Chapter 11
Safira
It was like a dream come to life. I’d often thought of what it would be like to see them again, the boys who’d shown me so much kindness during a time in my life that I’d needed it the most. If I was honest with myself, that brief encounter kept me going more times than I could count. In my darkest moments, I knew that I was worthy of kindness and compassion, that I was interesting and fun, even if most people around me couldn’t see it. After all these years of wondering what happened to the boys I’d met, they were here in front of me.
But I’d never imagined them being quite so tall. Or quite so good looking. In my imagination, I knew they would be handsome. But nothing could prepare me for their chiseled features, their competitive athlete frames, or how absolutely delicious they smelled. As I saw the three of them emerging from the car, I recognized them immediately, despite the years that had gone by since we last met. They were, without a doubt, the most breathtaking people I’d ever seen. Tony had transformed into an impossibly handsome man, with a face straight out of a high-fashion magazine and a physique that seemed sculpted by an artist. He radiated a captivating blend of strength and ease.
Jax, on the other hand, had developed an imposing, almost statuesque quality. His height and build had only become more pronounced, giving him a commanding presence. His dark eyes, though still intense, were fixed on me with a hopeful vulnerability as he gave a reserved smile.
And then there was Kaden, who was off-the-charts hot. His floppy golden blonde hair and the way his whole body seemed to buzz with energy made him look like he was ready to hit the beach and catch some waves. How was it possible that the three carefree boys I had met so long ago had all become verifiable gods?
When I hugged them all for the first time, my head barely reached their chests. Although they were dressed up, I didn’t fail to notice how firm their bodies were. I also needed to take a minute to process everything I was smelling. Kaden crouched down first, and I got a whiff of his individual scent out of the cloud of pheromones. He smelled like fresh basil and amber. Then, Jax reached for me. He was pure oak. Finally, I smelled Tony. His scent reminded me of fresh rain and leaves. Their combined scents jogged my memory - when we had first met, I thought the forest just smelled amazing. It turns out it was them all along.
Growing up, romance had never been my main focus. There were a few people in school I found attractive, but they never matched my idea of what I wanted, and honestly, most guys didn’t even notice me. I’d occasionally daydreamed about being in a relationship, but my priority had always been to establish a stable, comfortable life. And the concept of being involved with more than one man at a time had never crossed my mind—until now, as I sat there eating my gelato, with three sets of eyes on me.
“Thank you, this is the best birthday gift I could have asked for,” I said with a smile as I finished my treat. The three of them exchanged worried glances, as though I had said something unsettling.
“Your birthday?” Jax asked, his eyes widening as he looked at the others.
“It was a few days ago, but still. Seeing all of you again is the greatest present I could have received,” I admitted, feeling a bit self-conscious as I looked down. Kaden reached over and gently placed his hand over mine.
“Safira, if we’d known, we would have planned something special for you,” he said sincerely, his blue eyes searching mine. I nervously laughed, not accustomed to this much attention.
“It’s fine. This is honestly perfect,” I insisted, gesturing towards the gelato shop. “I wasn’t expecting anything for my birthday.” I tried to sound nonchalant, but they seemed to see right through it.
“Safira, what did your family do to celebrate?” Tony asked, his gaze steady and concerned. I swallowed hard, still stinging from the recent incident where Hailey was celebrated and I was ignored.
“Well, they… didn’t do anything for me, really. I’m used to it.” I said quickly. Jax abruptly stood, pushing his chair back.
“No way. Not on our watch,” he declared, and the others followed suit, with Tony tossing my empty ice cream cup in the trash. “We’re taking you to get your birthday gifts, right now.” Jax extended his hand to me, and I felt a flush of warmth on my face as I took it.
“Really, I’m okay with just the ice cream.” I said as we walked out of the gelato shop, the guys surrounding me like bodyguards.
“No, you’re getting some real presents. We’re not letting you get overlooked,” Kaden insisted, leading me to a row of nearby clothing boutiques. I was swept up in a whirlwind as they guided me from store to store, urging me to try on everything from clothes to jewelry. Each time I emerged from the fitting room, they greeted me with applause and approving murmurs. It felt like I was the star of my own romantic film, and being around them was so effortless that it seemed like we had always been this close. Yet, there was a new intensity. Every time I was near them, inhaled their scent, or even just looked at them, I felt a strong, almost irresistible pull. My feelings were more than just friendship, but I tried to keep myself composed. I still knew little about their lives, aside from their involvement in their family businesses.
