21. NEPHELINE

21

NEPHELINE

The heaviness of last night has me groaning when someone nudges me awake. I bury my head in someone's chest—Mateo's by the scent—and shrug off whoever is trying to pull me away from the comfort of my nest. I never understood an Omega's need for a nest before all this and while I still have no desire to build one—that's Remi's job—I love that this is my safe space. That only those I invite are allowed in and it's coated with my mates' scents just the way I like it.

When someone nudges me again, I whip around, fist at the ready to see Remi's wide eyes staring back at me. His hands are held up in defeat, a shocked smile playing on his lips. Amusement dances across his face before he completely settles. "Darius said he wants to pamper you before we have to get into the heavy conversations. I think it's his way of stalling." Remi wiggles his eyebrows before reaching for me again.

"Why didn't you just pick me up? All of you are always carrying me around after everything." My cheeks heat at the numerous occasions I've fallen asleep in one of their arms after being fucked senseless and then waking up in an entirely different space. My pussy aches just remembering last night although my heart is warm.

I took that next step with Maverick and then Mateo fucked me until the entire house shook with the power of his roar. I've never felt more claimed than in that moment, watching his tattoos change as the new pack's crest spread across his chest.

I twist around and stare down at Mateo, the beautiful ink shimmering beneath the dim lights in the living room. Red and blue seem to follow along the intricate lines, accentuating the taut muscles beneath. His is much larger than mine and I suspect that the size has something to do with status. I can't wait till all of my men have theirs.

Remi slowly tugs at me again. "As for picking you up, I would have but our Alpha had you so tangled up that I would have ended up dragging him into the bath as well." That image has me giggling as Remi pulls me to my feet, the nest strangely empty of my Alphas. My forehead creases in confusion and Remi presses a kiss to the lines before ushering me toward the bathroom. "We all have jobs to do, sunshine. As much as never leaving that nest is something I'd enjoy, it'll be a while before we can enjoy it."

"Did you two at least find what you were looking for yesterday?"

My Alpha frowns, stopping just outside of the bathroom. Running water hits my ears, the scent of lavender filling my nose. I forgot how much Darius likes to pamper. My memories are still fragmented but there are bits and pieces about my Beta that filter through.

"Why do you think we were looking for something? We weren't, I don't think. River needed a few moments and I ended up joining him. Seems that Mateo's roar last night affected everyone on the packlands. Like a call to submission. I think it's also the reason for the protection around our lands." Remi runs a hand through my hair, untangling the waves as he stares down at me.

"Protection?"

"Looked like the northern lights and it kept one of the pack of the Forbidden out. It was a glorious sight, something I wish you could have been there to see but the magic is flourishing, Nepheline. Mother Nature is on our side." His happiness is contagious as he draws me into a light kiss before edging me toward the bathroom. "Relax for a little until the rest of them get back."

"Where are they?" I'm not needy. I just don't like not knowing where my mates are amidst all this chaos. There's still so much I need to learn about everyone's position and where I fit in all of this. To make matters worse, I have no idea how Maverick is feeling after last night's revelation. It might make sense but that's a heavy burden to bear.

"Hey, sunshine. No thoughts until after breakfast. Maverick is fine and Darius is nearly bursting at the seams for you to join him."

I tilt my head to the side. "You can feel him? You can feel Darius?" That's how it always starts—the bonds. Being able to feel the general emotions is the first step. The longing and craving for touch and closeness is the next. Darius hasn't so much as looked at my Alphas but I'm sure it'll happen eventually. Remi doesn't answer my question. "Also, I can handle more than you're giving me. I'm not just your Omega."

"No, you're also the pack Luna but there's absolutely nothing you can do until they all get back which is why I'm saying to relax until they do."

Darius pops his head out, his silver eyes flitting between the two of us. "Are you done with Bambi? I need her now while the water is hot." He stretches out his hand, wiggling his fingers. I gladly accept the gesture before I'm whirled into the bathroom. "I put lavender in it. River says it's calming and Asani gave me Epsom salt just in case you're sore."

I stare at the frothy bubbles gliding along the surface of the water before stepping inside. A sigh falls from my lips at the steamy warmth that moves through me. Not soon enough, I sink into the water so that only my shoulders and head can be seen. Darius kneels at the edge of the tub, leaning over as he stares into my eyes. There's a different intensity there than with my Alphas.

Like he sees right through me, the way Maverick does. But Maverick doesn't stare. He observes. Darius might as well be my shadow. He at least used to be.

"I hate that I don't remember you, Bambi. That someone was so selfish to take you away from me. You were a light I've held onto for years. I told you that I didn't even know if you were real but goddess, how could I forget you?" Darius leans farther over the side, one of his hands reaching to caress my cheek. I lean into his touch, something between a growl and whimper pulling from my throat.

