My eyes burn with tears.
What’s happening with Bird?
Is he truly okay? He shouldn’t be spending the holidays with some Alpha owner of a model agency as a heat Omega.
Will the Alpha care whether a HO is unwell? Control himself if Bird faints?
What if my brother needs a doctor?
What if he…?
I can’t think it.
Bird is my brother, best friend, and partner in crime.
The Will Scarlet to my Robin Hood.
Despite the perfect pack and nest (maybe because of them), I am still awake in the early hours, as my mind buzzes with worry at the thought that my brother is in a presidential suite just like this one, only he hasn’t received a HEA like I have.
Except, until I am standing in that board meeting and can look my stepmom in the face as I steal everything from her as she once stole it from my dad, I won’t have my true fairy tale.
Until I can then share that wealth with the rest of the staff.
Robbing from the rich to give to the poor is going to be fucking satisfying.
I pull a crisp shirt to my nose, sniffing Lionzio’s citrus scent to calm myself.
The large bedroom lies in shadows.
Moonlight breaks through the open drapes from the arched window that leads at the far side out onto a balcony. It lights the black and white chessboard tiles on the floor, oversized bronze chandelier, and original antique furniture.
A vast canvas, painted by Leo Knight, hangs on the wall of a simple, elegant birdcage but without any bird inside; the door is ajar, as if the bird has just flown to its escape.
The giant bed has a tall, upholstered headboard, which is printed with repeated snowflakes, as if we’re caught in a snowstorm.
Piper is wrapped around Icarus like a tiny koala bear.
His silver curls are splayed out on Icarus’ chest, and his nose is firmly pressed to his new Alpha’s scent gland.
He’s lightly purring as he sleeps.
Adorable.
My lips twitch.
Piper may be naturally a leader, but I’ve been around a lot of Omegas, and Piper also has strong Omega instincts. I love how open and accepting he is of them. He can be strong without feeling that he needs to reject his inner Omega.
I frown, however, as I assess the dark bruise, which is turning to black down Icarus’ side.
When the other pack members saw it, they froze.
Zero paled, laying his fingers carefully on it, as if mapping out the ghost of the hit that Icarus took. “A cane. Thick too.”
“I hate that you know that.” Icarus caught Zero’s hand between his.
“Me too,” Zero muttered.
“Who am I killing?” Lionzio’s gaze hardened.
