Today was the day. My beater was packed with my minimal belongings. I didn’t have much when I came to Omega House three years ago, and I had made a concerted effort to donate an item every time I bought something new. It worked out well for both myself and the residents. I’d had a period of my life where my clothes meant more to me than they should and was glad I outgrew that. I still liked to look good, but having fifty choices each morning no longer felt important.

Climbing into my car after a far too tearful goodbye filled with promises to stay in touch was more difficult than I imaged. The new adventure before me became my beacon as I drove out of the city. I knew the general location of my new home but had never actually been there. I pictured it with lots of trees and flowers. Who knew, maybe I was right.

Wyatt and I had talked on the phone a few times since the interview. The first call was very practical: when will you arrive, what are you bringing, do you want a new bed, that kind of thing. The second call became a bit more personal. What are your favorite foods, are there any particular books you want to have around for reading time, which he knew from my interview was my favorite thing. By the last phone call, it felt almost talking to a friend. How was your day? Do you have anything coming up in your courses? That kind of thing.

At first, I thought it odd, but with each call I felt more and more at ease with Wyatt. That could only help with Chloe’s adjustment. Not only was she losing her grandmother figure who helped raise her, she was also getting a live-in nanny. That was a whole lotta change for anyone, especially someone as young as she was.

Not going to lie, I looked forward to his calls, hearing about an animal he helped, something Chloe did that was adorable or, in some cases, not, what he had for dinner. I needed to be careful, because the more I knew him the more I liked him and while that might foster a good working relationship, it could also destroy one, especially if I got the same physical reaction from him as I did the first time we met.

I took a chance and talked to Naheed about it. He was an alpha but not in the crazy need to be in control asshole way some alphas got when in positions of power, and holding the purse string was power, even if you never knew it from talking to him. He reassured me that being around so many omegas and so few alphas for so long would make his scent call to me more than if I was in a ‘normal’ job.

He also suggested I take heat suppressants. I embarrassingly admitted that I already did. If I had my way, I’d never have a heat again. Who needs a blasted heat if nothing could ever come of it? And double bonus, heat ends quickly if you get knocked up and drags on if you don’t. That was the worst of it. The heat suppressants I currently took, seemed to work better than the last ones, but it still wasn’t great. I had a month and a half to worry about it and what it might mean for my job.

Wyatt knew I was an omega going in, so heat was to be expected. With his crazy schedule and all, I hadn’t stopped to think about what that would look like. The suppressants were good, but far from great. I still had a solid two days I needed to be alone and they made me grumpy as shit for a full week afterward. I guess we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.

First I had to actually find the place, move in, help Chloe adjust to life with me around all the time even when dad was home, and finish a ton of work for my course. You know, the normal stuff. I inhaled deeply, trying to thwart the bout of anxiety I feared was coming. Change and I were not the best of friends even though I wanted us to be.

Before I knew it, my exit appeared and I was almost there. I sighed in relief as I turned into the neighborhood that would become my home. Trees, flowers, kids playing. Houses were close but not too close that you’d hear everyone’s business and each of them was different. No cookie cutters, like in so many neighborhoods where I grew up. I was going to like it here just fine.

The house number I was looking for came up quickly and I pulled into the driveway. Turning off the ignition, I opened the door and climbed out. I barely took two steps before a short ball of energy barreled at me, grabbing onto my leg immediately.

“You’re here for me!” She was bouncing on her toes, still holding on. I placed my hand on the top of the car in an attempt to stay upright. Wyatt had been right. She was amazing.

“I am. My name’s Oliver.”

“I know. Daddy told me. I’m three. I remember things.” She looked up at me with the biggest brown eyes I’d ever seen. I could see why she had her dad so wrapped around her finger. If I wasn’t careful, I’d be next. Who was I kidding? I already was.

“I’m sure he will keep that in mind, buttercup.” Wyatt’s voice pulled me from my gaze, the timbre exactly as I remembered it in person, even though it somehow got lost over the phone. “Maybe you should let the nice man go so we can show him his room.”

She didn’t need to be told twice. She grabbed my hand and pulled me into the house that would become my home, if only for a while.