River grumbles as Mav takes a seat, pulling Skye onto his lap. Skye is home for the weekend, and honestly, I’m surprised they even came. The two of them are usually so busy with each other, everyone else falls by the wayside. It’s so fucking cute, the way they have to always be touching. I can’t stand it. Wish I had that. Then again, I have to do more than work to actually meet someone.
My mind winds back to Arbor, the way his body arched up to meet mine that night, the way he moaned, the way he simply gave in. It shifts to who he is now—prickly, stubborn, unwilling to bend. It’s so dichotomous that it’s almost sent me into a tailspin.
But at the same time, I’m so fucking intrigued.
My eyes catch my youngest brother’s, and Skye arches an eyebrow at me. I must have been staring into space.
Maybe I should ask him what he thinks about Arbor, since he’s also an omega.
I turn away, deciding to do it later. Now is about getting to know Fia and Rhodes, to learn more about them.
“I hear an accent,” Sage says to Fia, interrupting my thoughts. “Where are you from?”
“Oh, up north, actually. My parents are French Canadian. I grew up there.”
Sage gasps. “How fun! I had a pen pal there once. Lost track of him, actually. Wonder how he’s doing…” Sage pulls uphis phone and starts typing something into it, probably doing a quick search online to see what he can pull up.
“You should all visit sometime. I have a house in the Boreal Forest, actually. I’d love for you all to come.”
My dad offers a noncommittal grunt as River unhelpfully volunteers for us to all go this February.
“We could go skiing!”
I say nothing in response. I have no desire to travel up north, cabin or not. I like my place a little too much. And careening down slopes of ice and snow doesn’t appeal to me. I rather like my neck the way it is.
“The town is quite nice too,” Fia says with a grin. “And nearby is a clan that is absolutely lovely.”
Forest perks up at that. “What kind of clan?”
“Oh, alpha and omega, some betas too, actually. Les Lunes. They’re great. They have this ceremony each full moon, and it’s so fun, addictive really.”
“How so?”
Fia nudges her son. “Oh, I went a lot when I was younger, but Rhodes was just there last month. How would you describe it?”
He shifts in his seat and takes a sip of his beer. “Yeah, just a good time, really.” He peers over at my dad and shrugs. “Lots of sex and drugs. Lots of broken rules, I think. No one cares what you look like. Status doesn’t matter. It’s just kinda freeing. You can fuck whoever you want.”
My dad chokes slightly, and River gasps.
“That sounds amazing. Forest, you would love that.”
His cheeks darken. “Why the fuck would I like that?”
River shrugs as Forest glowers at him. I know he doesn’t want his shit aired to these strangers. But Rhodes doesn’t seem to notice how flustered my brother is.
“Yeah, it’s a good time. Not for everyone, but most people like just letting loose.”
“Kind of like the Heat Hunt here,” Maverick chimes in, and Rhodes eyes his mom.
“Never heard of it. What is it?”
All eyes move to me, and I sigh. I knew I shouldn’t have told River. I knew he’d let it slip, and it would get around.
“Yeah, uh.” I rub a hand across my jaw. “It’s what it sounds like. It’s an event each supermoon where alphas chase down the omegas, and you know…” I shift in my seat and refuse to meet anyone’s gaze.
“Drag them back to The Den,” River chimes in unhelpfully. “Knot them.”
I let out a small laugh. “Yeah, basically.”
