Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
Siobhan
Aury opens the car door for me despite my attempt to swat his hand away, and the alphas both chuckle as they stride across the street to their car. I can’t help but needle Aury a little as soon as we’re on our way back to my place.
“Seemed like you and Jayce were hitting it off.” I bounce my eyebrows at him when he glances my way. To my delight, Aury’s light brown cheeks turn a shade darker. “You like him, don’t you?”
Aury shrugs, and I poke him in the side.
“Admit it! You do, and he likes you too.”
“You think so?” Aury glances at me again, but otherwise keeps his eyes on the road.
“In all seriousness, I really do.” I angle my body towards him, and he pulls to a stop in my driveway. Then he turns the car off and matches my position, twisting in his seat to face me. “I know it’s only been one date for you, only a couple for me. But what do you think about them?”
Aury’s eyes dart between mine, but I don’t give him anything. I want to know his opinion, not what he thinks I want to hear. He sighs and rests the side of his head against the seat.
“They seem like good guys. I like them, I like their scents. Do you like them?”
I nod. “Yeah. Yeah, I do.”
Aury scans my face, then reaches out to clasp my hands in his. “They really like you, too. The way they look at you when you’re not looking is…” He trails off, and I wait on baited breath for him to continue.
“Is… what?”
He shakes his head a little with a soft smile, almost like he’s confused I have to ask. But if they do it when I’m not looking, then how am I supposed to know?
“Adoring,” he finally says.
Adoring.
I take in the word, but don’t quite feel ready for it.
“Huh,” I say, then unclip my seatbelt and reach for the door handle. “Walk me to the door?”
He follows me onto the porch and I unlock the front door, then stop before opening it. I lean against it instead, wishing I was leaning against him. Or one of the alphas.
“I know you said before…” I say, glancing up at him, suddenly unsure with how serious things could get.
Aury dips his chin for me to continue, but keeps his eyes on me.
One hand absently drifts to my arm, lightly stroking it as though he’s unaware that he’s touching me, but some part of him needs to be.
It gives me the courage to continue. “I know you said whatever I wanted. But… Would you want to be in a pack? Betas sometimes have strong opinions on that.”
Aury’s eyebrows shoot up and his hand stills. Then he steps forward, caging me against the door.
“I’d be thrilled to be in a pack with you, Moonbeam.
And I do find myself drawn to both of the alphas.
So if that’s what you want, I’m all in. I’ll say it as many times as you need me to.
” His voice is smooth, a gentle, rolling wave as it washes over me.
My lips part, but I bite the bottom one to hold in my relieved excitement.
“Yeah?” I breathe, my eyes dropping to his mouth only inches from mine.
“Yes.”
My smile breaks free, and I surge up to press my lips to his. He meets me, kissing me like his life depends on it. His hands roam my body, up my arms and down my back, along my side and around the back of my neck. Pulling and clenching, holding me as close as possible while his lips form to mine.
“Siobhan,” he murmurs into my mouth, and I part my lips for him, swallowing my name.
“Aury,” I attempt to say in reply, but my lips are sealed to his and our tongues are dancing together in the most perfect kiss. “My beta,” I pull away long enough to say, and he groans, then drops down to kiss along my jaw to my ear.
“My omega,” he whispers.
It sends a shiver down my spine and I arch into him. His hands curl around my waist, and then he’s pulling back. He drops one last closed-mouth kiss on my lips and takes a step away, his fingers lingering only a moment before releasing me.
“I think…” I lick my lips, thankful for his unending patience. “I think I need to take it kinda slow though.”
“I know,” he says, that soft, understanding smile never faltering.
Relief blooms through me. “See you tomorrow?”
Aury nods, his dark eyes twinkling. “See you tomorrow.”
I can’t stop grinning. I feel like a fool, but I decide I don’t care.
I don’t have any work to do tonight, but I grab a deck regardless, wanting to do a reading for myself.
Things seem to be going so well, I want to see what the universe has to say about these budding relationships.
It’s too new for me to feel comfortable saying pack yet, but the word whispers across the back of my mind.
I settle sideways on my couch, tracing the ghost of Aury where he sat so many times while staying with me.
I tip the turquoise cards into my palm and shuffle, delighting in the freedom of the movement without having to deal with the splint anymore.
They make a satisfying swish as they fly between my hands, and then I splay them in a gentle arc in front of me.
I let my eyes drift closed, hovering my left hand out over the cards, and then I take a deep breath.
I picture Aury. His light golden skin and dark brown hair.
His casual linen pants and loose button down shirts.
The black rings adorning his slender fingers, a single silver chain around his neck, and the watch with an actual clock face that’s always on his wrist. Sweet honey with a dash of cinnamon.
I smile when his boisterous laugh rings through my mind, echoing between my ears, and my hand falls.
I slip the card from the deck and place it facedown to the side.
Then I picture Hayden. Their slutty little glasses and perfectly trimmed beard.
The deep brown curls that like to flop onto their forehead, and their strong, veined hands.
Healing hands. Life-saving hands. Warm bronze skin.
