“Look at me,” I say, bringing her downcast eyes up to mine. I search her gaze, not liking that I don’t have answers to where this is coming from. Why Brooks needs her words, and she is clearly uncomfortable about what to call me. “What’s this about, Sage?”
She looks down again, fingers twisting together in her lap. “I’ve just always been taught to call them ‘alpha’ to show respect and submission.”
“Hmm,” I say. I suspect she wasn’t truly respecting or submitting to whoever these alphas are, but rather complying out of a sense of duty and survival. “I don’t need you to show me your respect or submission. Not in that way, and not until I earn it. You can call me alpha if you want, but I’m happy with Vee or Neveah, too.”
“Okay,” she whispers, not seeming convinced.
I offer a gentle smile, then raise my hand again.
“May I, Sage?”
She returns my smile this time with a shy one of her own. “Yes, Vee.”
I cup her cheek and slowly brush one thumb along her cheekbone. Then I thread my fingers into her wavy hair and gently scratch my nails along her scalp. Sage’s eyes roll back in her head and she leans into my touch, eyelids fluttering.
“Perfection,” I murmur.
My lips spread into a satisfied smile, although my heart pangs with how clearly touch-starved she is. I can sense her omega needing more, I just hope she lets us give it to her.
“Welcome home, sweet omega,” I say.
Sage’s eyes pop open in surprise, but I don’t give her a chance to contradict my statement. I snag a muffin from the basket on the counter and press it into her hand.
“Fresh from the bakery this morning,” I say. “Do you have any allergies? Food sensitivities?”
“I don’t think so,” she says.
“Good,” I say, nodding at the muffin. “Eat it, then we’ll give you a tour if you’d like.”
I stand and walk to the fridge. “Orange juice, apple juice, tea, or water?”
Sage doesn’t answer until I turn around and raise my eyebrows at her. She glances at Brooks and Riley, who have been quietly watching the exchange.
“Um, water?”
I fill a glass from the fridge filter and set it in front of her, then turn to the cupboard and pull out a mug and hot chocolate mix. My thoughts race as I try to figure out the best course of action, how to set her at ease.
“Brooks, Riley? You two want anything?” I’m hoping she’ll relax if I take some of the attention off of her. Brooks goes to shake his head, but I raise an eyebrow and dart my eyesat Sage with my back to her. He changes his mind and snags a banana from the fruit basket. My heart jumps at the implications of him conceding to me so easily.
“I’ll have some tea,” Riley says, glancing at Brooks. “Chamomile, maybe?”
I grin at him and wink, then turn to make his tea alongside Sage’s hot chocolate.
When I set it in front of her, she stares at it with wide, unblinking eyes.
“Oh, what… What is it?”
I blink once, doing my best to keep my expression neutral. Riley squeaks, quickly turning it into a cough as he sputters into his tea.
“Hot,” he says when Sage looks over at him, gesturing to the mug and then fanning his mouth.
“It’s hot chocolate. Give it a sip, see what you think,” I say.
Sage eyes it skeptically, and I guess if you’ve never had it before, it does look a little unappetizing. Brownish grey with bits of dark brown floating on top? Hmm.
She sniffs it, then takes a tentative sip and immediately hums in appreciation. It sends a zing of pleasure down my spine, and Riley shuffles in his seat at her moan when she takes a longer sip.
None of us say anything, though, not wanting to diminish her pleasure or risk her stopping. When they’ve all finished their snacks, we take Brooks and Sage on a tour, showing them the guest rooms where they’ll be staying and where anything they might need is kept.