Whatever it is, it's possessive.

Darius pulls me toward the edge to kiss me, the embrace quickly turning frantic until water splashes around me and my Beta is hovering over me. We maneuver until I'm straddling his lap, the kiss never breaking as I take from him what I need. It feels like just yesterday that I was crawling into his bed for a sleepover, Darius wrapping me up in a cocoon of blankets and telling me that everything would be okay.

The anguish of missing something the next day but not remembering what it was feels like a knife in my heart. An image of Flynn carrying me back to my room, telling me that I just needed rest seals my worst nightmare. Knowing that he was working with Silas and Calista means that he is the reason I can't remember anything. Why my Beta was taken from me, I don't know.

I also don't care.

I have him back.

"Fuck Bambi. You feel like heaven. Don't stop."

I pull out of my head and look down, realizing that I've started grinding against his lap, seeking friction that his clothes won't give me. Darius is soaked to the bone, his wounds nearly healed. His hands dig into my waist as he pumps up so that the bulge between his thighs hits right where I need it to. I wrap my arms around his neck before laying my forehead against his.

His silver eyes are only focused on me, heat bleeding through my limbs. In another second, I'll be crying out for a knot, something that Darius can't give me. He doesn't seem to care as he runs a hand through my hair to cup the back of my head.

"Take what you need, Bambi. You don't understand how long I've waited for you, to feel you, to touch you, to love you. Use me, babe."

His pleas drag me out of my rational mind as I slide back a little and dip between us to shove his pants down beneath his cock. Thank fuck for sweatpants. His cock bobs against his stomach, Darius' face flushing with the same heat I'm experiencing. My attention is glued to his length, the barbell against the base where a knot would be catching my interest.

"Dari, what is that?" Mateo has something similar and it feels absolutely fucking glorious but the one Darius is sporting reminds me of a knot. The barbell is ribbed. The longer I stare at it, the more I see it. It's not a bar at all, but a ring. Slick gushes between my thighs as a not-so-innocent memory flits into my head.

While an Omega may not have their first heat until their later teens or early twenties, they can experience heat spikes or just bursts of horniness as Locke used to say. I never used to act on what I thought were just hot flashes. Now that I'm staring down at Darius' jewelry, I wonder if he ever used it on me.

"Do you like it?"

"When-"

"A few years ago? I think I just knew that my Omega was out there and I never wanted her to be in pain. You don't have-"

I wrap my hand around the base of his cock, the cool metal pressed against my palm before angling his length at my pussy. I sink down, inch by inch until the piercing meets my entrance, my entire body shuddering with pleasure. It's not as thick as an Alpha's knot but the firmness drags against my opening in just the right way. "Fucking hell, Dari. Did you-"

"No one since you." He rests his head on my bare chest, his arms moving around and up my back, as he directs a slow, torturous place. Mewls fall from my lips as he fucks me from below, taking care to drag that piercing in and out of me until my entire body is shaking with the need for release. "God, Bambi I need you to come. I'm going to embarrass myself in a minute."

I giggle but the sound slowly turns into a gasp as Darius floods me with his release. I come a second later, my pussy clenching at the piercing until my Omega becomes frustrated that it isn't expanding. My thighs quiver with the effort before Darius pulls me to his chest, shushing me when I try to speak.

"You're going to need one of your Alphas soon. Your body is adjusting to having all of us here and an Omega's biology is constantly-"

"No babies, Dari. I'm not ready. We're not ready. God, I can't bring a child into this." I gesture to the area round us before my hand plops into the water. The high of my orgasm is still pumping through my limbs, Darius sucking in his bottom lip to keep from laughing. "I'm serious!"

"Then no babies. Easy. I think I've got some more in me until I frustrate you enough to go find an Alpha."

He's doing this shit on purpose.

Everyone is so busy distracting me from my grief and the overwhelming need to solve everything at once. It's working and I really do appreciate it. I'm not sure what I would be doing if I had to deal with the weight of the world on my own.

My body is already moving, my hips rocking against his. Darius wasn't wrong. I am frustrated. I'm horny and angry and really, really want a knot. I frown as I meet his silver gaze again. His grin tells me he knows exactly how that piercing is making me feel.

"I like seeing your face scrunch up in concentration as you try to suck me in further. I love the way your scent sweetens when you grind down on my cock or when your fingers dig into my shoulder. There's a hint of spice with it. And I'm going to love it when you climb out of this tub and strangle the first Alpha you can find for a knot." I open my mouth to say something when he tightens his grip on my waist, making my back arch toward him. "Round two, Bambi." Then he lowers his head and swallows my tit, his teeth scraping my nipple.