6. Opaline
Opaline
"Speaking of forever…"
Everything still feels a little fuzzy around the edges, like a perpetual coastal fog in stormy season that occasionally clears.
I can't quite tell exactly how much time has passed since I remember being lucid last. I assume a handful of hours, but the exhaustion and bruises under my alphas' eyes tell a different story entirely.
My hands jump out, looking over each of them.
"Oh god… I'm so sorry. You all look so exhausted.
" The guilt starts to gnaw at me immediately.
I'm the reason they're missing work, missing important—
"Omega. Nuh uh, look at me," Calder interrupts sternly but politely, stopping the beginnings of a spiral. "Trust me when I speak for all of us and say there's nowhere in the world we'd rather be than right here with you, sweetheart."
The reassurance he sends down our bond dampens a majority of my insecurity and shame.
There's still a small bubble that seems to be impenetrable though.
Not sure what to say in response, I simply nod and touch their sweet faces before pushing to sit up.
Honestly, I don't know how much time I'll have before I slip under the Heat haze again.
Everette leans in for a quick kiss. Sage, visibly jealous, does the same.
He's like my sweet puppy that always needs attention and the same treats his 'brother' gets.
I'm happy to give it to him; to even have the chance to be his omega.
The person he can lean on and count on outside of his pack brothers.
"Um, anyway…what was it you were saying?" His eyebrows lift hopefully.
Taking a breath, I consider a final time, smile peeking through, like my mind isn't without a doubt fully made up.
I know exactly what I want. Them; forever.
The fact that they're taking such good care of me is just another level of confirmation I was never in search of.
For some reason, my brain chooses now to remind me that Adrian isn't here, as my eyes trace over each of their handsome faces.
My longing for him has felt akin to an emotional memory that keeps popping back up, leaving me unsteady.
I'm assuming he hasn't been here throughout the entirety of my Heat, either.
Instinctually, my nose lifts slightly, trying to scent him on the air, coming back with nothing. Finally, I ask, "Where's Adrian?"
"Probably getting us more food. Anyway…you were saying?
" Sage rushes through the words like he couldn't care less about his missing packmate.
I give him a pointed look that assumedly shows everything I'm feeling.
With a big sigh, he explains further. "He's either at the resort, here at the house somewhere, or probably picking up food for us.
If you have any requests, let us know." He pauses, gripping the back of his neck.
"You haven't exactly been wanting to eat much.
The best we've managed is protein and nutrient-dense smoothies. "
Unfortunately, that sounds about right. Omegas are notorious for fighting and resisting sustenance during Heats.
I'm not sure there's an exact reason for it.
But our primals are biologically focused on getting impregnated during Heat.
Which means, all I probably want right now is my mates' come, their knots sealing said come inside me, and having their scents covering my body, marking and claiming me.
"Baaabbyyyyy. You're killing me here. Please finish your thought before we lose you again or I have an aneurysm?" Sage looks at me with anxious and pleading eyes. He's right though. This is more important. I can think about the complexity that is Adrian later.
"Yes, my love," I say, gripping both of his huge hands in mine.
"I know we've already established that we have forever together.
Especially since Calder and I bonded." I glance over to my bonded and see his eyes shining with emotion and surely, unshed tears.
He can feel exactly where I'm going with this.
"But I want to finalize our bonds," I whisper. "I want your bites. If you still—"
Sage practically collapses into me, pushing me down into the plush bedding and mattress of the nest. His hands are everywhere, lips attacking mine, tongue pressing for entrance in what can only be described by all parties as a claiming.
Every ounce of pent-up desire, longing, insecurity, and love is pushed so deeply into his kiss, I can feel my own emotions rising to meet his, tears stinging my eyes.
Sage and I have always had our own special bond, just as Ever and I have.
Sometimes I can swear I can already feel him, even without our marks connecting us. But now, now I'll know.
"Get the fuck out," he snarls at his packmates, attention momentarily leaving me for the span of a second.
"Sage! What the heck! What if I wanted to bond you and Ever at the same time?" I ask.
Pulling back slowly, he studies my face to see how badly he fucked up while trying to keep a leash on his obviously determined primal. "Do you want that?"
Considering, I realize, I don't. I want them both to claim me; I want their bites.
But I want each of our moments to be memorable and special.
It only happens once, and I want it to be just right for each of us.
And I can clearly tell Sage wants this to be private, just him and I.
"No, my love. I want this to be just us.
Just Sage and Opaline," I whisper. "But don't be rude!
" I chastise, smacking his hard chest gently.
He looks back to his pack brothers with an expression that tells me he isn't sorry in the slightest. I want to laugh, but I can start to feel the edges of my attention, my focus, my vision, overcome with a sense of fogginess I can't explain. No. No. No, I want this right now. "Sage. Need you."
"You have me, princess."