“What’s this?” he asks, lifting one of the figures.
We both look at the scattered parade of figurines decorating my workbench, one for each of us. “Nash asked me for something new to play with.”
I turn my back to Luc and move over to mess around with my paint, hating the pity I see on his face as he picks up a redheaded female figure.
A moment later, he places his hand on my back. “I’m sorry. I know this is hard. I shouldn’t be making it worse.”
I turn back to him, fondness creeping into my expression as I look into his forlorn green eyes. “You’re not. It is hard, but Max is doing what he needs to. And if he’s helping an omega, then he can take the time he needs. He knows when the meds run out, and we have time, Luc. You should put more faith in him.”
Luc winces slightly. “I know. I was an asshole in the kitchen.”
I raise my eyebrow at him, but I won’t deny it. He was, and he knows it.
Luc knows that I would never refuse an omega in need. Not after Emery.
Familiar pain punches me in the gut.
They say that time heals all wounds. I say they’re full of fucking shit. If anything, mine has festered, leaving an Emery-shaped hole in my heart. And the only one who has a chance of filling it is—
“Papa!”
A crash announces Nash’s arrival and I catch my son in my hands, swooping him into my arms before he can cause any more chaos.
“Nash, you know you can’t run around in here.” I bop him on the nose as he cringes and slides out of my arms, a crestfallen look on his face as he rights the stool he just knocked over.
“Sorry, papa. Aunt Lee asked me to come and get you and Luc. Uncle Max is on the phone!"
Luc flies out of the room before I can do more than blink. Nash stares at the space he leaves behind, his mouth open a little.
“Papa,” he whispers. “I think Uncle Luc has magic powers.”
Snickering, I grab him and carry him out of the workshop, swinging him up onto my shoulders as we follow Luc’s path to the pack house. Leah paces on the veranda, chewing on her lip as her hands grip her elbows. Nash waves to her enthusiastically, and she offers us a wan smile in return.
“I’ll take him.” She nods her head at Nash. “I think Luc’s gonna blow a gasket unless you calm him down.”
A frustrated bellow echoes out of the doorway behind her. Nash’s eyes widen, and I nudge him toward Leah.
“Go and finish your schoolwork, Nash. I’ll come and get you when we’re done.”
He drags his feet, glancing behind him as Leah takes his hand and they move in the direction of her cabin. My breath constricts as I watch his little legs trudge along.
We all try so hard, but he’s getting to the age where it’s obvious he’s missing out. Social interaction, kids his own age. I wonder for a second if we did the right thing in deciding to keep him away from society completely, rather than Bastien attempting to create a false record for him.
Another shout pulls my attention back to the house. When I get to the kitchen, Luc gives me a look and points to the phone before throwing his hands up. “He’s lost his damn mind!”
“Niko’s here, Max,” Bastien announces, leaning back in his seat and rolling his eyes at me.
Luc stares at me with a pained gaze, his face filled with trepidation. A prickle runs up my neck.
“What is it?” I demand. “What’s wrong?”
Max’s voice sounds strained over the speaker. “It’s the omega, Nik.”
I straighten at his somber tone, fists clenching on the walnut wood of our table. “How’s she doing?”
I won’t admit that Max’s omega hasn’t been far from my thoughts since our first conversation.
The silence stretches out before he speaks, his voice rough. “She’s awake, but she’s weak. They want to remove her from the hospital and take her to a secure location for monitoring until the twins can be removed by surgery.”
