Istretched out in the wide first-class seat. “Airplane travel is my new favorite mode of transportation. It might even beat being on the bike.”
Bear’s head popped up over the divider between our seats, a scowl on his face. “Baby, this is sonotrepresentative of normal flying. I would say don’t get used to it, but it’s not like Henry or Gray would ever travel in anything other than first class.”
Gray adjusted the sleeves of his button-down shirt and muttered, “I’ve flown business a few times.”
I grinned, still not believing he had dressed up for an eight-hour flight. The only one dressed more formally was Henry, who was sporting slacks, a dress shirt, and a tie. A freakingtie. Bear, Liam, and I were all in sweatpants.
“I’ve only flown once, and they put me in coach. I thought I was going to break the seat,” Liam said, shifting in his reclining seat that even now looked small compared to him.
“Where were you flying?” I asked.
“To Terra province for a fight,” he said. “They were offering a massive championship pot, so I decided to go for it.”
“Did you win?”
A satisfied smile spread across his face, and I thought I caught him flexing his arms. “Fuck yeah, I did. Had enough money to buy an extra seat on the flight home.”
Henry reached across the aisle, trailing his hand down my arm. I curled up in my seat, facing him, and he entwined his fingers with mine.
“You happy?” he mouthed.
I nodded. His eyes were soft as he lifted my hand to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to my skin. Deep down, I still couldn’t quite shake my guilt that I didn’t deserve this trip, not after the stunt I pulled. More insidious still was the voice that told me I didn’t deserve my pack. The morning after I snuck out, we’d sat down and talked through everything. They told me they had never meant to suggest the only future we had together was one where I was cured, and they forgave me for sneaking out. I told Gray he should keep the tracking on my phone. He agreed—not because he didn’t trust me, but because he wanted it there for my safety.
My guys were genuinely excited about the trip, and to be withme. I was doing my best to let their sweet words and actions penetrate the firm shield I’d built around my heart—the one that said I should expect to be left by those I loved.
Henry’s phone alarm went off and he relinquished my hand to reach inside his bag, a soft rattle filling the air as he took out my pill container. He took out the PM meds and handed them to me. I held them for a moment, the little reminders that I was still sick weighing heavily in my palm, before I swallowed them down in a single gulp.
“Good girl,” Gray said. I glanced up, realizing he’d been watching me. When our eyes met, he crooked his finger. I joined him in his seat pod, and he crushed me to his chest as if he couldn’t stand the tiniest bit of distance between us. I ran my nose down the column of his throat, inhaling his scent and allowing its earthiness to ground me.Mine, my omega said. Iclosed my eyes, tightening my hold on my alpha as his steady heartbeat sounded in my ear. The enormity of being mates was slowly sinking in. As more time passed, the panic I’d felt at the realization was joined with a giddy excitement. This is what I’d always dreamed of as a child, and I was trying to accept that maybe some of my dreams could come true.
Gray cupped the back of my neck with a feather-light touch, always careful not to aggravate my tumor. His other hand moved down my thigh before gripping my leg tightly, his fingers digging into my skin through my sweatpants.
“How’s the pain, love?”
I shivered at his touch and he grinned, knowing exactly the effect he had on me. He squeezed my leg, prompting me to answer him. My guys had all made it very clear I wasn’t to hide my pain from them, even though being honest still made me squirm. But then I breathed in Gray’s scent, and it washed away the dark voices that saidburden, faker, pathetic omega.
“Five out of ten,” I said.
His brow furrowed with concern, and he turned to Henry. “Get her an extra dose of pain meds.”
“It’s not that bad,” I protested, but neither listened to me. Henry pressed another pill into my hand, and I took it with a pout.
Gray traced my bottom lip. “You have meds now. You need to use them.”
“But they make me sleepy,” I grumbled. I had my pain management appointment a couple of days ago and was prescribed an entire pharmacy of pain meds and anti-nausea pills.
“Good thing you can sleep all you like for the next few hours,” he said, kissing my forehead.
I wrinkled my nose. “Stop being so reasonable.”
Gray chuckled, stroking his hands soothingly down my back. My eyes drifted shut even as I fought my fatigue. I didn’t want to miss a moment of my first flying experience, but I loved being in Gray’s arms.
I trailed my hand down his chest.
“Gray?”
“What, princess?”
“I love you,” I breathed.
