I reach for my throat, fingers tracing the thin scar that circles my neck. I feel the phantom bite of leather. Axel tightening it. Making me crawl to him. Making me—
No.
I slide my fingers up, find Espie's bonding bite instead. The raised tissue where her teeth broke skin, where she claimed me, where I chose her, right over the marks Axel's collar left behind. Her claim covering his damage.
Warmth spreads from the scar, down my spine. The bond hums, and I swear I can smell gardenia rising from the healed skin. My shoulders drop. I didn't know I was holding them so tight.
There are a few problems with my upcoming heat. I’m going to need male alphas, and there’s a high chance mine will trigger Espie’s too. I have known a good pack of caring alphas who I’ll miss every single day, but she’s known nothing but trauma.
I wish we had another life. One where I was an alpha and I could tend to her the way she needs. But that’s wishful thinking and this is reality.
She stirs against me, makes a soft sound, burrows closer.
“You're thinking too loud,” she mumbles against my collarbone.
“Sorry.”
“Mmm. Stop it.” She sinks her teeth into my collarbone, the vicious little thing. “Are you getting up?” She says when I move my arm from beneath her.
“I’m going to the kitchen for food. I’ll bring some up if you want to keep sleeping.”
She makes a sound that might be approval, might be sleepy protest. Her scent deepens with contentment as she settles back into the blankets. I frown because she should have slept long enough already. This is a sign I can’t ignore.
Her body and mine are definitely preparing for our heats.
I press my lips to her hair, slip out of the nest, dress in some low slung sweats and head downstairs.
Ezra is already in the kitchen when I step through the doorframe. He looks up when I come in, and his eyes crinkle at the corners.
“Good morning.” His hungry gaze roams over my bare chest before snapping back to my face. A tinge of pink heats his cheeks. “Are you hungry? Can I make you something?”
These alphas. Always stepping over themselves to make us comfortable. The tension running through my shoulders eases. Beyond the window, Kev and Lex are working on the patio frame. It’s enclosed with glass now, but they’re installing a door that can open the entire wall facing the backyard.
“I was going to make something. For me and Espie.”
“Have a seat.” He sets his mug on the counter. “Let me do this. As your alpha.”
As my alpha. The word doesn’t slap me the way it usually does. My stomach only twists a little. Enough for me to breathe through the urge to find the closest blanket and burrow down. Not that those ridiculous omega urges ever helped. If they did, I’d burrow under a cannon. Or a flame-thrower. Something big and bad enough to fight off alphas who—
A cramp twists through my lower belly as I settle into the seat, sharp enough to steal my breath. I grip the edge of the table until it passes.
“Hey.” Ezra's already moving, spatula down, half-turned toward me. “Are you alright, Aubrey?”
The way he's looking at me. Like he's already calculating the fastest route to the nest, or the chair on the patio, somewhere he can tuck me in and stand guard. It's a lot. Too much, maybe. I wave a hand at him.
“I'm okay.”
He doesn't move. Just watches me, checking, the way he does, like he's reading something underneath my words.
“You'll tell me if you need anything?” His voice is steady. “I'm here for you.”
His scent reaches me then. Fresh linen and something warmer underneath, woodsmoke. Clean and rich and not asking anything from me. My shoulders drop a little.
“It was just a twinge.” I manage a smile. “I'm okay now.”
He holds my gaze for one more beat. Then he turns back to the pan. He doesn’t believe me but he’s not pushing.
“What are you planting out there?” He's whisking the eggs now. “I saw the new pots arrive yesterday.”
