Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
Flicking a fry at Onyx, I laugh at his scowl.
Tonight’s been a blast. I had so much fun exploring the different areas and learning about their winter-thriving plants.
I grew up in Indiana with heavy snow in the cold seasons, but the only things I ever saw survive were some trees and grass. No one ever grew anything that could survive the drop in temperature.
“Done eating?” My Alpha asks, tilting his head toward the remnants of the appetizer tray we shared. My stomach is already pretty full. I don’t want to push myself when we have plans afterward.
When I admit as much, he tosses a few bills onto the table and offers me his hand. He’s warm; his palms calloused from years of drumming, and I can’t help but burrow into his side, stealing some of the heat radiating off his body as we step into the cold night air.
Our hotel is across the street, so we don’t have far to go to escape the chill. The attendant at the desk greets us as we make our way to the elevator, heading up to our room.
Resting my chin on his chest, I stare up at my mate. Short hair covers his jaw, the texture rough against my fingers as I drag them down to his chin. His scent is heavy. Edgier. The charcoal and cedarwood taking on a smoky aspect.
Is it stress? A lot has changed in our lives recently. Moving. Adding a new packmate. Getting a pet. I would understand if this was overwhelming for him. Sometimes it is for me, but I have all of them to help balance me out.
Have I been neglecting my Alpha’s needs?
“What’s going through that pretty head of yours, bubbles?”
Rusty brown eyes pierce me, pinning me in place as he prods at our bond, trying to get a sense of what I’m feeling.
“Are you happy?”
His brow lifts, lips thinning.
“With all the changes in our pack.”
His fingers dance up my spine beneath my coat, tickling me with how soft the touch is. “If you’re happy, so am I.”
When we first met, I would have fought him on that statement.
None of my mate’s happiness should depend on my happiness.
Only years of communicating let me see his words in a different way.
He doesn’t mean it as cut-and-dry as it sounds.
He’s simply acknowledging that my wants align with his.
That our pack’s future is the path he wants to take.
“Even with Caleb joining us?”
The elevator dings, forcing me to pull away so we can walk down the hall. “He’s your Fate-matched mate.”
“It still feels like I’m dreaming,” I admit, reaching up to brush my fingers against Caleb’s bite. Am I going to wake up tomorrow and realize I had imagined the last few months? Could I survive that if it happened?
“Your relationship with him is very real. For all of us. Bellamy is head-over-heels already. To no one’s surprise.”
His hand on the small of my back guides me into the room. It isn’t extravagant with a small sitting area and a king-sized bed. Perfect for a night with my largest, quietest Alpha mate.
“The rest of us have accepted Caleb. Helped him find his place. Was it difficult to get over him hurting you? Yes.”
Onyx slides his hand under the collar of my coat and pushes it down my arms, his stomach brushing my chest with each breath he takes. I shudder, confused and turned on.
I need to stop thinking.
“You’d tell me if you were struggling, right?” When his hand comes up to cup my cheek, I let out a long breath. “Okay. Will you help me shut my brain off?”
Heat warms his dark eyes, his fingers tightening in my hair as he leans down to brush his lips against mine. “It would be my pleasure, Omega. Strip and kneel on the bed. I want you to soak my beard in your slick.”
Scrambling to do as he said, I get my clothes off and pile them on a chair before climbing onto the bed. It’s soft, but not nearly as comfortable as the one in my nest.
When his weight dips the bed behind me, I straighten, hands on my thighs and my eyes closed.
Waiting.
For him. For pleasure. For release.
Thick fingers dig into my thighs, pushing them further apart and lifting me so he can slide under my body. I drop back down, his mouth immediately sucking on my clit, but I can’t focus on that when his hands are gripping my bony ass.
Flattening his tongue, he glides it down my center, lapping at the slick soaking my skin. My nails dig into my skin as I try to focus. To enjoy this moment without getting lost in the hatred I carry for my body.
“Omega.” His growl vibrates against my core, doing amazing things for my already heightened arousal.
Meeting his eyes, they narrow before he huffs and slides his hands to my thighs. Without worrying about what he thinks of my lack of a butt or hips, it’s easier to let the threads of fire climbing up my spine ignite into an inferno.
Palming my breasts, I toy with my nipples, hips rolling as he fucks me with his tongue.
“Come. Give it all to me.”
Spearing two fingers into my pussy, he sucks hard on my clit, his beard scratching the sensitive skin. All those sensations are too much, and I shatter, writhing on top of him as my body becomes a billion particles of glittering stardust.
Onyx powers through my release and licks up the proof of my orgasm. “Such a good girl, giving your Alpha what he needs.”
Forcing my eyes open, I startle when I see how blacked out his pupils are. Oh. He’s going to go into rut. That explains his scent. It wasn’t me doing anything to upset him causing the changes; it was his instincts.
Shoot, did Caleb’s near miss the other day start this? I wouldn’t be surprised if it did.
“Thank you, Alpha,” I coo, running my fingers through his hair and scooting my body down from his face so he can breathe freely. “Do you need me to present for you? Let you fill my pussy with your seed and your knot?”
“Yes.”
Rolling to the side, I push to my knees and drop my face to the mattress, arms stretched above my head. “I’m yours, Alpha. Use me.”
A pleased purr rattles his chest, making slick gush between my legs. I’m so ready it aches to not feel him buried inside me.
“Mine,” he hisses, cock slipping against the wetness. He grips himself, tip gliding through my folds, before he slams into me with one hard thrust. We rock forward, a delicious ache spreading through my core as he fucks me, stretching my walls in the most magical way.
Each snap of his hips is rough, almost punishing. Bit by bit, I can feel him letting go, allowing primal instinct to push to the surface.
Grunts and moans fill the room, my fingers clawing at the sheets as I’m pushed from one orgasm to the next. It’s too much and still not enough.
