“Is it okay that I fell asleep in here?” Worry is still tingling through me, ready to flare at the slightest provocation.
“It’s more than okay. I loved getting to hold you all night.” Brooks’ voice is deep and warm, the coziest voice I could imagine.
“Okay,” I say, my cheeks heating.
Brooks is much sweeter than I expected him to be, and I don’t entirely know how to respond to it.
“Shall we get some breakfast?” he asks.
“Not yet, alpha daddy.” I wrap my free arm around him and tug myself closer, resting one cheek against his hard pec. “More cuddles first.”
He heaves a sigh as he wraps his arms around me, but I’m absolutely positive it’s overly dramatic, and that he secretly loves the nickname.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Brooks
We’re sitting around the dinner table a couple days later when Vee’s eucalyptus scent sharpens, and she clears her throat to gain our attention.
“Sage,” she says, eyeing her carefully. “I did some research about the missing person’s poster and how we can best protect you.”
Sage sets down her utensils and I cringe, wishing Vee had waited until she was done eating to bring this up.
“Okay,” Sage says, her voice hesitant.
“I found an omega safety hotline where we can report the poster as being false, and get on record that you left intentionally to escape a dangerous situation.”
My eyes scan Sage’s body, taking in her tense shoulders and shallow breaths, the fact that her hands have disappeared beneath the table. I hope she’s not picking at her nails.
“I was wondering if you’d call with me,” Vee continues, reaching out to grasp Sage’s hands in hers. “If you’d rather talk to them alone, of course that’s okay, but I’m happy to help. Ireally think it would be good to be proactive, and this is one of the only ways we can.”
Sage nods, her eyes downcast.
“Petal?” I say.
She wrinkles her nose, and my eyebrows shoot up when she darts me a quick glare from under her lashes. Surprise lights along my nerves and my worry lessens. The fact she feels she can glare at me during a serious conversation is definitely growth. A pleased hum rumbles in my chest because that means she must feel safe with me—with us.
“Okay,” she says, turning to Vee. “Can we call just me and you? Later? I’d rather it not be a whole thing.” She waves her hand around, scrunching her nose again.
“Of course, sweet girl.” Vee drags her knuckles down Sage’s jaw, then lightly brushes her thumb over Sage’s lower lip. “How about we put that on the task list for this weekend?”
“Yeah, okay,” Sage sighs, pouting as she picks up her fork again and pushes her food around the plate.
“Keep sticking that cute little lip out,” Vee says, leaning forward and lowering her voice. “And someone might bite it.”
She nips Sage’s lip, and Sage gasps. Her eyes fly wide and her fork clatters on the plate, then flips and clangs onto the floor. Her perfume explodes around us and I groan.
“Aw, no fair,” Riley says. “I want a piece of Sage’s lips.”
Vee smirks as she leans back in her seat, legs spread wide, tongue darting out to lick the corner of her mouth with her eyes still locked on Sage, who is now panting. And that reminds me… I clear my throat, knowing I need to bring up a topic that’s been on my mind more and more lately.
“Not to interrupt or throw too many hard conversations at you at once, but I do think there’s another thing we should address. You said your heat would be here soon, right?”
She tenses again as her eyes lock onto mine, and I offer a reassuring smile.
“We have no expectations of you, but I think I speak for all of us when I say we want it to be a good experience for you. I get the feeling your previous heats… haven’t been.” I stumble over the words, putting lightly how horrendous her previous heats must have been for her.
Her brows pinch and she frowns, eyes fixed on her half-eaten food. I glance at Vee, and she nods for me to continue, but I get the sense pushing the heat topic will send Sage running. We haven’t talked about this, but I’m glad to see Vee and I are on the same page in understanding that we need to. I’m sure she’s been counting the days, just like I have.
