Chapter 18
eighteen
Xenia
Fully clothed in Pierce’s oversized shirt and Luther’s rolled up sweatpants, I open the door of the nest to look around. My eyes land on Pierce’s back.
He turns, offering a large grin. “There you are. Luther is fixing us something to eat. I imagine you are starving.”
As if on cue, my stomach gurgles painfully. My face flushes in embarrassment. “I am,” I agree.
Pierce is in short sleeves and pajama pants. With his arms bare, I can make out the intricate tattoos that line his wrists all the way up and up. I imagine they cover most of his skin.
There’s a name that vines its way up his forearm.
I recognize it.
“What is your last name?” The question comes out before I can stop it.
His face darkens, but he inclines his head. “So you are aware of my family’s notoriety. Does it change anything for you?”
“You’re a Stellar?” I ask outright. But not out of concern. It just all makes sense now.
“I am,” he agrees. “Food?” He offers a hand.
And I take it without hesitation.
I don’t know him. I barely know Luther.
But instinctually, I recognize he won’t hurt me.
I never was comfortable around Tony. Especially when I first met him.
I slam the thought shut as he leads us down the hall.
Now in a more awake state, I pay attention to the walls. Before, I thought they were bare but that isn’t the case—they were simply tucked away. The family pictures with Luther, Pierce, Wren, and a younger man.
Must be Charles.
Pierce catches my attention on the picture of him flicking off the camera in a leather jacket with a motorcycle behind him. “My family is filled with riders. While I don’t associate with them anymore, I never could let go of my bikes.”
“Do the Rossis know your connection to Charles?”
Pierce chuckles. “It’s the only reason they didn’t bust down our door. I imagine as long as Charles stays underground, they’ll leave him alone. But Vinny is a hot-head. Even still, he is nowhere near as bad as his brother was.”
I can tell he doesn’t mean to say that by the way his jaw snaps shut and he jerks us further down the hall.
But the damage is done.
Tony was a good man.
Tony was a bad man!
A voice in my head I don’t recognize screams, the juxtaposition causes my world to wobble, but then Pierce is wrapping an arm around me. His scent pilfers through my panic. Through my instincts warring against me.
Through my entire world crumbling again.
We turn a corner and then there’s Luther standing in the kitchen as if this is perfectly normal. And I get a look into the life I could have here. Into being part of a pack. One filled with warmth and support.
But Wren is missing. Noticeably.
The dream shatters.
I do not deserve this. I am broken.
But I’m also pregnant. And that is the reason I won’t run.
Luther catches whatever is on my face and drops what he is doing to surge forward. He tugs me from Pierce’s arm, wrapping me in his own. Covering me even further in his scent. “You look good in our clothes.” He nips into my ear. “There’s food, you must be hungry.”
He practically carries me to the kitchen bar, settling me onto the swivel stool. When he releases me, I spin in it to take in the rest of the room.
For three men living alone, their house is very warm. Comfortable and cozy. It is clear they all care about their home.
Outside, the sun is beginning to fall, but I can see that it is still snowing. “When is it going to stop?”
Pierce takes up the seat next to mine, reaching for my arm. He strokes my bare skin, rubbing his wrist against mine. Covering me further in his scent. I lean into his touch, into the way it settles my nerves, eases my anxiety.
“It will stop tomorrow night, but it won’t melt for several more days,” Luther says as he places a bowl of steaming pasta in front of me, but he holds onto the fork.
“Where’d Wren go?” Pierce asks as he leans over before I can, taking the fork from Luther’s hand.
“The cabin. He’ll be back tonight. I know he won’t be able to keep away. He just needs to cool off. This entire situation has left him feeling out of control.” Luther watches me intensely as he speaks.
Pierce impales a ravioli, blowing on it. “Open.” He hums.
I listen without argument, unsure of his next move.
When he gently pushes it into my mouth, I moan at the flavor and my contentment. Being taken care of, fed? It’s completely unfamiliar territory.
I want to be embarrassed, but I’m too happy to feel any shame.
“Little Omega,” Luther whispers.
My attention snaps to his face. I don’t expect the sadness reflected there. The pinched brows and glassy eyes.
Pierce doesn’t speak, simply continuing to feed me. Ensuring to blow on each ravioli before offering it to me. “That’s a good girl. Let us take care of you.”
When the bowl is empty, Pierce gently picks me up, wrapping me in his arms and walks us to the couch.
He takes a seat, keeping me in his lap. Luther follows shortly after, falling into the spot next to us. His hand finds my knee, offering it gentle circles through the borrowed sweatpants I wear.
“You’re going into your heat?” Luther breaks the silence.
I stiffen at the question. “I shouldn’t be, but yes. I think I am.” All signs pointed to it, and I wasn’t aware of pregnancy causing the perfuming or the liquid heat that had rolled through me before.
Except how could I be going into heat if I’m already pregnant?
That would be a question I would have to wait to find out the answer to.
Pierce fans my stomach with his hands, offering warmth and support. “Soon?”
I check in with myself. With the desire that courses through me. With the heat that pulsates deep in my gut. With the pain that is a dull thread in the background.
“A day or two. But the snow will be gone by then?”
“It won’t be safe to leave until it all melts. And it will need to warm up to do that.” Luther leaves trails of pleasure as he strokes further up to my thighs. “I can take care of you again. But if you wish to be alone, we will not push you.”
My mind swirls.
“Yes,” I whisper.
I want more than anything to fall into these alphas’ safety.
“I can help you too, Xenia.” Pierce nips at my ear.
“Please,” I murmur relaxing further back into his lap.
These alphas have, in such a short time, made me feel safer than I have ever felt in my entire life.
Luther hums his approval, reaching behind us he grabs a plush blanket and wraps it over me before turning the TV on and putting a couch pillow on his lap.
“Lay down. Relax, Nia.”
The nickname sparks heat between my thighs, but I ignore it and instead follow his instructions until my head is in Luther’s lap and I am sprawled across both alphas. Wrapped in their scent. Their warmth. Their strength.
Both of the men use their hands to rub circles across my sensitive skin. Luther trailing sparks up and down my arms, while Pierce applies soothing pressure to my legs.
It is everything I have ever wanted. And I feel as if a piece of myself, deep inside, begins to mend.
Safety.
Unlike the places I bounced around while growing up.
Comfort.
I was the orphan that nobody wanted. And when my designation presented as omega, I was thrown into a facility until Tony came around.
Home.
Even with Tony it never felt like my space. I was living in his apartment. It was so small I didn’t even have a nest, just a bare boned closet. But it had been enough.
But this is better than all of that.
The thought is selfish, but even still, I allow it to percolate through me.
I want everything Luther and Pierce are willing to offer. I want every piece of these gentle and kind alphas. I want more than anything to live here and never leave.
Except when the snow clears, there is no doubt in my mind that Vinny will come looking for me, and I can’t lead him right to their doorstep.