Chapter 21
Madi
When Alric and I enter the villa again, the air is rich with warm vanilla. We both glance at each other and go in search of the scent. In the kitchen we find the guys baking, Zachary opening a box of powdered sugar near two pans of white cake with lovely golden brown tops.
Hunter fiddles with the knob of a mixer. “Hey, we didn’t expect you back so soon.”
“What are you making?” Alric asks.
“A birthday cake for Eleni. I figured since we couldn’t do our sailing tradition that we could start a new one,” Zachary says softly.
“She always had such a sweet tooth,” Hunter adds with a sad smile.
Alric’s hand drops from mine, my invincible alpha’s eyes turning glossy.
It’s so kind of Hunter and Zach to make his mom a cake. By the look of the stack of dishes in the sink, this isn’t a treat made from a box, but a true act of culinary love.
Alric slowly walks over to his friends and they all envelop each other in a brotherly three-way hug. It involves a lot of back slapping and whispered words I can’t make out, but the tone is tender.
It’s such a touching scene. So many alphas I’ve known over the years would never let themselves be this vulnerable in front of others.
Alphas are raised to be strong, and most emotions are seen as a weakness, but not with them.
They hold each other like family would, and I guess that’s what they are—a real family.
Isn’t that all I wanted as a kid? A family with a foundation of love and support.
It's not something I was granted when I was little, but maybe it’s possible for me to find it now. With these men who hold each other through grief and bake cakes to honor those they have lost.
They break apart, just enough for Alric to turn his focus in my direction and motion for me to join them. I don’t need to be asked twice. I rush into their waiting arms and we all stay like that for a long time, not breaking apart until Alric lets us go.
“Thank you,” he says, looking over at the cake. “I’m going to get some reading done in the library until dinner.”
We all nod and watch him walk away. I hope he’s okay—well, as good as he can be.
“We all sort of skipped lunch, so we’ll have an early dinner,” Hunter says. “We’re going to figure out what to eat. Typically when we’re here, Euclid or Nikolai cook, but we’ll make it work.” He puts on some upbeat music from his phone.
Zachary pulls out a few steaks, Brussels sprouts, and ingredients for a salad.
Since none of us can cook as well as Alric, I find a jar of creamy pasta sauce in the pantry and dump it in a silver pot to simmer while water boils for the rigatoni.
Whoever stocked this kitchen before the storm did a great job.
I’m cutting up some cucumbers when Zachary says, “The NourishNow app is ready for download for select people. I can email it to you if you want to check it out?”
“Of course, you’ve worked so hard on it.”
I tug my phone out of my back pocket while he dries off his hands and sends me the link.
The NourishNow logo pops up on my phone, starting the download. When it finishes, I hit open and it asks me for a code.
“0422S”—Zachary pauses for a beat, stumbling over the last letters—“ME.”
Does that stand for Sophie, Madi, Emilie? “Does SME mean anything?” I ask.
He gets a little flustered. “Well, ah, typically, we would use name initials because we have to register real users, but I didn’t know yours and SB for sugar baby seemed too impersonal.”
I’m so close to telling them. I wish I could open my mouth and let my name fall for my lips, but fear knots itself in my chest. Will it give them false hope if I tell them?
“That makes sense,” is all I can think to say. Avoiding his gaze, I quickly type in the code. My tiny blue icon pops up in the middle of the ocean with nothing around and I laugh, awkwardness passing. “I guess my options are limited to seafood.”
“Just make sure your location is on, but change it to back home so it can pull up all the selections near you for testing.”
“So I can order something right now?”
“Please do, I preloaded a gift card onto your account so you don’t have to spend any of your own money.”
I click the user button and see that there’s $2,000 there for me to spend.
Always so generous, my Zachary. “Thank you, but that wasn’t necessary.”
“I know, but we can’t ask you to spend your money. You’re doing us a favor by testing the app.”
We both smile at each other as I lean forward to indicate what I need, and he happily kisses me. His lush lips are greedy for mine and I need to pull away before the kitchen starts to smell like my wanton desire instead of this delicious meal we’re making.
I type in Harper’s gallery’s address, and it shows me all of the businesses around that I can order from. There’s a grocery store two blocks away and I pick out the biggest floral arrangement currently on sale, yellow mini cupcakes, and a bag of her favorite chips.
After I order it, I send her a quick text.
Madeline:
Sent you some goodies, look out for a delivery driver. Miss you!
I get a notification twenty minutes later that it has been delivered. Harper sends a selfie with the flowers, eating one of the cupcakes in her office.
“Works perfectly!” I declare, turning my phone so they can see the photo, too.
“Great to hear,” Zachary says. “I think the cake is cold enough for some festive embellishments. How are your decorating skills?”
“Mediocre at best, but I’m up for the challenge.”
He winks at me. “That’s my girl.”
My cheeks heat and I focus on scooping out the fluffy white frosting Hunter made, smoothing it around the cake. He joins me at the kitchen island, slicing some strawberries, and together, we make fake little roses out of them, using basil as the leaves.
