Chapter 14
Chapter
Fourteen
brIAR
I love summer. The warm sun on my skin, the beauty of nature around me in full bloom and the fact that we can stay out all night under the stars, and not freeze my tits off.
It’s been a few weeks since we’ve in a way become an official pack. We didn’t sit down and have the conversation yet, because it just felt right. It wasn’t needed. This is what was meant to happen, and it happened naturally.
I don’t feel the need to ask, to make sure this is really happening, because whenever I’m around Willow and Jude, I know they care deeply about me. I’m not just the omega Atlas brought in. I’m theirs and they are mine.
Things with Atlas and I have pretty much been a guarantee after the night in the alley; it just took us finding the rest of our pack to solidify it.
I want to tell them all that I’m in love with them, but god it feels too weird to have that intense, personal moment.
Killing a man with them is easy, talking about feelings, not so much.
But, I’m trying to grow, to keep pushing forward.
And there's a few things I need to do before that can truly happen.
I need to tell these three that I’m fucking head over heels in love with them, because they deserve to know, and I deserve to allow myself to be vulnerable with them.
I also need to tell them about my past. We can’t have any more secrets between us, and even Atlas doesn’t know all the details.
Ugh, and lastly, these scent blockers! I can’t rely on them anymore, and want to find out once and for all if that pull I feel for Willow and Atlas is something more.
In my heart, I feel like they’re not just mine by choice, but by fate. And until I get these meds out of my system, I’ll never know.
It’s not easy, I have to go off them gradually or it could be a harmful shock to my system. What they don’t know is that I just had a doctor's appointment to lower my dose.
Within the next few weeks, I’ll be suppressant free.
I’m not sure how I feel about it. Yes, I’m excited to get answers, but this is also going to be a big change. I haven’t really smelt an alpha, or been smelt by one in years.
Will I be sensitive to a person's scent now? Will some gross me out while others are more pleasant?
I’m sure it will be just like anything else that has pleasant and unpleasant things.
Either way, I’m doing it.
That's the start of taking care of one issue.
Tonight will be another.
I have work in a few hours but my pack is coming to hang out with me while I work, before we all head to my place for my new favorite thing. Sleepovers.
“Jude?” A smile finds my face as I walk up my driveway, finding my omega sitting on my front step. “What are you doing here?”
He gets to his feet, shooting me a stunning smile. “Hey, baby.” He pulls me into his arms and I sigh happily as he kisses me until my head spins.
“Perfect surprise.”
“I’m glad.” He brushes his nose against mine. “Willow is still working, but I have tonight off, as you know. I was getting bored so I went by the club to see Atlas but he’s drowning in paperwork, so I thought I’d come here to see what you're up to before work tonight.”
“Luck is on your side because I’m free until then,” I laugh. “Wanna just hang out for the day?”
“Sounds perfect.”
We head inside and Jude helps me unpack the bags of things I bought for tonight. Some things to make smores, ingredients for nachos as a little snack to nibble on and some wine.
When we’re done, we venture outside. “It’s too nice to be inside,” I tell him.
“I agree,” he sighs, closing his eyes and smiling up at the sky. “It’s a nice day out.” He lowers his head to look at me. “So, what did you have planned for today?”
A slow cheeky grin takes over my lips. “It’s a perfect day to sunbathe. I’ve been wanting to get a bit of color to my skin.”
He grins back, raising a brow. “Why do I feel like you’re about to get up to no good?”
“I have no idea what you're talking about.” I grab the hem of my shirt and pull it up over my head, tossing it to the side. His eyes heat and I want to cry that I can’t smell how turned on he is. But I can tell with the way he looks like he wants to make me his next meal.
Next, I work on my shorts, undoing the button and shimming out of them. “Did I mention I like to tan naked?” I ask, undoing my bra and letting it fall free. “I hate tan lines.” Grabbing my panties, I take them off, then throw them towards Jude. “Wanna join?”
He catches them, a groan slipping free. “You are so bad.”
My smile grows. “Is that a no?”
“Come here,” he growls playfully before rushing over to me.
I let out a squeal of laughter as he wraps me up in his arms, sealing his lips against mine.
Let’s just say I don’t think I’m going to get any tanning done today.
“This looks… amazing,” Jude says in awe as he slowly takes in the space around him.
We’re in my nest. Something I never thought I’d share with anyone else. But, I want him to feel welcome here. If we’re going to be a pack, I’m going to have them help me through my heat and that means they will be in my nest.
I’m not worried about his scent getting on my things, because I can’t smell it yet. Even if I could, I wouldn’t care. I want this place to feel like our space.
