Yours sincerely,
Dean Rivers
I skim the rest of the email and sigh. “You know, it sucks that Grub was one of the main reasons I wanted to study here. But maybe Brackenwood will be better?”
“He can’t be any worse.” She grimaces then her face brightens. “You’ll have to thank Ren for me. He was so brave, stepping in like that and keeping his cool. I don’t think Carmen or Taj would’ve shown that level of restraint. What alphas will do for their omegas, right?”
Now feels like as good a chance as any to ask her about what it’s like to be bonded, so I decide to seize the opportunity.
“So…” I’m unsure how to pose the question. “I’m only courting the Silverwoods right now, but?—”
“You want to know what it’s like to be bonded?”
“Yes.” I’m relieved that I don’t have to spell it out. “I’ve never really spoken to a bonded omega properly before, and I have so many questions.”
“What do you want to know?”
We stroll over to a large piece of driftwood to sit down, giving us the perfect view of Sabs tumbling into the sand while trying to limbo.
“What does it feel like?” I ask. “Can you feel them all the time?”
“It’s a hard sensation to describe.” She gazes wistfully toward the lake. “I can sense their emotions, and they can feel mine, but you become used to it after a while. You have your ears pierced, right?”
“Yes, why?” My hands shoot to my crystal studs in panic. “Is that a problem?”
“No, nothing like that.” She laughs. “Do you remember when you first got them pierced? They hurt a bit, right? You have to clean them diligently, you’re conscious of where you sleep and try not to knock them. Well, bonding is similar. When you first bond, it’s intense. It’s hard to think about anything else. That’s why it's recommended you stay close to each other during the initial bonding period, because the separation is so difficult. Over time, you become used to the feeling. It settles, and you almost forget it’s there—just like your earrings—unless there’s something wrong. Does that make sense?”
It’s not the analogy I expected, but it helps put it into context. “Isn’t it overwhelming?” I press. “To feel them all the time?”
“I found it hard at the start.” A chilly breeze rolls in, and she rubs up and down her arms. “My alphas are strong-minded, as you’ve probably gathered.” She laughs fondly. “But they’re not always at the forefront of your mind, unless you really tune into them.”
“What about the connection between your alphas?” I question. “What was it like for them after you bonded?”
“It sounds corny, but you kinda become the center of their universe, which is an enormous responsibility to have,” she continues. “Because they’re all linked to you as their center point, their connections deepen. You already have a huge advantage with the Silverwoods as they’re a well-established pack, so it should make for a smoother transition. My situation was a little different.” She sighs, looking across the sand at her alphas, then her lips twitch up at the corners. “But everything worked out in the end.”
Her words give me some reassurance, but there’s still one more thing I’d like to know. “And the actual…” I cringe, feeling like I’m crossing a line by asking a personal question. Without wanting to say the word aloud, I mouth BITE, my gaze straying to her neck where she has three bonding marks. “Does it hurt? I’ve seen movies and read about it, but there are so many mixed experiences.”
“Hurt?” She smirks. “That’s one thing you don’t have to worry about. Trust me. If you’re with the right alphas, bonding will be one of the best things you ever experience.”
“There you are!” Delilah and Kady make their way toward us, flanked by Taj, who’s carrying Pina Coladas with mini umbrellas. “Let’s get this party started!”
I take a sip, smiling to myself. After my chat with Amora, the thought of bonding seems a lot less scary.
THIRTY-FIVE
Damon
I’ve taken on every extra shift since we officially started courting Faye. If it means spending less time in our house that’s gradually becoming filled with her scent, I’ll take it. Still, her scent spreads like wildfire; I can’t get away from it. If it’s not embedded in our sofa, it’s caught in Ren’s hair or wrapped in Cole’s shirt. It’s like a delicious but fatal smoke that lures me in. Yet if I inhale, I’ll suffocate.
“You’ve been keeping secrets, pussycat.” Rook nudges me. “Everyone’s talking about the Silverwood Pack courting, but you haven’t even told me about your omega.”
Friday is one of our busiest nights, and we’ve just finished our regular patrol of the beta blocks, where parties get pretty wild. We’ve already confiscated two bottles of absinthe and broke up three fights over nothing.
“There’s nothing to tell,” I mutter.
“Come on, pussycat!” Rook won’t drop it. “What’s she like?”
“I don’t want to talk about Faye, okay?” I snap.