“It’s perfect! I can’t wait to show Alric.
” I still have a bit of frosting on one of my fingers but before I can wipe it away, Hunter grabs my hand and brings my finger to his lips, ensuring to swirl around the tip and making me melt against him.
He releases my finger with a pop and a big smile, pulling me close to him.
That makes me giggle. We start to dance to the music, which only makes me laugh more as he dips and spins me around, butterflies exploding in my stomach.
Zachary pulls out those perfectly seared marbled steaks he was cooking, setting them to rest on top of the stove before joining us.
He comes up behind me, his strong hands on my hips as they sway to the music, leaning down to kiss my neck.
My breathing speeds up. I close my eyes, drowning in the sensation of both of them and the melody that demands movement.
Their hips press against me, moving in time with mine.
Would this be what it’s like to be a pack with them? A lifetime of moments like this?
Hunter leans down to kiss me, his lips tasting like frosting and fun. It reminds me of this morning. How I need a repeat of it. Getting lost to my own pleasure between them, naked and needy, the center of their world.
I turn my head to give Zachary more access to my neck, his lips sucking on the perfect spot that makes my knees want to give out, knowing they would catch me. I see Alric standing in the curved doorframe of the kitchen, watching the way we sway together with a soft, satisfied smile on his lips.
My heart flutters at that look, my omega side delighted to have pleased my alpha.
My alpha?
The feeling turns icy. I don’t need anyone’s approval. I spent years as a kid chasing the approval of my alpha dads, and all it led to was heartache, until I built walls around it high enough, their rejection could no longer strike like arrows.
Stepping out of these sweet men’s arms, I announce it’s time for dinner and grab the plates. They slowly follow, all eyes on me while I bring over the dishes and we start dinner.
I turn to Alric. “I have some more ideas for more omega-centered products.”
He puts down his fork, giving me all of his attention. “I’d love to hear it.”
“Menu items at restaurants or curated premade meals at the grocery stores for pre- and post-heat meals. Before heat, we need high-calorie, high-carb meals since we won’t be eating much for a week and we’ll burn a lot of calories.
But after the heat, we need more recovery-focused meals that have lots of protein and fiber.
They’re very different sets of dietary needs. ”
“That’s absolutely something we can work on,” Alric promises eagerly.
“It could even be expanded.” I don’t want to leave out others who could benefit. “Betas have monthly period cycles that also have unique dietary needs. Lots of iron-rich meals. It could be under the same umbrella of offerings.”
“They would definitely expand the market.” He takes notes on his phone. It means an extraordinary amount to me that Alric takes what I’m saying to heart. That my opinions are valued like this.
I turn to Hunter. “This might be more of your speed. There are a lot of protein shakes on the market that omegas buy for mid-heat, but none of them are specifically made for us. A lot of omegas can go the whole heat without any food, but they feel miserable afterwards. The ones who are fed during it feel better overall, but I hear it’s pretty fucking difficult to get an omega to stop sleeping or fucking long enough to eat.
There needs to be something like a protein shake or bar that has enough daily vitamins and protein.
Something that can be easily swallowed would help.
Same goes for after heats, a high-calorie, protein-packed heat supplement would be a huge benefit for everybody. ”
Hunter nods with enthusiasm. “Yeah, absolutely. I’ll send an email to my team. We can do a whole line of heat-specific nutrition and supplements.”
“But there has to be a balance between nutrition and great flavor,” I add.
I turn back to Alric. “Having omega and beta women-only shopping hours would help, too. I’m not saying like the middle of your rush hours, but opening an hour early or having specific weekdays with dedicated shopping hours and extra security.
Hell, a grocery store for women would be fantastic!
They have alpha-only gyms and lounges. Why can’t we have something that’s only ours, too? ”
I can see it so clearly, a whole shopping complex of omega-only stores. No alphas bothering us. We’d be free to shop, work out, and eat in peace. Add in some omega-only apartments and it would be a perfect little community.
Alric looks thoughtful. “We’ll have to consult the legal department, but I love the idea.”
He opens his mouth, but quickly closes it.
I know he’s just begging to ask if I’ll accept the omega consultant job. I’m considering it, but I need some more time to figure out what my plan is after this. What I need more than a job right now is space away from their scents and their all-consuming presence to figure out what that is.
I want to lie in my nest alone with the lights off and just think.
Right now, they smell so good, my biology is demanding I never let them go.
My body is craving their touch, wanting them to fuck me forever.
This life decision can’t be made based on that.
It needs to be my choice, not because they’re my scent matches, not because of what they’ll do for me, but because I want to be the best for them.
I have to choose them because I want to, not for any other reason.
So I say, “If I think of any more ideas, I’ll let you know, okay?”
Thankfully, he accepts that and returns to his plate.
We spend the rest of the meal talking about Alric’s mother. All of his favorite stories of his childhood. Hunter and Zach join in with funny memories of their time with his family.
Hunter spoons me another bowl of pasta, which I happily enjoy. The food is delicious and the company is even better. We’re finishing eating the birthday cake when thunder crashes above us.
Then the lights go out.