Who knows how much time has passed…

Everly

M y whole body aches, everything from the insides of my thighs to the soles of my feet. But I force myself to bend, collecting every bottle of water in the twin’s personal mini-fridge. Thank goodness, I don’t have to go downstairs.

A small plastic container catches my eye and I grab it. Strawberries. And they’re not set to expire for three more days.

“I think I have everything,” I whisper to myself, making my way back to Mari’s room.

It’s quiet. Hutch and Dassy are sound asleep along the back wall of the nest. But Izan is awake and pulling his cock out of Mari’s limp body.

“I brought water,” I whisper as I slip back into the nest. I’m careful where I step, trying not to wake anyone. The boys have taken turns tending to Mari over the last few days. Her heat has burned, making the omega practically insatiable. I give my mates a lot of credit. They haven’t left her needy or in pain once. I’m so proud of them.

“Here.” I hand Izan a bottle as I set all my supplies down along the edge of the nest.

The pack alpha eagerly takes it, draining the whole thing in one go. A trickle seeps out, falling from the corner of his mouth and down his sweaty, cut chest. There are so many bites and scratches all over his pecs and shoulders. Mari is vicious when she comes. It’s really very beautiful.

“How is she?” I ask, admiring our unconscious omega. Her pussy gapes a bit, with copious amounts of cum gathered between her folds.

“I think the worst of her heat is over,” Izan says, tossing the empty bottle out of the nest. “You should sleep while you can. When she wakes, she might want to ride your face again.”

My cheeks heat at the thought of the wonderful—but dirty—things we’ve done to one another the last few days. “I’m okay,” I say, lifting Mari’s ankle and placing it in Izan’s hand. He instantly knows what to do and starts rubbing her calf.

“Don’t be silly, Everly,” Izan quietly scolds me. “You need to sleep.”

But I have no desire to follow orders. Not this time. “You know,” I say, brushing the matted hair out of Mari’s face, “there are many things you and the twins do as alphas that I just don’t understand. I know a lot of it is instinct. The need to be strong and protect what’s yours.”

Izan nods firmly, puffing out his chest a little. “That’s right.” He picks up Mari’s other ankle, working out the knots in her other calf.

“Well, this is what drives me as a beta,” I say, pulling the cap off of a scentless tube of lip balm. I glide it over Mari’s swollen lips, being careful not to get it too close to the inside of her mouth. I don’t want to start her sucking reflex and push her into another round of sex. “It’s my job to feed Mari and make sure she’s hydrated. All my happiness is tied up in our omega. If she’s not happy and content, neither am I.” I pick up a bottle, then cradle her head. “Rub the inside of her thighs,” I instruct my alpha. “I noticed her legs were cramping the last time Hutch ate her out.”

Izan smiles at me, his eyes sparkling as he does as he’s told.

“Open up, omega,” I whisper, bringing the bottle to her mouth. I pour the tiniest amount across her tongue, then wait for her to swallow. Then I do it again. It takes forever, but I manage about half a cup, before Mari turns her head, refusing anymore.

“You’re a very good beta, Everly,” Izan purrs, and my tummy does a flip. An alpha’s purr doesn't have the same effect on me as it does an omega, but that doesn’t mean the things my alphas do for me don’t turn me into mush.

“Izan?” I ask, rubbing Mari’s forearms. He hums in response. “Are you serious about searching for her brother?”

My pack alpha’s dark green eyes meet mine, and I instantly know he’s dead serious. “Yes,” he says. “I will search every inch of those mountains if it makes Mari happy.” His pledge makes me smile. My alphas are such loving and protective mates.

“I can’t believe she actually thought she could get revenge on her own.” I glance at the cut over Izan’s eye. It’s already healing, and will probably be gone by morning.

“Grief makes people do silly things,” Izan says. “We all think we’re stronger or smarter when it comes to avenging the people we love.” He gives me a gentle smile and I immediately think of the twins.

Hutch wanted so badly to hurt the Tenus pack after what happened to Dassy. But Izan wouldn’t allow it. Our pack alpha said that Dassy was too weak to defend himself, and Hutch was too angry to think clearly. We needed to give it time, to see if the opportunity presented itself for real revenge. Something more biting. More fitting.

And I have a feeling, after what we’ve learned about Mari, the twins will finally get their revenge on the Tenus pack.

“Are you okay?” Izan asks, noticing the way I longingly look at Mari.

