Chapter 21
Chapter twenty-one
Lyra
The sheets have been changed and cleaned when Wren carries me out of the bathroom and back to the bed, refusing to let me go.
When he places me down onto the plush mattress, the sheets feel crisp beneath my skin, and then I get a faint hint of Gage’s woodsmoke.
So, Gage was the one who changed my bed sheets? The others were filthy, covered in paint, blood, and slick.
I’m thoroughly touched by the gesture.
Just when I thought that Alpha didn’t care, yet he ensures that my nest is tidy. I have sensed him all night outside the bedroom.
Was he perhaps waiting for his turn?
Or was he merely ensuring that I was safe and getting all the care and attention I needed from Wren?
Wren leans down next, kissing his bitemark as it is still a little tender. Our bond is still fresh, still new, still scary…
I’ve had to block off access to my memories in fear of him seeing what I’ve done, where I have come from.
So far, all the pack knows about me is that I am an escaped fugitive and that the king is after me.
But they don’t know about the Games.
And they never will.
That part of my life, I am quite happy to bury six feet deep.
It took everything in me just to prevent Wren’s access to my memory archives. But the Alpha didn’t push.
No, instead, his end of the bond merely felt like a gentle caress on my soul. All he wants to do is love and nurture me.
After all, he isn’t suspicious of me like his brothers. Ever since we met, he has been kind to me.
And it’s a kindness I don’t deserve.
Yet I rejoice in his undivided attention. Because I never knew that an Alpha’s touch could be so gentle, so sweet, so reverent.
All I’ve known is cruelty from the hands of his kind.
Wren lays me down on the bed, peppering kisses up and down my throat. He even licks his fresh bitemark to help it heal. An Alpha’s saliva has healing properties, and already I can feel him mending the broken skin.
It’s like a warm balm on my soul.
I close my eyes, focusing on the sound of his soothing purr.
Honestly, it still doesn’t feel real. An Alpha bit me. And I accepted his bite wholeheartedly.
I always vowed that I would never let an Alpha’s fangs within an inch of my neck. I’d rather have died than be tethered to an Alpha for the rest of my life.
Until I met Wren.
I don’t mind being connected with him. It feels right.
Yet, when I think of his brothers, my mood sours. In the end, I will always be an outsider. I will never be a true member of Pack Storm.
Wren must sense my dour thoughts as he grips my chin, gazing long and hard into my eyes. “You are a member of Pack Storm, Lyra. With my mark, you are sure to be safe.”
I’m not so sure. I know the king. He always wants what he can’t have. And he thinks himself a god.
So, bonds and bitemarks will mean little to him in the grand scheme of things. His God complex is just too strong.
“We will keep you safe, little sparrow,” Wren whispers next, holding me close as we lie on the fresh sheets.
I shut my eyes, breathing in his sage scent as I rest my head on his broad chest. His heart thumps rapidly beneath my ear, and in that moment, I can almost believe his words.
Perhaps I am safe.
If only we could stay this way forever.
My cramps have dulled somewhat. But soon I will need another knot. My Omega is very aware of the other two Alphas in this house, and she feels the rejection.
It stings.
No matter how much Wren satisfies both of us, it will never be enough. We will always want all three Alphas. Especially now that we are bonded to the pack.
There comes a knock at the door. Wren permits them entry, and that’s when Gage’s face appears.
My eyes bug when I spy the tray of food in his hands. It’s almost as if the pack lead has read my mind. My Omega is starving.
The Alpha enters the room, placing the tray beside me. Then he sits down at the foot of the bed, staring at me for a while.
I don’t touch the food. I’m still unsure where I stand with this Alpha.
When Gage nods toward the tray, my Omega sighs. “It’s okay, little doe. You are free to eat.”
I look down at the tray again, licking my lips.
Oh, what the heck.
Finally, I devour my eggs and inhale my sausages, and both Alphas watch me eat. I would be self-conscious, but my Omega is just too hungry to care.
And she needs her energy.
When I’m finished, Wren grabs a handkerchief from the tray, wiping my mouth. Now the three of us sit in silence for a while.
Gage’s eyes fall briefly on my bitemark, and I hide it with my wet hair, suddenly self-conscious.
Is he angry at me? I didn’t mean to force myself into the pack. Yet the Alpha just seems pleased to see that I’m fed and sated.
“How are you feeling, Lyra?” he asks, his voice surprisingly soft.
His question catches me off guard, but I answer as best as I can, still hiding behind my stringy wet hair. “A… little better.”
Another awkward quiet travels the room. I haven’t seen the Alpha since the attack in the forest.
The last time he saw me, I was covered in blood.
I had killed an Alpha, of course. One of his people.
But he still saved me and brought me back to his house.
Gage should hate my guts, yet like his younger brother, he shows me compassion. He even changed my sheets and brought me food.
Perhaps he does care.
Finally, Gage exhales, rising to his feet. He stops before me, placing a hand behind my head. “Please know, Lyra, that you are safe here. Now that Wren has given you his bite, we may just stand a chance against the king.”
My heart pounds, and then I hug myself. I’m not so sure. The king is a relentless Alpha. He always gets what he wants.
Gage purrs next, trying to put me at ease. “Fret not, little doe. They won’t get to you ever again. I promise.”
Despite how much I try to fight the tears, one still escapes. Gage purrs louder, wiping it away with his thumb.
Then he takes me utterly by surprise, standing to his full height. He removes his shirt, and my eyes bulge when I get a perfect view of that wall of solid muscle.
Gage is not small by any means. Every taut muscle on his body radiates pure power, and I swallow hard.
It just so happens that my Omega decides to have yet another cramp.
I wince next, and before Wren has a chance to ease my pain, Gage stops him. “No, let me, brother. The little doe will need all the knots she can get if she hopes to get through this.”
My heart thuds. But then a cramp shoots right down the very center of my being again, making me curl over in pain.
Gage’s purr is thunderous next as he yanks me up by the hips, nestling me down onto his lap. Now, only his pants keep me away from his knot.
In the end, I let my Omega take over as she starts unbuttoning his pants, keeping her eyes on his heated pair the entire time.
Once he’s free, I just stare at him for a while.
So big. How am I even going to fit?
Yet the Alpha guides me, his large hands gentle as they rest on my hips. Before I take the plunge, I find his eyes again.
Gage’s pupils have blown wide. And now his chest rumbles with a deep growl, one that vibrates through my bones.
Finally, I take the plunge, meeting him at the hilt. A smirk takes over my face. Well, it’s time for a brand-new knot.
I can’t wait to feel Gage inside me.