1. Finley
Finley
After our conversation with Ayla, I sat alone in the back of the SUV as we drove back to the pack lands.
So much had happened in one afternoon that I craved the chance to just sort through things in my mind.
When we left, Ayla was going to return to her current clan and inform them that she was leaving and moving to our pack.
How the pack would take finding out I was an elf and we’d be home to more as time went on, I have no idea, but that was a problem for a later day.
What was hitting me the hardest was knowing my father was alive. Staring down at the photo in my hands, I couldn’t seem to wrap my mind around the fact he knew that I existed and never once said a thing to me. I’d grown up believing I was well and truly alone in the world.
Was my mother still alive?
Did my father not want me?
Was he even an elf?
Just when I didn’t think the world could throw another bomb at me that would blow up my entire view on life, it did just that.
I’d thought things were starting to settle.
My men were figuring out how to manage with Rath in the group.
All but Zander were in the mental bond where I could feel them all reaching out to check on me, but I had it closed off.
I loved them and knew they were worried, but I needed time to understand how I felt about what I had learned.
Turning the picture over in my lap, I gazed out the window as we entered our forest. The trees called out their greeting, happy to have me back.
I got visions of things that happened with the pack or hikers out in the mountains while I was gone.
Having an entire national forest as my eyes and ears would come in handy with the fight we were about to pick.
The sun was well on its downward journey and was just peeking over the mountains as if to do a last check on everything before it called it a night.
When we pulled up to our home, I let out a sigh of relief.
All I wanted right now was to curl up with all my mates, watch a movie, and eat junk food.
If Zander allowed it. The health nut that he was always worried about me eating real food.
I bet if I sent the twins to the pack house, they might have a stash somewhere.
As the guys unloaded out of the SUV, Rath stood near the car door, eyes trained on me. I knew he hated it when I blocked him out, but I was still adjusting to all my men having the ability to read my emotions.
“Nin mel,” he called, reaching out a hand to me.
“We’ve let you sulk in the back long enough.
Now it’s time to let your mates help you.
” I grasped the offered lifeline and let him pull me from the vehicle and into a hug.
“I know your assassin side urges you to hide away but don’t forget you are an omega on top of that.
Your softer nature, including your elf, needs the comfort of a pack, not to be isolated. ”
“Not everyone likes a know it all,” I murmured. “I just needed time to accept what I learned today, but I was done with that for now.”
Rath kissed my temple before guiding me toward the house with his arm still around my shoulders. “What can we do to help?”
“I was just thinking a night in with all of you together would be nice. We’ve been going from one problem to another and haven’t just had time to be.
Once Ayla returns and I start digging into whatever that laptop holds, I don’t think there will be another chance,” I answered, feeling the truth of my words.
“Things like this tend to overtake your life, chew you up, and spit you out.”
“Not if we don’t let it, nin mel,” Rath countered as we walked into the living room. “Although I agree it will be good to have a night together as a Nos, building trust and comradery.”
“What are you talking about, elf? I think we’ve all done well to adapt to all the changes,” Cole interjected, clearly having been listening to our conversation.
Rath nodded, giving me another kiss before releasing me.
“There was a bit of a rocky start, but I agree we are learning our places and roles within our Nos. Finley has great need for us in this upcoming fight and the universe chose well for her. I am honored to call you all my gwanur, and I hope you feel the same, but there is more for us to learn about each other, I think.”
Lane leaned against the couch, listening and nodding his head in agreement. “Packs are only as strong as the trust they have in each other. Rath has a point.”
“So, in the name of bonding, I vote for junk food and movie night,” I announced, looking at the others.
Mason let out a whoop and pumped his fist in excitement.
“Snuggles, you have some of the best damn ideas! Alright, Z-man, where’s the popcorn?
Do you have any Twizzlers?” He paused, seeing the look on Zander’s face.
“You know what, I think the twin and I might need to run to the pack house for the right supplies.”
I couldn’t help but smile to myself, knowing they wouldn’t fail me when it came to fun.
“Why would I keep that shit in my house?” Zander grumbled as the twins jogged back out to the SUV. “If it can survive a nuclear blast, it’s not food.”
