging my head against the table. It wasn’t hard, but Beck still made a noise and rushed around to put his hand between me and the tabletop.

“Jesus, woman,” he grunted, and a hint of worry hit me, mixing with his sandalwood.

Miles and Beckham had been spending the last few hours scouring website after website with me. One of us would call out a job that might work, then something would fucking ruin it. From in-person events, to insane requirements, to omegas requiring their alpha’s approval to even apply. Beckham had sweetly pointed out that I could have gotten the approval from any of their alphas, or Ellis at least, but I’d refused on principle alone. Clearly, Miles agreed because I’d earned a fist bump.

I’d only been here a few days, and we’d already settled into a routine. Or at least the omegas and I had. Wells and Tallon hadn’t shown their faces much, but the others assured me that was just Wells’ style, and Tallon… well, yeah. That was still going about as well as it had started. Ellis had kept his distance as well, but he at least showed his face at meals. He was friendly, almost formally so. Graham was acting like me being here was no big deal, and he tried to make sure I was comfortable. It was nice having a protector on my side, someone outside of Liam.

“What is it that you guys do?” I asked after another round of us silently scrolling through sites. They were amazing for helping me in the first place, but I worried that they were wasting time here when they had their own jobs.

“The company is a management firm. Graham and Ellis find our clients. They assess what they need, then they fix it, so we usually help them improve their marketing, management, and security systems. The problem could be small things like overpriced office equipment or big things like needing to rethink their entire HR teams,” Beckham summarized. “My focus is on market research. Miles helps with accounting and merchandise.”

“That’s cool. I didn't even know that was a thing,” I admitted. “So you’re working behind the scenes to make these companies thrive?”

“Exactly. The nice thing is that we do it for companies of all sizes, so it’s not like we’re just giving corporate America a boost to further monopolize markets. Graham has morals, so he’s turned shady companies down on principle alone,” Miles said proudly. I loved that he held his alpha with such respect.

Speak of the devil. As if summoned, Graham came through the main room in some kind of daze.

“What’s going on here?” He asked as he walked by, rubbing at his temples like he was fighting off a migraine. Concern dipped down the corner of my lips as I watched him squint and blink against the light.

Without thinking, I went over to him, gently settling my hands on the sides of his face.

“Do you mind if I help?” He raised one eyebrow in confusion, and I smirked. “My brother got migraines at least once a week from studying. Med school is a bitch.”

He snorted at my words but nodded. My fingers reached for his temples, exerting just the right amount of pressure before I began to massage in slow circles. Just like Liam always had, his body slowly relaxed, tension draining from him limb by limb until he swayed on his feet, needing to grip the counter for support. I continued on for two minutes, breathing in his spiced rum scent before returning to my seat like nothing had happened. He silently sagged against the counter for a moment while Beckham and Miles gave me curious glances that spoke more than any words could have.

“Damn,” Graham finally said with a relieved sigh. “I don’t know what kind of witchcraft you possess, omega, but that was impressive.” He rolled out his shoulders and gave me a smirk that made my breath catch in my throat. I’d thought he was handsome before, but seeing him like this, relaxed and a bit disheveled, that gray scruff covering his chin and his eyes studying me with a bit of awe, was a whole new level.

Not your pack.

The familiar mantra played in my head, so I forced myself to look away and focus back on my own screen.

“What are you guys working on?” he asked again, his voice gentle this time.

Miles glanced up at his alpha. “Seeing if we can find her an online position.”

Graham frowned. “You’re a stubborn one, aren’t you?”

“It’s like you haven’t met sassy omegas before.” Miles grinned mischievously, his blue eyes sparkling.

“Don’t make me spank your ass, Miles. I know how to torture you,” he warned. There was heat behind it, and fuck… If my pussy didn’t throb in anticipation, wishing I could be a fly on the wall. They all stiffened, and I realized that I wasn’t keeping my thoughts to myself. Shit.

“Well, it seems someone doesn’t mind that idea,” Graham noted, his voice a bit huskier now.

Temporary hookups will just end in pain,I reminded myself. A blush creeped over my neck and cheeks, and I took measured breaths until I could get the two of them out of my head and settle my scent.

The sound of a slamming door cut off the awkward moment stretching out between us, and I’d never been more thankful for the scowling mountain of a man walking into the room. This time, he had a shirt on, stretched to its limits by his huge muscles.

“What the hell are you up to?” Wells accused, eyes on Miles. He hadn’t lost his smirk yet, a dead giveaway he was ready to cause trouble.

“Nothing!” Miles defended. “I’m merely helping our new roommate here find an online marketing position.”

“It’s proving harder than we expected,” Beckham admitted. “You forget the fucked up rules these big companies have when you’ve been off the job market for a while.” He was frowning seriously enough that I reached out, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze. Wells made a noise, and I jumped, tucking my hands in my lap.

“Sorry,” I mumbled. Everything in me wanted to go hide in my room again, but I refused to let myself. This timid side wasn’t me, and I didn’t know why I was acting like this. Could pregnancy hormones give you a personality change, or was this residual issues from being exiled by my family?

“Hey, don’t apologize,” Beckham said. I gave him a small smile before a round of intense whispers came from the kitchen where Graham was hissing at Wells. After a few seconds, Wells grunted and walked away, mumbling about trouble under his breath.