Page 54 of Feral
Darius saw me grimace, and frowned right along with me. He nudged Beckett with his foot, until the Alpha opened one eye. “Our Omega is hurting because you guys battered her poor pussy last night. Can you run down and get her an ice pack while I wash her off?”
Beckett reached out and grabbed my ankle, rolling over to kiss my calf muscle. “Of course. I’ll make breakfast too.” He uncurled himself from around Cooper’s back, and stood quietly. “How about I run you both a bath first though? That’ll make you both feel better.”
He scooped me up in his arms, carrying me out of the nest and across the hall to the bathroom. Setting me on the counter, he then leaned over to turn the taps on in the tub, dumping in some bath salts. He met Darius in the doorway and kissed him softly.
“I couldn’t have dreamed I’d be this lucky,” Beckett whispered, though I wasn’t sure he was actually talking to either of us, because he disappeared down the stairs in the next breath.
Darius shook his head as he watched him leave, still completely naked. Then he turned his smile to me. “Come and wash off in the shower first, while we wait for the tub to fill.”
The water pressure was bad, but it didn’t matter, as Darius scrubbed my body with a soft wash cloth, and then I did the same to him. I took my time too, memorizing every dip and plane of his body.
By the time we were done, the water in the tub was perilously high, and filled with bubbles as well as salts. I stepped straight into the bath, but as Darius went to hop in the bath, he looked at his stomach and then at me.
“That’s going to be uncomfortable if I sit behind you.”
I grabbed his hand and tugged him toward the bath. “I don’t mind being the big spoon. I kind of like it, actually. It lets my hands explore in their own time.” Normalize women being the big spoon—that was my mantra. Well, my brand new mantra anyway.
Darius huffed a laugh but slid into the bath in front of me, and I wrapped my legs around his waist. He rested his head back against my chest and sighed. “Oh, this is nice. I mean, the guys are often the big spoon, but this is so much better. Softer. Not so itchy with all the damp chest hair,” he said conspiratorially, like one of our Alphas would appear and steal his little spoon rights forever.
I rubbed my fingers through his damp hair, and he actually purred. Maybe I was the one purring. I wasn’t sure, but right now I was deliriously happy.
There was just one more thing I needed to do. My new mates weren't going to be happy though.
“Omega,that bondmark looks fresh. Are your Alphas going to tear us to pieces? Because I’ve seen Corvin in a fight, and I’m quite attached to my pretty face.”
The steady pulse of my bonds let me know all the guys were disgruntled but okay. I’d been correct; they hadn’t been happy with me this morning, but this was something I had to do before I could settle into Pack life.
I couldn’t explain why I didn’t want them with me when I went to Ol’ Sam’s Bar and Grill, but I really just didn’t want to sully my future with the past. What if they saw something in the woman who’d tossed me away like trash and, I don’t know, regretted their decision?
Irrational bullshit. I knew that, logically. But some things didn’t respond to logic, and apparently that included my abandonment issues.
The Alpha General had come through and given me two Alpha escorts: Merrick and Murphy. He didn’t mention that they were mated, but he didn’t have to. It was in every inch of their demeanor. They operated in unison, the touches between them casual but familiar.
“They know I’m with you guys, and that I’m here. They aren’t happy about it, but they respect my choice.”
Murphy grinned as he aimed the car toward a parking space out the back of the bar. The day was ridiculously hot, and I was sticking slightly to the leather seats of their SUV. “I wouldn’t expect it any other way. Darius has had them wrapped around his finger for years, and Iknowthey’d be soft for you too. You chose a good Pack, Omega.”
I knew it. I sat and stared at the giant fading Coors sign painted on the side of the bar. I should have waited and thought this through, but I doubted that time would help me come up with the right words to say.
Merrick—who was apparently the more staid of the two—turned to me. “Ground rules, Omega. Stay with one of us, preferably both of us, at all times. If you feel uncomfortable at any point, just say the word and we’ll get you out. If I feel like you’re in danger, I’m getting you out of there without any negotiation. Agreed?”
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. “Does that tone work on your Omega?”
Murphy burst out laughing, and Merrick gave me a mock stern look. “We haven’t been blessed with an Omega yet.”
I felt bad, but my nose twitched. I’d been working on filtering scents with so many new people around, and there was a scent on them that was definitely… sweeter than theirs. Smelled like Naja and Bonnie. Sweet.
So I just raised an eyebrow. “Okay, Alpha.”
Murphy was still laughing in the back. “I can see why they call you Kitten. You have the sass and the claws.” He climbed out and opened my door. “Let’s go before you draw blood.”
I looked over at Merrick, who shook his head with a small smile. But as soon as he was out of the car, he was one hundred percent military. His senses were on high alert, and even though he was slouched casually, his eyes darted around, looking for threats.
Murphy tucked my hand in the crook of his arm. “It’s best if people think you belong with us, Shorty.” He leaned down conspiratorially. “Besides, a little bit of a scent exchange is going to ensure we both get laid tonight,” he added with a laugh.
As soon as we pushed through the bar door though, all mirth left him. He was just as businesslike as Merrick. All eyes turned to look at us, which I could understand, really. Merrick and Murphy were pushing seven feet, well above the average human height. And they were abnormally attractive. Most of the Manix were. I guess they were a condensed version of Darwinism—only the strongest and most attractive got Betas and Omegas. So generationally, their offspring just got better and better looking.
Just because I couldn’t write, didn’t mean I was stupid.
