Chapter 32
THIRTY-TWO
JEWEL
We were home, in my apartment. My nest was flooded with peaceful scents.
Jade’s and Casey’s, faint and sweet. Hugo’s, all alpha but smooth like honey and causing something to settle deep in my soul.
And my own scent, saturating the place with a fresh sweetness and lightness that was completely unfamiliar.
Jade was sleeping in front of me, Casey right behind her. Behind me, Hugo was snoring softly.
My thoughts, which had been taut and buzzing more often than not recently, flowed smooth like silk.
Today was the day. I smiled to myself and stretched.
Lovely as it was to just lie here, I really needed to pee. I extracted myself from the pile of bodies and made my way over to the bathroom.
I hummed to myself as I showered and started my skin and hair care routine. Once I was satisfied, I went out to the kitchen to prepare for the day. When I checked the nest, I found everyone was still asleep, and that simply wouldn’t do.
“Wakey-wakey, darlings!” I clapped my hands and yanked the covers off the pile of bodies.
“Fuck off,” Jade hissed, rubbing her eyes.
“Good morning to you, too, sunshine.” I blew her a kiss and pulled the blanket off the bed before she had a chance to grab it.
Hugo sat up with a groan. His eyes were still bleary as he looked around the room. “Aren’t omegas supposed to be pro-coziness and resting and shit?”
“Hmm, must have missed that memo.” I whirled around and opened the curtains.
Hugo swore under his breath, and Casey laughed.
“Come on, I’ve been a good little omega. I made you breakfast and everything,” I said.
“Really?” Jade sounded shocked.
Um, rude.
“Well…” I waltzed out of the room. I mean, I had. Kind of. I’d put on coffee and brought out some cereal boxes.
But, really, did they expect me to cook or something?
I sat at the table as Casey bustled around, grabbing bowls and spoons, fetching the milk and filling glasses with water. I helped too. I mean, I poured coffee into their favorite mugs.
Sure, the others didn’t know that the mugs were their favorites yet. But that was semantics.
Hugo was the last to appear in the kitchen. I hummed and poured him a coffee, to which he grunted and started downing immediately.
I turned to grab one of my magazines, and my elbow knocked into my coffee mug. It fell to the floor and broke, coffee going everywhere.
Jade gave a slow clap while I glared at her. “Casey, would you be a dear and clean that up for me?” I asked, batting my lashes at him.
“Sure.” He gave me a smile and picked up a cloth.
“Stop!” Hugo’s rough voice came from the other side of the kitchen island.
Jade stood up and shook her head. “Casey, that’s not your job. Jewel can do it.”
I tutted. “Much as I’m sure you want to see me bend down in these pants, they’re not really built for menial chores. Besides, Casey doesn’t mind. Right, darling?”
Casey opened his mouth and hesitated, gaze darting between us.
Hugo didn’t break eye contact with me. “Casey. Sit down.”
Oh, good god, his bark made my knees weak. I raised my eyebrows, covering up my reaction. “Bit of a safety hazard, though? What if someone slips?”
Hugo stood up and took a sip of his coffee. Then he nodded at the mess. “Right. Better get on it, then.”
For a long moment, I held his heated gaze. My heart rate was speeding up, and I could feel my neck getting hotter. Finally, I flicked my hand at him and rolled my eyes. “Fine.”
But I was going to do this my way.
I sashayed over to the cup and bent down to pick up the pieces. At the waist, of course. I wasn’t wrong about these pants making my ass look amazing, and I smirked as I felt the reaction from all three of them.
I threw the broken pieces into the garbage and grabbed the mop from the side cupboard. Plus a bottle of sanitizer. I mean, did they really think I didn’t know how to clean?
“Ta-da. Happy?” I turned to face them and almost jumped as I found Hugo standing right behind me.
He was taller than me, and he tilted my chin up until I was looking into his amber eyes. I could really feel my cheeks getting hot now.
“Good boy,” he said in his low voice.
Heat exploded down my spine. I may have swayed slightly.
Um, swoon.
He grinned, then stepped away and took his chair again.
I let out a whine as I trailed after him. “Daddy! You can’t just leave me like that.”
He snorted. “Keep being good, and you’ll get a reward later.”
I wrinkled my nose as I pouted. “But for how long?”
Hugo only shrugged.
Ugh. He was really strict, and I was only human. Was he trying to set me up for failure?
Probably, come to think of it. Sometimes it was just as fun being bad than being good.
Jade nudged me with her elbow. “Cheer up. Isn’t it your big day today?”
I perked up.
Yes, it was.
Today was the day I was announcing my return to New Oxford. We’d been holed up in my place while Laurel sorted out the rest of the logistics with the Institute, and now everything was put to rights. All that was left was to make a splash, which was my favorite thing to do.
Tonight was the annual La Nocturna gala, and this year they were raising funds for charities supporting gold-pack omegas. I’d been invited as the guest of honour, although only myself and the event organizers knew I’d still be showing up tonight.
I mean, I’d probably still have gone, even if my arrest warrant had been active; I was the guest of honour for the La Nocturna gala—I mean: Hello? It was only my lifelong destiny.
Plus, I’d been planning my outfit for literally months. If I died before tonight, I’d made the others promise to bury me in those clothes.
I clapped my hands together. “Right! We better finish eating if we’re going to make it to the salon in time.”
?
JADE
It was really cute to see Jewel so excited for all this, even if it did mean sitting through almost an entire day of “beautifying,” as Jewel put it.
