Chapter 17 Viol
Viol
It was a pleasant spring day. The quaint low-rise that stood ahead of us was framed by budding trees, and the air smelled sweet with the promise of new life.
A few months had passed since the tundra clan disbanded. With the clan alphas gone, the omegas were left to their own devices. Thank Holy Drake Jade had come up with a plan, just like Poppy anticipated. I’d never been so damn grateful for my brother’s nosy interventions.
It wasn’t all sunshine and roses. Things were rough in the beginning, while each tundra clan omega decided what they wanted in life.
They weren’t a monolith anymore. For the first time, they were able to choose for themselves, and so they fractured into separate groups.
Some stayed in the tundra; not as members of the dissolved clan, but as wild shifters, seeking out their own territory and mates.
Others veered in the opposite direction.
Downplaying their animal forms, they decided to try living a human life among other humans in the integrated city—with a little financial help from Jade and the rest of us.
Of course, urban living wasn’t all about money.
Jade hired Winnie—our human secretary—to teach the city omegas all about humans so their choice wouldn’t be a leap of faith.
The final group was the omegas who decided to live in a shifter community. It was in a large town distant enough from the city that it didn’t overwhelm their senses, but close enough that they could eventually explore the urban landscape if they desired.
Jade, bless his snake heart, bought out a whole damn building so the new omega clan residents wouldn’t have to worry about rent. I had to admit, sometimes he made me proud to be his brother.
As the cherry on top, our family offered to pay for therapy for any omega who wanted it. We figured they could all use a reprieve from the cultish bullshit they’d suffered.
Poppy and I went to the shifter community for a special trip. We’d shared lunch at a cute local cafe run by a family of donkey shifters, then strolled over to the nearby apartments.
We paused in front of a low-rise building made of deep red bricks. Ivy trailed up the front railings, and a vibrant tulip garden bloomed on either side of the cobblestone walkway.
I double checked the address on a piece of paper, then stuffed it back in my pocket.
This was the place.
“Are you ready?” I asked Poppy.
My mate fidgeted, but he laced his fingers with mine. “Yup.”
As we took the stairs up to the third floor, I sensed Poppy’s pulse racing with both nerves and excitement. I knew this trip had been on his mind for a while. We could’ve visited earlier, but Poppy insisted on maintaining some space, and I wasn’t about to go against my mate’s wishes.
We knew we’d reached the correct unit because of the artwork taped to the door. The drawings depicted an arctic wolf and a polar bear happily standing next to each other. The style was amateurish but charming.
Poppy smiled at the artwork. The sight of it relaxed him. He seemed more confident now than he had moments ago.
“Okay. I’m knocking,” he announced quietly.
A few seconds after he knocked, Sorrel opened the door.
In the months since we’d last seen him, his cheeks had filled out with a healthy glow.
His hair was longer now, tied back in a casual ponytail.
He wore denim overalls on top of a white t-shirt.
It was the first time I’d ever seen him wearing clothes—a striking reminder of just how much his life had changed.
Sorrel’s face lit up when he saw Poppy. He hesitated, then threw his arms around his smaller elder brother. I watched Poppy’s nerves melt away as he hugged him back.
“Ouch. Something’s stabbing me,” Poppy said.
Sorrel leapt away, then grabbed the offending colored pencils out of his overalls pocket. “Sorry. I forgot I shoved them in here.”
“Did you draw these?” I asked with a grin, nodding at the artwork on the door. “They’re pretty cute.”
Sorrel looked embarrassed but pleased at the compliment. “Thanks. I’m not a professional or anything, but I’m learning.” He fiddled with one of the pencils in a way that reminded me of Poppy. “My therapist recommended I try it out. Something about a creative hobby being good for you.”
Poppy beamed. He was about to say something when a jarring piano chord rang out from deeper inside the apartment.
“Wrong note. My bad,” Charon called.
Sorrel grinned. “Charon’s learning how to play keyboard. But at least my artistic flops are quiet...”
I snorted in amusement. A few months away from that hellscape and the kid already had a sense of humor.
“I’m so proud of you, Sorrel,” Poppy said warmly. “Both of you.”
I could practically imagine my mate’s wolf tail wagging a mile a minute.
Sorrel rubbed his arm—another gesture that reminded me of Poppy.
The familiar little mannerisms were quickly endearing me to him.
I hadn’t been Sorrel’s biggest fan upon our reunion, but I knew most of his shitty behavior was a product of his shitty environment.
Getting away from all of that was good for him.
I already liked this new version of him much better.
Poppy sighed, relieved. “Well, we just wanted to drop by and check in on you. I’m glad you’re well.”
Sorrel dropped his shy gaze down to his feet, shuffling them as he spoke.
“This place is great. Having shifter neighbors and being around kind shifters in general... It’s nice.
” He paused, then forced himself to meet our eyes.
“Um... thank you. I know I didn’t make it easy, but I appreciate what you’ve done for me. For us.”
I snorted, then reached over to ruffle his hair. “It’s all good, kid. Don’t worry about it.”
Sorrel blushed, flashing me a lopsided smile. “I’m still getting used to the dragon family thing...”
“Me fuckin’ too.”
Poppy stifled a laugh as he shot me a playfully admonishing look. I grinned innocently at him.
We didn’t want to take up too much of their time. After saying our goodbyes, we turned to leave when Charon’s voice called out, “Wait! You forgot something.”
The bear shifter rustled around for something inside the apartment.
Sorrel groaned and buried his face in his palm. “Did you have to bring it up?”
Poppy tilted his head. “What is it?”
