Given the tension between her and Ty at the moment, however, the chances were good that she wouldn't be seeing any of them any time soon.
"Yeah, that's what I thought," Paige said with a smile. She turned on her heel and started waddling back to the car. "Fortunately, some of us think ahead. I picked out a few things for you to borrow until you get settled."
Kian raced to help, retrieving a large bag from the bed of the truck. Even in the alpha's grasp, it looked heavy. Clearly, it was weighed down with far more than just a few things.
"This is too much," Mia said, feeling her tears change from ones of despair to gratitude. Apparently, she hadn't realized how much she missed life's little luxuries. "I can't possibly borrow so many things from you."
Paige shook her head as her alpha carried the bag into the house. "Don't be silly. It's not like I fit into any of it right now," she said, gesturing toward her swollen belly. "Did you know that even your feet grow when you're pregnant? 'Cause I sure as hell didn't."
Mia bit her lower lip, not trusting herself to speak. Fortunately, she didn't have to. Paige shuffled back up the path and slung her arm over Mia's shoulder.
"Come on," she said, guiding Mia toward the house. "Let's get you dressed. After that, maybe we can take a little break from the guys and get to know each other."
"I'd like that," Mia said, almost shyly. The jealousy that she'd felt upon seeing Paige for the first time had vanished entirely. It was obvious that her new friend brought out the best in people, even someone as tough as Ty.
As if he'd been reading her mind, her alpha's voice rang out behind them.
"Paige," he called.
"Yes?" She turned, smiling.
"Thank you."
Paige's grin widened her expression at once genuine and knowing.
"You're welcome," she said. "If there's one thing that I've learned in my short time here in the Boundarylands, it's that we all do better when we help each other. All of us."
* * *
Mia pulled the flat brush through her thick hair over and over, stroke after stroke, until it finally began to feel like hers again. Running her fingers through the soft strands, she pulled it back into a long ponytail, securing it with one of the elastic bands Paige had brought.
Even though the hairstyle didn't really call for it, she slid a marbled blue clip near her right ear, just because she liked the way it caught the light.
She couldn't hold back a sigh of contentment as she gazed at her reflection in the mirror. She looked like herself again. Her actual self. Not some stranger who was simply trying to make so and survive.
"See," Paige said behind her, her voice light. "Isn't that better?"
Oh God, it was. So much better. The omega had no idea.
Or maybe she did.
Mia was curious to know what had brought Paige to the Boundarylands. Whatever it was, she guessed it wasn't good. How could it be? No beta woman came here of their free will.
Mia smiled in the mirror at her new savior. "Thank you again."
Paige returned the smile. "My pleasure. From what I heard, you didn't exactly land here with tons of luggage."
That was certainly an understatement.
Still, Mia didn't want Paige thinking poorly of Ty for not providing her with clothes right away.
"You know," she said, trying to keep her tone casual, "Ty really has been trying his best."
"Oh, I know." Paige gave a light laugh. "It's just that when it comes to alphas, in some situations even their best efforts can fall a little short."
Mia's jaw dropped. She'd never heard anyone talk about alphas that way.
Ever.
Not even back in the beta world where everyone tended to think of alphas as mythical creatures rather than real people. Despite—or perhaps because of—their reputation for brutality, there was always a strange air of respect when alphas came up in conversation. Only an idiot thought that they could survive a one-on-one with an alpha.
And Paige didn't strike Mia as an idiot.
Mia spoke in low tones. "You know they can hear you, right?"
Paige laughed, loud and hard enough to make it clear she didn't give a damn who was listening. "Yeah, I'm aware."
"And you don't care?"
Paige smoothed back a tiny tendril of Mia's hair that had escaped its elastic, a gesture both thoughtful and tender. Her smile didn't leave her face, but it became more serious.
"Come on," she said. "Let's go for a little walk. I think you may have been cooped up in this cabin a little too long."
Mia nodded. Paige was right. She hadn't realized it until now, but she'd badly needed company and a change of scenery. Someone other than Ty to talk to. Someone who didn't fill her with a baffling mixture of emotions all at once—fear, defiance, and lust.
Paige took Mia's hand as they walked out of the cabin past the alphas, who were sitting and talking on the porch just as Ty and Samson had earlier.
"We're going for a walk," Paige declared.
Kian and Ty both got to their feet. "That's not a good idea," they said, practically in unison.
Paige laughed. "Are you two sure that you're not biological brothers? 'Cause you sure as hell act like twins."
"I don't like the idea of you getting lost in unfamiliar territory," Kian said, his voice stone-cold serious.
Paige's smile widened as she shook her head in mock exasperation. "Kian, it's a walk, not a three-day hike into uncharted wilderness. Neither one of us is going to get lost. Besides, a little exercise is good for both me and the pup. Not to mention good for Mia here. Do you realize that she's been stuck in this cabin for over a week now?"
"That's because beta authorities are searching for her," Ty said, just as firmly as the other alpha. "She's safer inside."
Paige's brows arched. It was clear that she wasn't buying that argument at all.
"Well, she's not safe from cabin fever,
