Page 32 of Altius
Where hadthatcome from?
I liked Alijah, no matter how much I wanted to deny it. One hit of his sweetness was never enough—but that didn’t warrant such a strong reaction.
“See,” Rory said with a triumphant smirk as he rolled over,clutching the body pillow to his chest. “You should always trust your omega, just like my amazing big sister taught me.”
Rory’s heartfelt words were too logical. Too precise. Exposing another weakness in my armor.
I never took my own advice.
Eight
Wyatt
“I’m so proud of you,” Maricela Toledano said as we stood in our dining room, admiring the city skyline. Joaquin’s omega mother was a tiny woman with the same golden-tan complexion as her son. Her sparkling brown eyes shone behind the thick lenses of her glasses as she pulled me in for yet another hug.
“We’re proud ofallof you.” His beta mother, Louise, patted Owen on the back. My brother seemed pleased with the compliments, less so with the physical contact. “You’ve had an incredible year. I didn’t think anything could top Joaquin and Alijah’s mating—”
“Nothing can,” Joaquin called from the kitchen, where he and Alijah were filling our freezer with tamales and empanadas, leftovers from our belated Toledano-style Thanksgiving lunch.
It was my second big meal in as many days, and I was ready for a nap.
“You’re all a bunch of showoffs,” Joaquin’s youngest sister, Carmen, teased, sitting at the kitchen island. She was the only sibling who resembled Joaquin, though her features were far more balanced, without his overbearing brows or strong nose. “New pack, new house, new job… How are we supposed to compete?”
Joaquin walked over and playfully messed up her long, curly hair. “We’re just trying to set a good example for you three.”
The Toledano ladies groaned and promptly headed for the exit.
Another prolonged round of goodbyes and small talk ensued in the open doorway. Maricela and Louise gave Alijah and Joaquin multiple rounds of hugs and kisses on the cheek. I wasn’t sure the hallway had ever been this loud or crowded.
The elevator door slid open, and Morgan walked out. She was wearing a black coat and jeans, with a weekender bag slung over her shoulder. A loaded grocery bag was clasped in each hand.
She faltered at the sight of us.
For a split second, discomfort shadowed her eyes. Then her socialization switch flipped. She straightened up, perfect posture on display.
“Hey, doc,” Joaquin said. “This is my family.”
“Nice to meet you,” she said, wearing her professional smile. Her fingers tightened on the bag handles. They were preventing her from shaking hands. “I’m Morgan, their neighbor.”
I stepped forward and took the bags from her. They were even heavier than they looked, packed to the brim with Thanksgiving leftovers.
“Morgan?” Carmen raised her brows at her two sisters, then leaned toward Maricela and whispered, “ThatMorgan?”
“Oh, you’re the nice doctor who takes such good care of our Alijah.” Maricela took Morgan’s hands and pulled her closer, ignoring that she was even stiffer than Owen when it came to unexpected physical contact. “I’m Maricela, and this is Louise. We’re Joaquin’s moms. And these are his sisters.”
As Maricela quickly introduced the girls, Morgan’s gaze flickered toward me. I gave her a look of silent commiseration. Their names and faces would slip right out of her brain, andshe couldn’t link any of them with their scents as a memory aid. Something I was still trying to wrap my head around.
But Morgan maintained a perfectly polite façade. “Is this your first time visiting since they moved in?”
“Yes,” Louise said. “We wanted to come earlier, but our schedules didn’t align.”
Carmen’s nod of agreement had more than her fair share of sass. “We had to wait until we could all come at the same time, because he hates being outnumbered.”
“Which is always, I might add,” Maricela said with a wink.
“And that’s why I only tolerate you all in moderation.” Joaquin smoothly stepped between his mother and Morgan to press the elevator call button, holding the door for his family and Alijah to get on.
“Nice meeting you all,” Morgan said, slowly backing toward her front door.
