Chapter 14
Lark
It's strange waking up in my nest knowing two alphas are sleeping in my living room. Strange and, if I'm being honest with myself, which I try not to be before coffee, not entirely unwelcome. I make myself presentable, grab the ibuprofen, and head out to face whatever this morning is.
Silas is already awake. He’s sitting on the floor with his back against a chair rubbing a kink from his neck. I wordlessly hand him the bottle. He traps my hand in his and kisses it. “Thank you, little bird.”
I press my thighs tightly together. There’s an ache there that has nothing to do with my impending heat.
I turn and look at my second alpha. He’s still asleep, one arm thrown across his face. His long legs dangle awkwardly from the too-short couch. “It looks like someone was able to sleep, at least.”
Silas grunts. “He stayed up for hours after you went to bed. I threatened to suffocate him with a pillow to get him to be quiet.”
I giggle. Last night I learned that Graham is a pharmaceutical scientist and holder of dozens of patents, including my low-dose omega birth control.
It’s a serious job for what I now know is a seriously powerful brain.
But despite all that, he’s also incredibly sweet, and—I struggle for the right way to describe him.
Innocent isn’t the right word. No one who talks like he did last night is innocent.
Pure, my omega suggests.
Yes. That's the word. Sweet, kind, hopeful. Pure in a way that should be annoying but somehow isn't. Something delicate blooms in my chest and I decide not to look at it too closely yet.
“Want some coffee?” I ask.
Silas stands and pulls me into his chest. “First, I want this.” He kisses me. It’s gentle and unassuming. A kiss for the sake of kissing.
He smells like sleep and whiskey and honey, stronger somehow in the morning. The night stripped everything else away and left just him.
“I’m next, beautiful,” Graham says from his place on the couch.
Silas releases me and I turn to accept my morning kiss from Graham. I could get used to this. When we break apart, he rubs his thumb along my cheek. “I dreamed about you.”
“Was it good?” I whisper. I had dreamed of him, too. And Silas. Wild, powerful dreams that had me waking up with an ache to invite them into my nest.
“So good,” he says. “You were in our kitchen, beside me while Silas fixed supper.”
I lean in and kiss his cheek. “I’m making coffee. Want some?”
He and Silas follow me into the kitchen. I punch a few buttons on the machine and wait while it grinds the beans and starts the automatic drip process. A rustling sound comes from the living room and both my alphas tense.
“Stand behind me, Lark,” Graham orders. His voice drops into something dangerous, a register I never could have imagined coming from him. My omega doesn't find it surprising, though. She sits up straight and pays attention.
Silas moves forward. “Stay here.”
I open my mouth to warn him that it’s just Cammie when she barrels directly into his chest as he rounds the corner, all five feet two inches of her, dressed in a sunshine yellow tracksuit with neon green sneakers.
“Oomph!” He grabs her shoulders to prevent her fall.
My omega bristles, a hot, unreasonable flash of possessiveness.
It's just Cammie, I chide her. She doesn't believe me, but she backs off.
Barely.
“You must be the big one,” Cammie says. She looks him up and down before adding, “She didn’t tell me about the tats. She has a thing for that.”
I melt directly into the floor. The floor, unfortunately, does not accept me.
Silas suppresses a smirk. “I’m Silas.” He extends his hand to her.
She shakes it. “Hi, Silas. I’m Lark’s best friend, Cammie.”
“I’m Graham,” my tall guy says from my side. He still has his arm protectively over my shoulders.
“What are you doing here?” I ask. She lives downstairs and drops by often, but I didn’t expect her to crash this morning. Especially since she knew I just met my mates.
She looks at her watch. “Uh, Earth to Lark? It’s time for our Wednesday meeting. I have data and donuts.” She opens the reusable grocery bag that’s perched on her shoulder to show me the box of mixed donuts.
I had forgotten all about our standing meeting. “Can we reschedule?”
“Sure,” Cammie says quickly.
“No need,” Silas says at the same time.
We both look at him.
