Chapter 30
Chapter thirty
Naomi
The town square is lit up like a Christmas card.
Lights twist around every lamp post and shop front. The massive Christmas tree in the center stretches toward a star-filled sky, and a huge bonfire crackles in a stone pit nearby, sending warmth and the scent wood smoke into the cold air.
I take it all in slowly, letting the magic of it settle into me.
"Everyone really comes out for this," I murmur, watching the crowd. Families with children perched on shoulders, bundled in puffy jackets and knit hats. Elderly couples walking arm in arm, teenagers clustered in giggling groups near a hot chocolate stand…
"It's the highlight of December," Felix says, his fingers laced through mine. "Might even top Christmas itself, depending on who you ask."
We find a spot in the crowd with a good view of the tree, and I end up sandwiched between Silas and Liam, with Felix behind me. I'm not sure they realize how much I like being surrounded by them.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" Mayor Hanson's voice carries over the murmur of conversation, amplified by speakers set up around the square.
He stands on a small platform near the tree, holding an enormous glass angel in his arms. It shimmer in the firelight and the glow of a thousand tiny bulbs. "Welcome to our annual Angel Ceremony!"
The crowd quiets immediately. Children are lifted higher to see. A hush falls over the square.
"Every year, we gather here to place our angel and make our wishes for the coming year." The mayor's voice is warm. "This year especially, after that game tonight—" He shakes his head, grinning. "I think we all believe in Christmas miracles now."
Laughter ripples through the crowd. Someone shouts "Go Puckers!" from somewhere behind us, and scattered applause breaks out. Felix waves sheepishly when a few people turn to look at us.
The mayor climbs a ladder positioned against the tree. The crowd holds its collective breath as he stretches up, up, up… and places the angel on the very top.
She settles perfectly into place.
And then the tree blazes to life.
Thousands more lights burst on at once on the tree and he crowd erupts. Children shriek with joy. Someone near the bonfire starts singing "O Christmas Tree," slightly off-key but others join in. The sound swells, wonderful in its imperfection.
I find myself singing along on the second verse, lost in the music while my alphas' hands settle gently on me.
The song ends, and a band starts up with "Silver Bells" on a makeshift stage nearby.
"I'm going to grab some cider," Liam says, leaning down so I can hear him over the music. He disappears into the crowd.
While he's gone, Felix tugs me into a gentle sway.
"I can't dance," I warn him.
"Neither can I," he admits cheerfully. "Must mean we're perfect for each other."
Silas watches us with amusement, arms crossed, clearly thinking he's above such things. Felix isn't having it. He reaches out, grabs Silas by the sleeve of his jacket, and yanks him into our little orbit.
"Felix—"
"Nope. You're dancing. It's an order."
"But you're not the captain."
"Just move your feet."
Unlikely as it seems, we're swaying together, bumping into each other and laughing. And here, amongst the crowd, something settles in my chest. Belonging, maybe.
Liam returns several minutes later, balancing four steaming mugs carrying a scent of cinnamon, cloves and something slightly spiced I can't identify.
"One cider for the lady," he says, winking as he passes one to me.
I wrap my hands around the mug, letting the warmth seep into my fingers, and take a sip.
Oh my god.
"This is incredible," I breathe.
"Right?" Felix takes a sip. "Mrs. Henderson, the woman who makes it, protects that recipe like it's a state secret. Oh, and she also grows zucchinis the size of baseball bats."
"Would love to see those," I chuckle.
We stand there for a while, enjoying the whole vibe. The band has moved on to "Winter Wonderland," and more people have started dancing. Light flakes start drifting down lazily, looking like glitter as they catch the light from the tree.
"You want to get closer to the fire?" Silas asks. "You're shivering."
I hadn't even noticed, but he's right. My shoulders have tensed, despite the cider warming me. We move closer to the bonfire, where more people are starting to gather, and extend our hands toward the flames.
An older couple settles next to us, the woman smiling at me.
"First Angel Ceremony?" she asks.
"That obvious?"
"You've got that look." She chuckles softly.
"Don't forget to make a good wish, dear," her husband adds, his voice gravelly but kind. "They tend to come true on nights like this."
She winks at me, then turns back to the fire, leaning into her husband's side.
I close my eyes for a moment, let the warmth wash over me, and make my wish.
The fire pops as if on cue, and the band transitions into a slower melody.
This, I think. This is exactly the kind of flow I want to go with.
Everything's perfect…
Except my jacket, which suddenly feels too warm. I unzip it halfway and slide my scarf loose.
Better.
A minute passes. Maybe two. And then another wave of warmth rolls through me.
This one feels different. It's starting low in my belly and blooming outward. My thighs press together on reflex, and a prickle starts at the back of my neck.
Okay. Weird.
I shift my weight, chalk it up to too much cider and the fact that I’m basically in a cuddle pile with my three alphas.
But then my knees almost buckle.
“Hey.” Felix’s hand lands gently on my arm. “You’re flushed. Do you want to step back from the fire? Get some air?”
"I'm okay," I reply. But the words barely leave my mouth before another swell of heat rolls through me, dragging a quiet sound from the back of my throat.
Silas' palm finds the small of my back. “We should take a lap. See if that helps.”
"You know what? Yeah. Let's do that."
We ease out of the tight ring around the bonfire. The air away from the flames cools my skin, and I suck in a lungful, hoping for clarity.
It helps. For about three seconds. The next wave hits harder, and there's nothing I can blame it on this time.
"Naomi." Silas starts, his brows furrowed. "What's going on? Do you need us to take you to a doctor, or—"
"Wait." Liam's voice cuts through, his nostrils flaring slightly. "Naomi, are you... going into heat?"
The word lands like a brick.
"I—no. I can't be." I shake my head, trying to will it away, but the symptoms check out. "I'm supposed to have two more weeks. My cycle is extremely regular, it's never early, this is—this is ridiculous."
"I think it's us," Liam says gently. "Your DuoBlocks malfunctioned because we're scent matches, and now being around us is triggering your heat early."
"Great. Fantastic." I exhale slowly, then drop my gaze, suddenly unable to meet their eyes, my fingers twisting together. "And would you... Ahem, would you be willing to help me through it?"
The words come out barely above a whisper.
Silence.
I risk a glance up. All three of them are staring at me with expressions I can't quite read.
"I mean, you don't have to," I add quickly, the words tumbling out. "I know—"
"Naomi." Silas steps closer, tips my chin up with one finger. "It would be our honor."
"We've got you, angel," Felix adds, his voice rough.
"I'd love nothing more," Liam finishes, his voice low and steady.
A sound that is half-sigh, half-purr rumbles in my chest, my omega and I both satisfied with their answer.
Another wave crashes through me, stronger than all the others, and I double over with a gasp.
"Okay," I manage, voice hoarse. "I think we need to leave."
"Right." Silas straightens, shifting into captain mode. "We'll get you back to your hotel. You have a room at the Grand, right? It's only a few minutes from here."
"No!"
The word comes out louder than I intended. All three of them freeze.
I swallow hard, looking between the three of them. "I don't want to go back to the hotel. I want... I want to go back to your place."
Felix’s eyes soften as he tucks a stray hair behind my ear. "Let's go home then."