Chapter 61
Chapter Sixty-One
Harlow
“Because it’s a deterrent. Besides, if, for some reason, you have to use it, it may buy you enough time for one of us to get to you,” Thane explains. “Plus, it makes your resistance to Alphas even stronger.”
“But I’m already resistant to command now,” I whine.
“Yes, but what if several command you all at once? Or all of us do? Practicing with your aura, even a weak one, will strengthen the side of you that obeys. Make you more resistant.”
I roll my eyes. It seems like a waste of time to me. It’s not like I go anywhere without them, unless it’s the refuge, and there I have Leo with me.
Leon stands back up, stepping in front of me. Closing my eyes, I focus on the tingling sensation I felt when Thane used his Calling on me. Moments pass before I start to feel my skin buzz.
“Good girl. Now, hold on to it,” Thane tells me, so I know I latched onto the right thing. “Now try to project it. Think of Leon and try to push on his aura with it.”
I do as he says, feeling the spark of touching Leon’s aura as it easily fights mine.
A shudder runs through my body, some deep-rooted instinct telling me to back away, a nagging feeling telling me I am taking on someone stronger, dangerous. Leon’s aura instantly flares up, pushing back, and he curses, making me drop mine.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to do that,” Leon murmurs.
“It’s fine,” I tell him.
“Okay, an aura is one thing, but you need to put the command behind it. Without a command, it’s just pressure,” Thane explains.
I look over my shoulder as Thane steps away from me. “Leon, sit down. I can ignore mine. I’ll try with her,” Thane says, and I raise an eyebrow at him.
“I can only just barely touch Leon, and you want me to touch yours?” I say, shaking my head.
“If you can hold it, it will strengthen you. Then, maybe you’ll see that you have a command.”
Thane stands in front of me and my shoulders slump. This aura and command thing exert so much energy for doing absolutely nothing.
“Close your eyes,” Thane tells me, and I do. I find my aura and project it out. I feel it touch Thane’s and instantly retreat when I feel him tug on it, like he’s calling it out. It makes me gasp.
“Hold it. I’m not resisting you, Low. Keep pushing,” Thane urges and so does his aura.
“Now try to command me.”
My brows pinch, and I try to do as he asks. It’s like trying to catch air as I push my will forward. As soon as I tell him to submit, it’s like someone flicks a switch and my Omega side forces its way through, telling me to submit to the bigger predator.
Thane’s hands grip my arms and sparks rush across my skin. I open my eyes and exhale in a huff.
“See, after a while, you’ll get used to it. You can resist our commands. You just need to practice resisting and projecting the auras,” Thane says.
“But aren’t they the same thing?” I ask him, finding all this very confusing.
“No, an aura is energy. It’s similar to physical energy in a sense, a battle of willpower. A command is an order. It’s not just touching them with your energy, it’s commanding theirs,” Thane tries to explain.
“Come on, we can go to bed. We’ll try again tomorrow,” he tells me. Rhen and Raidon both jump up off the couch, followed by Leon. Walking up the stairs, I hear Scarlett cry out.
Leon rushes past us all in a blur to settle her and I stop on the steps.
“I’ll go make a bottle,” Thane says, heading back toward the kitchen before I can.
I finish climbing the stairs and move to the nursery to check on her. I find Leon sitting in the rocking chair with her. Thane wanders in a few seconds later with her bottle and takes her from him.
“Get to bed. I’ll feed her,” Thane tells a yawning Leon. He nods, and I step aside as he moves toward me. I watch Thane give her the bottle, his index finger stroking her little nose as he purrs, rocking back and forth.
Slipping the door shut, I wander to our room and crawl into bed, face-planting into the pillow. Raidon climbs in beside me and Rhen beside him. Leon stumbles over, falling on my other side when Raidon slips his arm beneath my head. I roll, pressing my ear to his chest, getting comfortable.
When nothing happens, I smack his chest, and he chuckles.
“You know, you are quite demanding and bossy for someone so small,” Raidon purrs at me.
Ignoring his comment, I smack his chest again, wanting to be lulled into blissful sleep. Seconds later, his Calling slips out, and a sigh escapes my lips. I snuggle closer to him with Leon’s arm draped over my waist.
Yet before I manage to fall asleep, Raidon does, making me growl as his Calling slips away. I’m about to crawl over to see if Rhen is awake, just as Thane comes in, climbing in next to Leon.
I climb over Leon, making him grunt when my knee squashes his ribs. He rolls into me, causing me to face-plant onto Thane before he’s even lying down. He lets out a grunt at the impact, and he nudges Leon to move over. He reluctantly rolls into Raidon, and Thane lays down, tugging me closer.
Thane tugs the blankets up and I tap his chest. “So impatient,” he mutters as I starfish on him. “I better not wake up covered in drool again,” he mumbles.
“No promises!” I tell him, drumming my fingers on his chest. His Calling slips out, and I melt against him. “Maybe you do have a dial or button?” I mumble.
“Huh?”
I shake my head and yawn before falling into darkness, listening to the thrum of his Calling.