4. Lyra
“ N o, don’t do this, Mother,” I cried out as I jolted awake.
My chest was heaving as adrenaline coursed through my veins, and the nightmare dissipated. I raised a hand to wipe the tears off my face, trying to remind myself that none of it had been real.
“I am safe,” I whispered, then took a few deep breaths grounding myself. “I’m in my room in the home I share with my pack. They are all safe and sleeping in their rooms. What I remembered happened a long time ago and I survived.”
Finally, my heart rate calmed to the point I didn’t think it would burst out of my chest. Absently, I rubbed my chest in an effort to soothe myself further, but I knew I wasn’t going back to sleep right away. Resigned to that reality, I tossed back the covers and slipped my silk robe over my nightgown. Tonight was the first night none of the guys slept with me. Since I was meeting with Dr. Mann later today, I wanted to know how bad my nightmares were. Which meant I couldn’t have them stay since I knew they helped to keep me calm.
On silent feet, I started down the stairs, heading for the kitchen. A cup of hot chamomile tea was the best thing to settle my nerves after a nightmare this bad. Once I reached the second floor, I walked down the hall past Eli’s open bedroom door. I paused, then peeked in, only to find the bed empty and perfectly made. He must have chosen to spend the night with Fawn, which had me smiling. Recently, I’d felt like, with everything that happened, my whole pack had been so focused on taking care of me they didn’t have much time for their other relationships within our pack.
Continuing down the hall toward the final set of stairs to the main floor, I was brought to a halt by the sound of a man groaning loudly. The fear and anxiety I’d tried to quell since waking roared to life. Before I could take a second to consider that what I heard wasn’t a man in pain, I forcefully shoved open the door to Tanner’s room. The door had been shut but not latched, and with the power I put behind my hand, it slammed against the wall with a loud boom just as I flipped on the lights.
There before me, looking completely startled, was a naked Zachary sitting on the end of the bed, with an equally naked Tanner on his lap. I then realized Zachary was holding Tanner’s legs up, cradling his lover against his chest, so they could easily watch in the full-length mirror as Zachary thrust balls deep into Tanner’s ass.
“Oh my God, I’m so sorry,” I blurted as I turned on my heel and slapped at the light switch to darken the room before bolting out.
“Shit,” Tanner swore, which was quickly followed by a moan, and the sound of someone running after me.
Just as I was about to reach the stairs, a hand wrapped around my wrist and tugged me back. The next thing I knew, I was wrapped up in a pair of strong arms and engulfed in Tanner’s sweet, smokey scent. Still trapped in flight mode, I went rigid, bracing my hands on his chest as if I were going to push him away. Sensing my distress, Tanner purred and gently nuzzled his cheek against my head in an effort to soothe me. After a few heartbeats, my body relaxed, and I hugged him tightly.
“You’re all right, starlight,” Tanner murmured and dropped a kiss on my head before pulling me away from him slightly so he could see my face. He didn’t say anything right away. Instead, he searched my gaze with his warm brown eyes.
“Everything okay?” Zachary asked, his deep voice breaking the silence.
Tanner glanced over at his lover and then back to me. “Not sure, but seeing as it’s two in the morning, I’m going to take a guess and say it might have been a nightmare.” Dropping my gaze, I nodded and gasped as Tanner scooped me into a bridal hold. “I think it might be better if we take this conversation back to my room where I don’t have to worry about the fact I’m only wearing my birthday suit.”
“I wouldn’t be worried, it’s a great view,” Zachary chuckled, giving us a wink.
“Says the man who took the time to pull his boxers on,” Tanner countered. Zachary started to say something, but Tanner leaned in and soundly kissed the Alpha. “I’m teasing you, yah grumpy bear.”
Zachary grunted and slapped Tanner’s bare ass urging the man forward back to his room. Without a second thought, Tanner climbed right back on his bed and settled me in his lap. Zachary sat in front of us so his knees touched Tanner’s and blocked my escape, not that I was planning on running now that I’d calmed down.
“First thing I want to know is if you’re all right,” Zachary asked, his gaze locked with mine, making it clear he expected an answer.
I took a second to wet my lips before answering, “I’m fine, nothing happened.”
Zachary’s brow arched as he gave me a look that told me he didn’t believe a word I said. “Honey bear, I think our definition of fine might be different. You burst into the room as if a pack of wolves were on your heels and left roughly the same way. Neither of us is upset with you. As our Omega, you have every right to seek out your Alphas, no matter what we might be doing.”
“I thought Tanner was hurt,” I admitted, with a slight blush as I now knew he’d been moaning for quite the opposite reason.
