“Hmm.” Piper shrugs. “I love being warm in your arms. Nowhere I’d rather be. Well, apart from on the back of a motorcycle or maybe riding a roller coaster. Can we try those together next week?”
I chuckle. “Why the hell not? Maybe we don’t give our Alphas a coronary by telling them all our reckless plans at once?”
Piper and I are dressed in black leather trousers and matching chunky knitted elf Christmas sweaters.
Papa blushed as he presented the sweaters to us as his gift this morning. “I made one of these for the whole pack every Christmas because I didn’t have any money but I still wanted to show that I loved you all. I knitted one for you and Bird after…but Maya wouldn’t let them be sent down to you. I still hoped…”
My heart swelled.
I threw my arms around him, hugging him tightly. “I love you, Papa.”
Sometimes, it had felt like I had been forgotten by my family up in the penthouse.
But I never had been.
“I love you too.” Papa breathed in my scent deeply like he couldn’t believe that he was able to finally both hold me and smell my scent again. I forgot just how terrible it must have been for those left behind in my family. “I stayed up for the last week knitting the ones for your bonded pack as well. I want them to know how much I appreciate what they have done for us and how much they are part of the family.”
I love Piper for the way that he threw away his punk swagger without hesitation for the sake of my papa.
“This is awesome, sir.” Piper’s curls sprung out of the hole in the sweater like the branches of a silver tree reaching for the sun. “I love it. No one has knitted me anything before. My brother may have killed someone with a needle but not knitted anything with it.”
Papa blinked. “Well, then I look forward to meeting him.”
I laughed.
So, did I.
Piper’s brother is part of the Ferals pack, who sound both terrifying and awe-inspiring at the same time. His sister is an inspiration of an Omega. She is bonded to therealIdols pack, and like Piper, risks her life to save people.
Piper smoothed his hand down his green elf sweater. “Take a photo of me in this to send to him, yeah? He’ll probably put it up behind the counter of my coffee shop, Coffee Knot Tea. Do you want to come with us to visit the shop next week as well, sir? I can’t wait to show Gracie and make her a decent cup of coffee, no offense. I am the best barista in Virginia. My top contribution to this hotel will be turning it intothedestination for coffee in America.”
I smirked. “Big words.”
“Big talent.”
Papa pulled back from me, looking suddenly unsure. “Are you certain that you want me there, Piper? I’m only a Third Omega in a pack that is being shamed online in a viral scandal. Maya has been officially arrested, and the best lawyer in the world couldn’t get her off. The court of public opinion has already found her guilty, and the Frosts are being crucified, Ellington especially. We four Omegas don’t even have an Alpha of any kind, and there are calls for us to be taken in as wards of the state. Cooper is frightened but he didn’t want to bother any of you when you’re already working so hard to help the staff. Then there’s the search for my son…”
Terror shot through me.
I grabbed Papa by the elbows. “Firstly, I have abolished the First, Second, and Third shit. Everybody is equal. Secondly, I will find my brother and bring him home from the Institute.Thirdly, what the hell, Papa? There is talk of you being taken away? All of you?”
Papa nodded.
“It won’t happen.” Piper looked determined. “Icarus can take them officially into the Sinners pack. Then he will be their Head Alpha and have the say over them. No one will be able to match or bond them against their will, and no fucking government authorities can take them away.”
Papa’s eyes lit with hope. “Grace?”
Tears of happiness trembled on my eyelashes. “You’ll be safe in the Sinners pack. I know that beingsafewill be hard to believe. But you will befree.” Then I added, quietly, “Plus, if Dad and you never want to bond an Alpha again and openly love each other, then that’s your choice.”
Papa looked startled, before his expression crumpled.
He took my hand, taking deep breaths to steady himself. “Thank you.”
Now, I open my mouth for Zero to hand feed me a gingerbread reindeer cookie that Chris has baked. I munch on it merrily, as Zero kisses the crumbs off the corner of my lips.
Hisknitted sweater has a star on the front.
I peer over Zero’s shoulder at the ivory couches, which are flanked by tall vases of fresh flowers.