A fitted paramedic uniform that makes my toes curl almost as much as their casual leather jacket.
The way they always seem so relaxed, yet ready to leap into action at a moment’s notice.
Palo Santo cut with fresh rosemary. A hint of Spanish that slips out every so often.
My hand drifts and I skim my fingers over the cards until one feels right, then I pull it out and place it facedown next to Aury’s.
Finally, Jayce. His lightly tanned skin from working outside all summer that turns so delightfully red when he’s embarrassed.
Neat blond hair and hazel eyes that glow in the sunlight.
Worn jeans that strain to contain his thick thighs, and broad shoulders that press against the casual flannel he wears loose and unbuttoned.
Like it’s begging me to tuck myself into it with him.
Patches of freckles along the collar of his shirt and the cuffs at his wrists that make me catch my breath.
His deep voice, and the way he subconsciously leans into Hayden.
The dorky gifts he’s brought for Aury and me so far.
At that thought, my hand zooms to the left, snagging the card on the end.
I blink my eyes open, take a deep breath, then scoop the deck up and set it aside. I take each card and place them in front of me, then one by one turn them over.
Aury: Three of Cups. A quiet laugh escapes me and a grin stretches across my face. Of course he’d get Three of Cups. He brings laughter and friendship, and this card indicates loyalty and happiness in a relationship. I stroke one finger down the card in thanks, then turn to the next one.
Hayden: Six of Swords. I tilt my head and pick the card up, running the tip of my finger along the smooth edge as I contemplate it.
A darker image compared to most in this deck, the two swans carry away a warrior who is dropping their sword.
Various other birds flit after the trio, carrying other items in their beaks.
This one could go either way. Moving on, transition.
Putting something painful behind me. Ahhh.
I shake my head at my tricky little deck.
I was badly injured only a couple weeks ago—an injury Hayden came to my rescue for.
This card means moving away from the turbulence and pain, towards calm waters.
In this context, I think it’s telling me they can be a steady presence for all of us during this time of transition.
It can also indicate quiet generosity, which feels accurate for Hayden, from what I know of them anyways.
I purse my lips and pretend to glare at my deck for being so sneaky. Then I immediately relent and pet it in apology, whispering what a pretty and clever deck she is.
Lastly, Jayce: Six of Cups. Another six, though this one is much less ambiguous.
This card tells me Jayce is safety. He is comfort and calm, creating a loving space for his pack.
I let my eyes unfocus as I stare at the blue and pink card, picturing what I know of Jayce and rearranging it to fit this piece in.
I can see it; his quiet strength and the thoughtful—though sometimes misguided—attemps to show affection.
I bite my lips, trying to quell my smile.
I slowly gather the three cards, taking one last look at them before dropping them back into the deck and putting it away.
I sigh and relax back into my couch. There’s a blanket draped over the back and I fling it over me, then hug a throw pillow to my chest while I let my mind wander.
First to the alphas and beta who are courting me, then to other things.
What other dates I might like to go on with them.
A new deck I’ve been eyeing. The book I’m reading.
Inevitably, it wanders to social media. To work, and what content I can make next. How much I have scheduled, and when I’ll need to do more filming. Probably this week, if I’m honest with myself. I twist my lips to the side and pull out my phone.
I’m tagged in a new video. I frown, clicking to open it, only to see Hels Spells has tagged me in her newest post. She starts the video by wishing me well and saying how sad she is that I can’t do a collab with her.
That it would be “just so freaking cool” to combine her spells with my tarot and crystal work. Then she starts mixing ingredients.
I thought you were supposed to cleanse everything first, but maybe she already did that.
Pink salt and chamomile, dried basil, garlic powder, rosemary (which has me bristling because that’s the scent of my alpha), black salt, sand, coffee grounds, lavender with white flour, honey, and finally some dried rose petals.
I narrow my eyes as she closes the spell jar, wishing healing upon me.
She says the flour is for binding, and salt is purifying and for protection, but I thought you weren’t supposed to mix those.
She also added sand, which she says is to help release the energy, but to my knowledge adding sand can break everything down too fast, so you’re only meant to add it in certain situations.
And the lavender for calming, plus coffee grounds for speed and energy?
That one is definitely contradictory.
I shake my head. It doesn’t feel right. I scroll through my contacts, debating, then finally cave and message another creator I chat with every so often.
She’s an earth witch, much more knowledgeable about spells and their ingredients than I am.
I send her the video, then ask about her opinion on the ingredients, trying to keep it vague and unoffensive.
I’m probably wrong.
I take a deep breath and try to let go of it.
I’m a tarot witch, and I’ll stick to my specialty.
I’ll pick up a few extra black tourmaline and smoky quartz for protection this weekend, maybe some kyanite or citrine as well.
On that note, I scour every room of my house, collecting my protection crystals, and then I carefully bury them in a bowl of sea salt before setting it outside for the moon to cleanse over night.
I’ll place them around the house again in the morning, and hopefully that will be enough to keep me safe from whatever Helen is up to.