Page 5 of Shattered Trinket
Pulling up to the Jacobs’ home is surreal for me.
The first thing I notice when we pull in is how beautiful the place is with the many trees surrounding the property and leavesrustling in the breeze. There are a multitude of flowers that surround the house, in every color you can think of, and more than I could name. I find myself leaning forward in my seat to get a better view of the place, noting how big the property is and realizing I could… get lost out here. Just me and my thoughts at will.
Freedom.
Valley, Aeon, Shep, and Damien are all standing on the front porch when I finally glance towards the house, and my throat feels tight when I see them. Valley is standing in front with a wall of alphas behind her, her hands clasped together under her chin as she practically vibrates from excitement and keeps herself from running to my side of the car.
Valley is the nicest woman I’ve ever met, her motherly nature coming out anytime she’s around me. But I can’t say I hate her mothering. It’s really nice, actually. To have someone care so much about me, despite barely knowing me.
My mother loved me, but she wasn’t super cuddly and touchy-feely, not like Valley, anyway.
Not only is Valley kind, but she’s beautiful. An older version of Ripley, but instead of the familiar hazel I’ve come to associate Ripley with, Valley’s eyes are a beautiful green, and her dark hair is cut much shorter, framing her face in soft layers.
Shep, Aeon, and Damien are nice alphas as well, though I’ve seen them less than I have Valley. Surprisingly, Damien is the one I felt the most connected to when I met him. I don’t know if it’s his quiet demeanor or if it’s because I can tell he’d die to protect anyone in his family—especially the women—that makes him feel like a kindred spirit. Well, honestly, anyone in his family, butespeciallythe women. Even more so now, since Victor took Ripley.
Damien is very much the protector in this family, and if I’m being honest, I couldn’t ask for a better alpha to make me feel safe after meeting him.
Except for one…
I shake that thought from my head and glance over at Ripley nervously. She gives me an encouraging smile, her eyes somehow telling me that everything is going to be okay now, and I take a deep breath. I want to believe her. More than anything.
“Ready?” she asks as River and Kian exit the car and walk up to Ripley’s parents, each wrapping their arms around Valley in a tight hug.
I give her a nod, and together, we slide out of the back seat. The minute my feet touch the ground, Valley is running in my direction with an excited squeal. The second she wraps me in her arms, my body relaxes completely as the comforting scent of lavender invades my senses while she squeezes me tight, making tears well up in my eyes again as this sense of homecoming washes over me. It’s been so long since I’ve felt a mother’s hug wrap me up in a warm cocoon of safety and unending love.
“Oh, my sweet girl. I’m so happy you’re finally home with us. I couldn’t handle another minute thinking of you in that place all alone! But you’re home now, right where you belong, so don’t you worry,” Valley chatters excitedly, giving me one last squeeze before stepping back and looking me over as she holds onto the tops of my arms.
Her lips purse and her eyes narrow, making my stomach knot before she titters, urging me towards the house.
“They haven’t been feeding you properly! Come on, baby. Mama’s gonna make sure you’re fed right! We’ve gotta get some more meat on those bones of yours, and I’ve got a giant pot of beef tips and rice in the kitchen just for you.”
I glance over at Ripley with wide eyes as Valley stomps into the house, pushing past her alphas as they part for her like theRed Sea. Ripley is biting her bottom lip, trying to hold back her amusement, but it’s futile.
I’ve actually put on a good bit of weight thanks to getting three square meals a day, plus having a hoard of snacks that had been stored in my room that Ripley and everyone else tended to make sure was always stocked, but I’m not going to argue with the woman. Iamhungry.
“Well, come on then, sis. Mama said you haven’t been eating properly, which means we’re all about to eat good! No way am I skipping out on her beef tips.”
Ripley hooks her arm through mine and drags me along with her as she shouts at River.
“Riv! Call the others and tell them we’re eating here tonight! Ma made beef tips!”
River chuckles, pulling his phone from his pocket as we pass him and the others by. Shep and Aeon both give me kind smiles that I return, and Damien nods respectfully at me, something I’d expect from the quiet alpha.
“Welcome home, Cozy,” Shep murmurs as Ripley and I step through the front door, and something about it makes my heart jump.
Home.
I have a home again.
“You look dead on your feet. Ready for your surprise?” Ripley whispers to me as the plates are cleared away by her dads and Valley.
My belly is unbelievably full after Valley gave me two giant bowls of beef tips—that I may have scarfed down like I was starved—and a slice of the chocolate cake that she’d baked and decorated to sayWelcome Home Cozy, and now I’m exhausted.
I haven’t been around this much noise in… ever.
The dinner table was lively with conversations all around, and I was content with watching and listening to all of them interact together. I responded when anyone spoke to me, but not much, and Valley was kind enough to pull attention away from me when she noticed me becoming uncomfortable.
“You guys didn’t have to get me anything. Letting me stay here is already more than enough,” I whisper back, slightly uneasy with the thought that they’ve done more for me than I thought they would.