Rhosyn exhales, following my stare. “Yeah, well, I’m sure your betrothal to Talis isn’t exactly making her decision easier.”
“I have a plan for that,” I say evenly, leaving no room for doubt.
Whether the Craddock wolves and Ashvale witches choose to follow me to Idaho or not, my alliance with Cathal and his daughter is finished. If losing them leaves my pack exposed, then so be it. I’ll find another way to protect my people. What I won’t do—what Ican’tdo—is stay bound to anyone who isn’t Noa, not for a single day longer than necessary.
She cuts me a sideways glance. “Cane said the same thing when I asked him. You’re both being cagey, vague assholes about whatever this supposed ‘plan’ is.”
“I’ve got it handled.” My mouth twitches, knowing another ambiguous answer will set her teeth on edge but I smooth it out. This isn’t the time to smirk. “It’ll be addressed in a fitting way.” And I can’t fucking wait to see Cathal’s face when he realizes I can also play his game.
“Fine. Whatever,” she huffs. “Keep your secrets, Fallamhain. I trust you.”
“I just need to convince Noa she can do the same,” I mutter, more to myself than her.
Rhosyn gives my upper arm a reassuring squeeze. “Pretty words are great and all, Nick, but it’s action that’s going to score you the brownie points you need to win her back.” She eyes me pointedly even though she’s not telling me anything I don’t already know or haven’t already said directly to Noa. “Please tell me you’ve also got a plan for that and you’re not justwingingit.”
“Don’t worry your precious little head.” This earns me a glare from her before I add, “I have ideas.”
Will they be enough, though?
That’s the real question.
“Thank the Goddess,” she teases. “Because I’m warning you now, if she doesn’t forgive you, I’m hers in the divorce. And then what are you going to do? You’d drown in the pack’s admin work before the week’s out if I weren’t here.”
I huff a quiet laugh, knocking her shoulder gently, because she’s right. We’d be lost without her keeping our asses in line. The sound doesn’t last, though. Movement across the flames catches my attention.
Cerys, the purple-haired alpha, approaches Noa and Seren and speaks quickly. Both women tense and nod before following her away from the row of burning pyres.
Just when I think she won’t, Noa looks back and catches my eye. She gives me a single, sharp jerk of her chin.
I don’t need words. I know what she’s saying.
The new omegas have arrived.
I wasn’t anticipatingit being a human waiting for us back at the manor with the new omegas.
We don’t hide what we are, but we don’t flaunt it either. Most humans know better than to involve themselves in our affairs. Fear of our animal nature usually draws the line for us, and when fear isn’t enough, their intolerance of anyone different finishes the job. In my twenty-eight years, I’ve never seen a human choose to step willingly into the darker corners of our world.
But this man has.
Hand outstretched, he steadies the shaken omegas as they climb down from his black panel van.
It’s another reminder of how far Thalassa’s reach stretched. She wove allies out of places most of us would never have thought to look—different species, different worlds, all united under one cause. If I wasn’t still nursing my bitter grudge at her for stealing my mate away before I could recognize her as mine, I may have felt more admiration for the woman. But awe is wasted on the dead. Instead, I’ll save it for the daughter she left behind.
Noa, riddled with her own pain and exhaustion, slips seamlessly into her role the moment the first omega appears.It's like a switch has been flipped and nothing else matters to her but them in this moment. Not me, not the devastation we’re still standing in the wake of, not even herself.All she sees are the new arrivals who clearly need her.
The first to step out of the van is a young woman who can’t be more than twenty-two.Red hair the color of a penny frames her round features, falling just to her collarbone. For a breath, she reminds me of Talis, butwhatever fleeting similarity I see dies quick. This omega bears scars a privileged brat like Talis would never know.Talis grew up sheltered, spoiled by her father. The omega wears the weight of survival in her eyes. She’s trying to conceal her fear behind a mask of courage, but even from my post near the porch steps, I see the way she trembles. I silently commend her for the way she keeps her voice steady when she gives Noa and Seren her name—Hattie.
The next figure out of the van halts us all. I feel Canaan freeze beside me, Rhosyn too, and I can’t blame them. Male omegas are more rumor than reality. They’re so rare that most shifters will never meet one in their lifetime. I’ve known only one myself, a council elder from my youth who’s long been buried.
The young man is slight—only a half a head taller than Noa. A mop of dark blonde curls tumbles into his eyes, and his too pale skin looks translucent under the glow of the porch light.He says nothing, his clasped hands fidgeting with anxiety, but Noadoesn’t waver. Doesn’t blink or faulter at his arrival. His head shakes, lips pressed together, when she asks if he needs anything—food, water, medical attention. His silence doesn’t discourage her. It only has her offering him a smile so soft it could melt steel. A smile I’ve never earned, but one that would ruin me if she ever turned it on me.
Eventually, after Seren and Noa have both introduced themselves, he finds his voice. “Elio.” That’s all he manages before his gaze catches where Canaan and I stand. Whatever courage he’d gathered crumbles instantly, and his body folds in on itself like he’s bracing for pain.
His reaction to us makes me sick to my stomach, and before we can step in to fix it, Noa is already moving. She closes the distance carefully but keeps her hands to herself. She won’t risk startling him more with unprompted touch.
Her voice is steady, warm as honey. “Elio. I know it’s not easy to believe yet, but I promise you, no one here will harm you. Not ever.”
Over her shoulder, Noa’s mismatched eyes catch mine, and the fragile thread that still binds us pulls taut at the weight of her attention. I understand the message behind her words. She might not trust me to not shatter her again, but she trusts me with them. Her Nightingales. She knows if it comes to it, I’ll stand between them and anything that threatens their safety.