Absently, I tucked my hair behind my ear as I dropped my gaze. “A nightmare woke me, so I headed to the kitchen to make some tea. It’s the only thing that seems to help me fall back asleep without needing to take a pill. As I passed by, I heard someone groan loudly as if they were in pain. My mind and body were still on high alert from my memories which led me to react on instinct.”
Tanner shifted me slightly to sit sideways on his lap, then cupped my jaw and urged me to look at him. “Starlight, there is nothing to be ashamed of in how you reacted. Actually, I kind of love that you felt protective enough over your pack to burst into my room even though you were scared of what you might find on the other side of the door. However, I wouldn’t be a good Alpha to you if I didn’t also admit I’m worried about the fact you had such an awful nightmare, and it had you on such high alert.”
As he talked, Tanner’s fingers stroked the outside of my thigh where my nightgown had gotten bunched up from the way he was holding me. The fact I was well aware he was naked didn’t help me as I tried to focus on what he was saying. Tanner didn’t ask me outright what my nightmare had been about, he wasn’t one to push if I wasn’t ready to talk about it. Yet I knew the thing he craved between us was for us to have a bond of trust where I would willingly share my thoughts and fears.
“This isn’t the first time I’ve had to deal with nightmares, they started after I woke up from the accident. They are worse right now as memories I’d forgotten have begun to surface. I plan to talk about it with Dr. Mann when I see her today, but I’m fairly certain I know what she’ll tell me to do,” I shared, trying to reassure my Alphas.
When it came to issues like this, there wasn’t much anyone could do. Nightmares and flashbacks were part of the healing process, and all sleeping pills ever did was trap me in those hellish moments, unable to wake up, which is why I preferred to forgo using them and stick with tea or other natural remedies.
“I don’t like the thought of not being able to do anything,” Tanner grumbled. “That being said, it helps to know you’re going to tell Dr. Mann about the problem. Who knows, she might have something new for you to try.”
Reaching out with both hands, I grasped Tanner’s face and pulled him down so I could kiss him. He was more than willing to give in to my demand, purring as the kiss deepened. I gasped as I felt Tanner’s cock harden under me. All I had to do was open my legs slightly to allow his cock to slide between my thighs so I could rub my pussy against it.
A growl rumbled behind me, a reminder that Tanner and I weren’t alone. I could feel the heat of Zachary’s body as he pressed his chest to my back. “God, it’s so fucking sexy to watch the two of you make out.” His voice was so deep this close that I could feel its vibrations wash over my skin.
“Why don’t we get you a little more comfortable, honey bear,” Zachary whispered in my ear as his hands grasped my robe and slid it off my body. “It’s up to you how far this goes, Lyra. I know we’ve taken a step back since you returned from the hospital. None of us want to push you into anything you’re not one hundred percent sure about.”
I reached a hand behind me as I twisted so I could kiss Zachary soundly on the lips. After a moment, I pulled back and smiled. “I am one thousand percent sure I want both of you right here, right now. Even so, I should be the one asking if it’s all right for me to stay. I clearly interrupted your night as just the two of you, and your relationship with each other is just as important to me as ours.”
“Could you be any more perfect?” Tanner asked as he ran the tip of his nose up the side of my neck and playfully nipped at my ear. “Starlight, Zac and I had plenty of time where it was the two of us. Yes, we make an effort for one-on-one time, like going on dates or just being the two of us in bed, but I can assure you neither of us will ever turn you or Fawn away. It’s hard to explain, but my love for Zac doesn’t wane or grow stagnant because I don’t have time to be alone with him. In fact, watching the way he takes care of our Omegas makes me love him even more.”
“He’s right, honey bear,” Zachary agreed as he kissed along the top of my shoulder. “Tee and I went through a lot in the early years of our relationship. We had to fight for each other, and it created a bond that’s not easily broken.”
His words had me curious, but the last thing I wanted to do right now was compare emotional scars with my Alphas. No, I wanted them to strip me out of what little clothing I had on and wash away all the remnants of the painful memories I’d been plagued by in my dreams.
“Furthermore, none of the men in this pack would ever initiate something if they didn’t intend to finish the job,” Zachary assured me as he pulled me from Tanner’s lap onto his own, which forced my legs wide as I straddled him and exposed my silk underwear damp from slick. “Trust me when I say there is nothing more in the world I want right now than to get you naked, so I can fuck both my lovers until we can’t keep our eyes open.”
I shivered in delight, picturing his words as my perfume filled the air with how turned on I was. Zachary’s eyes dilated, sucking in a deep breath as he urged me to raise my arms. Slowly, Tanner slid his hands up my thighs, under my nightgown, and continued until he lifted the silk over my head in one easy motion.