“Have your meeting. I’ll fix breakfast. Something more nutritious. We’ll chat about you moving to the pack house after.”
There’s a confidence in his voice that makes my insides spark and melt at the same time.
Cammie’s eyes widen. “You’re moving? Girl, this meeting is going to take a while.” She tilts her head back and points at Silas. “Make bacon.”
She drags me down the hall to the office.
“What the hell? You’re moving in with them after one night together? That’s insane. You know that, right?”
I shrug. “You told me to be Boss Bitch Lark.”
She snorts. “Your version of Boss Bitch and my version must be very different.”
I twirl once in my swivel chair before stopping to face her. “Graham is worried I’ll spike again. If that happens and they’re not there, it could get bad.”
Cammie rolls her eyes. “That’s what phones are for.” She pulls the box of donuts from her bag, selects the one with pink icing and sprinkles, and takes a bite. I wait for her to continue, but her mouth is, thankfully, occupied.
“It’s weird,” I say. “My brain knows it’s been less than a day. My omega doesn’t care. To her, we’re already committed. I’m theirs and they are mine. Just like it was for my parents.”
She swallows. “What about CoffeeGuy? What’s he going to say?”
I give myself time to think by examining a very interesting spot on my ceiling.
“Silas and Graham seem to believe he’ll come around.”
“What the hell kind of alpha doesn’t automatically jump on board when he meets his scent match?” she asks around another bite.
“He’s depressed. Silas admitted that he’s been skipping pack meals and staying away from the house more and more.”
“Why?”
“No one needs a reason to be depressed, but he has one.”
She leans forward in her chair. “And…?”
"His mom died. Remember how out of sorts I was when my parents died? I couldn't make a single decision for months. Everything that used to feel obvious felt impossible. Your brain doesn't always work the same way when you're grieving. Sometimes it doesn't work at all."
“Did Silas and Graham tell you that?”
“No. Saint told me about his mom when we were texting.”
“Oh damn. His name is Saint? That’s sexy as hell.”
Leave it to Cammie to careen off topic. She selects another donut. Jelly filled. “You need to move in. Today.”
I laugh. “You literally just said I was insane.”
She rolls her eyes. “That was before you told me about Saint’s situation. He needs you, Lark. You have to help him.”
That’s the part that scares me. What if he won’t let me in? I've built a whole company on not taking no for an answer. What if Saint is the first no I can't negotiate.
A knock sounds at the door. Graham leans his head in. His green eyes go soft when he sees me.
Cammie makes a sound that is half sigh, half whimper. "Those eyes," she mouths at me.
“I know,” I mouth back.
“Silas sent me to ask you how you want your coffee.”
I don’t even bother trying to explain my usual choice. “Sweet and creamy.”
“Times two,” Cammie adds. “And bacon. There’s bacon, right?”
Graham places his hand over his heart. “I promise there will be bacon.”
She barks a laugh. “Good. My girl’s going to need her strength to pack her bags.”
Graham’s eyes widen. “Really? You’re coming back with us?”
I don’t have time to reply before he pulls me from my chair into a smothering hug, peppering the top of my hair with quick, eager kisses.
“Ahem,” Cammie pretends to cough. “I hate to interrupt, but if I don’t get at least one hour of work from Lark today, we’ll be way behind.”
Reluctantly my sweet guy starts to pull away. Before he can get too far, I put my arms around his neck and pull his face closer to mine, pressing my scent along his cheeks and throat. He purrs with satisfaction before marking me in return.
“Any day now,” Cammie taunts.
Graham jumps back, his ears going pink. He pushes his glasses up even though they don't need it.
“I’ll be back with your coffees soon.”
“And bacon!” Cammie yells to his retreating back.
I laugh. Poor Graham will eventually get used to her. They'll probably adore each other, honestly. The thought makes something warm settle in my chest.
I turn to face her. "Alright," I say, settling back into my chair. "Show me what we've got."
“Got it. Operation speed walk through today’s data begins right now!”