Chapter 18
EMME
By the time Talon landed smoothly in front of our house, my body felt weightless, while my legs were heavy, as if they refused to walk after experiencing the thrill of flying.
It took a full minute to adjust to being grounded, and Talon didn’t rush me, letting me have all the time I needed to find my equilibrium.
Eventually, I was able to slide off his huge back, and his head stayed with me all the way down to my thud of a landing against the front sidewalk.
He returned to his bipedal form in a flash, and I threw myself into his arms, exploding with all the emotions—joy, excitement, fear, and so much love for this shifter who continued to demonstrate that we could be more than our upbringing.
We could rise above our circumstances in life.
Talon had spent countless years acting as the nameless weapon of a psychopath, an assassin who was never taught to question anything, which was the scariest part of all.
This shifter had only ever known forced loyalty and false truths, but he hadn’t let that define his future.
Sure, his future had been helped along by a life-changing bond that rearranged our very cells and essences, but the choices that brought him to this moment… they were all Talon’s.
“Thank you,” I gushed against his throat, and he wrapped me up tighter, burying his face in my hair. “Thank you for fighting so hard to be part of this pack. For trusting and accepting us. For being mine.”
His voice broke on a rasp. “Thank you for existing, Emme.”
We stood there long enough to give the street a great view of his naked butt, which had my possessive side all riled up.
When I attempted to hand Talon his jacket, he shook his head.
“You keep it, mate. It looks better on you anyway, and I enjoy seeing you in my clothes. It’s another sign that you belong to me. ”
“The bite on my neck is an even clearer sign,” I reminded him with a laugh, but since I also enjoyed wearing their clothes, I didn’t object.
“The bite is my favorite,” Talon agreed, his eyes darkening to a deep black. “I’d like to claim you again and again, and mark all over your soft skin.”
Only a claiming bond was supposed to leave a scar on a full-strength shifter, but my alphas certainly enjoyed testing that theory.
When we made it inside, Hunter strolled in from the kitchen, and I was surprised by Talon nudging me in his direction. “Go to our entitled alpha,” he said. “He needs to tell you about Kassidy.”
He brushed a kiss across my lips and then strolled out of the room. I watched his perfect muscled butt until he was all the way up the stairs, and while Hunter’s scent grew stronger, he didn’t interrupt my drooling.
I turned to find him wearing an amused smirk. “You really are the perfect match for us,” he drawled in that deep rasp. “I’d have worried that five alpha males might end up being too much for you, but so far you’ve handled us very well.”
My cheeks heated, even though I knew he spoke of more than sex in that statement. Still, my mind was naturally designed to flop around in the gutter when it came to handling my mates.
Hunter’s smile faded. “Just remember that you have all the power here, little omega. Don’t let us take more than you have to give us.” It was the same warning I’d received from my other mates earlier. Clearly all of them were concerned about it.
“We’ve only been a completed quintet for half a day, therefore my experience is limited, but I don’t think there’s anything for you to worry about.”
I stepped into him, needing to see his concerned expression eased.
“I’m glad you’re our entitled alpha. I wasn’t sure at first, with how dominant and demanding your beast is, but you’re levelheaded and truly care about your entire pack.
I might be the heart of this quintet, but you’re the structure that holds us all together.
We’d just be a pile of blood and organs on the ground without you. ”
Hunter arched an eyebrow. “Eloquently put, Emmeline. Please, tell me more about the massacre that would occur without me.”
I tapped him on his chest, and he straightened to his full height, leaving me to tilt my head back to meet his gaze. “Nah, I wouldn’t want you to get a big head. Yours is just the right size for your body.”
With a wolfy grumble, he wrapped an arm around me and drew me into his side, moving us toward the kitchen. The house was quiet with Finley and Kellan in press, Slade patrolling, Talon upstairs, and I could only assume Constantine was still researching in the library.
The relief I felt at not having to deal with him yet was far too great, but as I’d thought earlier, the avoidance of my father could not go on much longer. Not with the magic swirling inside me. It hadn’t burst out yet—thankfully—but surely it was only a matter of time.
