Orbiting Their Sun
RHYS
The living room was quiet, yet the air felt anything but.
Sweet Omega pheromones drifted down from upstairs—warm honey, wild strawberries, and that soft vanilla undertone that was purely Scarlett.
It wrapped around the room like a drug. Kane was already half-drunk on it, sprawled across the couch with his head tilted back, eyes half-lidded and a soft grin on his face.
“Fuck… she smells like heaven,” he groaned, dragging a hand through his hair. “I’m losing my mind. How the hell are we supposed to behave when she’s dripping sweetness all over the house?”
Saint sat on the floor leaning against the couch, massive frame tense, red eye flickering as he stared at the ceiling. He didn’t speak, but the low, continuous rumble in his chest said everything. He was fighting the urge to go upstairs and curl around her.
I sat in the armchair by the fireplace, legs crossed, fingers steepled under my chin. Calm on the outside. Always calm.
Inside, I wanted to rip that tentacled abomination apart all over again.
When Scarlett had passed out in Blackthorn Ridge, the three of us had lost control.
Kane tore into the creature’s side with feral rage.
Saint shifted and clamped his jaws around one of the main tentacles, wrenching it off with brutal strength.
I danced across its body, claws slicing through eyes and arteries, painting the forest red.
The creature had screamed until its voice gave out.
And still, it wasn’t enough.
I had a cold, growing suspicion it hadn’t been random. It had targeted her specifically. Someone had sent it.
And I had a very good idea who.
Kane’s voice pulled me back. “You think her voice will come back soon?” he asked, unusually serious. “She looked so fucking scared when she realized she couldn’t speak.”
Saint let out a low, pained whine, claws digging into the carpet.
I kept my voice smooth. “It will take weeks, possibly months. The barbs carried something… unnatural. But she’s alive. That’s what matters. While she heals, we take care of her—no pushing, no crowding unless she wants it.”
Kane snorted. “Easy for you to say, golden boy. You’re not the one fighting the urge to pin her down and..”
Saint growled warningly.
I smiled faintly. The three of us fell into silence again, the sweet scent of our mate filling the room like a drug none of us wanted to quit.
Soft footsteps sounded upstairs. Kane sat up suddenly, eyes bright. “We should cook for them.”
Saint tilted his head, clearly interested, his chest rumbling happily at the thought of providing for Scarlett.
I rose gracefully, already rolling up my sleeves. “I’ll handle it. You two can assist.”
We moved into the kitchen. I’d made sure the house was fully stocked the moment we knew Scarlett might stay.
I pulled out fresh vegetables, herbs, chicken, rice, and spices—deciding on herb-roasted chicken with garlic rice and roasted vegetables.
Comforting, not too heavy after everything she’d been through.
Kane chopped vegetables with more enthusiasm than skill. Saint quietly set the table, sneaking glances toward the stairs like a lovesick puppy.
Soon the scent of cooking food mixed beautifully with Scarlett’s lingering pheromones.
Then we heard footsteps on the stairs.
Scarlett and Lily came down together.
My breath caught.
Scarlett wore a simple white tank top and tiny black shorts that showed off her long, smooth legs. Her hair was still damp from the bath, falling over her shoulders. No makeup. Just *her*.
Bloody hell.
Kane’s knife stopped mid-chop. Saint froze, eyes wide and glowing. I kept my expression calm, but my fingers tightened around the wooden spoon.
Scarlett looked a little shy, tugging at the hem of her tank top. The bandage around her throat stood out, but it couldn’t diminish how devastatingly beautiful she was.
Kane recovered first, flashing a hungry grin. “Fuck, love… you trying to kill us?”
Saint made a soft, needy sound and took a half-step forward before catching himself.
I set the spoon down and walked around the island, stopping in front of her. I brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, letting my fingers linger. “You look beautiful,” I murmured. “Good enough to eat.”
Scarlett’s cheeks flushed pink. She mouthed a silent “thank you” and pointed toward the kitchen, asking what we were making.
“Comfort food,” I answered, guiding her gently to the table with a hand on her lower back. “Sit. Let us take care of you tonight.”
Kane plated the food with surprising care while Saint hovered nearby, ready to help.
The three of us moved around her like planets orbiting their sun.
I watched her from the corner of my eye as we ate. She looked small in that outfit, but there was quiet strength in her bright green eyes that made my chest tighten with pride. Lily sat beside her, glancing nervously at us.
We ate in comfortable silence for a few minutes before Lily spoke, her voice shy but curious. “This place is really beautiful. How do you guys afford something like this? I mean… do you have parents or…?”
The air shifted, but I kept my expression perfectly calm. “We’re orphans,” I answered. “We’ve had a sponsor since we were young. Someone who invested in us. This house was part of that arrangement.”
I left it vague on purpose. The less they knew about Ryker and the shadows we came from, the better.
Kane leaned back, flashing a smile. “Yeah. Let’s just say we earned it. The hard way.”
Saint didn’t speak, but his thumb gently brushed Scarlett’s wrist under the table—a possessive yet soothing motion. I could feel his quiet tension through the bond. He hated talking about our past.
Lily sensed she’d touched something sensitive and quickly changed the subject. “The food is really good. Thank you.”
Scarlett looked at me with those bright green eyes, curious but gentle.
I smiled at her, soft and genuine. “Anything for you, darling.”
The rest of the meal passed with lighter conversation—Kane telling ridiculous training stories to make Scarlett smile, Saint quietly refilling her plate, and me watching everything like the strategist I was.
But in the back of my mind, the same dark thought kept circling.