A snort comes from the chair next to me. “What kind of bullshit is that?”
She waves a hand at me. “You can take care of her just as much as an alpha. What, because you’re not built a certain way biologically, you can’t help her?”
I drag a hand over my face. “Not like them,” I insist.
“Well, you’re right. You can’t help her like this. You need to pull your head out of your ass and realize that you’re just as important as the rest of us.”
Her words hit me like a punch to my solar plexus. “When did you get all wise and shit? Did Nik put you up to this?”
Leah laughs. “No, this is all me. I know a little something about living with a group of alphas.”
She points to the door. “Now get up to that house and help your girl and your pack.”
My throat feels thick. “Thanks, Lee,” I say quietly.
She raises her mug to me in a salute as I leave the room, heading back up to the main house. The stars flicker overhead, lighting the ground in soft shades of gray.
As I walk into the house and up the winding stairs, the combination of scents hit me like a punch to my solar plexus.
Holy shit.
Okay. Deep breath. Just go in.
Bracing myself, I push the door open and walk inside.
Luc sits up in the pile of blankets and cushions spread across the floor, his hair a mess and his forehead wrinkling.
“Where the hell have you been?” he gripes. “Get in here.”
I toe my shoes off, leaving them with the others at the door, and pick my way across the soft floor.
Reaching my pack, I debate for a second. Luc and Nikolai are on either side of Ava, their arms wrapped carefully around her. Bundles of clothing are scattered haphazardly everywhere. Max sits against the wall, his expression indecipherable.
Luc scoffs and yanks me down. “Swap out with me,” he says. “She’ll need all of us.”
I carefully move into the warm space, my eyes tracing Ava’s closed eyes. “She’s sleeping?” I whisper. Luc nods.
“Fell asleep around an hour ago. It feels… more natural than how she was before.”
My hand lifts, gently touching her hair, stroking down the soft curls that bounce around my fingers. It feels instinctive to move my hands down, slowly stroking her arms and face until she shifts, rolling into me with a sigh. I breathe in her scent, a little softer now, and something loosens in my chest. Exhaustion threatens, the lack of sleep finally catching up to me.
Closing my eyes, I drift off with our omega in my arms.
ChapterThirty-Three
Ava
Awareness filters in slowly.
Warmth under my cheek. Silky softness against my skin, the scent of sandalwood, sage, apple pie and gingerbread mixing in the air. It’s not an unpleasant mix, and my chest flips a little. Then I register the soft rise and fall of breath against my hair.
My eyes fly open, and I come face to face with an alpha’s chest pressed against me.
Letting out a small squeak, I glance up into Luc’s sleeping face. His dark hair falls over his eye as he shifts slightly, and I freeze as warm arms tighten around me.
What the hell is happening here?
I wait for the inevitable freak-out. My heart pounds, but I don’t feel that sense ofpanicI expect.
