Emily
Biscuit takes to her new home like a honeybee to a banksia tree. It helps that Creed has planned ahead and purchased all the things she needs to survive, including an engraved food bowl, two scratching posts, a sleeping donut, three different kinds of kitten food, and an endless stack of pee mats for the bathroom floor. Watching him carry all that inside makes Lang laugh until his eyes are dripping, but for Soren, it’s clearly a case of love at first sight. And who can blame him? Watching his mountain of a mate fuss over a tiny bundle of fur is enough to melt even the most stoic heart into a pile of goo.
And then there’s Biscuit herself, who is more addictive than a packet of TimTams, especially when she starts to purr at a volume you can hear in the next room.
“That kneading action is called making biscuits,” Soren tells me, staring at the little cat with adoration in his eyes. We’re sprawled out on the nest, our newest addition to the pack lying between us and rhythmically sinking her claws into the comforter. “Of course, she’s already at Master Chef level.”
I grin at him and lean over the busy little baker for a kiss. Soren’s lips taste like spicy cherries, and I groan as I pull away. “I don’t know how I’m going to sleep tonight, I’m so excited.”
“I’m glad.” His fingers feather over my cheek, his eyes soft as they search mine. “Creed told me your meeting with your dad didn’t go well.”
“Yeah, it was even worse than I expected.” I bite my lip, residual anger at my father burning through my blood. “Did he tell you that he threatened you? I want you to know that he will never get his hands on you, Soren. My sister and I broke into his office so many times, we could probably bury him under all the dirt we found.”
Not that he really needs my help, since Finn could do a lot more damage to my father’s reputation than the stuff Dee and I dug up as kids, but it makes me physically sick to think that Soren could be in danger because of me.
I already rang Dee and told her what happened, including dad’s bombshell about paying mum a monthly allowance ever since he left us. She got really quiet after I shared that revelation, and I could almost feel her seething down the other end of the phone. Do I regret tossing mum under the bus for lying to us all these years? Not after she’s accused Dee of being a penny-pinching miser when she wouldn’t buy fresh flowers or an expensive bottle of perfume. In some ways, our mother’s hypocrisy has damaged our family even more than our father’s betrayal.
One good thing that came out of the phone call was Dee agreeing to bring Jacob out to the beach house for a visit. I’m nervous how she’ll react – both to my new living arrangements and to the mating bite on my neck – but I figure Biscuits might be the ace up my sleeve. Growing up, Dee wanted a pet as badly as I did, and at the very least I’ll be able to offer her a pocketful of cat hair to take home to mum.
“Yeah, Creed mentioned it,” Soren says as he flips Biscuit onto her back and kisses her belly, setting off another avalanche of purrs. “But I’m not worried about your dad or Vast Horizons.”
“Nor should you be,” Finn says as he walks into the room, his gaze so fierce it makes my pulse throb in my ears. “I’ll take care of it. You just enjoy your latest courting gift.”
I look down at Biscuit with wide eyes, and Soren gives a cackle of laughter. “I think Finn means the surprise he’s cooked up for you down in the kitchen.”
I peer up at the alpha, feeling suddenly shy. “You cooked for me?”
“Lang’s making a lasagne, but if you look in the larder, there’s something waiting for you.”
I raise my brows at Finn, but when he doesn’t say any more, I scoop Biscuit up and spring off the bed. My excitement is at boiling point as we hurry downstairs, but I still stop every few paces to steal another kiss from Soren’s lips. He groans on more than one occasion, backing me into the wall until Biscuit sinks her tiny claws into his chest and gives a hiss of protest. It’s so adorable, we’re both breathless with laughter as we finally stumble into the kitchen, Lang’s honey scent perfectly blending with the delicious aromas coming from the oven.
“A hot guy who makes pasta from scratch,” Soren muses, giving Lang’s cheek a pinch as he peers in the oven. “My nonna would adopt you in a heartbeat.”
Lang chuckles as he presses steaming garlic bread into our hands, but my attention is on Soren. “You’re Italian? No wonder you’re so drop-dead gorgeous.”
“ Grazie, bella. ” His accent is atrocious, and he drops me a cheeky wink. “I’m three-quarters bitser, though. Bits o' this, bits o' that.”
