3. Calliope #3
“It sounds good,” I admit. “Really good. Just badly timed.”
Idris’s thumb moves once against my knee. “Because of Theo?”
“Because of everything.” I look down at the containers. “The commute would be awful. Late nights would be even later. And if Theo chooses us, I don’t want to feel like I’m pulling away as I’m trying to acclimate to a new job.”
Sloane leans back, but his attention stays on me. “Baby, if you want it, we’ll make it work.”
Idris nods once, as if Sloane has only said the obvious. “You don’t have to decide against something good because the pack is changing. We’d need to plan around the commute, and around any nights you’d stay near campus, but those are logistics. They aren’t reasons to make yourself smaller.”
I stare at him for a moment, caught by how easily he says it. Like my work is already part of the pack’s future because I am. “I’m not saying yes,” I say carefully.
“No one is asking you to,” Idris says.
“And I’m not saying no.” I don’t mention that Mara’s already offered to put my name directly in front of the department chair. Considering the posting feels manageable. Letting it become real before Theo arrives doesn’t.
Sloane reaches over and steals one of my carrots, his mouth curving just enough to soften the seriousness without turning it into a performance. “That sounds like a good idea. Just promise me that whatever you choose, it’s for you?”
I manage a nod, feeling a bit more relieved than I had expected.
I know Garrett’s reaction will be wildly different, but for now, I’m content.
Dinner settles around us again as Sloane’s attention moves from his food to my hair, his fingers playing a few stray strands along my shoulder.
I look up to tell him to stop, but he’s already reaching for me, my Alpha softly tugging me into his lap.
I always thought I’d be the one obsessed with my mates, not the other way around, but I’m in no way complaining. Idris just throws me a sympathetic look, but I catch the heat lingering beneath his expression.
“Ah, our Alpha is calling,” Idris says, his purr rolling through his words. “Probably about something else he’s found regarding Theo. You okay with me taking this here, princess?” I nod as he swipes across his screen to answer the call before putting it to his ear. “Garrett,” he says.
Garrett’s voice is low through the receiver, most of it too quiet for me to catch. Idris listens without interrupting, his expression settling into the controlled stillness he wears for difficult clients.
“We’re still at Blackline,” he says after a moment. “Sloane and Callie are here.”
Another pause. Sloane sets his fork down as I curl up tighter in my Alpha’s lap.
Idris’s eyes move briefly to him and then to me. “Send the packet. We’ll review the security notes.”
I look down at my hands and make myself keep breathing. The name doesn’t hurt. The idea of an Omega doesn’t hurt. What unsettles me is how quickly everything keeps moving, one update after another, like the house is already leaning toward Friday before any of us has time to catch up.
Idris’ voice cools by a degree. “No, Garrett. We’ll read the full packet, not only the summary. If Bellwether added context about heat support, I want all of it before we discuss logistics.”
The silence on the other end lasts long enough for Sloane’s jaw to tighten. Then Idris says, “We’ll talk at home,” and ends the call.
“That was Theo’s packet?” I ask.
Idris nods. “Finalized. Garrett wants us to review it before Friday.”
I tease my bottom lip, working through how I feel about this big change and what it could mean for my future.
The future two of my Alphas have told me I’m allowed to have.
“Then we review it. And after Friday, I’ll make a decision about the position at Halston College.
” I sit up a little bit. “Now, what is this about heat support?”
Jagged nightmares of the times my previous Omegas stuck me outside the nest well up in my chest. I wasn’t useful. They didn’t love me. Or I just… wasn’t an Alpha.
Idris catches onto my slowly spiraling panic, quickly typing on his tablet before scrolling several times.
Then his lips split into a smile. “Seems like he likes a lot of pillows, Callie. And natural light. Oh, and fresh air during his heats.” I open my mouth to ask the one question I need answered, but he gets there first. “Nothing about who can’t come into the nest, princess. In fact, his favorite scent is pear.”
The pressure in my chest eases enough that I can breathe.
Sloane feels it through the bond and slides his mouth close to my ear, his hand settling more firmly around my waist. “And would you look at that? Seems Theo might be a perfect match already. It also seems like we need to take our Beta home and make a mess of her before Theo gets here or we’ll never get time with her. ”
A squeak pulls from my mouth as he stands up, one arm still around my waist, holding me a few inches off the floor, Idris’ thick laughter bouncing off the walls.