Page 16 of The Long Lost Omega

“It looks like a celebration of the Spring season.” Jax answered, giving a little smile at the festivities. “I haven’t been to one since we were kids. I forgot that this was the first day of Spring.” When we were younger, we used to love coming out to these types of events. As we grew up and took on more responsibilities, we stopped going out as much. “Was there anything like this where you are from?” he asked, and Safira shook her head.

“No. Well, if there was, I never went to it.” She seemed intrigued by the festival, and I wanted her to experience everything she could.

“You’ll like this then. Come on, we’ll celebrate Spring together!” I insisted as we walked toward the festivities. Many of the attendees were wearing decorated costumes and dancing around. Nearby, someone at a table was fixing up flower crowns and doing face painting. “Do you want to get decked out in festival attire?” I asked her, hoping we’d get to see her looking like a true Haven omega. She nodded eagerly, and practically flew over to the table. One of the people working there smiled and had her sit in a chair as they went to work. Soon she had small white flowers braided through her thick hair, while another woman applied small jewels to her face in an intricate pattern.

“After all these years, I still can’t believe how stunning she is.” Jax murmured to me as we watched, seeing her open up to the women as they put the finishing touches on her. Every moment we spent with her, she seemed to reveal more of her personality. She looked even more at ease now as she stood up, admiring her new hair and face decorations in a mirror before coming to join us.

“This is so fun! Want a flower?” She said as she plucked a white one from her hair and tried to reach up to Jax’s ear, barely able to stretch up high enough to touch it. He looked startled as she placed the flower on him, but didn’t take it out as she stepped back to admire her work.

“He looks very handsome now.” Tony chimed in as Jax stood like the aloof businessman he was, only now adorned with the small blossom. “Would you like to see some of the Spring festival games?” Tony asked as Safira looked around. “They are a tradition. Here, let’s go check them out together.” He grabbed her hand as we went to watch people bobbing for apples in one area, then on to another section where people were decorating a caramel coated apple to eat.

“This isn’t so different from back home. I’ve just never seen any of these in real life.” Safira said, watching as both adults and children enjoyed the day. I was glad to hear that. I wanted her to feel at home here in Haven. I wanted her to stay forever.

She walked over to an area where people were painting on small canvases, and I pulled out a chair for her.

“Go ahead. Make one!” I said as she looked on hesitantly.

“What does it cost?” she asked, and I just clicked my tongue.

“Spring festivals are hosted by the city. They are public, no charge. Just enjoy yourself.” I replied as she smiled and sat down. My pack and I sat around her on each side, making sure to keep her safe in between us even if there was no danger. I couldtell we were feeling the pack dynamic with her more than ever. I was glad she was on suppressants - if we kept hanging out with her like this, our alpha instinct to claim her would be hard to fight. And she didn’t even know that we were falling for her.

I looked around at Safira, Tony and Jax. My two packmates were concentrating on painting the little canvases, trying hard to create something on the impossibly small surface. It was comical, really. Safira was deeply engaged in her own work, and I realized this is what I wanted. This pack life, where we could enjoy every day, every moment, even if things didn’t work out like we planned. I felt through my bonds that the others were truly living in the moment, feeling alive and free. We were content - something we hadn’t felt in a long time.

“Well, I’m done.” I said as I finished my painting. It was a raven, secretly a symbol of Safira. Her dark hair reminded me of a raven’s black, inky feathers. The others put their paint brushes down one by one as they finished. Safira picked up her canvas and showed it to each of us. “Look,” she said, “Remember?” The painting was of a small plane in a field of grass. Jax’s face softened as he saw it.

“Of course we remember. We never stopped thinking of that day.” He replied fondly. Safira was quiet, a blush heating her skin. She cleared her throat.

“Should we go check out that music?” She gestured to an area of the field where a band was playing. “I mean, while we let our paintings dry.” She said, setting her canvas down. She stood to go follow the music, with Tony and I on either side of her, keeping her protected. We wove through the crowd, marvelingat the whimsical performances that people put on. A few were dressed as caricatures of famous people from the past, and even more were wearing old fashioned spring festival costumes. “I want to learn all about the history here. It must be so different from what I’m used to.” Safira murmured as she watched people perform.

“We will help you understand anything you desire to learn.” Tony said as we reached the stage. There was a band playing lively music, and a makeshift dance floor. Safira’s eyes lit up and I bowed to her.

“Shall we dance?”

