32. NEPHELINE

32

NEPHELINE

I stretch lazily in the living room nest, warmth cocooning me from every angle. It’s soft and peaceful—one of those rare mornings where everything feels quiet for once. The chaos of the world outside can’t touch me here, not with Remi sitting at my side, practically glowing with pride as he insists on feeding me bites of breakfast.

"One more," he coaxes, holding out a fork with a perfectly cut piece of pancake. His smile is infectious, boyish and beaming in a way that makes my heart flutter.

“I can feed myself, you know,” I grumble softly, though I part my lips anyway, letting him guide the fork to my mouth. The pancake is sweet, drenched in maple syrup and I hum with satisfaction as I chew.

“Of course you can, ” Remi teases, his dimple showing as he grins. “But why should you when I’m here to spoil you?”

His hand rests gently on my belly, his thumb making slow, soothing circles over the small bump. I swear the moment he figured out how much I love the attention, he decided to double down on it. And honestly? I don’t hate it.

“You’re ridiculous,” I mutter around another bite, but the smile pulling at my lips gives me away.

“You love it,” he counters, brushing a kiss to my temple.

His hand pauses suddenly, his fingers stilling on my stomach as something shifts—soft, faint, but unmistakable. I freeze, my own hand flying to cover his as his eyes widen, his lips parting in shock.

“Did you—?”

“Yes,” I whisper, my voice breathless with wonder. “That was the baby.”

Remi lets out a squeal , an actual squeal of excitement, his face lighting up as he stares at me like I just hung the stars in the sky. “ Again! Do it again!”

I burst into laughter, swatting lightly at his arm. “It doesn’t work like that, Remi.”

But he’s already leaning closer, his other hand joining the first as he presses his palms to my stomach, his expression hopeful. “Come on, little one. Kick for me again. Just once. Please?”

I roll my eyes, though I can’t stop smiling as I watch him. He’s practically vibrating with excitement, his eyes darting between my face and my belly like he doesn’t want to miss a second.

When nothing happens, he pouts slightly before leaning back, his hands still gentle as they rest on me. “You’ve thought about names, right?” he asks, his voice softer now. “Or… do you want to know the sex first?”

I shake my head, brushing my fingers through his soft hair. “The name will come to me when it’s time. And I don’t want to know yet.” I pause, watching his face as he looks up at me, still grinning like an idiot. “It’s too soon to rush it.”

“Fair enough,” he murmurs, his hands lingering on my belly like he can’t quite let go yet. “But I’m calling it now. They’re going to have your eyes. Mateo’s stubborn streak, but your eyes.”

I snort, shoving him lightly. “I’ll take the eyes, but I think they’ll end up with your smile, Mr. Sunshine.”

The sound of footsteps pulls my attention to the doorway, where the rest of my mates hover just out of reach. “They’re all desperate to feel the baby too,” I tease, smirking as I shoot them a look. “But they’re being polite because they know I’ll bite.”

Asani grins, his sharp edges softened as he meets my gaze. “You’re already the most spoiled Omega in existence. We don’t want to overwhelm you.”

“And yet,” I add playfully, leaning back against the pillows. “You all do feel it. Every time we’re in the nest, I’m pressed up against someone’s back, and I know you feel the kicks then.”

River shrugs, his lips twitching faintly. “Can’t argue with that.”

Mateo takes a seat on the edge of the nest, his hand brushing against my knee. “As much as I’d love to sit here and fight for my turn, we need to talk.”

I sigh, my light mood dimming slightly as the reality of our situation seeps back in. “Back to reality already?”

Mateo’s eyes meet mine, serious now. “We need to find the rest of the pack of the Forbidden. The wolves we’ve seen near the veil aren’t acting randomly. The First Alpha is pulling the strings and we can’t sit back and wait for them to come to us.”

Darius growls softly, shifting closer to stand behind Mateo, his arms crossed tightly. “Fucking First Alpha, my ass, ” he mutters and I bite back a chuckle. “Do we know where to start?”

Remi frowns, his earlier joy fading as he glances between them. “It feels like history’s repeating itself,” he murmurs. “One of the wolves that came through the veil—she was from the Emerald pack before they were slaughtered. Stolen away and turned into something she wasn’t.”

“That can’t be a coincidence,” I say, trying to wade through what Remi told me about this morning.

“It’s not,” Mateo confirms. “The pack of the Forbidden didn’t form overnight. It was built from wolves like her—wolves who were taken, manipulated, or forced into submission. Wolves like Darius. It’s only now that we’re hearing about it because his grip on the darkness is loosening.”

