“Fucking assholes,” he seethes. His fist slams into the wall plaster, sending flakes of paint floating into the air. He pulls his arm back for another punch and I grab him.
“What is it?” I say urgently. “Is it Ava?”
He snarls at me, which I take as a yes, and my head swivels to the kitchen door. “Tell me,” I urge Luc. The words drag from his throat, accompanied by growls and snarls until his rage seeps into my own pores.
Hasn’t she fucking been through enough?
I stumble back, rubbing a hand over my face. “Jesus, Luc.”
He turns his face to me. “I know.”
I catch a hint of scent as he turns, and my stomach flips. “Did you two…”
He nods. “Last night.” The words are guttural. “I thought… she seemed fine.” He paces around the room. “She seemedhappy.”
I stare towards our omega, wondering what’s going through her mind. “And the Winter pack are coming tomorrow?”
Luc nods. “I just…” he swallows and looks away. “I fucking hate that she has to live in this world, Nik.”
The words hit me in the solar plexus. I’d once said the same about Em. Luc looks up at me as his words register.
“Fuck, Nik,” he shakes his head. “How did youcope?”
I swallow, taking a seat next to him. “It was hard,” I admit. “When Em awakened…”
I’d never forget that day. The way her voice shook, and she’d retreated into herself. Her juniper berry scent bursting from her. Max and Leah’s panic as we all sat around the table, desperately working out ways to keep Emery hidden from the eyes of the Omega Compound.
“You remember,” I say roughly. “You were there, Luc.”
He nods. “I remember. And I loved Em, Nik. She was like a sister to me. But this need inside me… it’s crippling. I can’t fucking cope with the idea of Ava being hurt. And she’s already been hurt so many fucking times…,” Luc’s voice breaks and he swipes an arm over his eyes.
“I just want to keep her safe,” he forces out, and I nod. “I know, Luc,” I murmur quietly. “I feel the same way.”
Uneasiness swirls as I say the words, and Luc stares out of the window towards the lake, his face bleak.
“She has to hide for the rest of her life,” he whispers.
The realities of the omega creed are hitting home.
Luc schools his face as Nash bursts back through the door, clutching dozens of sticks. He drops them in my lap triumphantly. “Good job, little man.” I smile at him sadly, taking in Emery’s eyes staring back at me.
We’re all legacies of the omega creed, in the end.
Nash looks between me and Luc, his mouth twisting down. “What’s wrong?” he asks, his little eyes too observant for his own good.
Luc forces a smile. “Nothing, Nash. That’s a good haul.”
We get to our feet, and I look down at Nash, wondering how to explain that Ava won’t be coming to the lake today, and forcing down the tiny seed of disappointment at not seeing her.
The kitchen door swings open behind me as Luc springs to his feet, and I turn to see Ava and Max emerging. Ava’s face is pale and wan, but she manages to smile at Nash as he dashes to her side.
“Hi, buddy,” she says quietly. “Where are you going?” Her keen eyes flicker to the basket and my face. Opening my mouth, I try to explain but Nash gets there first.
“We were coming to get you!” he declares proudly. “We made you a picnic, and we’re going to the lake to swim!”
Heat prickles across my neck and Luc and Max turn to look at me. Ava’s mouth twitches at the corner.
“Is that right?” she says to Nash. “I don’t have a bathing costume, though.”
