She picks at the pancakes Luc makes her, sucking strawberry juice off her fingers and making us all shift in our seats.
She has no fucking idea how tempting she actually is.
I frown as she pushes away her plate, leaning back in her chair. Most of the food has been left untouched. Glancing to Max, I see him watching Ava too, his mouth turned down at the corners, but he doesn’t say anything.
“Thank you, Luc.” Ava’s eyes flit around the kitchen. “Where’s Leah?”
“With Nash,” I answer. Leah has been watching Nash for the last few days. I’ve managed to get out to put him to bed and do some schoolwork with him yesterday, but I know he’s curious about where I’ve been. And truthfully, I’d like him to meet Ava. Especially if she might stay.
Ava bites her lip. “I’d like to meet him,” she ventures shyly.
Warmth spreads in my stomach. “He’d love to meet you too,” I say quietly. “Whenever you’re ready.”
When she smiles back at me, arealsmile, I force myself not to lean over and drop a kiss on those plump lips. This omega is well and truly under my skin. She shifts in her seat and our attention zeroes in on her, making her blush and drop her gaze to the table.
“I was thinking,” she starts, her voice soft. “Will you tell me a little bit more about you? All of you?”
“I’m an open book. Ask anything you want, love,” Bastien declares, but there’s a hint of worry as his gaze flicks to mine before moving away.
Rubbing my suddenly clammy hands on my pants leg, I push away the empty feeling in the pit of my stomach. It’s good that she’s asking. It means she’s interested in us, but damn if I don’t want to head straight out of that door and hide somewhere until this conversation’s over.
Ava wrinkles her nose at Bastien. It’s a quirk I’ve noticed before, and it’s adorable.
Deep breaths, Nikolai. This will be fine.
“Okay,” she says hesitantly. “Where are you from?”
“We’re all from Oregon,” Bastien responds, after a quick glance at Luc. “Luc and I grew up next door to Max and Leah, and Nik was across the street.”
She grins. “That’s sweet. So you always knew you’d be a pack?”
This time, everyone looks at me, and I want to kick myself when Ava’s smile dims a little as she picks up on the tension.
“I’m sorry,” she mumbles. “I didn’t mean to—,”
She falls silent as I reach out and tap her hand. “It’s fine, little bird.”
Shooting her a crooked smile, I take a deep breath before looking to Max. He nods, jaw tense as he stares at the table. This story isn’t pleasant for either of us.
“We were all born before the war but when the birth rates had already started to drop,” I tell her. “We met when our parents moved to one of those gated neighborhoods.”
Ava looks between us, confused. “Gated neighborhoods?”
“They popped up after the beta adoption process was introduced, mimicking the old-style American neighbourhoods where children played on every street corner,” explains Max. “It was a way for betas to raise their adopted kids in a way that gave them social contact with other children.”
Clearing my throat, I continue.
“Luc, Bastien and Max created a pack first. I joined later.”
I can sense her confusion without even looking.
“I… I met someone. You know how most packs normally go through the omega application process, or they steer clear and meet a beta partner instead?”
Her confusion clears, replaced by curiosity. “So, you met a beta?”
Her tone sounds a little sorrowful, likely picking up on the undercurrents of our conversation. But her scent spikes when I shake my head. “Emery was an omega.”
“An omega?” Ava’s eyes widen. “How is that possible? Wasn’t she in the compound?”
