Chapter 56
fifty-six
I’m used to not being able to speak.
But being speechless feels entirely different.
I loom behind Finn and Atlas, peering into the small, sunken room connected to the Omega Suite. My brain glitches, trying to process the sight of Gideon and Violet. Together. Naked.
In… his nest? Hers?
It feels like theirs, actually. Gideon must not have used it much before this, if at all, because their scents are perfectly balanced. Nutty and smoked, honeyed and golden. All sweet, though—the sort of brown sugar that warms the air as it bakes.
My Alpha doesn’t know how to feel about it. On the one hand, he’s only comfortable with Violet’s Omega. On the other… blended together like this… Gideon’s isn’t bothering him.
Beside me, Finn’s eyelids flutter wildly. Like me, he’s obviously trying to tape his skull back together. But Atlas doesn’t bat an eye. He drops to his knees and wades into the carefully piled pillows, arrowing straight for Gid—
No.
Wait.
Violet.
Our pack leader stops between the two omegas, dropping his right hand to cup Gideon’s nape… but leaning over Violet. Kissing her forehead. Leaving his scent there with a slow, lingering brush of his lips.
I growl instinctively, my possessive instincts reacting to the sight. Gideon cuts me a glower, but Atlas simply hums, focused completely on our mate.
“No one is angry with you, darling,” he vows. “I’m sure your alphas are simply anxious to get into this pretty nest with you.”
I have no idea how to process this, but I know how I feel about Violet thinking I’m angry. My body moves of its own volition, lurching me into the small, round room. I go to my knees along the edge of the recessed mattress, holding my arms open.
Violet glances up at me. Her expression splits between heartrending want and squirming guilt. “Lion,” she murmurs, “I-I’m sorry, I—”
She needs this.
The nest. Our pack leader. Even this other omega. They’ve all turned her perfect perfume into something so incredible, there’s no other way to describe it.
She looks at Finn, next, her lower lip wobbling. “F-Finn, I—”
My packmate and I turn toward each other for a long second, thrown. We’ve only just gotten used to sharing Violet with one another. Now…
I see my emotions reflected in Finn’s expression. Surprise and apprehension—but also determination. Maybe even… hope.
“It’s okay, honey,” he assures, flicking his eyes toward Gideon. “We’d love to come in… if you’re both sure?”
It’s nice of him to double-check. My Alpha isn’t nearly as polite. He shoves me closer to the edge of the omegas’ pillow crater, barely holding back long enough for Gideon to snort. “Yes,” he bursts, exasperated. “Jesus. Can’t you numpties see you’re making Violet nervous? Hurry up.”
The protective gleam in his eye is new, but it’s something we can agree on. I look down into their nest, my insides buzzing.
This was always going to be a challenge for me—a confined space, other scents. Knowing Violet is tucked into Atlas’s purr actually helps a bit. I allow myself more time than I normally would, slowly lowering myself onto the cushions.
And it’s… fine. Good. My Alpha lets up on his choking fear, stunned into stillness by how right it feels for all of us to be here. Together.
Finn, on the other hand, crashes into the nest without an ounce of chill. Gideon kicks at him, laughing. “Those pillows were in a pile for a reason, jackass. And I know you’re the one who’s pilfered all of Violet’s panties.”
Finn bounces a shrug, settling against the padded wall closest to the door.
His merry smile turns tender when he meets Violet’s eyes, beaming.
He skirts a stealthy glance toward Atlas and Gideon—who are fussing with her hair, helping each other weave it into a loose twist—and winks at Violet, mouthing, Well done, baby.
He has a point. No matter how it happened, our omega has done what omegas are built to do—she’s brought our pack closer than ever.
I can tell she feels guilty about it, though. Possibly because she didn’t get a chance to talk to Finn and me about it before whatever went down last night.
Her shame is a slash of bitterness in a room full of contentment. The thread just doesn’t belong. Isn’t necessary. But it seems like no one knows how to prove it to her.
Gideon and Atlas eye me and Finn. I stare back for a long beat before realizing: we all think we’re waiting for the other group to speak first. Offer the approval I can already taste, goddamn it.
I’ve never spoken for this pack, but now seems like a perfect time to start.
“Daisy,” I husk, drawing everyone’s attention. Projecting a pulse of alpha approval. “This is perfect. You did good.”
Gideon, Finn, and Atlas nod. Violet blinks at each of them, her expression tremulous. “N-none of you are upset? You all—”
“We all want to be here,” Atlas vows, snuggling her into his chest. “Yes, baby girl.”
The other omega pets her hair, purring quietly. “Are you okay with this?” he whispers. “Being… our omega?”
Our omega.
As in, his, too.
And, God, that has no right to sound so goddamn perfect.
Because my Alpha may not be able to love any omegas apart from Violet. But he sure as hell seems on board with watching this other man love her, too.
It doesn’t hurt that the idea turns me on so much. Images of the two of them flash through my mind. My musk deepens as Violet’s perfume swells. She flutters her lashes at Gideon, shy and alluring all at once. “Yes,” she breathes. “P-please?”
He makes a low sound in his throat and snaps his hands to her waist, lifting Violet into his lap.
The two of them share an intense pause, gazing into one another, before he brushes his lips over hers.
She whimpers, angling her face for a deeper kiss.
My mouth drops open as their tongues glide together and they both moan.
Beside me, Finn openly adjusts the erection tenting his lounge pants, muttering, “Is it just me, or is this the hottest thing you’ve ever seen?”
I nod, but I’m not sure how. All my blood has pooled in my groin, tweaking my knot and tightening my balls. Atlas must agree—his dark eyes gleam as he watches his two omegas kiss harder. When they begin teasing each other with soft touches and suckling love bites, our pack leader shudders.
His coffee-and-cream essence is sweeter than it ever has been when he flashes Finn and I a wry grin. “As you can see, I think we have a heat to plan.”