Page 67 of Threads of Fate

Heart in his throat, Finn opens the door.

He can smell that Gideon is tending to Jay, both talking in low tones. Rowan must be in the hall. How they got himto stay there alone is a mystery; maybe Gideon rendered him unconscious?

He can tell Nix has heard the extra voice too, but he bravely follows Finn into the room. He hides behind his back and holds tight to his hand. Gideon is busy tidying up the first aid supplies, but when he’s done, Nix peeks around and for the second time Finn gets to see a small smile, front teeth denting his lips.

“I’m Gideon, Nix. Would you like something to eat? I had Leo order all kinds of takeout because I wasn’t sure what you wanted.”

Luca makes a place for himself in Gideon’s arms. “Nixie’s hungry, Sugar. Me too. Can I have a hamburger? Ooh, did you get pasta? I want pasta. Please.”

Finn’s proud of Luca for knowing just how to make sure Nix knows Gideon is a safe person, and he’s creeping even farther out from behind Finn.

“Nix, do you want pasta with Luca? It’s not as good as Gideon’s, but it’ll be good.” Nix takes Jay’s hand easily.

“That’s okay? I haven’t behaved very well. Maybe I should have some rice instead? Or maybe water?” Finn can’t believe his ears. He doesn’twantto believe them. Nix so casually talking about starvation, about having to earn the most basic of necessities and thinking hedeservedsuch treatment, has him losing his shit. Finn’s instincts are often kept far away in his daily function, and to have them so close to the surface today means he hardly has control of them.

“Behaved well?Nix, we don’t earn our food in this p–family. Good or bad, happy or sad, we always eat until we are full. You never have to worry about that.” He all but growls it out.

“I don’t? Luca eats all the time?”

Finn is once again grateful for Luca, and attempts to settle his anger into a low simmer.

“Yes! Sometimes I eat more than my share if it’s really good. Gideon makes a pesto that tastes like Gray, and I eat it on everything. It’s so good.”

“Gray? Like the color?” Their omega looks uncertain.

“It’s short for Grayson. He’s another one of our partners.” Gideon enjoys making basil dishes to tempt his mates.

Gaze on Jay, he gives their leader’s hand a little shake. “Jamie, you have partners? More than Luca?” His eyes are wide. They’re fortunate the entertainment community acts like a shield and lets his pack live right under the public’s eye.

Gideon hugs Luca from behind. “There are eight of us now.” It’s bold of Gideon to suggest.

“Eight? You love seven people?”

Jay smiles and pops his dimple. “I do. Gideon, Leo, Gray, Luca, Finn, Rowan, and Nix.” Nix processes the information slowly and there’s shock in his eyes.

“Do you…know another Nix? Besides me?” Confusion on his face.

Luca moves to touch Nix’s arm. “No, silly. It’s you. We’ve missed you for a long time. We’ve been waiting, right?”

“Feels like forever,” Jay sighs.

“We hope you’ll want to get to know us too, Nix. When you’re feeling better?” Gideon sounds shy, and Finn has to raise an eyebrow in surprise. Gideon avoids his eyes and Finn thinks it’s because he is hoping to avoid any teasing. Finn is distracted for a moment by this shy version of his grumpy mate, and he misses Nix’s falling face.

“I am better, right, Finn?”

“You are, I promise,” Finn says.

“Nixie, what’s wrong, baby? Let me fix it,” Jay says as he pulls Nix close.

“If I leave here…I’m afraid to go back to Dawson’s—theapartment.What if he’s still there?” The absolute terror in hisvoice has Finn flashing back to that ER visit where his mate had been hurt deliberately, and then again when he was almost broken beyond repair. It breaks through his restraint, and it goes from a low simmer to a burning rage. He tries to take deep breaths around his suddenly dropped fangs. In an effort to not scare his mate, he turns away and thinks of all the ways he’s never letting his new mate out of his sight.

He won’t be one more person who scares his mate. Hewon’t, so while forcing deep breaths past the angry lump in his throat, he focuses on how happy his mate sounds that, for now, his abuser is currently rotting in prison.

“He is? He can’t hurt us anymore? Luca! He can’t hurt you!” His smile is blinding, and Gideon’s jaw drops open.

“I’m so happy, baby! Isn’t that amazing, Gideon?” Luca is going to be in for it if he doesn’t quit poking the bear—er, wolf. Finn gets himself under control just in time to see their bratty beta rubbing his butt back on Gideon’s hard dick.

“Do you have anything you want from there, Nix? I can get it.” Damn right. Their omega is not setting foot inside that apartment ever again.

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