Page 24 of Threads of Fate

“Really? Okay,” Luca says with a happy wiggle. “Hey, Nix. I know you’re probably scared, right? I–” He looks at Jay for reassurance, and when his alpha nods, he continues; there’s a small smile and a burst of mocha. “It’s okay to be scared, especially when it…hurts. Jay says that if you’re scared you can always come to him, alright? He won’t let anyone hurt you anymore.”

He hums a sweet song Jay’s not heard before, reaching out with his pinky finger, gentle as a butterfly’s wing, to touch Nix’s. His fifteen minutes fly by, and soon Leo is standing by the door.

He’s cleaned up from whatever happened outside with Gideon and has changed into an extra shirt, which is probably not his, judging by the way it’s stretched to its limits across a broad chest sculpted in the gym every day. His short, wavy black hair is a testament to his stress as it’s still sticking up all over, framing his tired brown eyes.

“Leooo,” Luca whines. “I’m not done. Nix and I are writing a song here.”

“You are? I’m sure it’s a banger. But it’s my turn, baby. I think Finn is sleepy though. Go see if you can sing him what you’ve got so far.”

“Finn snuggles? Yes! Bye-bye, baby. Bye, Daddy.” Jay blinks. It’s been ages since Luca called him that and never outside of sex(Jay will not admit to a Daddy kink a mile wide, no he won’t, and most certainly not here). Leo’s chuckle follows him out.

“Daddy, eh? Haven’t heard that in a while.” He approaches the bed on Nix’s left side, careful of the casts and fluid bags hanging off that side of the bed. Once again, Yasmine snorts.

Jay shakes his finger at his beta and smiles.“No. Shut up. You be quiet, lest your secrets…” He likes to think that if Nix can hear them, he’d laugh, too.

“Alright, alright. I’m not ashamed of my kinks, Jaybird, but for the nurse’s sake, truce?”

Yasmine deadpans, “Yes, please. For the nurse’s sake.”

The smile on Leo’s face fades as he pulls the pack blanket up a bit, gently running a finger over the bed sheet like he’s cataloging in real-time all of Nix’s injuries. “Hi, Nix. I’m Leo. I’m happy to finally meet you. Jaybird has told us all about you. He loves you a lot. Even when he thought he’d never see you again, he made sure we knew all about you.”

Jay is so tired of crying, but Leo’s words make him feel glad that he’d made Nix a living memory for his mates.

After Leo, it’s Grayson’s turn.

The enigma stands carefully by the door, and Jay can’t place his expression. When Jay beckons him over, he leans in and presses his lips to the top of Nix’s head. Breathing deeply, he pants, eyes closed. A tremor ripples through him, and his breaths come quicker—sharp and uneven—before he abruptly straightens. “I’m going to…” And then he’s gone.

The alarms sound almost immediately, as Nix’s heart rate beats through the roof and Jay’s own seems to follow suit.What was that?

Shortly afterward, Yasmine put a stop to visitors for the night, and by the time they had Nix stable, it was 3:00 AM.

“Jay, you should go to be with your family. We’re going to be checking sutures and drains in the next hour. I just want him tobe stable again for a bit first. I’ll come get you if anything comes up. I promise.”

“I can’t leave him, Yasmine. I just found him again.”

“I can’t claim to understand what that feels like, but your mates need you too, no?”

Jay can’t argue but vows he’ll be back in an hour. His mates are sleeping in an enormous pile in the middle of the waiting room floor, making his heart soar, seeing them together and safe. Luca is lying on top of Leo, whose head is on Grayson’s belly. Rowan has his arm over Grayson’s chest, arm bent so he can grasp Leo’s hair. Grayson’s and Rowan’s heads are resting on a cushion stolen from the couch, where Finn and Gideon are curled up like spoons in a drawer. For once, Gideon has let Finn be the “big spoon.” Jay reaches into his pocket for his phone, hoping his battery has enough charge for a photo.

“If you take that picture, I will not be responsible for my actions. Just lie down before you fall down.” Gideon’s cat-like stare means business.

Sinking onto the other couch, Jay hangs his head, planning to just sit until he can convince Yasmine to let him back in. Without warning, he finds himself on his back, with Gideon on top of him like a rather prickly weighted blanket.

“What about Finn?”

“He’s out and beyond exhausted. I’m more worried about you. Is Nix okay? Gray was shaken when he got back from seeing Nix, and he won’t talk about it. Did something happen?”

“I don’t think so?” Jay is mystified, too. “He scented him, and Nix’s heart rate spiked out of control. But he’s stable now. You know how sensitive Gray is to emotions and smells. Maybe my angst and the smell of sickness got to him. He wasn’t sick or anything, again, was he?”

“No. He just jumped Rowan and started huffing him like he was at a Yankee Candle store, and spiced rum was theScent ofthe Day.You’re probably right. You reek of sadness and hospital. Tomorrow, I’m bringing you some stuff so you can wash the stink off you.”

“It’s hard to believe you when your nose is in my neck, love.”

“Are you complaining? No? Good. Now shut up and let me do my job here.”

“What’s that, again?”

“To love you, jerkface. That’s what.” So Jay lets him do his “job” and rests his eyes for just a few minutes.

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