Page 75 of The Omega Switch: Part 2

They showed me around, and each room was better than the last. Hunter proudly showed me his office - and it was just as organized as I’d imagined. They showed me the gorgeous, jewel-toned kitchen, complete with marble countertops and a massive island perfect for prepping and cooking for a pack.

I followed them upstairs, where Elias looked back at me before pausing at two wooden doors. “Are you ready?” He asked. I nodded, wondering what he was so excited about. He pushed the doors open to reveal a large, high-ceilinged library, with the side walls completely taken up by rows and rows of books, and the back wall made up of a large rounded window that looked out over the trees outside. I gasped, my hand moving to my mouth as I took it in. This was a treasure trove of knowledge - and as I walked through the large room, looking at the titles of the books, I felt a thrill run through my body. “You have so many books!” I gasped, looking at the various sections for genetics, biology, and even plant history.

Elias smiled, stepping up beside me and covering my hand as it hovered over a book on scent match theory. He placed my hand over the book and pulled it out.

“You can read whatever you want. Go on, take it.” He said gently, and I looked at the book in awe. I could spend years in here, just reading and learning.

“Wait until you see my favorite room,” Ronan said from behind, and I had to pull my eyes away from the rows of books to look back at him. He led the way, and we walked down the hall until we reached another large room. Inside was a home gym that looked better than the luxury, state-of-the-art gym at the local country club.

“This is where I get my workouts done,” He explained, casually lifting an eighty-pound weight easily and pulsing it up. “There’s a TV, too, for following along with live workouts.” He pointed to the wall, where a massive TV was angled so that you could watch it from anywhere in the gym. My mouth dropped open.

“This is amazing!” I said, looking around the huge gym. I wasn’t one for working out too much, but I did like yoga - and there was a station for exactly that.

Hunter stepped up beside me, giving me a gentle nudge. “There’s something else we want to show you,” he said, and I looked over.

“More? This place is already awesome!” I said. He led us down the stairs and through a hallway, and opened another door. The room was nearly empty. I looked around.

"What is this?" I asked.

"We wanted your opinion," Hunter said, glancing at his pack.

"On an empty room?” I said, raising my eyebrow. Elias smiled.

"On a potential laboratory." He said, and I gasped.

"What? What do you mean?" I asked.

Hunter leaned against the doorway. "The space downstairs at your boutique isn't going to accommodate your business much longer. Especially if you end up owning Nestwell.” He said.

"We've been looking into equipment," Elias added. "Nothing has been ordered, but if you want, we can get this fully equipped. All yours." I looked around, noticing that the air was clear - they had a great ventilation system in here already. Ideas started forming in my head. “No obligation, of course. There’s a separate entrance, so you wouldn’t even run into us if you didn’t want to.” Elias added. I gave him a joking shove.

“Elias, we’re courting now. I won’t be avoiding you.” I said, and saw him puff up with pride.

I had to hand it to them - they’d grown. Before, they might have just built it and presented it. But now, they asked. Always checking in for permission.

"There will be more than enough storage space," Elias continued. "Any equipment you want. And enough bench space that you aren't balancing samples beside your lunch." He said with a wry smile.

"I still made a great product.” I protested as Elias smirked.

Hunter cleared his throat. "We'd like to do this for you, if you'll let us." He offered. My instinctive response rose immediately.

I didn’t need… I started to think, but then I caught myself. It was true - I didn’t need their help - but I sure would appreciate it. And a nice big space filled with state-of-the-art equipment? It would absolutely be better than my tiny office lab. I walked farther into the room and imagined benches along the walls. I could fit a large perfume organ here, and some high-end equipment. I could even have a proper desk. I could see it already. And as my thoughts drifted, I could also see myself here. Often.

"I'll think about it," I said, and the three of them looked happy.

"No pressure. But anything you want, just ask." Hunter said.

I thought back over the past few months. They’d been there for me, always helping, never pushing. They’d shown up in ways I hadn’t anticipated, but at certain times, I definitely needed.

These men couldn't erase the past - they had failed me. I couldn’t rewrite that part of our story just because I loved what was happening now. But I didn’t want to rewrite it.

Looking back, I hadn’t been nearly the full, developed person I was now. I’d been a beaten down shell of a person when I met them, so eager to please and attention-starved that I’d let anyone walk all over me. I hadn’t been able to see who they were because I was blinded by my own desperation. Now, I was a different person. A stronger person.

I had my boutique, amazing friends, and even my own little dog. I’d stood up to my bullies, and fought until I’d won. Soon, if everything went according to plan, I'd have control of the company my mother had created.

Plenty of bad things had happened to me. But maybe I needed to acknowledge that without all the bad that happened, I couldn't have the good that I had now. I wouldn't have had nearly the drive or ambition it took to do this if I hadn't been pushed to the limit.

I didn't need Pack Vale. But in learning that, I was able to do what I couldn’t do before - decide whether to choose them. I did not have to let my biology dictate what was right for me. I could see them with all their flaws, and see what happened when they messed up. Because in this life, we all mess up - myself included. And what they’d done since made me realize that even if none of us were perfect, I could count on them.