Chapter 42
Lark
Cammie leans in close and smudges my eyelid with her finger. “Just a little shimmer so you shine pretty under the lights.”
“I won’t be on stage,” I say.
“Stop blinking,” she chastises before moving on to my other eye. “And I’m talking about camera lights, silly. The press will be there, right?”
I pull back and look up at her. “You think there will be press?”
She rolls her eyes. “For the university’s biggest gala of the year? The one that will include all of East Rock’s wealthiest people and the two researchers who have essentially revolutionized alpha and omega connections world-wide?”
I stare at her.
She huffs out a breath. “Yeah. Lots of press.” She picks up a makeup brush. “What’s gotten into you? You’re too smart not to realize what a big deal this event is.”
I bite my lip. “I’m bonding with Graham and Saint tonight, after the gala.”
Her blue eyes widen. “No shit?” She puts down the makeup brush. “That’s a big deal.”
“It is. That’s why I wanted you to help me get ready. I want to look good for the gala, but I mostly want to look special after, for, you know.”
She salutes. “Captain Camelia James reporting for duty. I have all my weapons and will do my best to serve this mission.” She picks up a blush brush and taps my nose with it.
I giggle. It’s been years since we’ve done this.
I’m no slouch, but Cammie’s always been better at makeup and clothes than me.
She does stuff that I’d never consider. Like now.
She’s wearing a bright coral blouse tucked into hot pink pants.
Her bleached blonde bob is pinned back with a tiny rhinestone cactus clip.
It shouldn’t work. I couldn’t make it work. But on her it's incredible.
“I’m glad you’re here. It’s been a while since just the two of us hung out.”
She tilts my head back and examines my eyes before grabbing some liner. “It’s only just barely the two of us. I think I hear at least one of your alphas pacing in the hall.”
The corners of my mouth lift. “That would be Graham.”
She chuckles. “The excitable giant. I bet he’s been climbing the walls since you made plans to bond.”
“Oh my god. He’s a bit of a puppy, in that way.”
She sighs. “It would be nice to be adored.” She says it lightly, like it’s a throw away comment. I know it’s not.
She eases my eyes closed with the pad of her finger, then dabs on some cream liner. She smudges it a little with a brush giving me a smokey, sexy result.
“Maybe I can be his first customer when his research is ready for market. I could go for someone worshipping me.”
I grab her hand. “You’ll find someone. With or without Graham. There’s no way you don’t.”
The corners of her mouth tick down, but then she flips it into a bright, totally fake, smile. “Let’s not talk about me. Today is all about Lark and her hot alphas.”
I let her redirect, because she’s right. Today is my day. But I make a mental note to corner her later about finding her alphas.
She adds bronzer around the edges of my face, then blush. “Your new sister came by yesterday to check out your apartment.”
“You met Lucy? Isn’t she sweet?”
She powders lightly under my eyes and across my nose. “Super sweet. And cute, too. It won’t be the same as having you live upstairs, but I’m going to enjoy having her nearby. We’ve already made plans for girl dinner and movies.”
I press my hand to my chest, pleased by Cammie’s acceptance of Silas’ sister. “Thank you. You’re going to love her. And she’s so ready for a little bit of independence.”
“I get that,” Cammie says, packing makeup into the bag. Then she smiles. “Turn around, gorgeous, and witness the magic I just made.”
I turn around and—wow! Cammie is a genius. Nothing is overdone. I still look like me, just a little more glam.
“This is amazing! Seriously, people would pay stupid money for this.”
“I’ll stick with my day job.” She zips her makeup bag. “Now, let me see how it all looks together.”
She hands me my dress, a deep red number that skims every curve of my body without clinging too tight.
One shoulder is completely bare, while the other is draped in a structured fold of fabric that gives it almost an architectural appearance.
The hemline skims to mid-calves, drawing eyes to my legs without showing too much.
It’s sexy. Confident. Maybe a little unexpected.
I pair it with skin-colored strappy heels, a gold beaded bag, and the small gold earrings Silas gave me. I still haven’t taken them out since the night I got them.
My hair is pulled into a loose twist at the back of my head that Cammie assures me will look ‘sexy as hell’ when I take it down later. It shows off Silas’ bond mark perfectly. A little frisson of pleasure runs through me when I think about adding two more marks later tonight.