Chapter 14

Safira

I didn’t care that my body was changing anymore. I loved this world and I wasn’t going back. Something was just different here, and even though I had to deal with new hormones and new societal rules, my comfort with the guys hadn’t changed at all. We picked up right where we left off. Now we were on a side excursion and having even more fun. The festival in the field was a perfect low-pressure way to reconnect with them, and as I danced amongst them, I felt more at home than I ever felt in Weatherby.

Kaden was doing the goofiest moves, not caring that he was off-beat. He looked so good that it didn’t matter. His golden hair was falling in his face as he danced, and even with all his made up moves, his physique was so ripped that he was the hottest guy on the floor. His eyes lit up as he smiled, grabbing my hand and spinning me in a circle as I laughed. I got a fresh whiff of hisscent and felt the urge to dance even closer to him. I was now inches away from him, and when he pulled me in to match his offbeat steps, all I could feel was his warm, hard body on mine. He faltered, then danced a little slower, holding me close as he breathed into my hair. “God I’ve missed you.” He said in a low voice, but before I could respond, a hand pulled me away.

“Stop hogging the guest of honor!” Tony said with a smirk of mischief as he started dancing with me. “I have to practice my new moves with you. I think you’ll be highly impressed.” He said as he raised an eyebrow and did some quick footwork.

“More like she’ll be very injured when you step on her toes!” Kaden said from the side of the dance floor. Tony swept me into his tall frame and spun us around.

“Never fear, my lady. I would never injure you, only intrigue you with my suave, debonair ways.” Tony joked as he tried another complicated version of his own dance moves. I couldn’t help but be taken by his appeal. He was still the same playful guy I remembered, only now, instead of the boyish charm, he displayed a flirtatious teasing of a grown man. I’d only just fallen into a rhythm when Jax cut in, his smooth frame whisking me away from the others and into our own corner of the dance floor.

“May I have this dance?” He said, his voice calm and confident. I smiled up at him, admiring how the lines of his face formed the masterpiece of the man in front of me.

“Of course.” I replied, letting him lead me as he moved with perfect rhythm, controlling our movements as he led megracefully across the floor. Jax was still the leader, the quietest and hardest to read of the three of them. But even now, his playfulness showed through, although it was hard to see unless you looked for it. The tilt of his full lips on one side, the sparkle in his dark eyes, the way he gave my hand a gentle squeeze before moving me out of the way when Tony came by to try to steal me away again, laughing as Jax and I dodged him before joining Kaden at the side of the dance floor. It was like being at a school dance, and getting attention from your crush. Except I had three men that I was crushing on. And even though no guys ever really paid attention to me, I was pretty sure that these ones might like me back just as much as I liked them.

The hours passed and the day was almost over. The sunset bathed us in soft, golden light, and I laughed as the three of them took turns trying to move in and get another turn at a dance. Soon, the strings of lights across the top of the dance floor came on as twilight arrived, lighting up the area with a surreal effect as we danced, forgetting all sense of time like we had so many years ago. The music changed to a faster paced sound, and soon the four of us were now dancing as a group. They were so much taller than me that I could only focus on the three of them. I forgot anyone else was around. And with my heightened senses, I got an amazing whiff of their scents, now amplified through their sweat as they moved. The blended smell of the three of them was absolutely glorious. I wanted to smell them like this all the time. My core clenched as I looked at each of them, imagining what else they could do with those moves, and how they would feel on me. With more than just one set of hands running down my body. With one of them on my mouth, kissing me passionately, while another ran their tongue up my thighs, and the third touching me from behind…

Suddenly a new scent mixed in with theirs. Embarrassingly, I realized I was perfuming on the dance floor. They immediately noticed. “We need to step away.” Jax said quickly, and when I looked up the other two were staring at me, their eyes now hungry. Their bodies were tense, and when another couple knocked into Kaden from behind I swear he let out a growl and nearly snapped at them. The three of them lifted me, keeping me huddled between them as they moved away from the dance floor and off to the side of the field. I knew enough at this point that my perfume in this new world was a biological way of announcing my arousal. Suddenly I became very shy, not knowing how they would think of me. Jax knelt down, placing his hand on my shoulder as they set me down safely in the field, far away from the festival.

“Don’t be shy, Safira. This happens with omegas. It’s very normal.” He said as he comforted me. I only nodded, trying to calm myself down.

“Well, I suppose we need to head to the club eventually.” Kaden said as he looked around. “It’s getting late, but we might still be able to get you that meal!” His words sounded promising. Tony grabbed my hand, leading us back through the way we came.

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