Chapter 9

**Nova**


The guys ask me a few more questions while we eat the sweet pastry thing Chase brought us. The coffee is bitter but it balances all the sweetness so I end up drinking all of it as well. Now we are sitting around in an odd silence all lost in our own thoughts. I don't know what they are thinking about but my mind is moving a mile a minute. There is so much I don't understand and so much I need to do before attempting to figure anything out.

"Okay well obviously we have a lot to talk about and come up with some sort of plan on how to adjust to all this, but I suggest we tackle some more basic elements," Charles says.

"Okay, so where do we start?" He seems to be the one closest to a plan so I'm happy to take his lead.

"First we need supplies. You will need some proper clothes Nova, and the rest of us sans Chase will need things as well. Since we all had a life before we came together we will have to return home and gather our belongings. Then we need to go in search of a larger property." We nod along to his ideas, but it still sounds like a lot to get done. "I can take each of you back to your homes and gather your things."

"Won't doing that make you tired?" I ask him because I don't know much about what he is or how his abilities work.

"Everything requires energy and that does not come free. I will need rest and sustenance when we have completed these tasks." He says it so simply, but I'm worried.

"Are you sure you can do all of that traveling in one day? Maybe we should do one trip a day?" I offer and he watches me for several seconds without answering.

He looks almost confused by my suggestion.

"She's worried about you man. She's your mate. It's in her nature to be concerned about your welfare." Chase explains.

"I see. Then I will defer to my mate's concerns. We can plan a trip a day and purchase whatever else is needed until we can bring all of our stuff here. How does that sound Nova?" I smile at him.

"Sounds good." I'm happy he listened to me.

"I don't have much, so I can buy new things. It's no problem." Asher says with a shrug.

A little pang of worry blooms inside me for him as well. How does he not have much? Where was he living before? In fact, now that I think about it...how much have they given up to be here with me? It doesn't seem fair that they have to uproot their lives to accommodate me.

"Actually, you don't all have to be here. I'm sure you have homes and jobs to get back to. You didn't ask for this so I understand if you want to go back to your life. I'm sure I can make my way on my own." I wait for them to quickly agree but they all just stare at me.

"That is the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Stop being ridiculous sweetheart." Chase says and shakes his head.

"Why is it dumb? We are strangers and before you guys found me you had whole other lives. It's wrong to expect you to give up all your stuff and comforts for me. I survived this long I'm sure I can take care of myself from here on. It won't be too hard." Now I'm a little annoyed that they are brushing my concerns off as silly.

"There is no need for this discussion. We will bring our stuff here and start a new life, with you." Eli says firmly and I sigh in defeat.

These guys are unmoveable on this but it won't be the last time we discuss this.

"Charles why don't you take Eli and grab his crap. Asher and I will take our mate to get some things. Then we can meet back here for lunch." Chase says and the others quickly agree.

Well, they seem to be working well together so far. That's good, right?

"Come dragon." Charles stands and moves to stand next to the chair where Eli is sitting.

"We should attempt to be respectful and use proper names for each other." Eli stands tall and looks down on all of us like a king among men who has just given an order.

"Yeah yeah. Get going." Chase gives him a mischievous smile and Eli narrows his eyes at him.

He doesn't have to say anything more because Charles rests a hand on his arm before pulling them through that dark cloud.

"Fucking cool," Asher says but it's soft enough that I barely hear him.

He's sort of grumpy all the time, but when he held my hand earlier and looked at me...

There was a softness there. An intimacy that shouldn't exist between strangers. The comfort between all of them and me is strange but I like it. It's been a long time since I felt a close connection to someone that didn't involve pain.

"Okay, there are a few shops along the main strip that we can check out. Since you don't have much Nova, you can wear what you have on and then change into a new outfit later. I have some slip-on sandals you can borrow as well." Chase stands and walks over to the door where several pairs of shoes are sitting off to the side.

He walks back with some sandals and sets them in front of me. They look huge when I slip them on but hopefully, it won't take long to find something I can wear soon.

"Wait. How am I going to pay for new clothes? Maybe I should find a job first and save to buy the clothes later. I'm sure I can wear this a little while longer." I say as I slide my feet out of the sandals again.

Chase kneels in front of me and takes and grabs my hands. "Nova, you are our mate. Anything you need we will give you. If you want to work fine, but you have been through a lot. You need your own things. Don't worry about money, we have more than enough to get you the things you need."

I look at him and I can see he doesn't seem worried at all. He means every word, but guilt still sits heavy in my chest. I don't want them to always take care of me. That isn't fair.

"Stop thinking too hard about it Nova. Get used to us spoiling you." Asher says next. "Even if these other assholes don't have enough to contribute to taking care of you, I have more than enough money to take care of you for a hundred lifetimes."

My eyes widen at that. Just how rich is this guy?

"How on earth do you have that much money? Don't wolves pool their money for the good of that pack?" Chase asks.

Asher snarls at Chase and then turns his attention to me. "I wasn't part of a pack. I'm an abomination. Since I don't need much and stayed in my wolf form most of the time I lived in a modest way. I haven't spent much of the money I've earned over the years. The land that I own has more than enough materials to be sold to make a good amount of money."

"Well, shit." Chase looks impressed but then he looks at me and smiles. "Just like the asshole wolf, I've made a good living. That restaurant downstairs is my baby. I won it in a bet along with a lot more. I have a good nest egg of my own. So see, we got you. Now stop stalling. Let's go shop."

He stands and holds a hand out to me. I hesitate and look up at him with uncertainty. He leans down so that our faces are only a few inches apart.

"It is our honor to take care of you. We need to. So let us, okay?" His voice is low and serious.

The sound kind of melts my insides and I give in. All it takes is a small nod from me to bring that shining smile of his back. He leans in and steals a quick kiss before reaching out and lifting me off the couch and over his shoulder. I yelp and grab onto his shirt to steady myself.

"Come on wolfman!" Chase yells and starts walking.

"I can walk just fine!" I yell at him but he just laughs and ignores me.

I'm not sure I like this way of being carried around but maybe this is normal. Heck if I know.