Chapter 21
“Should we wake him up?” Sonnet asked, peering down at Zayden, who seemed more relaxed asleep than he ever had been awake. His long, black hair was tucked over his face like a shield, and his tattooed hands were clenched tightly around the couch pillow.
Jude grinned. “Or we could draw on a silly face.”
“No.” Felix smacked Jude on the back of his head.
He’d been salty ever since Sonnet admitted she hated seafood, which was fair.
She should have mentioned something before he started cooking, but who said a girl couldn’t just enjoy brie and bread for dinner?
Well, Felix apparently made her grilled cheese because that’s different.
“Let’s just leave him be. He always gets exhausted after a day of travel. ”
“That’s because he always stresses out about every little detail when we go somewhere.” Jude shook his head; his brown hair curled from his shoulder. “He should just be more like me and nap while we travel.”
“How can anyone else possibly sleep when your snores keep us all awake?”
Sonnet laughed and leaned down, giving Zayden a kiss on the cheek and covered him up with a blanket. “Can we eat now since we’re letting Zayden sleep? I’m hungry and I want to eat outside together while we watch the sunset.”
“Hm.” Felix turned sharply, grabbed the food and brought it outside.
Who knew Felix could be so childish?
It was kind of cute and nice seeing a side of him that wasn’t all held together, especially after their moment together. She couldn’t believe how vulnerable she had been with him, and so soon into knowing him, but he was perfect and made her feel better.
She was just glad she hadn’t told him the whole truth.
It was one thing admitting her shame for being an affair baby.
It was another thing to tell them that her mother was a prostitute.
No, Sonnet would never give that piece of information to anyone unless she could be certain they would hold no discontent towards her birth mother.
She squeezed Jude’s arm. “How long can Felix hold a grudge?”
Jude laughed as he led her outside. “Well, he doesn’t argue like the rest of us do because he holds grudges. And from what a little birdy told me, his pride is wounded because he was trying to impress a pretty girl by making her dinner. Instead, he ended up having to make her a grilled cheese.”
“He still impressed me! Even if I can’t eat the food he made.”
Jude barked another laugh before Felix tossed a scathing glare towards him. Sonnet and Jude covered both their mouths to keep from laughing as he finished setting the picnic table out on the patio.
Sonnet gasped and let go of Jude’s arm, grabbing onto the patio railing and looking out towards the ocean, which was slowly turning into her favorite color, pink!
“Dude, this looks awesome!”
Felix scoffed, and Sonnet felt his arms wrap around her waist. When she looked up at him, he had a small, teasing glint in his eyes. “Come eat.”
“Only if you forgive me.”
“Fine.” He kissed her cheek. “But you’re helping me with making a menu for the rest of your life, so this never happens again, understood?”
“So bossy, but fine,” she laughed, joining her two alphas at the table.
Jude was a monster, eating more than his fair share, but Felix never complained.
In fact, he looked very proud, and he should be.
His seafood charcuterie board looked beautiful, even if it was unappetizing to her.
She had to admit her grilled cheese was probably the best she’s ever had.
Felix snuck avocado and prosciutto between the baguette and cheese, and it was delicious.
Much fancier than her American cheese and white bread sandwiches she used to make, which she did not dare mention out loud.
Eating like this was an upgrade and a very positive plus to being their fated mate.
In fact, Sonnet had made a decision. She was going to figure out what was wrong between these boys, fix them, bond with them, and live happily ever after. Maybe then her omega would finally come out of hiding and feel satisfied and safe.
Although maybe fixing her own problems was the first step to fixing theirs. After all, she couldn’t exactly bond with the alphas without having a healthy connection with her own omega.
Do you hear that? I’m going to figure you out and make you show yourself.
At first, there was no response. Typical. Just a sharp movement inside her mind, but then, a rough bark.
Mate.
An image of Kai flashed through her mind, and Sonnet understood right away what her omega was saying.
She was upset one of her alphas was refusing to participate, and as she should be.
Sonnet and her omega, no matter how complicated, were also wonderful and perfect, and Kai was lucky to be fated to such a girl.
A girl who was tired of being frozen out without fighting back.
Every time he glared or barked, she’d whimper and hide away, but enough was enough. Here, at the beach, Sonnet felt good and great and GRAND! And she would not be let down on her very first night here by her own mate.
Summer would be proud, because this was the Sonnet she knew. Little by little, she was coming out of her shell.
“Where are you going?” Jude asked, pouting as Sonnet stole his plate and brushed some of the leftover food onto it. “I thought we were going to let Zayden sleep.”
“This isn’t for Zayden. Don’t wait up for me, just enjoy the sunset.”
She skipped away, a confident boost in her step. She tried to keep the momentum as she approached the second bedroom but struggled. Her hand shook as she knocked on the door, and from the other side came an annoyed sigh and mumbling.
When Kai opened the door, wet locks of black hair fell in his eyes, and he was wearing nothing but black boxers.
His skin was still damp and glistening from his shower, highlighting all his many tattoos.
His dark eyes were hard and judgmental as he looked her up and down. She tried to hold back a shiver.
“Here!” She bounced up on her tiptoes and held up his plate of food.
“What’s this?”
“Food?”
Kai rolled his eyes. “I’m not hungry.”
He went to close the door, but Sonnet stepped forward right under the door frame to stop him. “You didn’t eat lunch on the plane, so you need to eat dinner. Felix worked hard on it, so if you’re not going to eat with us, the least you can do is eat it by yourself and compliment him later.”
“Compliment him?” Kai looked at her incredulously, as if she were speaking nonsense of all kinds. “I’ve never complimented him before, and I don’t plan on starting now just because you’re asking me to.”
“Asking you? Don’t be silly. I’m telling you what you’re going to do. Now,” she shoved the plate of food into his chest harshly and forced a wide, sparkling smile. “Eat it. You have until bedtime to come out and compliment Felix and thank him for the meal. Oh, Kai? Tomorrow, you’re eating with us.”
“I wouldn’t count on it!”
“Oh, but I am!”
She had a grin on her face as she walked away, a fierce hope sparking in her chest.