4. NEPHELINE

4

NEPHELINE

My nerves are shot. My hands fidget with the hem of my sweater, pulling at the soft fabric until it stretches. I’m sitting on the couch in the living room, my knee bouncing with an anxious energy I can’t shake. My first meeting as Luna is only minutes away and the weight of it feels like a boulder on my chest.

We still haven’t figured out who’s going to sit on the council or how we’ll address the pack, but none of that matters right now. The meeting with the Sapphire wolves takes precedence. Especially since Mateo learned last night that more of their members have arrived, setting up camp on my family’s packlands. That alone sets my teeth on edge, the idea of strangers so close to our home.

I know I said it was okay before but now it just makes it all so real. That my family is gone. That someone’s god-awful agenda stole them away from me and then spit my brother back out. And I can’t even rush off to find him because that would be endangering the family I’ve built.

There’s just no winning is there?

Asani is sprawled out on the couch behind me, one of his legs lazily draped over the armrest as if today is just another day. His posture screams indifference but I know better. His brain is just as busy as mine but focused on all the science found in Enzo’s lingering reports. I’m not paying him much attention, though. My focus is elsewhere, darting across the room in search of a familiar face.

“You’re going to burn a hole in the wall if you keep staring at it like that,” Asani muses, leaning up against my back.

I twist around to look at him, a sloppy grin on his usually stoic face. My Alphas have become so much more relaxed in the past few weeks as we’ve found out how we fit together and I love it. I don’t love how antsy I’m currently feeling despite every single one of them being in this house. “I’m not staring,” I finally push out, even as I lean back against him, some part of me finding comfort in the Alpha basically curled around me.

“Yes, you are. You’re searching for Maverick. I think you’re also feeling a little lost without Darius.” One of his hands moves up into my hair, lightly playing with the loose strands.

I open my mouth to argue, but the lie feels heavy on my tongue. I’ve been keeping an eye on him since yesterday, the image of him pale and bleeding still fresh in my mind. I even demanded to shower with him this morning, needing to see for myself that he was okay.

“You’re allowed to be needy, Nepheline. Goddess, all of us want you to be a little needy.” My nose scrunches up and Asani sits up, dragging me into his lap. “Precious, just listen to me for a second. You’re still trying to figure out how everything fits together, how to be strong and still an Omega, how to be an Omega at all. I remember when you first told us that you wouldn’t be a good one but you’ve been everything we could ever imagine and more. But precious, lean . You don’t have to do everything on your own. Maverick terrified all of us and I can’t imagine how seeing that made you feel. You’ve gotten comfortable even if it’s only a short little while with Darius at your side. You’re allowed to want, to whine, to demand.” Asani presses a kiss to my forehead before his lips trail down my nose and then to my lips.

His words make me feel marginally better because I have been trying to figure out how to navigate all of the Omega bullshit and at the same time be strong and the leader I’m supposed to be. “Asani, do you think he’s okay?”

“Maverick is stronger than anyone gives him credit for, Nepheline. Navigating this new magic is going to be difficult, sure, but it’s necessary. He’ll handle it like he does everything else—mostly with ease, a little bit of awkwardness, and that beautiful smile he always carries around.”

I snort, realizing that Maverick isn’t the only one secretly looking at one of my Alphas. They’ve had their brief moments but I can’t wait until it’s more. Until all of my mates are more . Except for Darius. He’s mine.

The door opens and before I even turn, I know who it is. Maverick steps inside, his presence filling the room without a word. He looks tired, his white shirt rumpled, his hair mussed as if he’s been running his hands through it all morning.

My whole body lights up. I can’t help it. A smile spreads across my face before I can stop it and the weight on my chest eases just a little.

Asani chuckles from behind me. “He’s going to be the new favorite for a while, isn’t he?” My Alpha nudges me from his lap and I scramble to my feet, waiting for Maverick to choose where he’s going to sit as we wait for the others. Then I crawl onto the couch next to him, sighing with relief as Maverick strings an arm around my waist and pulls me closer.

He doesn’t question my need to be beside him and I love him just a little bit more for that.

“Good morning, kitten,” he whispers against my temple. “I’m going to be okay. I promise.”

“I know you will but I still need this.”

He chuckles, the sound moving through my body and warming me up from the inside out. Seconds later, Darius walks in with a plate full of cute little omelets that couldn’t have been from anyone other than Remi. My Beta's grin widens as I look up at him, a certain mischievousness playing behind those eyes. “Excuse me, I believe I’m the favorite. Always have been, always will be.”

I laugh, the sound genuine for the first time all morning. “You’re ridiculous,” I tell him as he sets the plate down on the coffee table and then bends over to kiss me. It isn’t soft or quick. He’s claiming me right in front of Maverick and Asani, showing off the special bond we share. I have a feeling in the near future that there’s going to be a lot of these moments.

And while I don’t hate it, the heat slowly moving to my lower belly is dangerous.

I pull away, glancing back toward the entrance to the kitchen. “Where are the others?” There’s no real set meeting time but we can’t spend the entire morning in the house.

His grin widens as he plops onto the floor with his back to me, grabbing a fork and sectioning off a small piece of egg to feed to me. I don’t protest, opening my mouth, my Omega shrieking with joy at being taken care of. “They needed a few moments, Bambi. Remi made these and then told me to make sure you were well-fed. I’m just following orders.”

Asani stands and stretches from his side of the couch. “Is that right? And where’s our plates?”

Darius chews on his bottom lip for a few seconds before sectioning off another piece for me. “I was not told to feed you. I thought Alphas would be able to take care of themselves.”

We all share a laugh as Asani stalks into the kitchen for extra forks and plates, Darius feeding me more of the cheesy goodness as I drape myself over Maverick’s lap. A few seconds later, Maverick has his fingers tangled in my hair as Darius feeds me, staring at me like I’m his entire world. Each bite I take from him makes him a little happier.

When my body heats again, I finally realize what’s going on. “They just need a few minutes, huh?” I try to keep still but these pesky little bonds go both ways and Remi is feeling almost as needy as I am. Goddess, I wish I was watching.

“Precious, as much as I would love to take you apart right now, the things I have in mind require a lot more time and lube.” He plops onto the floor beside Darius, placing the extra cutlery and plates on the table. When my cheeks heat with whatever he has in mind, his gaze darts to Maverick. “The lube would be for you, love. If you’re game.”

A whine tears from my throat before I can stop it, Darius and Asani laughing at our expense. I turn to see Maverick’s cheeks as red as mine feel, but I’m kind of in love with the fantasy currently in my head.

And just like that, I’m a little less worried about meeting the Sapphire wolves, taking up the fate of our packs, and finally starting a family.

Wait… what?