10. Quint

ten

Quint

Three years and two weeks ago

Two nights until the Omega Meet

S ilver

Ian asked me to be his omega. He told me to think about it, but I'm going to say yes. Of course, I'm going to say yes. They are heaven. My dream. A chance to get out of this hell. My escape.

I love them.

Present Day

She likes music and movies about romance. She loves chocolate and ice cream and hot puddings. Silver avoids talking about her past, and if you bring up Onyx, she will clam up completely. Being fed is one of her favourite things, and it makes her go all soft and gooey. She hates dates and pineapple and is afraid of birds but not spiders.

I walked into a room one day and found her standing at Ross' piano. I stood and watched for half an hour while she taught herself how to play. She's a natural.

Silver doesn't ask for anything. She's grateful for everything. She has a dark sense of humor, laughing hysterically when I managed to accidentally knee West in the balls. The sound had been captivating. Even West thought so, though it took half a day for him to admit.

While West is falling for her, I too, though cautiously, have been falling. Ian is the only one holding out, but even I can see the bond is wearing on him. He's changing, and he doesn't even realise it.

I caught him whistling and humming along with Ross one day. He actually took a day off work and stayed home and just sat on the couch with us. I've never seen him do that.

They are actually perfect for each other. Both are stubborn and keep their cards close to their chest.

Silver needs to do things. I found that out in the first couple of days, so each day we spend a couple of hours working on the Omega Refuge charity event. Our pack volunteered to take control of the plans. Silver has thrown herself into it with a surprising amount of skill. We work through the day, bouncing ideas off each other and ironing out all the details in half the time I planned.

Ross drags her away to help him with his music and quietly teaches her. I'm not sure if she's aware that he's teaching her, but the sound of the two of them makes my heart soar.

Late afternoon brings West, who bullies her into games or movies. They get along like best friends, sitting beside each other, heads angled close, whispering and laughing.

Ian is there on the threshold, and every time he comes close, her aura intensifies. She is acutely aware of him. They are the same, the two of them, they don't even realise it. Both feel pain and shut themselves away.

The painting of our future is becoming clearer in my mind. I can see it coming together. It just needs a little nudge.

Ian enters the kitchen where I'm blindly staring into space.

"You lost?"

"In space? Yes."

Ian snorts a laugh. He fills up two mugs with the hot chocolate I'd been cooking and leans into me.

"What's wrong?"

We haven't been affectionate with each other for a while. But I find myself leaning into his hard strength, my arms wrapping around him.

"I was just thinking."

"About?"

"Her."

Ian stills. "What about her?"

"Forgive her, Ian. What happened was a long time ago, and she probably had reasons." I lift the cup to my lips and take a mouthful, wincing at the heat. Ian draws back, putting space between us.

"I know. I just…don't know how."

"Well, you could try to get to know her," I suggest.

Ian rolls his eyes. "It's not that easy."

"Sure, it is. You go up to her and say, ‘hi, I'm a total dick most of the time, but I'd like to get to know you.'"

Ian glares at me. "Do you enjoy being an ass?"

I grin at him. "Kinda. Yeah."

He huffs, and his shoulders curl in. "I bit her. I took everyone's choice away from everyone. How can I even be trusted around her?"

"Just to clarify, you don't think you're going to hurt her, do you?"

He looks at me, so aghast, that all my concerns die. "Of course, not. I just do stupid things like bond her without her consent."

"Oh, that. Yeah. I think you're the only one who's upset about it, to be fair. And, hey, lucky you, you can only do it the once. Not like you can bond her multiple times."

I can feel Ian's glare into the side of my head, but I don't turn to look at him or respond.

"Are you going to explain that at all?"

"Well, Ian, have you ever thought that when we all met each other, there was this instant connection? Brandy came to us covered in the stench of other alphas, and her rudeness was off-putting right from the start. But Silver's scent was pleasant. She was fun. We were friends. Instant friends. Remember? You chased her down and brought her to us."

"I remember," Ian says tersely.

"Maybe Silver is our second chance. I mean, you saw her dying, and you didn't hesitate. Your instincts took over to save her. Somewhere deep under all the pain you feel from being rejected by both the omegas in our lives, you still want her, you still care."

Ian winces. He opens his mouth and closes it as if he's trying to think of something to say but can't quite push it out.

As if summoned by our conversation, Silver walks into the room, pausing when she sees us. Her hair is loose, and her cheeks turn pink.

"Morning, beautiful."

The blush deepens, to my delight.

"Hi."

"Good morning, Silver," Ian says in a deep voice. I can hear the nerves in his tone, but she wouldn't be able to notice it.

"Hello, Ian."

She stares at him, and I sip my chocolate, amused by the tension and the way they can't take their eyes off each other.

"Ian was just saying that he'd like to take you into his work and show you around if you'd like. He designs computer games. Very cool!"

Ian jerks his head to me, then just as quickly, looks back at her.

"You do?"

"I do!"

They say the words almost on top of each other.

"Really?" Silver asks.

"Yes. I mean, I'd love to show you where I work. If you're interested. Of course. I mean, you don't have to, but, like…you could come, and we could have lunch."

Silver's eyes are huge. Her lips parted. I lean across the bench.

"Silver." Her eyes dart to me. "Say yes."

She jerks. "Yes. Of course, yes. I'd love to."

"Okay," he says and blinks.

"Okay," she repeats after him, her cheeks still stained red.

I smirk at the two of them. "Okay."

Silver jerks, abruptly nods, turns around, and starts walking away.

"Wait! Silver, what were you looking for?" I call out with a mocking laugh.

She pauses, turns back, and then marches back towards us, coming behind the island. Her cheeks turn this delicious red colour as she pours a glass of water.

We watch as she drinks it, though I wonder if she's going to choke on it, but she finishes and sets the glass in the sink, and then calmly walks out of the room. Like nothing just happened and that wasn't the most awkward moment ever.

"Where are you going, Silver?"

She stops, startled. "I have to get ready."

"Yes. I do, too," Ian says, but his voice doesn't sound certain. I lean against the island and watch as Ian, too, retreats from the room.

A smile plays on my lips.

Today is going to be a good day, I just know it.