Wasting no time, Zachary dove in, wrapped his lips around my nipple, and flicked his tongue teasingly over the peaked flesh. I cried out as I arched my back giving him better access. Pleased with my response, Zachary started to purr, sending shock waves of pleasure through my nipple into the rest of my body.
Tanner’s hands returned to my hips, holding me steady as he positioned his body so I could lean against him. My eyes fluttered open to see him staring down at me with a gaze that held so much heat. Never once had my other pack looked at me in such a way. Zachary switched to lavish his attention on my other nipple, sucking on it sharply as if he knew my attention had drifted. As if to be sure I was with him, Zachary grasped the newly neglected nipple and rolled it between his fingers in time with his tongue.
“Oh fuck .” I gasped, my fingers digging into Zachary’s arms as I rocked my hips, desperate for something to rub my pussy against.
“Hmm, such sweet sounds you’re making,” Tanner murmured, his lips brushing against my neck as if teasing me with more than his words. “Tell me, starlight, do you enjoy your nipples being played with that much?”
“Yes, Alpha,” I cried out and ground my silk-covered pussy on Zachary as he tugged slightly with his teeth. “I fucking love my nipples being teased and played with.”
“Good to know, I’ll make sure to keep that in mind,” Tanner said, his hand sliding down my stomach and under the fabric blocking my Alphas from my pussy.
“What about here?” he asked, letting the tip of his finger lightly brush over my clit, causing me to buck against him. “Would you look at that? What a strong reaction, starlight.”
Zachary chuckled, then released his hold on me and sat back with a satisfied smile as he looked at my breasts. “Perfectly pink and begging for more attention, just the way I like my Omegas. Now, let’s uncover what Tee found to see if it’s ripe and ready for eating.”
The two Alphas skillfully maneuvered me so Zachary could slide off my underwear, then settled me so Tanner was kneeling between my legs, and my head was in Zachary’s lap. Somewhere in the mix, Zachary ditched his boxers so all three of us were completely naked. Unable to help myself, I nuzzled Zachary’s dick since it was right there begging for attention.
Fingers grasped my chin and turned me to face Tanner. “Before we get any further, there are three rules in our bed, starlight. First, if at any time things get too much for you, all you need to say is stop, and that’s exactly what we’ll do, no matter what. Second, Omegas don’t get to orgasm unless an Alpha gives you permission. Third, you will always be honest and tell us if you have any hard limits or discover something that falls into that category along the way. I know sometimes, when it comes to trying something new, you don’t always know how you feel about it until you’re in the middle of it. We want you to speak your mind and I promise you, none of us will get mad at you for standing up for yourself.”
“Sex in all its forms is, first and foremost, to be enjoyable for all parties involved. If you’re not enjoying it, we’re not fucking doing it,” Zachary stated succinctly. “Too many Omegas believe they don’t get a say in things because it’s their job to please their Alphas, but that’s not how we do things in this pack.”
While I’m sure many would say a conversation like this would kill the mood we’d been building, for me, it was a huge turn-on.
“I understand and happily agree to your rules,” I said with a smile, taking a moment to look both men in the eyes so they knew I was being honest. “The only absolute hard limit I can’t handle from anyone is degradation. Having people I love and care about upset or mad at me is something I can’t separate play from reality. Others would be no bodily fluids, gagging, or impact play with tools. However, I’m fine with spanking as long as it doesn’t go too far.”
Both men nodded and stroked my skin as they smiled, making it clear they were pleased with my honesty.
“Thank you for telling us,” Tanner praised before dropping a quick kiss on my lips. “Do you want to keep that information between us, or are we allowed to mention it to your other Alphas? We asked Fawn the same thing, just so you don’t think we’re singling you out. Until recently, it’s only been Zac and I who were intimate with Fawn, so we didn’t need to worry about looping anyone else in. With you, it’s all five of your Alphas who share your bed and body, so we just want to make sure everyone is on the same page, with your approval, of course.”
There was something about picturing the guys casually eating breakfast together when Tanner offhandedly brought up the fact I don’t want to be gagged or yelled at during sex that made me snort with laughter. “I don’t mind if you’re fine with having that conversation with the others.”
Tanner laughed, his eyes glimmering in the moonlight as his hands clasped my legs and his thumb stroked the sensitive inner skin of my thigh. “Oh, I have zero problems telling my pack mates what makes our sexy girl scream. Haven’t you figured out yet that my favorite thing to do is give my Omegas so much pleasure they forget how to speak?”
Before I could offer up a response, Tanner shoved my legs wide and decided actions were far more effective than words.