“And one hundred percent delicious,” I tell him, slipping past Lang to the pantry. There’s an impressive selection of honey on the shelves, but beyond that’s another door I haven’t got around to exploring yet. “Is this the larder?”
Lang shoots a grin over his shoulder that makes my toes curl. “Why don’t you go inside and find out?”
There’s no mistaking the heat in his voice and I push the door open, my eyes widening as I look around the surprisingly large room. It probably once served as cold storage for the original owners of the house, and while the shelving units are still there, a stove and workbench has been added, along with a round picture window that looks out onto the lavender bushes. The walls are clad in a pale gold stone and the floors are a glossy wood that glows like molten honey under the downlights. Vases of dried herbs and bottles of fragrance oils line the shelves, along with rows of glass jars, bags of wax beads, and all the paraphernalia you need to make candles. “Finn did all this?” I ask in a breathless whisper.
“Wow.” Soren’s hand curls around my ponytail as he steps up close behind me. “It smells amazing in here.”
“Lavender and beeswax,” I murmur as I pop Biscuit down on the floor, letting her scurry back into the kitchen to her food bowls. “I used to make candles in the basement. There’s nothing like carrying jugs of hot wax down three flights of stairs to give you a cardio workout.”
“Lang told me you like to make candles for Christmas,” Finn says from the doorway, and I turn to face him with flushed cheeks. “We have a shed near the apiary to harvest the honey, but I thought you might like something closer to home for your candles.”
“It’s perfect,” I reply, “And I’m happy to leave the honey-making to the professionals.”
It’s a fun but labour-intensive business, while candle-making is something that soothes me, even in the crummy basement of Dee’s apartment block.
“Is that what I think it is?” I drift over to the framed oil painting next to the window, my eyes growing round with shock. It’s a swarm of honeybees seen through a glimmering raindrop and the image immediately ignites a warm glow in my chest. “That’s a Viktor Rees,” I choke out. “It’s called The Honey Drop.”
“Is it?” Soren peers at the picture. “It sort of looks like a Vegemite smear to me.”
I can’t stop the strangled sound that climbs my throat. “I thought it was bought by the National Gallery. The rumour is they paid over a million dollars for it.”
“I like to support the arts,” Finn says quietly behind me, “but I like that look on your face more.”
I don’t know what to say other than to thank him, my mind whirling as I study the exquisite piece. I’ve seen it featured in countless art reviews over the years, but it’s even more mesmerising in person. Like looking into the heart of a hive and seeing that perfect balance of wild nature and industrious symmetry. Next to the mating mark on my throat, The Honey Drop is the most extreme symbol of the change that’s happened in my life, but it also says something about the man who gave it to me. If this is a courting gift, Finn Visser has reached deep into my soul, just as Lang has done with the golden origami bee on my bedside table.
“Do you have everything you need?” he asks when I finally come out of my trance. “There are wicks and measuring jugs in the cupboards.”
I approach the workbench, running a hand over the counter with its cute bee-embossed tiles. A quick inventory shows me I have more than I need to get started and the quiver of excitement starts buzzing under my skin again. “Do you want to help me?”
I include both men in the offer, but I’m still surprised when Finn crosses to the workbench, his eyes alight with curiosity. “I watched some YouTube tutorials, but I’ve never tried it before.”
I send a grinning Soren a startled glance before focusing back on the alpha. “Well, it’s quite simple, actually. We just need to heat the wax, stir in the fragrance oil, and then put it in our prepared jars. There are all sorts of other tweaks we can make, but I like to keep it fairly simple for Christmas.”
“Sounds good. So, where do we start?”
I direct them to choose the glass jars and fix the wicks in place while I measure out the wax beads and melt them in a pot on the stovetop. If I was doing a bigger batch, I’d probably do this part in the kitchen, but for our first effort, I don’t want to venture outside our warm little cocoon.
When the wax is at the perfect temperature, I add half a cup of lavender oil and then share it out between the glass jars they selected. We trim the wicks, then store them on a shelf near the window. “It will need to cool overnight,” I tell them, “but I can tell it’s going to be a perfect batch.”
“There’s nothing quite like watching a candle dance,” Soren says, flicking a lighter and setting it to one of the sample candles he’s taken off the shelf. The scent of vanilla and shea butter fills the air, and he waggles his brows at me as he reads the label. “This one is called Heat Play.”