I walked over to him and wrapped my arm around him, placing the other on his chest as I looked up at him. “Then tell me, what do you do for fun? I’m not sure I’ve ever seen you do something just because you enjoy it.”
“Oh, I can think of one thing I do just for fun,” he said, his voice tinged with a growl.
Rolling my eyes at him, I slapped his chest. “Sorry, but I don’t count. I’m serious. Everyone is always getting after me for not having hobbies or things I do just because. Now it’s your turn.”
My demanding alpha paused to think. His silver eyes narrowed in concentration. “Ah!” he blurted. “I play video games. The whole setup on the second floor was so I could play this one game that came out last year. Then I figured why not also make it a movie room.”
Elias looked at the alpha and cocked his head. “Did you ever beat the game?”
“No…” Zander hedged. “I only had about a month before I was back on tour.”
“When you were on the tour bus, what did you do to relax?” I pressed, feeling like he had to have something he did that was just for him.
“Sweetheart, maybe you don’t want to know that answer,” Lane warned.
I knew what he was referring to but what happened between my mates and others before they met me wasn’t anything I could hold against them. “I’ve had others before I slept with all of you. I’m sure you all have. What does that matter?”
All my alphas started to growl, eyes glowing as their wolves pushed for control.
Rath cleared his throat loudly, drawing everyone’s attention. “Maybe it’s best that we don’t talk about past experiences when it comes to sexual acts. Not all of us are proud of our past and what we had to do to survive.”
Everyone fidgeted as they understood what Rath was saying. I knew what the Dark Ring was like, saw it with my own eyes, and it broke my heart to think my sweet assured mate had experienced any of it.
“Reading,” Zander admitted with a sigh. “I love to read about the history of other supernaturals. My hope is that by understanding the world and the people in it, we can find a better way to live. I don’t just do music to make money or to be famous.
You all heard my mother. I’m the wolf to beat all wolves in pedigree and power. ”
Colt walked past Zander on his way to the stairs. “Don’t let that go to your head, alright? The ego you have is more than enough to deal with already.”
“Fuck you,” Zander shot back.
Colt turned and gave him a wink. “Sorry you’re not my type, but I’m always willing to share something we both enjoy. Rath seemed to think it was quite the experience when he did.”
While I was in no way a prude or embarrassed about my sexual nature, which had been much more demanding since I became an omega, my cheeks heated.
I think it was the fact they were openly discussing our intimate moments with each other when I wasn’t around.
Granted, we had all seen everything of each other being shifters, so I shouldn’t be shocked that they compared notes.
I never came away unhappy, so I guess I should leave it as it is.
“Let’s go pick out a movie before the twins come back and take over,” Elias suggested, following after Colt.
“Smart plan, those two, when it comes to movie nights, can get way out of hand,” Lane agreed with a sigh.
Zander and the guys modified the couch, turning it into a giant padded square that we could lay on comfortably.
I was instructed to sit in the middle and things would branch out from there.
The guys duked it out over what movies to watch because apparently, there was no way only one could be agreed upon.
“Okay, Rath, you get to be the tie-breaker here. We are split fifty-fifty between Alien vs. Predator or Men in Black,” Lane said, holding out both movies.
“I’ve never seen either, but I think Men in Black. I do rather enjoy Tommy Lee Jones, The Fugitive is one of my favorites,” Rath shared, taking the DVD.
Colt grinned with approval. “Now that is a damn good movie.”
“Another night,” I interjected. If I let them pick more than the three they settled on, we’d be up all night. “We could make this a normal thing for us, you know. Have a movie night once a week, a way to ensure we all get time together with how busy life can be.”
Before they could say anything, there was a door slamming open and the sound of a scuffle.
“The twins are back,” Elias commented, confirming what we already guessed.
Feet thundered up the stairs and Mason appeared with arms full of snacks.
He paused, taking in the couch, and smiled.
“Nice. I was worried we would be fighting over space next to snuggles, but this solves that problem,” he said as he deposited his armful on the coffee table.
“Oh, and I’m assuming we’re moving out of the pack house for real now that the elf is going to be moving in. ”