“Alpha,” I whimper, allowing my own instincts to take control. He needs the barest part of my soul to join with his to satisfy his rut. An act of submission I am more than willing to give.
Lifting one leg onto the bed, he changes his angle, hands gripping my hips tight. His knot pushes against my pussy, already swollen and heavy. Thrashing in his hold, I whine, trying to rock back to force more of him inside me.
Twisting a hand in my hair, he pulls my back up against his chest, one hand releasing my hip to collar my throat. “Behave.”
Forcing myself to relax is difficult, but I make myself go limp. “Good Omega.”
His thumb brushes my pulse as he continues to fuck me. Taking his time and driving us both mad. Stars dance in my eyes, the burn of overstimulation brimming tears along my lashes. Each thrust pushes me higher, toward a release that will destroy me.
“Please,” I beg, clinging to his arm. My body is shaking, sweat-soaked skin burning with the heat of him searing my back.
Dropping me onto the bed, he picks up his pace, pounding into me.
The sexiest noises fall from his lips, morphing into a raspy moan as his knot slips into my abused pussy and inflates, locking us together.
Lightning arcs between my nerves, setting my body ablaze with unending waves of pleasure as I come again.
My walls clench around his cock, dragging his release out. Each spurt of warm cum inside me soothes the ache between my thighs.
We collapse, his arm snaring my waist and shifting us to our sides before his weight crushes me. Our chests heave, panting the only sound in the room as we ride out the aftershocks of our explosive release.
“Sleep,” Onyx commands, lips pressing to my temple. I want to ask if his rut is satisfied, but I don’t have the energy to force the words from my lips.
Oh well. If he needs me, I’m right here.
He can use me as he sees fit.
Soft light filters past the curtains when I wake. Onyx snores softly behind me, his cock soft inside me. Biting my lip, I shift to let him slip free.
“No,” he growls, hand splaying over my mound and trapping me against him. His nose presses into the crook of my neck, chest rising as he takes a deep breath of my scent.
“Good morning, Alpha,” I giggle, groaning when he twitches, starting to get hard again.
The hand on my mound slides up over my stomach, cupping my breast and thumbing my nipple. “Mornin’.” Sleepy kisses and slow touches lead to soft sex, so full of emotion that I can’t hide the tears streaming down my cheeks. Our bond gleams in my chest, overflowing with our love for each other.
“I got you, bubbles. You’re safe with me.”
I cling to him as I come, shuddering in his arms. Languid waves of pleasure sweep over my body, curling my toes and drawing a keen from my throat. His knot pushes into my core, locking us together before his cum fills me.
“Get some sleep,” he urges, tucking me against him and pulling the sheet up over us. “I’ll order breakfast after we unlock.”
Letting my eyes flutter closed, I sink deep into my bonds, sending bursts of love down each of them. The ball of multi-colored threads wraps around my heart, reminding me they’re mine. My Fate-matched mates. Picked for me by the Fates themselves.
Cinnamon sweetness tickles my nose, making my stomach rumble loudly. Holding out my hand, I silently demand my breakfast in bed.
Onyx snorts, flicking my nose as I sit up. He sets a plate on my lap, full of yummy cinnamon rolls, fresh fruit, and a bowl of granola-topped yogurt.
“Thank you,” I mumble around a bite, too hungry to wait for him to join me. Helping an Alpha through a rut really takes it out of me.
“Quentin messaged. We’re taking a detour on our way home to grab your dress for the holiday show next weekend.”
I swallow before responding. “Is everyone going down for that? Or just me and Q?”
While I love having my mates at my shows, I never expect them to make it to all of them. Especially not when they have their own lives and careers to focus on.
“We’ll be there. Shattered Horizons doesn’t have any obligations until January.”
“You’ll need to practice if Caleb is going to join the band,” I remind him. I’m excited to see how Sterling adds him to their existing tracks, and what new material he comes up with. Next year is going to be exciting for both our bands.
Before we leave, I take a quick shower—alone, so we actually make it out of the hotel before our checkout time.
The drive into New York seems to take hours, my skin crawling with the need to be home and away from the crowds clogging the streets.
Luckily, the shop Quentin ordered the dress from has an attendant deliver it to us curbside.
The pretty blonde Beta woman is awestruck as she helps hang it in the backseat.
Her eyes barely leave mine, but she doesn’t ask for an autograph or anything.
As we pull back into traffic, I text Q and ask him to send her something as a thank you.
I used to love surprising my fans. Encountering them in public and taking pictures or signing things.
The past half a year has worn on me more than I’ve admitted. Our two month long break still feels too short. My body is exhausted from being pushed so hard for so long.
Part of me knows this is likely another side effect of the bond sickness Caleb and I are suffering through.
Admitting that our separation has had such a profound impact on my life and my health feels defeating.
Because it could have been different. I could have fought when he left.
Or tracked him down during the years between then and now instead of stalking him online.
Onyx’s hand threads with mine, pulling it to his lips and pressing a kiss to the back of my palm. “We’re taking you to a specialist. You and Caleb both.”
Leaning my head against the cold window, I mutter my agreement. An expert might help us navigate this quicker. I just want to feel normal for once. To not be out of control of my emotions, or so exhausted that I can barely leave my nest.
“We’ll figure it out. Take everything one day at a time while we do.”
Laughter fills the house when we get home, bringing a smile to my lips and quickening my steps. Caleb, Bellamy, and Emmett are in the family room playing video games.
Flying across the room, I toss myself into Caleb’s arms, catching him off guard and nearly knocking us both off the beanbag he was sitting in.
“Welcome home, bunny,” he murmurs, adjusting us into a more stable position.
Resting my head on his shoulder, I blow my Beta mates kisses.
“What are we playing?”