I look at him curiously, but a soft sound of surprise leaves my lips as Finn shucks out of his hoodie, leaving him in a white tee. It’s the first time I’ve seen him without a heavy sweatshirt, and my pulse jumps in my throat at the sight of thin cotton stretched over his lean muscles. Taking a wooden chair from under the workbench, he twirls it around and sinks onto it, his arm raised towards Soren and his candle. “Try me.”
I blink. “What’s happening?”
“Just a little wax play,” Soren murmurs, testing a drop of wax on his hand before tipping the candle and drizzling it over Finn’s forearm. I expect him to flinch, but his muscles seem to unwind a notch as it settles on his skin.
“You like that?” I ask, brushing his arm with careful fingers as I study the drips of cooling wax. “It doesn’t hurt?”
“I think that’s the point, sweet girl.” There’s a dark note in Soren’s voice, and I feel the mood change around us as he gazes down at Finn. “Would you like a little more, Alpha?”
“Wait.” I turn Finn’s arm over, my heart clenching at what I find on the soft skin of his elbow. I thought it was errant drops of wax, but now I see a smattering of circular scars, the size and shape of a cigarette. “What the hell?”
“My foster father.” He doesn’t pull his arm away, but he also doesn’t offer further explanation, and I feel tears burn the back of my eyes at his stoic expression. I don’t realise one has escaped until he reaches up and brushes it away with his thumb. “Don’t cry, . It was a long time ago, and he paid for it with his life.”
“I hope he’s mouldering in a ditch somewhere,” I say in a low, murderous tone.
“Lung cancer, actually.” He smirks, fitting his fingers through mine and giving them a gentle squeeze. “It was long, slow, and extremely drawn-out, especially with the first-rate facility I put him in.”
I suppose there’s some cosmic irony in a death like that, but I shiver as I slip into his lap. He doesn’t object, one arm loosely around my back as I feather my fingers over the old scars. “But why the wax? Doesn’t it bring back bad memories?”
“The opposite, actually.” He cocks his head, our faces now so close together I can see the silver threads in his grey eyes. “Have you ever experienced such helplessness that the only way to survive it is to turn it into something new?”
I’ve never studied psychology, but his question speaks to an old wound in my heart. “Yes. My father. He would slip alpha commands into everyday conversations, trying to twist me and Dee into knots. She fought back, cursing him and telling him she hated him, but I… I started to hum.” The realisation dawns on me, because I always thought it was just a habit, but now I realise it was the only coping mechanism I could come up with as a traumatised kid. “I would hum, and pretend it was all a game.”
“Baby.” Soren has put the candle aside and is kneeling at the side of the chair, his arms swooping in to draw us both into a tight hug. There’s some of that old rage in his eyes, but there’s sorrow too, and he looks up at Finn with a quivering mouth. “We’re going to fix that, right, Alpha?”
Instead of answering, Finn puts his arm around Soren’s shoulders and brushes the curls off my forehead, his fingers gently scraping across my scalp. He’s not a huge guy, but there’s something about the way he cradles us both that makes me feel more safe and secure than I ever have in my life. “I can promise you, my beautiful mates, that he will suffer a long, slow, and drawn-out downfall. Just tell me when you want me to give the first domino a push.”
It's tempting to take Finn up on his offer then and there, but it’s late, and Biscuit needs to be settled into her new bed. But I think about it as I fall asleep, all nestled together like a real pack, and leap out of bed in the morning with new resolve. Claudia and Jacob are coming over today for lunch, and I decide to share Finn’s offer with her. I figure that there have been enough secrets in our family that a decision like this should be made in the bright light of day.
I’ve never really thought of myself as a vindictive person, but when my sister arrives, her shadowed eyes and weary air makes my blood boil in my veins. She’s a little early, and I’m just finishing up a swim with Derek and Lang as she makes her way across the beach towards me. “Jesus, Em. You look like a Bond girl in that bikini.”
“I’ve got a spare one if you want to borrow it,” I tell her as I quickly towel off so I can give her and Jacob a hug. My nephew looks like he’s about to jump out of his skin, probably because of the new boogie boards Soren’s helping him carry down to the beach.