“We’ll take all of these,” Jax instructed the associate, placing every item of clothing on the counter.
“And these too,” Tony added, setting down a handful of jewelry. My jaw dropped in disbelief. They were buying everything I had tried on.
“You guys—” I began to protest, but Kaden gently placed his finger on my lips, silencing me and making me freeze.
“Shhh. Let us spoil you, please.” His touch lingered on my lips as I looked up at him and nodded, a warm feeling spreading through my core. We left the store with several bags, all of which they carried for me.
“It’s too late to plan a meal now, but since we’ve caught up, let us take you out for one. Please,” Jax requested as we walked toward my community down the street. I could only nod, feeling dizzy from everything that had happened. They stopped at the edge of my little gated omega village. “This is as far as we can go. Text us when you’re inside. We’ll see you soon, okay?” Jax said, hugging me goodbye, and each of them added their embrace before loading my arms with the bags filled with my gifts. They looked at me with lingering gazes before turning towards their car. Kaden knelt down once more, placing his hand on my shoulder.
“Please, please don’t disappear on us again. Promise?” he implored, his eyes wide and searching mine. I couldn’t help but smile.
“There’s no way I’m leaving. Promise you’ll see me again?” I asked, and he looked at me with a serious expression.
“Safira, I have a feeling you won’t be able to get rid of us!"
*****
Once I was back in the villa, I put my bags down and went to my room, laying on my bed as I stared up at the ceiling. It was light and bright in here, such a contrast to the basement room I’d been living in for so many years. And something else was happening. As I thought about Jax, Kaden and Tony, my center started throbbing. I’d never, until this day, considered what it would be like to be with more than one man at a time. But being around them was overwhelming. The way they treated me, and my innate comfort with them, made me want them in a way I’d never wanted anyone before. It didn't hurt that they were basically walking sex gods. That warm, slick liquid started pooling again in between my legs. I slowly pulled my pants down, wanting to reach between my thighs to feel it. My sex was tingling, so sensitive that the slightest touch was one hundred times more responsive than I’d ever felt before.
I imagined what it would be like to kiss Kaden, his soft, kind eyes looking at me as he devoured me. And how nice it would feel to have Tony running his hands along my flesh as he explored my body. The brief moments when they touched me today felt like they were branded onto my skin. And Jax, with his quiet confidence, how would he handle me? I wanted to know, and badly. My skin was starting to heat up as a cramp rolled through my lower abdomen. I quickly abandoned what I was doing and grabbed the suppressant pills, swallowing one without hesitation. The doctor had warned me that if I didn’t take them on time, I could trigger a heat. And with how horny I was just now, I couldn't imagine how a real heat felt. I reclined against the bed, waiting for the pill to take effect and soothe my racing nerves. Within a few minutes, I began to feel more like myself. These hormones were no joke.
I glanced at the pamphlets for various omega courses on my nightstand, then reached over to grab one and flip through it. As the suppressants worked their magic, I looked through the pages, intrigued by a few classes that caught my eye. I started mapping out my week, gravitating towards the relaxation and light exercise options. Living with Lisa had left my nerves frayed and on edge, constantly feeling like I was balancing on a tightrope. Now, in this new environment, I could finally unwind and start to put my life back together. The question was, what did I really want now? It seemed like the whole world was open to me. But I was primarily focused on one thing – well, three things, to be completely honest. But I needed to explore my own path as well before getting too wrapped up in men.
*****
I spent the week catching up on sleep and learning more about my new life. The social worker called me every day, suggesting courses at the community center in my little omega village. I’d already taken the introductory classes on what to expect from a heat, nesting 101, and a daily yoga classes. It was quite nice, actually. But on Saturday I was scheduled to meet up with the guys again, and I could hardly wait.
They were just as amazing as I remembered, even though years had passed between us. They listened to me without judgment, and made me feel safe, understood, and normal . Normal was about the furthest thing from my situation, but it didn’t matter. I couldn’t wait to feel that indescribable feeling with them again - like I was home.