Cammie stands behind me, evaluating my appearance in the mirror. “How bad would it be if you didn’t go tonight?”
I smooth the dress around my hips. “What do you mean? Of course I’m going.”
She looks doubtful. “I’m not sure your alphas will let you out of the house. One look and they’re going to go feral as hell.”
I laugh as she packs all her hair and makeup supplies into a duffle. “Tell them I’ll be right down.”
“Knock ‘em dead tonight. And when you come out of your blissed-out state tomorrow, call me with all the details!” She waves and disappears out the door.
I look at myself in the mirror for a moment. Gold earrings. Red dress. Silas's bond mark showing. Two more marks coming. I look like someone who has everything. I am someone who has everything.
I take a breath and head downstairs.
The hallway is empty when I leave my room. I half expect Graham to jump out from around the corner or something. He doesn’t.
Rude.
I take the stairs slowly, trying not to pout about being alone. My heels click softly against the wooden steps. At the bottom, I follow my nose and find all three of my alphas in the living room. I stop just inside the doorway.
Wow.
Dressed in black, perfectly tailored formal suits, they all look good enough to eat.
Certainly good enough to lick from head to toe.
Saint’s dark skin glows against the crisp white of his shirt.
Somehow his sharp cheekbones look even more defined tonight.
Silas looks massive, his broad shoulders stretching the fabric.
I remember exactly how good those arms feel wrapped around me.
And Graham, tall, elegant, with his hair slightly rumpled like he’s been running his fingers through it over and over.
For a second, I just look. I let myself have this moment. This is all mine.
Graham sees me first. His whole body stills. “Whoa, beautiful. You—” He stops, blinking. “You—wow.”
He tries again. Nothing comes out. He pushes his glasses up. It doesn't help.
I bite back a smile. I just short-circuited my genius alpha’s brain.
Silas recovers faster. “You’re stunning,” he says. “We’re the luckiest alphas in the world.”
Warmth blooms in my chest, spreading outward until my omega hums with satisfaction. “I was surprised none of you were waiting for me in the hall.” I look, specifically, at Graham.
Saint huffs out a laugh, nudging my giant with his shoulder. “Cammie threatened to castrate him if he didn’t leave the hall and come down here to wait for you,” he says. “Said he’d ruin the big reveal.”
I grin. “She wasn’t wrong. I like it when his brain freezes like that.”
Graham beams.
Saint comes close to one, himself. Then his eyes go soft as his gaze drifts over me. “She was right. You look incredible.”
My chest squeezes. This is the Saint I always knew was in there.
“I, uh. I have something for you,” he says shyly.
I blink. “For me?”
My omega perks up instantly. Pretty sure someone recently told me not to deny her the things she wants, so I edge forward. “What did you get?”
He pulls a small box from his pocket, flipping it open with slightly shaking fingers. Inside is a delicate diamond tennis bracelet set in soft gold. It catches the light from the chandelier, throwing small diamonds of light across my wrist and Saint’s fingers.
My breath leaves me. “It’s perfect.”
His mouth curves. “You’re perfect.”
I step into him, pressing up on my toes to kiss him. It’s quick but not meaningless. I press every ounce of love I have for him into it. When I pull back, I don’t go far before repeating it with Graham and Silas.
Mine.
Every single one is mine. And they think I’m perfect.
My omega hums in agreement.
Silas clears his throat, stepping back and reaching for something on the bar. “Drink before we go?” he asks, holding up a chilled bottle of champagne.
He smiles when I nod. The cork pops with a sharp crack. Graham hands out glasses and Silas pours a little in each.
Silas lifts his glass. “To Graham,” he says. “Tonight’s his special night.”
Graham shakes his head immediately. “No,” he says. “To all of us.” His gaze finds mine, then flicks to Saint, and finally to Silas. “Tonight,” he says, his voice rough with emotion, “tonight we officially form our pack.”
Heat blooms in my chest.
“Happiest day of my life,” Saint says, his glass raised high.
My eyes sting and I will myself not to cry. Cammie would kill me.
“To us,” I say with a wobbling voice.