“Uh, we brought our own stuff, but it looks like you’ve gone all out.” My sister shades her eyes as she studies the pavilion Finn had delivered at dawn, the white drapes swaying prettily in the morning breeze. I checked it out before our swim, and while there’s a long table set up for lunch, there are also beanbag chairs and sun loungers to give it a more relaxed vibe. Still, I know it’s a lot, and I bite my lip as she shifts uneasily on her feet.
“We don’t have to do this if it’s too much,” I tell her, and her cautious eyes snap back to mine. She looks me over slowly, taking in my sun-kissed shoulders and messy hair, before settling on the bite mark on my neck.
“No, this is fine. Besides, I saw someone preparing crayfish in the kitchen, and you know I’m a sucker for seafood.”
Just another thing we haven’t been able to afford, and I cock a brow at her. “Let me introduce the guys to you, and then we can have a chat before lunch.”
She gives me a slight nod, and I turn to Soren, only to find him already deep in conversation with Jacob. It seems they met at the front door, and now they’re trying to decide exactly where to launch their new boogie boards. Jacob is a good swimmer for his age, and this stretch of beach is fairly sheltered, but I can see the hesitation in Dee’s eyes until Derek steps forward. “Hey, Claudia. You okay if Lang and I help Jacob catch a couple of waves?”
My sister melts a little under Derek’s familiar smile. “That would be great, Derek.” She looks him over, her eyes widening slightly as they rest on his bite mark. I’m not sure if she can tell it matches mine, but she reaches forward and grips his arm. “You look happy. Beach life must suit you.” Her gaze flicks past him to Lang, her lips curving up into a small smile. “Or is that your influence?”
I told her enough about Professor Langston Fall for her to put the dots together, and I’m relieved there aren’t any prickly vibes coming off her as she shakes his hand. “I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to meet you before the bonding, but I hope I can make up for it now.”
“This is a good start,” she replies, then nods at Jacob. “You okay to try the waves while I catch up with Aunt Em?”
“I’ve got Spiderman, mum,” Jacob says, stars in his eyes as he stares at the superhero emblazoned on his boogie board. “ Of course I’m okay.”
No mention of my three mates hovering around him like mother hens, and I bite my lip as Dee hooks her arm through mine, leaving the guys to shepherd my nephew into the gently rolling surf. I give them all a grateful smile before letting her drag me up the beach a few paces. “Only you could go from dating your best friend to a full pack in under a week. And please explain that vision of masculine beauty who answered the door. He looks like that omega heartthrob from Werewolf Dreams, but he smells like an alpha. How does that work exactly?”
I trust my sister with my life, which is why I don’t hesitate to share Soren’s secret with her. “Well, he’s a switch. Sometimes omega, sometimes alpha.” I pause to face her, and she narrows her eyes at the way I bite my lip. Secrets, it seems, are easier to share than details of your first omega heat. “Turns out, I am too. He triggered me, and things progressed from there…”
“You went into heat!”
I’m pretty sure she can be heard on the yacht bobbing on the horizon, and I slap her arm. “Inside voice, Dee.”
“Well, I guess this explains why you fell off the face of the planet for a few days,” she laughs, then takes an exaggerated sniff of my neck. “Other than sea water and a dash of honey, you don’t smell much different.”
“I’m not different,” I protest, although I can’t resist cupping the mating mark on my neck. I’m pretty sure that whiff of honey is Lang, too, but that’s a detail I keep to myself. “The thing is, we’re all still just finding our way, but it feels right.”
The sun is sifting through her blond hair, giving it some of the sheen I remember from happier days, but there’s no missing the soul-deep pain in her eyes. “That’s because they’re your pack.”
I grip her arm, sympathy welling up inside me, even though I know she doesn’t want it. But how would I function if Derek was suddenly torn away from me, or Lang never came home? Without Soren, the world would never feel right again. And as for Finn and Creed, I’m not sure if we’d be a pack at all if they were taken from us. “I’m so sorry, Dee. And I’m so damn proud of you. To survive what you have, and still have the strength to take care of us all…”
Her tortured gaze drifts to Jacob, who’s flying through the waves like a miniature Spiderman. I’m not sure if he realises Derek is providing most of his propulsion, but his face is lit up with so much joy, it brings tears to my sister’s eyes. “You find something to live for,” she says quietly, “but I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.”
I give her another hug, but she only leans into me for a moment before pulling away and swiping her hand across her eyes. My heart is still aching for her when she glances up at the house and huffs out a laugh. “Who ordered the beach invasion?”
