39. Opaline
Opaline
"There she is!" Lottie greets me with a big smile and a wave as I make my way towards the girls in the steaming water.
It's a gorgeous evening, just at sundown at the resort.
We'd decided to meet collectively at the outdoor hot springs.
It's been a while since we've had a get-together, just us girls.
And what a night for it. There's a slight chill in the air as the sky darkens, the vapor and steam rising off the hot water even more pronounced.
Nature stirs pleasantly around us, as usual, adding to the general ambiance.
"Hi!" I wave, toeing off my flipflops next to the stairs that lead down into one of the smaller springs. A series of voices meet me in return, welcoming me to the group. A quick glance around told me that Lottie, Charlie, and Alina were here. "No Fawn?"
"Not tonight, unfortunately."
I hum, considering. "Is she okay?"
"She seems fine! Sounds like something came up.
" Isn't much to go off of, but I also don't want to pry.
Reaching over for my phone, I shoot off a quick text just letting her know she should join us next time and that I'm thinking of her.
Slipping off one of the robes from the changing room, I fold it half-heartedly and join them.
I can't help the happy groan I release the deeper I get into the healing warmth. "Oh my god. This is amazing… We really need to take advantage of our perks more."
Their agreeing 'mhmm's' echo against the rock formations surrounding the smaller pool of water.
"Ooh, Alina brought a fancy mocktail drink if you want some! It's bubbly and has glitter. Do what you will with that information. There's a plastic pitcher and cups in that bag, there." She points towards a cute pink cooler with white stripes.
Truthfully, it sounds great. But my body's found its new home for at least twenty minutes, nestled into the seating I didn't know existed beneath the surface.
"I'll try some in a minute, once my bones are jelly.
" I sigh, eyes up towards the thick tree line above us, a hard, dark line against the sky above.
"Girl!" Lottie chuckles. "You're just going to sit there and not fill us in on your fairy tale?"
I can't help it; I grin, looking between them with a laugh at their awaiting expressions.
After filling them in on all the missing details, sweet moments, and how happy I am with my new nest, I finish with, "Everything is going…
amazing. Better than amazing, it's literally been heaven.
It feels like everything is falling into place and we're this close to being an official, complete pack. "
"What do you mean? You mean since you haven't bonded Everette?"
"Yeah, sorry." I shake my head. "It's not like I planned it this way.
I didn't. I love him so much already." I pause.
"Honestly, I thought Adrian would be my last bonded.
Just given our history and rough start. Everette and I have been so incredibly solid since day one…
literally from the moment we met. It was just this…
internal knowing I felt so overwhelmingly that I just knew he was my mate.
" The word soulmate is on the tip of my tongue, always in the back of my mind.
"I wish I could explain it. We're in a really beautiful place after clearing the air on our date at The Honeybee.
I think most of the pressure I was putting on myself, the guilt, is gone.
We both know it'll happen when it's supposed to. "
"It will. We're all rooting for you," Charlie responds.
"Thank you," I sigh. I go on to fill them in on how magical my nest turned out and everything my guys did to make it the most perfect nest I could have ever hoped for.
Saying it all out loud makes it even more unbelievable that this is my real life.
The temptation to reach down and pinch myself sits heavily on my chest. But, if I am dreaming, I don't want to wake up.
Alina blinks rapidly and I suspect it may be to clear building tears. "Opaline, that's so beautiful. I'm so happy for you. You deserve this. Fate couldn't have blessed a better group of people." She smiles, reaching over to squeeze my hand.
"Thank you," I say with a smile. I'm trying to hide my sympathy, so she doesn't mistake it for pity. But I know that look, the longing in her eyes for what I've somehow found in life. "It'll happen for you; I just know it. You're a hell of a catch," I whisper softly enough that only she hears me.
"Oh god, what are you doing here, Bucket?" Lottie groans, looking past us.
My face twists into an odd contortion, following her line of sight, confused and a little startled. "Bucket?"
A deep, masculine laugh sounds through the air the closer he gets. "It's Beckett. But my sister here couldn't say my name growing up and has called me Bucket ever since, when she's feelin' real sweet."
"Why are you shirtless? What are you even doing here?"
"Special project. Top secret, unfortunately." He looks over at the beautiful, strawberry blonde omega sitting next to me. “Hey, Alina. Didn't know you'd be here. What a nice surprise," he smiles, full of charm.
"I literally told yo—"
"Anyway," he interrupts his sister, cutting her off. "Has Lottie ever told you girls how she pissed her pants at the Flat Rock Fair and then—"
"Stop! You win. Jesus," she glares, cheeks even redder than the flush from the heat.
I bite my lip to stop from laughing, glancing at Alina, who seems nearly frozen in her spot, like she's scared to move.
"Well, I won't ruin girls' night. Have fun," he says to us as a group. "Bye, beautiful." I watch him turn to leave, seeing her chest rise and fall deeply next to me once he's gone.
"So great to have him back…" Lottie sighs, uncrossing her arms. "Just ignore him, Alina. If he made you uncomfortable, just let me know, though. I'll handle it. He's a flirt but he's harmless… I think."
The conversation drones on to other topics, laughter and smiles so big my cheeks hurt by the time we call it a night. After changing in the nearby dressing room on relaxed and wobbly legs, we part ways with hugs and promises of seeing each other at the festival that's rapidly approaching.
With Calder's arm around my waist, I wave, watching them walk away.
"Are you my ride home?" I tease, tilting my head and turning into his arms as I look up at his smiling, perfectly chiseled face.
"Sage insisted on arm wrestling to declare the winner. I won. You're my spoils." His boyish grin grows, and I do nothing to fight my smile at his puffed-up chest.
"My hero, " I hum.
"Ready to go home, babygirl?"
"Home," I sigh. "I like the sound of that."
"Good, me too. Be prepared for a pouty alpha waiting for you, though…" He adds smugly with a wink.