“That’s all you have to say? ‘Ah?’” I snap.
He doesn’t admonish me for it. If anything, he worries more, scooting his chair around the table so he can be close to me.
“Is it the other omegas?” he asks softly.
“No,” I grumble. “Yes. I hate that this is bothering me. You’remymate, and just their teacher, but I can’t… I can’t help it. I hate seeing them around you right now.”
He stands and presses a kiss to my forehead, each of my cheeks, the tip of my nose and finally my lips, a light kiss that has me wanting—needing—so much more from him. “I’m suspending lessons until after your heat.”
“You shouldn’t,” I say glumly, aware that I’m pouting and hating it. I’m more than secure in my bond with Ian. I know, without any shadow of a doubt, that he would never, ever stray. Never even look at another omega like he looks at me. But my approaching heat has made me…
“You’re territorial right now,” he murmurs, stroking my hair. “If anything, I like it. I like you possessive like this.”
“You do?”
He leans in and whispers in my ear. “It means you’remine.”
I let out a low whimper at that, suddenly wanting to be alone with my pack, far away from the castle.
“Finish your tea while I suspend lessons for now, then I’m taking you home, my darling. You need to rest before your heat, because I have such plans for you.”
“Ian,” I protest. “You’re winding me up on purpose.”
“Am I?” he asks innocently. “Winding you up?”
I give him a light shove. “You know you are. All right,suspend the lessons. I suspect the omegas will understand; they’ve been teasing me relentlessly.”
Despite my feverand the cramps in my womb, I don’t want to be intimate with my pack yet. I don’t even know what I want as I fuss with my nest over and over, Simon gamely passing me pillows and blankets. Marcus tends to me as he used to, supplying spells, heating pads and snacks.
“Adorable,” Simon murmurs. “You see how much he cares for you?”
I glare at him, not wanting to touch the subject of Marcus with my heat so close. I’ve already decided that Marcus won’t be part of my summer heat, that whatever we’re forming is too new, too raw.
Simon kisses my cheek. “Back in a minute, kit-kat. I’ve got laundry to steal.”
He disappears before I can chuck the pillow I’m holding at him, so used to my pre-heat orneriness that it doesn’t faze him in the least. I expect him to return with Cassian’s sweatpants, but instead he pulls a henley over my head and helps me into it, rolling the long sleeves up to my wrists. Wintry pine engulfs me, and something in me settles.
It settles even further when Simon drags me down to my imperfect nest and pulls me into his arms, holding me close.
Marcus isn’t my pack. I shouldn’t feel better in his clothes. And yet, I always have. How many times has he tugged his fisherman sweater over my head and rolled the cuffs up just like Simon did? It makes me grumpy, and even grumpier that Simon knew exactly what I needed. He’s been a step ahead of me about Marcus the entire damn time. I’m not so lost to my mood that I can’t appreciate it. My men take the best care of me, from my mates to Simon to Marcus.
I curl tight to Simon as he cards his fingers through my hair, lightly massaging my scalp. I shudder at the sensation and relax into my beta love, content with the scent of winter winds and pine in my nose.
When I still haven’t succumbed tomy heat the next day, Luca drags me out of my nest and onto the back of his bike. This time, Ian and Marcus follow us, Ian in his sleek coupe, Marcus in the SUV. I let the wind whipping by cool my heated skin while I drag Luca’s wine-and-cherries scent into my nose. Mingled with the scent of leather, the bike purring beneath us, it feels like coming home.
We pull into a gravel lot, the waves lapping at the beach below us, and I let out a contented sigh. The sea air makes me think of Cassian, as it always will, though the scent of the breeze off the harbor has nothing on his scent.
Luca helps me off his bike just as Ian pulls in, Marcus not far behind. My bad boy alpha helps me out of my helmet and hooks it on one of the handlebars of the bike, the red roses on the sides shining in the sun.
It’s a hot, nearly summer day on Deer Island, and my fever only heats me more. Part of me wants to whine and go back to the air-conditioned pack house, but I take Luca’s hand as we start down the sandy, winding path towards the beach.
The lupines are in bloom on the hills surrounding Northwest Harbor, splashes of blue, purple, and pink painting the hillsides in their summer colors. Across the harbor, we can see the ferry and other boats coming and going. Luca kicks off his boots and pulls off his socks the moment we hit the sandy beach, then drops to his knees to help me out of my low tops and socks. His touch lingers on the insides of mycalves, heating my blood. I groan, tossing my head back, realizing this isn’t a date at all. It’s one long tease.
“Come into the water with us,” Ian says, rolling his pants up to his knees. “It’ll cool you off.”
“You’re joining us?”
Normally Ian would hang back at the beach, sunscreen on his nose and that nose in a book.