“I can’t believe you have a whole nest up here. A tree house nest. So fucking cool,” he laughs, ducking down and moving to the side.
“Don’t worry about wrecking anything. Just take your shoes off and that's all I care about.”
He looks at me with wide eyes. “Really? You’re okay with me being in here?”
“I wouldn’t have invited you up here if I wasn’t,” I laugh, taking my shoes off and crawling onto the massive bed on the floor.
I sigh as I flop backwards, body sinking into the pillows and blankets.
“Come here.” I hold my hand out to Jude.
He takes his shoes off before crawling in to lay next to me.
“Thank you for sharing this with me. It means so much,” he smiles.
We turn onto our sides, laying face to face.
“Jude,” I murmur, my heart racing, my stomach filling with butterflies.
“Yes?” he smiles softly, reaching out to brush some hair out of my face.
“I love you,” I whisper.
His hand pauses, fingers lingering on my cheek as his lips part. “You do?” he asks slowly, almost carefully.
I bite my lower lip, slowly nodding. I’ve never had the chance to feel like a girl with a crush, a teenager falling in love. But that's what Willow and Jude makes me feel.
Giddy and excited.
Jude lets out a happy laugh before leaning in and pressing his lips to mine. “I love you, too.”
For the second time today, Jude and I get lost in one another. Before, it was hot and heavy, wild knowing anyone could come over and see.
This time, it’s slow and tender, exploring hands and taking our time.
Breathing hard, we attempt to suck in oxygen as we lay in each other’s arms. My favorite form of relaxation is different from others, so I put a movie on the projector, and we just lay in my nest watching Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
“Jude?” That would be Willow.
“Briar?” And there’s Atlas.
“We’ve been caught,” Jude laughs, making me giggle. Pausing the movie, we both get to our knees and crawl over to one of the windows and open it.
“There you two are,” Atlas laughs.
“Wait, I thought that was your nest,” Willow says, brows furrowed.
“It is,” Jude says proudly. “I’ve been upgraded to the sweet life. Sorry, no alphas allowed.”
Willow looks at Atlas and smiles. “We sure do have our hands full with the two of them, don’t we?”
“You bet we do. And I love it,” Atlas chuckles.
“Why does it smell like someone baked fudge brownies and threw them all over the deck?” Willow asks.
“That would be because we fucked on the deck before we came up here and fucked again,” Jude says, sounding smug.
“Fuck,” Atlas groans. “And we missed it?”
“Don’t worry,” I giggle. “You can watch it on the security feed later.”
Jude turns to me, brows raised. “Holy shit, do we have our first sex tape together?”
That has me bursting into laughter.
Yeah. I love this man. Can’t even fight it.
“Ugh, you're so cute it’s sick.” Silva fake gags as I make my way over to the bar.
“What?” I laugh, placing the tray on the bartop.
“You, those two insanely attractive alphas of yours, and that omega who has Lexi jealous of his dancing skills.”
“She’s not wrong,” Lexi says, smiling as she joins her twin behind the bar. She looks good. Happy and glowing. Motherhood suits her.
“I never thought I’d see the day you’d be all packed up,” Lexi says. “I’m happy for you.”
“Thanks,” I smile, unable to keep it off my face. I look over my shoulder to where my pack sits. Atlas shoots me a playful wink while Willow gives me heated eyes. Jude is curled up in Atlas’ lap, feet in Willow’s and the smile on his face has my heart skipping a beat.
“Go play your set and then get out of here,” Silva laughs, playfully hitting me with a rag, getting my attention.
“What? I still have two hours left.”
“And watch you all give each other goo-goo eyes the whole time?” Silva laughs. “Go. Enjoy your night. Plus it’s not busy tonight.”
It’s a long weekend, so most people are out camping. I don’t blame them, that's where I’d love to be right about now.
Maybe I should see if they’d wanna make plans to go camping soon. It could be fun.
“Fine,” I sigh, handing over my apron.
“Go get ‘em, tiger,” Lexi winks.
I shake my head, rolling my eyes as I head towards the stage.
“Hey everyone!” Mic in hand I address the room.
“I’m Briar and every Friday I love to get up here and sing for all of you.
I hope you don’t mind me singing something a little different tonight.
A little slower, softer and well, a declaration of love to my two alphas,” I grin, as I watch Atlas’ and Willow’s eyes widen in shock.
Jude is practically bouncing with giddiness as the music starts to play.
Like I said, I’m bad with words, at least with talking about my feelings, but singing? Yeah, that I can do.
Halo by Beyonce starts to play and I get literal chills as the music settles over me.