A second later, Charon popped into the doorway with a piece of paper pinched between his fingers. He handed it to us. “Here you go. Sorrel was too shy to give it to you, so I’ll do it for him,” he added, winking at the other omega.
Poppy and I gingerly pinched opposite sides of the thick, textured paper.
Two figures were depicted in watercolor paint on the creamy white background: a white wolf and a purple dragon, cuddled up against each other with fond expressions.
The loose, flowy nature of the watercolors caused the purple paint from the dragon’s scales to blend with the wolf’s white fur, and the pale yellow from the wolf smeared into the dragon, too.
Warmth welled up inside me.
“Did you paint this, Sorrel?” I asked.
He looked deeply flustered, but nodded. “It didn’t turn out the way I wanted, so I was going to try again later, but...” He shot a halfhearted glare at Charon, who smiled angelically.
Poppy was on cloud nine. “I love it the way it is,” he murmured, barely holding back tears as he stared at the painting. “Viol, can we get this framed?”
“Aw, no, don’t do that,” Sorrel complained, flushing harder.
I grinned as I ignored Sorrel’s objections. “Yup. Saw a shifter-run framing shop just down the street. Let’s stop by before we head home.”
“Um,” Sorrel said shyly. “There’s a nice cafe close to the framing shop. Maybe we could... have lunch all together sometime?”
My heart soared. “I’d love that, Sorrel!”
“Double date?” Charon teased, winking at Sorrel, who blushed so profusely that his pale cheeks resembled a pair of beets.
Viol grinned. “Shit, I’m hungry now. What are we waiting for? Let’s grab lunch.”
“Us, too?” Sorrel asked, still flushed.
Viol nodded, encouraging them along. “Fuckin’ obviously. Come on, you two.”
“I’ve never been on a double date before,” I mused while Sorrel groaned and buried his pink face in his palms.
“Aww, is that you guys?” Saffron asked chipperly.
Saffron and Rorik were the first to greet us upon our return. They each held a twin in their arms—Jaki the dragonet with Saffron, and Andri the polar bear cub with Rorik.
Poppy offered the framed artwork to Saffron so he could get a closer look at it.
“Yes. Sorrel painted it for us,” Poppy said proudly.
“This is so freaking cute. I want a painting of us, too,” Saffron announced to his mate.
The corner of Rorik’s mouth curled into a smile. “It is quite beautiful. We should ask Sorrel if he takes commissions.”
I could tell the big bear was happy to hear his old friend was doing well.
Just like Poppy, it seemed like Rorik had had a weight lifted off his shoulders.
The fact that their fellow omegas from the tundra clan were flourishing in their new lives was a massive relief for both of them—and in turn, a relief for me and Saffron, too.
Our mates’ happiness was the most important thing in the world to us.
Jaki reached inquisitively for the painting, but Saffron swooped him away before his tiny claws touched the glass.
“Whoops,” Saffron said. “Sorry, buddy. You can’t handle fine art until you’re older.”
Poppy chuckled warmly as the dragonet pouted. I didn’t miss the way my mate’s expression melted into liquid love at the sight of a child. He’d always been incredibly nurturing—it was no wonder he was magical with kids.
My heart squeezed with a rush of affection for Poppy. He really was perfect.
Saffron raised a brow at our interaction, then followed it up with a knowing smirk. “Sooo,” he drawled. “When should we expect the newest addition?”
“Saffron,” Rorik chided in a low grumble. But there was no use hiding it. I saw the burning curiosity lurking behind his expression, too.
Poppy smiled up at me, as if expecting me to answer the question.
“W-what?” I asked.
“I’m wondering the same thing,” he replied sweetly.
My jaw dropped. Simultaneously, heat flooded my face from cheeks to ears. “Why is it up to me?” I blurted.
Saffron burst out laughing. Even Rorik bit his lip to stifle a chuckle. Poppy’s warm smile remained glued to my face. It struck me that he resembled a painting in his own right—timeless, alluring, and beautiful.
I swallowed as a thrum of desire coursed through me.
Poppy’s eyes sparkled.
I cleared my throat. “Anyway, it’s none of your business,” I grumbled at Saffron. “It’ll happen when we’re ready.”
That didn’t wipe the stupid smirk off Saffron’s face. “Sure, big bro. Totally believe you.”
Rolling his eyes, Rorik gently elbowed his mate. “It’s time for the boys’ nap,” he said gruffly. “Let’s go.”
Saffron pouted—a grown-up mirror image of Jaki’s pout from earlier—but conceded with a sigh. “Fine, I get it...”
Poppy waved goodbye to the twins as Saffron and Rorik headed up to their room. I waited for them to disappear up the stairs before I let out a shaky breath.
When did my heart start beating so fast?
I jolted as Poppy’s hand brushed against me.
He tilted his head, flashing a bewitching smile before he slotted his slender fingers into mine.
The gentle feeling of his palm filled me with fizzy warmth.
It didn’t matter how many times I held hands with Poppy—it always felt like the first time, awakening the same electric giddiness all over again.
“Viol,” Poppy said in a small voice. “I’m feeling a bit tired. Do you mind if we lie down?”
A hot shiver of anticipation rolled down my spine.
He’d said we.
It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out he didn’t actually want to take a nap. My already racing heart kicked into overdrive.
Poppy and I had been lightly intimate since the first time a few months ago, but nothing that would potentially result in a pregnancy. We weren’t abstaining for any particular reason. The time just never felt right.
But the loose ends had been wrapped up, and Poppy no longer had the weight of the world bearing down on him.
And judging by the low-burning fire in his gaze, I had a feeling something was about to change.