I nod, my fingers curling protectively over my belly as unease settles in my chest. It makes sense because why would the First Alpha have waited so long? Had he thought I was rightfully his, he would have snatched me the moment he could. Why play all the games? I decide not to dwell on it, reaching for another bite of pancake when a wave of pure, unfiltered sorrow crashes through the bond. It’s sharp and heavy, settling like a stone in my chest and I look around the room, trying to figure out where it’s coming from.

Mateo? No—he’s focused, calculating, his Alpha energy calm and steady as always. River’s expression is thoughtful, quiet as he listens to Remi’s muttered observations. Darius is his usual collected self, though his eyes dart to me as if he feels the shift in my mood. Asani has moved into the room to sit beside me, nothing in his expression any different than usual.

And then I look at him .

Maverick.

He’s standing near the edge of the room, half-shadowed by the morning light spilling in through the windows. His jaw is tight, the muscles ticking as his dark eyes stare at nothing. His hands, usually calm and steady, are fisted at his sides, the knuckles white from the strain. His expression is stoic—almost unreadable—but the sorrow pouring through the bond is his, and it’s breaking my heart.

I don’t even hesitate.

I push to my feet without a word and cross the room to Maverick, my bare feet silent against the floor. He doesn’t look up as I stop in front of him, his eyes locked somewhere far away, lost in a place I can’t see.

“Maverick,” I say softly, reaching up to touch his arm. He flinches slightly at the contact as if I’ve jolted him out of whatever dark memory has its claws in him, but he doesn’t pull away. “What’s wrong?”

His eyes flick to mine, but he doesn’t answer. The sorrow is still there, a tidal wave behind his carefully constructed walls, and I know that if I push too hard, he’ll shut me out completely. So instead, I move closer, wrapping my arms around his waist and pressing my cheek against his chest.

His arms come around me instantly, holding me tightly— too tightly , like he’s afraid I’ll disappear if he lets go. I let him hold me, let the bond carry the unspoken weight of whatever he’s feeling but I don’t say anything. Sometimes words just get in the way.

After a long silence, I whisper, “Was it them?”

I feel his body tense, his fingers curling against my back as he stiffens. “What?”

“Your family,” I murmur, tilting my head up to look at him. His face is a mask of pain, the cracks in his usual stoic facade growing deeper the longer I look at him. “The pack of the Forbidden… was your first family from them?”

He doesn’t answer.

The silence stretches between us, heavy and thick, and I don’t push. I don’t expect him to answer—he doesn’t have to. His grief says enough.

I’ve always known that Maverick’s past was tangled and dark, full of shadows he’s never been ready to share. He doesn’t talk about his first Omega or the life he had before me, and I’ve never pushed him to. But now, feeling this sorrow pour from him, I can’t help but wonder if those pieces of his past are closer to the surface than I realized.

His breath catches as he finally whispers, “I won’t lose you.”

Something about the way he says it sends a chill down my spine.

But apparently, I can’t ever truly have good things because the voice makes an appearance at that moment.

The darkness .

Come to me, it whispers, curling around my mind like smoke. You belong with me. Obey, and there will be no more pain.

The sound cuts through my head like a blade and I pull back from Maverick with a gasp, my hands trembling as I clutch at his arms.

Maverick’s eyes widen in alarm. “What is it?”

“I…” I shake my head, pressing my palms to my temples as if that’ll help silence the voice. “I heard him again. The voice . The First Alpha,” I whisper and then it clicks. “I never felt anything for Silas,” I say, the words spilling out faster now, like a dam breaking. “Not even when he tried to claim me. None of his howls ever resonated with me—nothing ever called to me. But this? This feels different. Like it’s been waiting for me. Like he’s been waiting for me.”

Maverick’s growl deepens, his hands coming up to cup my face as his dark eyes bore into mine. “I won’t let him have you.”

“Maverick—”

“I mean it, Neph,” he growls, his voice low and rough, laced with a pain I don’t think I’ve ever heard from him before. “He doesn’t get you. He doesn’t get us . I’ve already lost my family once, and I—” He cuts himself off, his voice cracking. “I’m not losing you, too. I won’t let him take you from me.” Maverick presses his forehead to mine, his breath ragged, his hands shaking as they cradle my face. “I want this family we’re building,” he murmurs, the words soft and raw as if they’re being pulled straight from his soul. “I want you, and the baby, and this . I’m not giving it up. Not again.”

I close my eyes, leaning into him as I let the bond settle around us, the First Alpha’s voice disappearing into the background.

Our little bit of happiness is over but I don’t regret a single moment from last night or this morning. Each memory will fuel my desire to rid of the darkness so I can bring our child into a less chaotic world.