I’d always heard that magic was as volatile as our beasts, and neither could stay trapped for long. A theory I didn’t really want to test.
The kitchen was warm, with low lights illuminating the cabinetry.
There was a large platter set out on the widest of counters, and Hunter directed me toward a stool, his fingers tracing along my biceps in a teasing movement.
When I sat, he leaned down to run his nose up the curve of my neck, his teeth grazing over his bite.
My thighs clenched against the sudden pulse in my core.
It took less than a single touch for these alphas to reduce me to a soaked, needy mess.
“Baby girl,” he murmured. “Let me feed you while we talk about Kassidy.”
It was on the tip of my tongue to mention that the hunger inside me couldn’t be sated by food, but the mention of his sister halted that line of thought.
My friend had gone through a lot tonight, and I wanted to be there for her in whatever way she needed.
All of which would be made easier with more information up my sleeve.
“Did she get home okay?” I asked, as Hunter slid into the chair beside mine, pulling the tray closer. Florence had left out a charcuterie board for us, and Hunter took his time loading up a small side plate with cheeses, cured meats, crackers, and fruit.
As I let a deliciously creamy goat cheese melt across my tongue, Hunter relaxed until wafts of satisfaction reached me through our bond. “Yes, I left her at home,” he said, “where she’s locked in and ready to sleep away this new revelation.”
Knowing she was alone bothered me, though it appeared to be her preferred state.
“Did you tell her she’s welcome to stay here?
” I asked around my next bite, which was aged cheddar that tasted like heaven.
Rich people cheese was the best. “I hate the thought of her being alone and freaking out over Henderson knocking on her door.”
Hunter noticed my blissed-out cheese state and added more of it to my plate. “Yeah, I offered, but my sister is a stubborn shit. Always has been. She’s also a strong alpha, and Henderson won’t find her presence at home any more welcoming than it was in the arena.”
I barely managed not to roll my eyes. “Oh wow. How weird that she’s a stubborn and strong-willed alpha. Especially when the rest of her family is chill as fuck. Maybe she’s adopted…?”
Hunter playfully narrowed his eyes on me. “As much as I love your sass, brat, don’t make me take you over my knee. That’s more of a Slade kink.”
A shiver traversed my spine and I almost choked on the strawberry I’d just shoved in my mouth. “You all have a one-track mind.”
“And you love it.”
The alpha had a point.
As Hunter continued to add food to my plate, I decided to fix one for him too. His big body stilled when I started to fill it, and that confusion remained even as I slid it across the counter to sit in front of him. “It’s my job to feed you, little mate,” he said with a huff.
Shaking my head, I leaned over and snuggled into his side. “An omega can look after her alphas too. It makes me happy.”
His scent deepened, and there was a very contented rumble rocking his chest. “I don’t think anyone has ever looked after me in my life, but I find when it comes from you I quite like it.”
My heart squeezed, and I was more determined than ever to keep showing up and showing my love for them. “Well, get used to it,” I rasped around my tight throat.
Hunter dragged his plate closer and fuck the satisfaction I felt when he started to eat what I’d selected for him... Was that how they felt feeding me?
“Why is Kassidy so concerned about a mate bond?” I asked, settling in to enjoy our time in the darkened kitchen, just the two of us.
“Unless that’s prying too far into her business.
I do prefer to hear it directly. I just don’t want to say something that might hurt her when I don’t know the full story. ”
Hunter shook his head, chewing on a slice of apple. “You’re not prying. You’re family, and you care about Kassidy. We’re lucky to have you in our lives.”
He spread soft cheese on a cracker next and held it out to me. It had been at least ten seconds since I’d taken a bite, which was far too long for this entitled alpha. As I opened my mouth so he could slide the offering inside, he made that very satisfied sound again.
“It all goes back to Fletcher, of course,” he continued. “As you can imagine it was worse when we were younger and had neither the strength nor financial means to fight back against him.”
It had been bad growing up with my mom and the Rogers pack, but Fletcher seemed infinitely worse. At least most of the time I’d just been locked in my room and ignored.