ONE MONTH LATER
I know I decided not to murder Finn after all.
But…
My blood boils as I pace in front of the entrance to the parlor, casting homicidal glares at the scene beyond the threshold. Most especially the ungodly expensive set of shears laid out on the marble island.
A soft giggle tinkles into our bond, cooling a bit of my rage. Lion, our omega titters. Come in here and sit with me.
Hell. I can’t say no to that.
Maximus tilts a knowing look at me. Sometimes, I swear the damn dog can hear everything in our bond, too. I gesture at him, and he leads the way, trotting into the manor’s kitchen.
Everyone else is already here. Violet occupies one of the carved wooden chairs, while Gideon and Atlas sit nestled on our small table’s padded bench.
It’s been a month since Violet’s heat, and we finally got a larger piece for the dining room yesterday. Finn wore us down with the prospect of asking our looming company to eat on the floor.
Although, our pack has managed just fine, squeezing into the kitchen nook. It probably helps that we take turns feeding Violet in our laps. Even now, she has her feet in Atlas’s… right next to the sleeping kitten our alpha swore he couldn’t stand.
Finn pauses his examination of our omega’s head, snapping a scowl toward me and dramatically pointing his fancy scissors.
“Back off, big guy! It’s just a trim.”
I know that. I also know my daisy really does need it. And want it.
I feel like an idiot for crashing out over a few inches. It’s hair, for Christ’s sake. I’m being an asshole.
Violet senses my chagrin through our connection. Her beautiful features soften with empathy as our gazes mesh. She holds her hand out and wiggles her fingers. “Here. Next to me.”
Her latest gift gleams in the afternoon light. Now that Finn has a handle on her taste, he’s been unstoppable. Though, we were all shocked last week, when Violet accepted the custom charm bracelet so gleefully.
I have to admit; it is… cute. Pretty Boy sourced charms for each of us. Tiny glasses for Atlas. A little frying pan for himself. Miniature versions of Maximus and Pascal. A bottle of maple syrup to signify Gideon’s perfume. Paint brushes. A jar of honey. A lightning bolt, a lantern.
And a little gold daisy.
My daisy.
I stomp to the empty seat on her right and bend to kiss the hand she offered. My sweet mate threads our fingers together, whispering a confession internally. I’m nervous, too.
Finn can’t hear us, but he knows her scent well enough to sense the flutters in her belly. “We don’t have to do this, honey,” he assures her, smoothing his hands over the waves draped down her back. “It’s gorgeous, just the way it is.”
Atlas gives one of his solid nods. “You will always be beautiful, baby girl. We only want to make sure you’re happy, too.”
Violet smiles at him, then sighs and glances at Gideon. Her teeth sink into her lower lip while they have their own silent exchange. The other omega cups her left hand, squeezing gently. Encouraging her.
“I know,” she murmurs, hushed. “But I think it’s…”
Time.
Time for us to let go of this final piece of our pasts. Time for us to accept that we don’t need this hiding place anymore… and move forward.
Today is the perfect day for it.
Violet hears my thought and turns to gaze into my eyes—but it’s Gideon who answers, his tether seething with a mix of hope and regret. Facing all our demons, huh?
Finn glances around the table, weighing the pall hanging over us before he gauges exactly how to make us laugh.
“Yep,” he answers aloud. “Starting with this fucker, right here.”
He holds up a particularly uneven piece of Violet’s mane. Our mate chuckles, tilting her head back to beam at him. Gratitude warms their connection.
“Alright, rogue.” Violet grins. “Do your worst.”
Finn returns her wide smile. “That’s my girl. Now, if these maudlin assholes are done being grumpy…” He gathers the ends of her hair, showing us how frayed the lowest portion is before fastening the bottom ten inches with an elastic.
“How do we feel about this?”
I feel like I’m glad I’m sitting down.
But Violet nods, determined.
Finn carefully lines his shears up with the top of the hair tie… and cuts.
A flurry of blonde falls to the checkerboard floor. Finn steps back, Atlas and Gideon go still, waiting for Violet’s reaction. Her eyes are squeezed shut, though.
I look down at the discarded ponytail, then up to the freshly chopped tips of her waves. They’re already beginning to spring up, curling naturally now that they’re free of dead weight.
Because that’s the whole point here.
Letting go.
Moving on.
Together.
I nuzzle the delicate hand cupped in mine, whispering into our tether, Daisy.
Violet cracks one eye open, peeking over at me. I flash her my widest smile. You did it.
She knows I’m not just talking about her hair. I mean all of it. Overcoming so much pain, so many moments when an ordinary person would have given up. Or, worse, given in. Become part of the problem.
Not my daisy. My mate.
She didn’t just survive. Through it all, she held on to her heart and brought all her light with her. Here, to me. To us.
Violet’s lips spread in an answering grin. Sunshine streams through the French doors, glowing in her freshly cut hair. Turning the tears in her eyes into sparkling crystals.
You too, lion, she replies, suddenly tackling me in my seat. Brushing her smile against mine. You, too.