I turn to watch Finn and Creed approach, their beach attire bringing a blush to my cheeks. They’re wearing old jeans and long-sleeved tees, but there’s something about seeing them out of their more familiar clothing that warms the pit of my stomach.
I click my tongue at her in warning, but she’s unusually polite as she greets the other alphas. It’s pretty clear they know each other by reputation, and I can see some of the steel return to her spine as they chat. They might be standing on a beach talking about the weather, but there’s no missing the way they’re sizing each other up in the process.
Thankfully, the caterer Finn hired tells us lunch is ready, and after fishing Jacob out of the surf, we make our way towards the pavilion. I sit next to Claudia as we eat, smiling as she and Jacob snap juicy crayfish claws at each other. The table groans under the seafood feast we share, and then the guys take my nephew out for a game of beach cricket while Dee and I flop on the sun loungers and groan about our food comas.
“I wonder if holding himself in like that hurts,” she remarks as we watch Jacob bowl Lang out to raucous applause.
I follow her gaze, lifting my brows in curiosity. “Finn?”
“Mmm. You know he’s crazy dominant, right?” She takes a sip of her iced water, then sets it down on the table, rolling on her side to face me. “After all we went through as kids, I have to say, I’m kind of shocked, Em.”
“There’s more to him than just his designation.” I think of the way Finn transformed the larder into the room of my dreams and realise how different he is to the cold, terrifying alpha I met during my job interview. “But he’s not a fan of dad. In fact, he’s offered to make his life very uncomfortable if we want him to.”
Dee gives a hard chuckle, but I can clearly see the shadows in her eyes. “Uncomfortable how?”
I arch my brows at her as I think of the vulnerable moment Finn shared with me last night. “Whatever we want, but I told him what dad did to us as kids and he’s feeling pretty motivated.”
“Good.” Her eyes flash as she looks back at her son. “I’ve wracked my brain trying to understand our parents, but I’m done with that now. As soon as we move into our new place, mum is on her own, and dad can rot in hell for all I care.”
I nod, but her voice has carried a little, and Finn’s head jerks in my direction. I’m not sure what he can read on my face, but as he starts loping across the sand towards me, Claudia sits up straighter, her mouth dropping open. “Jesus, he really is motivated, isn’t he?”
I chuckle, but can’t suppress a shiver as I leap off the lounger and meet him halfway. “It’s okay. I just told her that we need to make a decision about dad.”
He nods, but draws me back towards my sister, who’s sitting up and watching him like a hawk. “Whatever you need, I’m at your disposal.” He looks over and nods at Jacob. “As far as I’m concerned, you’re all pack, but I’m not extending that to your parents.”
“Um. Thanks. And I’ve just told Em I’m cutting ties with them. I won’t expose Jacob to any more of their poison.”
“If you need a new place or job…”:
“Thanks, but I’m managing.”
Dee’s prickly front is better than armour, but Finn doesn’t look put off. “I can see that, but trusting people doesn’t come easily to me. If you were to take over managing one of my businesses, for instance, it would be one less thing for me to worry about.”
Dee gapes at him, her hands curling on her knees. “You can’t think I’m qualified for something like that.”
“I’ve read every word ever written about you, Corporal. You’re more than qualified, in my opinion, and the rest can be learned on the job. I have good people working for me, but not a lot of family.”
My throat is raw with emotion, and I watch Dee swallow hard as her gaze drifts back to Jacob. Finn is clearly offering the kind of financial security she’s never been able to give my nephew, and I know how tempting that must be. “I appreciate the vote of confidence, but can you let me think on it for a bit?”
“Of course.”
“I do have one favour, though.” Dee drops her voice, and I know what she’s going to ask by the shadow that seems to descend on her. “My pack. You said you’ve read everything about me, so you must know about Chris and Abel.” Finn nods and she threads her fingers together, squeezing hard. “If your connections could find out anything about Abel, I’d appreciate it.”
Finn studies her for a moment, then sticks out his hand. “I’ll have a report for you by the end of the month.”
She accepts his handshake, then collapses back onto the lounger like the air has gone out of her. “Okay.” I wait for more, but she just takes a deep breath and gives Finn a small smile. “Welcome to the family, I guess.”