Chapter 23
Silas
Jealousy is an ugly emotion. And an alpha who lets it control him is worse. As pack leader, I’m supposed to be above it.
Our omega is growing her bond with Graham. That’s a good thing. The best thing. Strong bonds make strong packs. It means we’re doing this right. Still, the feeling sits like a stone in my gut.
I lean back in my chair and rub a hand over my bearded jaw, the memory rising whether I want it to or not. It’s been four days and I can’t let it go.
That day had already been long. My meeting with the hotel had gone over by a few hours. What started as a request to design a few special pieces for the VIP lounge, turned into way more. By the time I left, my head was pounding.
Lucy was worse.
The treatment had hit her harder this round.
She tried to smile through it, but I’m her big brother.
I know every lie she tells when she says she’s fine.
Her eyes were strained. Her color gray. I couldn’t even get her to eat a popsicle.
Sitting with her for a few hours had drained what little energy I had left.
By the time I pulled into the driveway, I wanted one thing. Lark.
Just five minutes of her warmth. Her scent in my lungs. The comfort of wrapping my arms around her and breathing her in.
I’d gone upstairs to find her. The house had been quiet. Too quiet. At first I thought she might be asleep. Then I heard it. And then I smelled it. Her salty caramel and Graham's chocolate, layered thick in the air, drifting all the way down the hallway.
Fuck.
Every alpha instinct in my body sharpened.
Soft sounds. Breathless.
My first reaction had been pride. A grin even tugged at the corner of my mouth. Didn’t think you had it in you, Graham.
But then my muddled brain put two and two together. The sound wasn’t coming from the bedroom. They were in the nest. For a moment I just stood there, staring at the closed door, the realization settling in slowly. My omega had invited Graham into her nest.
That space was sacred to an omega. Private. Safe. Not somewhere she would bring someone casually.
Part of me was pleased. More than pleased, if I was honest. It meant she trusted him. Trusted us. The bond between them was forming quickly, exactly the way it should. Exactly the way I wanted.
But the selfish part of me felt something sharp twist beneath my ribs. I wanted to be the one in that room. The one holding her. The thought hit me so hard it made my stomach turn.
Disgusted with myself, I turned around before my alpha did something stupid. I took the stairs back down. Fast. By the time I reached the back door, I didn’t trust myself to stay in the house.
I went to the workshop instead. Stayed there for hours working the sanding block back and forth over a table leg until my arms and back ached.
Long enough that the sun had set by the time I finally looked up from the half-finished table on my workbench.
Long enough that the others had given up on me cooking dinner and ordered delivery instead.
Probably for the best.
Four days later, the jealousy still hasn’t completely faded. That’s inconvenient. Because every other instinct I have says I should be celebrating.
Graham and Lark have barely come out of that nest since.
Not literally, of course. They both work too much for that.
Lark spends most of her day glued to a laptop, and Graham spends long hours on his research at the university.
But every night, without fail, he ends up upstairs with her. In the nest.
Earlier this afternoon I watched him drag a string of twinkle lights behind him up the stairs. I leaned against the kitchen counter and just shook my head.
Makes sense. We didn’t pick any of that up during the trip to The Nesting Corner. At the time it didn’t seem important. Apparently it is now.
The nest has been slowly evolving over the last four days. Or at least I think it has. I haven’t been invited in. Pillows, blankets, lights, gauzy fabric whose purpose I've stopped trying to figure out. Graham carries them upstairs with a big smile on his face.
Our omega seems pleased with the improvements. And that should make me happy. Some moments it does. Watching the two of them together. How easily they fit. How naturally Lark reaches for him. It’s proof that this pack might actually work. Other moments, not so much.
Jealousy is a stubborn thing. For four days I’ve swung between two extremes. Pure, unfiltered satisfaction that our omega is bonding with one of us. And pure, unfiltered frustration that it isn’t me.
Neither feeling is something a pack leader should admit to. Both are true, anyway.
I push away from the counter and glance toward the stairs.
Enough is enough. Four days is plenty of time for Graham to monopolize the nest. My patience has limits.
If this pack is going to function the way it should, we need time together.
Real time. Which means it’s time I took control of the situation.
Not just for me. For all of us. We’ll take turns courting her properly, the way an omega deserves. But first, we start as a pack. Including Saint, whether he's ready to admit he wants to or not.
Decision made, I push away from the counter and head for the living room.
“House,” I say.
A small light flickers to life on the wall panel.
“Announce: pack meeting in ten minutes.”
A neutral female voice echoes through the house a moment later. “Pack meeting in ten minutes.” The announcement repeats in each room, faintly bouncing down the hallways and up the staircase.
I make my way into the family room and settle onto the couch, stretching my legs out in front of me. From here I can see the hallway and the stairs. It gives me a clear view of whoever arrives first.
Predictably, it’s Graham. He comes down, Lark beside him, their fingers loosely tangled. His head is bent as he whispers something that makes her giggle.
I resist the urge to growl. Barely.
Four days.
Lark notices me first and smiles. Graham finally glances up and clears his throat, though he doesn’t let go of her hand. Jealousy nudges at the edge of my patience. I ignore it.
A moment later Saint walks in. His arm is finally out of the sling, per doctor’s orders, though he still holds it close to his body, protecting it out of habit. His eyes move immediately to the pair standing across the room.
More specifically, to their hands. Something flashes across his face, gone almost before it fully forms. But I catch it. Jealousy.
Me too, buddy. Me too.
Saint’s gaze lifts a second later, his expression settling back into the careful neutral mask he's been wearing lately.
He picks the chair furthest from Lark. “What’s the meeting about?”
“Simple,” I say.
Three pairs of eyes turn toward me.
“It’s time we start courting our omega properly.”
Lark blinks. Graham straightens slightly. Saint doesn’t move at all, though one eyebrow twitches.
“You’ll each get one night a week. Just the two of you. No distractions.”
Lark goes very still. “Is this mandatory?”
Her eyes drift to Saint. She’s worried about rejection.
I understand why. But I know my pack mate too well by now.
That look on his face told me everything I need to know.
He won’t walk away again. The scowl there now tells me he won’t make it easy, either.
That’s why this idea is so important. We need to all move forward together.
“Mandatory,” I repeat.
Saint’s face softens. Not happy, but not ready to fight either. Lark sits back and clasps tighter to Graham’s hand.
“But we’re starting with something else first.”
Graham tilts his head. “What’s that?”
“A pack date.”
Lark’s smile spreads instantly. “Tonight?”
“This afternoon.”
Graham’s face mirrors Lark’s. Saint exhales slowly through his nose. I continue before anyone can derail the plan.
“There’s a street fair down at the riverfront park. Food trucks. Music. Homemade crafts.”
Lark practically vibrates with excitement. “That sounds fun.”
Graham nods enthusiastically. “It does.”
Saint sits forward, rolling his shoulder once like he’s testing it. “Crowds,” he mutters.
“You’ve never been scared of crowds before,” I reply.
His eyes narrow slightly. But he doesn’t argue. Which, considering his mood five days ago, is actually progress.
I glance around the room at the three of them. Graham leaning toward Lark. Telling her about the games and food they will share. Saint pretending he isn’t watching them. And Lark in the middle of it all, face alight with happiness.
Yes. A pack date is exactly what we need.
“Alright,” I say, pushing to my feet. “Everyone get ready.”
I look back at Lark and Graham. I’m going to be the one holding my omega’s hand.