~~

Star

~~

I never thought it was possible to be this happy. I never expected to see my cousins ever again. And I never expected to meet an Alpha who was so dedicated to making other people happy. But just the feeling of it all, the knowledge of it, made me want to smile. And it made me want to trust Artem even more. I was starting to, slowly.

I spent all day on Saturday with my cousins. I didn’t talk while Artem was around, and they asked me about it later. I told them it was because he was an Alpha and I was still scared.

That seemed to have surprised them for some reason. Apparently, they thought I was Artem’s mate as well. They told me that mate bonds were special, and really good. They had just found out that day, at least Bailey and Ella did as they had mated with Chay and Kent.

I was kind of happy to hear that my family was joining Artem and Chay’s. They were good people and I didn’t want to leave them at all. I felt comfortable here, safe here. This was the first place I had ever felt safe in my entire life.

But I didn’t think it could last forever, not really. I couldn’t stay here because no matter what they thought, I wasn’t Artem’s mate. I couldn’t be. I didn’t feel anything like what they said they felt. Maybe Artem only said I was his mate so he could protect me.

That was the more likely situation. He needed to have an excuse for why he saved me. If he told them I was his mate then that gave him a reason. I just hoped nothing bad would happen when people find out he lied about it all.

Sunday, my cousins were taking the time to settle in. Not to mention that Bailey and Ella wanted to get to know their new mates. They had spent all of the first day with me after all, and if the mate bond was that strong, then I could understand their desire to be with their other half.

But, this left Reed and me with nothing to do. That is, until Artem knocked on my door and asked to come into my room.

I walked over to my door, slowly, and opened it apprehensively. Standing next to Artem was Reed, both were looking happy.

“Hi Star.” Artem grinned at me.

“Hey Starry.” Reed laughed as he grinned at me.

[Hi] I wrote the word again.

“I wanted to ask you to come into the city with me.” I felt the shock hit me and I know my face was reflecting it.

“Don’t worry.” Reed cut in. “I’m going too.” His words didn’t make me stop worrying though.

[Where are we going?] I asked them on my note pad, agreeing to go even though I was scared stiff.

“I want to go to a bakery. I want to pick out a cake to celebrate the new mated pairs and just your cousins being here.” Artem was grinning happily because I had agreed to go. “I am bringing Morgan and Toby as well. We will have lots of people to protect you.”

I couldn’t help but smile at his words. He was doing his best to make me feel comfortable and safe. He really was a great guy.

It didn’t take long for us to reach the city. It had felt longer before, when we went to eat, probably because I had spent the entire ride staring at my feet. But this time, I was looking out the window. It was also the first time that I was able to pinpoint where in the world I was.

As we drove into the city I saw the sign that read CRESCENT CITY CALIFORNIA. So, that helped me to know a little bit about my surroundings, not that I knew anything about the area, but knowing where I was actually helped me to feel a little better.

I had looked out the window on the way home yesterday, and so I had seen the welcome sign for the village, just barely. It was hidden behind an overgrown bush and it was like no one wanted people to see it. Also, the main road didn’t seem to go into town, you had to turn off the major street and go onto the narrower roads that wound through the trees. It looked like a confusing place to live.

The name of this little village of ours was Gem Creek, and it had a population of less than five hundred people, according to the sign. Four hundred and sixty-two to be exact. But who really knew how many, if they didn’t count the persecuted and abused omegas.

Crescent City (now I understood why they just said the city all the time) was the only actual city in the county, according to Toby who was being friendly and chatting with me on the way to the shop. There were a lot of people who went to the city to work and to buy just about everything. It’s a good thing it was only about a half an hour away.

“Hey Starry, why don’t you talk to Artem?” Reed asked me as I stared out the window. I looked at the back of the man in question’s head nervously before I wrote out my answer.

[I probably will soon, but it’s kind of cute to watch him pout over me not talking to him]

“That’s cold, and funny.” He chuckled as he read the note. “Don’t make him wait too long.” He instructed before we fell back into silence.

I tried to pay attention to the roads that Artem was taking, but he was maneuvering so fast that I just couldn’t pay enough attention. Before I knew it, he was coming to a stop in front of a cute little store.

The front of the store was blue with pink shutters and yellow awnings over the windows. There were lacy curtains in the windows and a little bell over the door. It was really cute, and super girly. The name of the shop was The Three Tiers.

Artem was the first one inside, followed by me. The first thing I saw inside was a small sitting area with little white tables and chairs. Next, I saw a counter filled with yummy looking cakes and desserts. And last, I saw three women who all looked similar yet different.

All three women were about the same height, I’d say five-foot nine maybe, just a little taller than me. They all had the same crystal green eyes that looked to be shining in the light from the shop. They all had a slim build with slightly strong looking arms and a small waist. They all had the same creamy complexion. But where they differed was the hair color, one was a bright blonde, the other a medium brown, and the last a coppery red. Another difference was the style they seemed to dress in. The blonde was a little more sporty and less feminine, the brunette was kind of laid back, and the red head was super feminine. They had to be sisters.

“Artem!” They all three called out when they saw him. They all dropped what they were doing in an instant and started running toward him. However, they stopped when the bell rang and the next three people walked in.

“Huh?” The collective gasp of six people was kind of unsettling.

It appeared that all three women were now staring excitedly at the three men who had just come inside. Reed, Toby, and Morgan. The three men, likewise, were gaping at the women. Here were three men not related at all but they looked identical in that moment.

“SERIOUSLY?” I heard Artem laughing as he said that one word. I just looked at them all, confused. The three girls who had been running toward the Alpha were now slowly moving toward the men as they, too, walked slowly forward.

Toby came to a stop in front of the laid back brunette, a grin on both of their faces. Morgan was standing with the red head. And Reed, my cousin, was grinning like a fool with the blonde.

“Well, I guess I need to make introductions again.” Artem was still laughing. “Toby, that is my cousin Criztie, she was named after my aunt who bought me the dangerous books. Morgan, that is my cousin Dakotah. And Reed, that is my cousin Sydney. They are the Tiernan triplets, and they own this bakery.”

I was still confused so I looked up at Artem with a question in my eyes. He laughed again and smiled at me, putting his hand lightly on my shoulder.

“They’ve mated.” He was happy, I could tell. “And I think it’s because of you. You’ve brought so much love into our group.”

[I didn’t do anything] I was perplexed by his words.

“You didn’t have to. Just you being there brought love and joy into our house. We’re all happy that you’re with us.” I blushed at his words.

[No one has ever been happy to have me around before] I felt the tears begin to sting my eyes.

“I’m happy you’re here, all of us are.” He wrapped his arms around me then, hugging me gently. I didn’t hate the feeling. Actually his hug was nicer than Chay’s, it made me feel safe and warm, not to mention protected. What was this feeling I was having from that hug though? It was confusing.