10. NEPHELINE

10

NEPHELINE

Fully fed with what I consider bird food—little meat rolls and cheeses and crackers with cream cheese and jelly. It was delicious and easy, my Alphas taking turns feeding me while I recounted everything Victoria told me. Well, not everything.

I’m not sure I’m ready to announce anything about babies.

Especially since the Omega told me I might already be pregnant.

I don’t know much about Omegas or how we’re supposed to act but there’s one little thing I do remember. Our scent changes when we’re pregnant. It’s subtle but our mates can usually tell. The fact that none of them are acting differently tells me that I’m not, yet.

And I could ask them all to wrap up before they fuck me or even double-check my birth control prescription but some part of me knows that it’s going to happen anyway. I don’t really mind either.

I slide out of my chair amidst the chaos in the kitchen and head back into the living room to see Remi fussing over the arrangement of blankets and pillows, his brow furrowed in concentration. It’s adorable, the way he takes his time with each fold, each adjustment, making sure everything is just right.

“You know,” I tease, crossing my arms as I lean against the wall, “I could have done this myself.”

Remi looks up, his soft smile melting into something warmer. “Not a chance, sunshine,” he purrs. “You deserve to relax, not work. Let me take care of you.”

I roll my eyes, but the heat creeping up my neck betrays me. He knows I love this—being fussed over, doted on. It’s impossible not to when it comes from him.

Finally, he steps back, surveying his work like it’s a masterpiece. “Perfect,” he declares, reaching out to grab my wrist. “Come on.”

Before I can protest, he pulls me down onto the floor, guiding me into the nest. The moment I sink into the plush pile, the tension in my shoulders begins to melt away.

But it doesn’t stop there.

One by one, my mates find their way into the nest, maneuvering around me with a practiced ease that makes my chest ache in the best way.

Darius is the first, sitting to my right and pulling my feet into his lap, his strong hands kneading the arches until I sigh in relief. Mateo settles next, his head resting lightly on my stomach, his dark eyes closed as if he’s listening to my heartbeat. Maverick sits behind me, his hands threading through my hair in soothing strokes, while River takes his place at my left. Asani takes up the space beside Maverick, stringing an arm around his waist.

And then there’s Remi, hovering for just a second before curling up against Mateo, those warm eyes focused on mine.

I’m completely surrounded, their warmth pressing into me from every angle. Hands brush my hair, my skin, my legs, my feet, a constant reminder of their presence. Their love.

I close my eyes for a moment, letting it all sink in. The soft murmurs of their voices, the gentle touches, the quiet laughter that bubbles up when Darius grumbles about how much space Remi is taking up.

This is everything.

And yet…

“Victoria told me the pack’s needs come first,” I push out. It’s so much harder now that all the attention is on me but they need to know what happened at the end of our conversation. “That as Luna, my choices should always align with what’s best for the pack.”

Maverick hums behind me, his fingers pausing in my hair. “That’s not surprising,” he says, his tone measured. “It’s what most Lunas are taught.”

“Maybe,” I admit. “But it contradicts what she said before. She told me the pack revolves around me. That as Luna, I’m the center of it all. And it’s not just that. The way she talked to me in private… it was different. Almost detached.” I sit up, fury fueling my words as my hands fist in my lap, “Like she didn’t see me as a person, but as a catalyst. A tool to bring the magic back.”

My words bring silence as my mates shift around in my nest until I’m curled up in Darius’ lap. His purr is softer than my Alphas but no less comfortable as I sag against him. Asani still holding Maverick, Mateo sitting up with Remi and River on either side of him. It’s the way Mateo holds Remi, though, that catches my attention—the way Mateo is combing his fingers through Remi’s hair.

Remi’s let it grow out recently, the soft waves brushing his ears, something so gentle about the way Mateo strokes it. His other hand rests on River’s thigh, bringing the three of them together. Remi has that rare, easy smile on his face, the one that makes my chest ache in the best way.

I watch them quietly from my spot in the nest, Darius pressing his lips to my forehead. Mateo’s always been the Alpha—the commanding presence, the leader—but watching him now, I see a different side of him. There’s a tenderness in the way he holds Remi, in the way he looks at him.

He’s softer than I’ve let myself notice before and I love him even more for it.

“You know,” Mateo starts. “Kehlani gave off similar vibes to what Victoria said. That fate should guide us. That it’s better to follow the path laid out than to fight it. Even Ilara’s words seem off. It’s like they’re all reading from the same script.”

It’s strange. We were so happy to have them here days ago and now it feels like they don’t quite belong as if their agenda is on a different path than ours. I glance up at Darius, his fingers working through my hair in slow, soothing strokes. “What do you think?” I ask, my voice soft, not wanting to disturb the calm too much.

Darius shrugs, his hand pausing for a moment before continuing. “I don’t really remember much from my time with the Sapphires. Those years are kind of a blur. Most of my memories still haven’t come back, Bambi.” He glances down at me, his lips curving into a faint smile. “But Lawrence—Victoria’s Beta—offered to give me a few pointers. Maybe I can glean something from him about what’s going on, but I wouldn’t expect much.”

“You don’t feel close to them, do you?” I ask gently.

Darius hesitates, his gaze dropping to the fire. “I thought I did at first,” he admits. “I was excited, you know? To have them here, to maybe learn something about my family. But now…” He trails off, his hand stilling in my hair. “Now, I don’t know. There’s a disconnect. Like they’re not telling us the whole story.”

We’re all thinking the same thing, even if no one wants to say it out loud.

Something is wrong.

But finding out where the Sapphire wolves’ help ends and their agenda begins is going to be a very difficult thing.