“Just enjoy it,” he told me as the beauticians slathered my face in a gritty, slimy substance.
“I thought the cucumber thing was only in movies,” I grumbled as they put vegetables on my eyes. Huh. That did feel nice. Cool and refreshing.
We moved on to makeup while Hugo and Casey went for haircuts.
We were put in recliners right next to each other for the mani-pedi part, and while our feet were in tubs of water, Jewel reached his hand over and slipped it into mine. My heart swooped in my chest, and I grinned at him. I could feel his love and contentment through our bond.
“I’m so glad we finally get to do this together,” he told me. “I’ve been dreaming of this for years.”
“Of couples’ foot massages?” I teased.
“Just getting to do things I like. With you.”
I nodded, a lump appearing in my throat. “It’s nice.” It was more than nice. For years, I’d lived alone. Guarded my heart by not getting close to anybody. I didn’t think I’d ever get to live a life like this, doing normal things surrounded by people I loved.
Well, I mean, normal was relative. I gasped as the woman by the tub of water started massaging my feet.
“Oh my god, Jade, are you ticklish?” Jewel sounded delighted.
“No.” I was gripping the armrests hard, my teeth clenched in the effort not to squeal. The woman at my feet raised her eyebrows and thankfully finished the massage quickly.
?
CASEY
A light breeze stirred the branches above, causing the dappled sunlight to sway back and forth on the ground.
I sat down on the hanging wicker chair and watched the sparkling water running through the small fountain.
I was tucked away in a secluded courtyard on the grounds of the Crimson Palace casino, tending to the garden Jewel had given me.
This one had been closed off for a while because of broken tiles, and was quite overgrown with weeds. It was slowly turning into a serene escape from the world.
It was beautiful.
I couldn’t take credit for the flowers; they were a marvel on their own. I’d put in a lot of work to help them flourish, and was filled with pride every time I looked at them.
Just like my pack.
The work I was doing felt balanced for the first time in my life.
When I was growing up, my family had relied on me to keep everything together.
The demands had never ended or slowed down; a constant to-do list running through my mind every time I tried to sit down.
The Pens had been different but no less exhausting.
I was overworked but even beyond that, I did what I could for the poor ferals.
Who else was going to help them brush their teeth or bring them to the training room so they could stretch their legs? I’d felt like I was drowning there.
For the first time I felt like I could breathe.
I could handle this work, and I knew that if I ever couldn’t, my pack would help me.
They already had woven themselves throughout my work, making everything feel special.
Hugo was trying to learn how to cook, and I’d brought him over to learn from mom a few times now.
He’d stand in our kitchen, wearing my old apron and listening intently as she taught him how to sauté onions.
Jewel seemed to have a sixth sense that detected anytime I was baking.
He’d come and perch on the counter, a smile on his face as he flirted and snuck spoonfuls of dough.
He was very distracting; one time I’d set off the fire alarm because he’d pulled me close and started kissing me while the cookies were in the oven.
Jade, like me, was slowly learning how to relax. Although her struggle was learning that she didn’t have to be on when she was around us, not so much the taking-it-easy part.
I checked the time, then stood up and stretched. I’d have loved to bring the others flowers straight from my garden, but we weren’t ready for that yet. Instead, I’d ordered them specially.
JADE
Jewel was with his stylist in his personal dressing room, readying his outfit. My dress had been simple, which Jewel had initially argued with before I pointed out it would draw more attention to his own gown. I was waiting for the others to come back.
There was a knock on the door and I opened it to find Casey on the other side. He was holding an armful of bouquets that almost obscured his face.
He beamed and stepped inside. “You look so beautiful, Miss Jade.”
“Thanks. I clean up nice when I have to.”
He laughed and set the flowers down on the table, grabbing vases from the cupboard. “These ones are for you,” he said, holding out a stunning arrangement of large crimson flowers. They flowed halfway to the floor, with beautiful hanging vines throughout.
“They’re gorgeous.” I was surprised to find I meant it. I didn’t think much of flowers, usually, but these were stunning. “Did you pick these out for me yourself?”
He nodded, blushing. “The gold and pink orchids are for Jewel, and the green ones are for Hugo. I figured he doesn’t get flowers very often.”
“He’s going to love them,” I told him.
Hugo did, in fact, love them, his voice getting a bit gruff as he thanked Casey and pressed a kiss to his cheek.
He and Jewel had had a long argument about his beard, but Jewel had finally let him keep it. It had been neatly clipped. His long hair was down, a single strand over his forehead in a way that should be criminal.
“Are you sure it’s okay I’m staying?” Casey asked, and I wound my hand through his.
Hugo came over behind me and wrapped his arms around me, surrounding me in his comforting woodsy scent.
“Of course it is,” I told him. “Remember? Your needs are just as important.”
He was still having a difficult time accepting that, but we were getting there. It would be impossible to keep Casey completely out of the spotlight, but there was no reason for him to torture himself in large, public events like this.
I checked my phone, and couldn’t help but smile.
“You want to see it?” I held it up so Casey could see it, too.
It was a scheduled post Jewel had drafted, introducing Casey to the world.
The photo had been taken in his nest, using the dim, warm lighting.
It was a candid shot of Jewel cuddled against Casey, his head resting on Casey’s shoulder.
Both of their eyes were closed and they looked serene.
It was captioned, the safest place in the world is in your arms.
Casey took the phone, almost cradling it. He blinked a couple of times and cleared his throat.
“It’s perfect,” I told him. He sniffed and nodded.