Chapter Two #2
“Would it make you feel better if I told you I made a portal home through one of the shadow mages? He was really surprised. Those little claws really took a long time, but I managed.”
Meeda giggled in horror.
“There’s my pretty princess. Your prospective mate is really confused, and my buddy is itching to hug me again.” Faline wiggled. “Let go.”
Meeda laughed and let her go.
Her friend immediately grabbed her and wiggled against her. Meeda blinked. “He’s an omega.”
“Yeah. We were raised together, and he crawls into my bed if the window isn’t locked.” Faline reached up to stroke his hair. “It’s a good thing that the islands don’t hand folks over to the Omega Centre. Ever’s cuddly and horny ninety percent of the time.”
Ever chuckled wickedly and raised his head. “Only around her. Faline is mine. I am still just in the convincing stage. She’s rather slow to catch on. It’s fine. I am determined.”
Meeda cocked her head. “Weren’t you a team of three?”
Ever nodded. “Yeah. Stromos is out surfing with some of the other island alphas. It takes him longer to cool down after a run, so he’s taking a cold plunge.
Something about boosting Faline around got him all hot and bothered.
” The snickering was evil. “He nearly had a heart attack when she showed up in her exercise gear. I think he’s been trying to convince himself that she isn’t an actual woman. ”
Faline smiled. “His fascination for Ever made him think he strictly preferred males, but he’s always been very irritated by his attraction to me. The irritation is what drove him to the sea.”
Vine burst into the shop, and Faline opened her arms, holding the sobbing mage a moment later.
Meeda looked at Ahheel. “Is there a table waiting?”
“Oh, yeah. It’s ready now.”
Faline bent her knees, tightened her arms, and stood, walking out of the shop while Ever laughed his ass off.
Vine was carried past Kazuya, who met and chatted with Akervel, while Mini was talking with Ever. Faline and the omega in her arms made their way to the hotel, past a number of very amused competitors. Faline walked like Vine didn’t weigh anything.
Meeda walked with them, and apparently, a beta wearing an omega wasn’t worth more than a quick photo. Meeda smiled and waved at the hostess, who grinned and showed them to their table in a secluded corner.
Faline chuckled. “Off, barnacle.”
Vine lifted her tear-streaked face and settled on a chair but kept Faline’s hand wrapped in hers.
Meeda settled on Faline’s other side. “There. As you can see, we are so happy our little kitten made it home.”
Faline smiled. “I really did.”
Vine held her hand and said, “Can you quiet-tell me?”
Faline sighed and took her hand. Their joined hands glowed, and Vine twitched.
Tears ran down her cheeks, and she whispered, “We thought you were dead.”
Faline squeezed her hand and showed her something that made her smile. Vine murmured, “That’s... Moira?”
“Yes. She wanted a kitten and demanded me, so here I am.” She smiled. “I helped her pick a new kitten, and they are now very happy together. She’s an A-class cuddler.”
“You are... good?” Vine whispered.
“I am good. I contacted my friend Ever to let him know I was on Wonder, and he zipped over with his courting alpha. I wasn’t anticipating joining the race, but it was fun, and I got to use my catlike reflexes.”
Ever grinned but didn’t wreck the story.
“But you are okay? You have money and a place to live?”
Faline smiled. “I have a job. I live at Moira’s grandmother’s place with her and the new kitten.”
“Ever is a good friend?” Vine looked at him.
“He’s a great friend and super smart. He owns a ton of patents and hides behind his ditzy-snuggler persona.”
Ever was laughing quietly and spoke to the server.
Vine grinned. “The alpha who is with him?”
“Ever is taking him for a test drive. If he doesn’t warm to me, he’s gonna drop him like a hot rock.”
Vine frowned. “What do you mean, warm to you?”
“He’s really into Ever, and he isn’t into me, and Ever wants me to be with him permanently but also knows that I need some affection as well. I can’t just sit by waiting until he’s free all the time. Ever works around the clock when he’s on a creating jag. I need cuddles and hate waiting.”
Her friend nodded along.
Meeda blinked. “How long have you known him?”
“Um, since high school, so about ten years.”
Meeda felt a sinking horror. “How long were you stuck as a kitten?”
“I came back eighteen months after I was taken, so about two years in total.”
Vine whispered, “Where were you taken from?”
“I was coming home from one of the Breakridge islands after doing an herbalist course. They got me off the ferry. When I returned, I ended up in the same spot but in the water. Someone on a recreational vehicle caught me and brought me to the animal shelter on Breakridge’s big island.”
Vine muttered, “So, you were a kitten in the open ocean?”
“Yes. Trying to swim back to the distant shore. Someone picked me up, wrapped me in a towel, and told me I looked like a soggy rat, but in the nicest tone. Then it was off to the shelter for a bath.”
Meeda blinked. “Who found you?”
“Big hands. That’s all I know. The rest was a warm towel and resting. My purr is really coming along.”
Vine hugged her again, and Faline purred.
Meeda nudged closer and leaned against the once-kitten. “That is one nice purr.”
Faline chuckled, and the servers brought them water and juice. Mini was sitting across the table and watching them with a shy smile. She asked Ever, “Do you ever read her books?”
Ever nodded. “Yup. All the time. I am her omega fact checker.”
“Oh. That explains a lot.” She smiled. “I know I am fangirling, but she’s just everything I want to be when I grow up.”
Ever smiled. “Me, too. She’s just perfect.”
Faline sipped at her water and looked at them. “You two make me want to belch the alphabet.”
Ever laughed. “You need fizzy stuff for that, Fay.”
Faline shrugged. “I like a challenge.”
Meeda smiled. The scrappy kitten who stole food for them and hissed in shadows was there. It was the smugness born of competence. She wiped at the tears on her cheeks. The last missing part of her village was here and safe.
Faline leaned against her and purred. Meeda heard a soft whisper and grinned. When the server arrived, she ordered tiny tacos for the table, and Ever burst into laughter.
Faline had to fight free of Meeda’s and Vine’s hands to start eating, but she managed it.
Ever regaled them with tales of Faline’s early exploits while they ate, and soon, Akervel and Kazuya joined them.
Mini was listening with her eyes wide open. She finally asked, “Faline, why did you pursue writing?”
Faline smiled. “To get away from reality. I was a returned adoption, and it messed me up a little.”
Ever sighed. “A lot, but you came out of it remarkably determined.”
More tales of their exploits as friends in a school that tried to ignore the differences between the different designations and more snacks.
Mini smiled. “Eat what you like. Ahheel’s paying. She spoils me a lot.”
Meeda grinned. “Where’s Exeter?”
“He’s helping the research team off Breakridge. He’s back tomorrow.” Mini was blushing.
Vine looked at Meeda.
“Oh, those three are fucking adorable. They both treat Mini like she is the most precious thing in the world, and Exeter knows how to treat someone like an omega. He’s Exoval’s brother.”
Ever grinned. “Aw, you must be very spoiled and very sore.”
Mini blushed more and put her face in her hands.
Meeda was going to warn that teasing Minutia would bring Ahheel running, but instead, she got a text message. “Is she okay?”
“Just embarrassed. Ever knows the family and made some observations about Exeter’s knowledge of dealing with omegas.”
A laughing emoji appeared.
Meeda looked at Mini. “Ahheel is good. She was just concerned.”
Mini relaxed. Normally, any uncomfortable emotion was met with her alpha charging up.
Vine grinned. “So, Mini, I have to ask, how is it having a male and female alpha?”
Mini blushed hard. “It varies, but they are always up for book research.”
They all laughed, and more food began to arrive. It felt like a party, and everyone around her made Meeda feel at home. Even Akervel.