“I…um…” I bite my bottom lip, then decide to just say what I’m thinking, “I really want to brush her hair.”

Izan’s smile grows and he nods. “Do it.”

My shoulders instantly fall as I look down at the omega in my arms. “I can’t,” I say. “She only lets Dassy play with her hair.” I hope I don’t sound jealous, but I am.

“Beta,” Izan leans in, cupping my cheek. “Mari doesn't want walls and boundaries right now. She wants, and needs , comfort. So comfort her.”

I think about that for a second. “Omegas do love it when their hair is played with.”

“ She loves it,” he reminds me.

The intense desire to touch her grips me, and I slip my fingers through Mari’s hair. They catch, not the smooth flow that Dassy gets when he braids her hair, but I can still feel her silky tresses. I do it again, and then again. The third time, Mari hums, leaning into my touch. Then she nuzzles against me and my heart practically bursts. But when I look at Izan to share my happiness, he’s not watching. In fact, he’s staring off into space with the weirdest look on his face.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, looking around the entire nest, then at Mari’s face. Her eyes are still closed, and her body is limp, in a complete state of mid-heat daze.

“Nothing's wrong. She’s still out,” Izan says, scenting the air. “Her next wave isn’t far off, though.”

“You had a look on your face,” I say, gazing deep into his eyes. Izan immediately starts to smile, but I don’t let him hide his emotions from me. “You looked upset,” I say with a pointed look.

For a second, his smile stays firmly in place, but then it falls and something serious takes hold. “If I tell you something, you have to promise me you won’t get too excited or worked up.”

I hesitate, not sure if I have to promise that. “Okay…”

“Things are looking good with the Stanley contract,” he says. “Once we’ve finalized everything and the ink has dried, we want to get our packs together so our omegas can meet.”

I nod, not finding that strange at all. Packs with a lot of power or high-standing frequently meet or mingle. Especially when it comes to their omegas. It’s part of the privilege of being a member of one of their packs—their omegas get friends while lower-ranking packs hide their mates, never letting them see the dang sun.

“I met Stan’s mate once. He’s a thin omega. Pale, curly blond hair, dark eyes.”

I don’t know where Izan is going with this, but I stay quiet, just listening.

“His name is Stefan.” He looks at me, waiting for me to react, but I can’t. I’m too… shocked ? I don’t even know if that’s the right word, but I’m beyond words.

“How—” My mouth falls open. “What—” I shake my head, finally looking down at the omega resting in my lap. Mari is sound asleep, completely oblivious to the conversation happening in her nest. “We have to tell her,” I say, channeling my fingers through my hair. “But when? We should wait for her heat to be over. Right?”

Izan places his hand on mine, squeezing gently. “I need for you to calm down, beta.” His voice is firm, but tender. Not quite an order, but it’s not exactly a suggestion. “This is very likely a coincidence. Stefan is not a unique name.”

I give him a pointed look. “It’s not a common name either,” I say flatly.

Izan’s dark brows lift, and his voice drops to a deep whisper, “I’m only going to say this once, Everly.” He pauses, making sure he has my complete attention. “You are not allowed to tell Mari.”

I open my mouth to argue, but he holds up a single finger, stopping me.

“She’s going to meet Stanley’s mate soon enough,” he says. “There’s no point in telling her about this boy ahead of time.”

“No point?” My voice raises, and Dassy mumbles in his sleep. I press my lips into a thin line, feeling bad for almost waking him. “Alpha,” I whisper, trying to sound as respectful as possible. “Letting Mari be introduced to someone named Stefan without any heads up just feels mean. Even if we just tell her?—”

“No,” Izan says firmly, and my shoulders fall. “It would be crueler to tell Mari about this boy and for her to imagine it might be him. I won’t risk her getting her hopes up just to be crushed.” He slips his hand around the back of my neck, rubbing the tension that’s built up there. “It’s a name, Everly.” He angles his head down so he can look into my eyes. “Mari is one hell of an omega. She’s very strong. And she’s got the fucking scars to prove it.” He releases me, then parts her legs wide, allowing me to see the faded bite marks on her sensitive skin. They’re so violent and ugly.

Horrible reminders of things she endured.

But Izan is right.

Our omega is strong. She can handle meeting someone that shares the same name as her brother, but that doesn’t mean that I can’t hope for the both of us that it might be her brother.