Page 19 of Omega's Salvation

I grip his shoulder and squeeze a little before making my way to the makeshift clinic. If I can spare his father the last bit of pain before he leaves this world, I will do it. If I do nothing else, today, it will be this.

15

NEPHELINE

I wake up in a sandwich of different wolves than I fell asleep next to. River is holding me and Mateo behind him with the Beta still pressed up against my chest. His chin rests there, beautiful silver eyes meeting mine. A warm smile sits on his thin lips and I can’t help the heat that bleeds through me when his eyes start to sparkle. “Dari?” I’m not sure where the name came from but I’m sure it’s his.

“You’re Bambi. I thought you were just in my dreams.” His voice is rough, no doubt his body still trying to navigate the wounds inflicted on him. He lifts a finger to run down my cheek, grinning at the way I shiver beneath his touch. It’s different from my Alphas, softer but just as welcomed. “So pretty,” he mumbles as his lids start to flutter closed, exhaustion claiming him.

I tug him closer, running my fingers through his soft hair before looking around to see my other Alphas perched at the edge of my nest. Remi is all but sitting on Asani’s lap, Maverick’s thigh touching Asani’s. Maverick’s cheeks are pink as his hands sit in his lap, the Alpha cleverly avoiding my stare. I smelled their mixed scents earlier and now I just want to know what happened. Asani catches my expression and smirks as he deposits Remi next to him and then reaches forward to help me out of the tangle of arms and legs.

“Did you sleep okay?” He asks as he tucks me into his lap, running his nose along my throat. I shrug as my body relaxes, Remi taking my feet in his hands for a massage. Maverick places a light kiss to the top of my head, all three of them crowding me until I can only think about their presence rather than everything else that is going wrong with the world. “Maverick and I visited the clinic. I might be able to find an antidote to the serum just in case we run into another wolf that’s been injected. I also made something that might ease Gael’s pain.”

The momentary bliss disappears as the sunken eyes and ashen face fill my mind again. I turn to look at my first Alpha, the one who stole my heart despite the fact we weren’t supposed to meet yet. His face is twisted up in a mixture of anger and sadness. Mateo draws comfort from the Alpha he’s holding and right before my eyes, Dari scoots closer. It’s an automatic movement, my Alphas sleeping and Dari too exhausted to know what he’s doing but it’s a perfect picture.

He belongs with us.

“It’s not the serum you gave me, is it?”

Asani continues to run his nose along my neck and my cheek before shaking his head. “No, this herbal remedy will take away his pain. He won’t hurt for however long he has left. See if you can meet with Gael before dinner.”

I blow out a little breath before pushing to my feet, brushing off my clothes. There’s no point in continuing to drag out the inevitable. Tonight, I will announce my position even though Mateo did so in the heart last week. Here, I will be with the pack that I was promised absent of the people I’ve lost. I manage a tough smile as I head to the kitchen for water and a breath of fresh air.

Asani and Maverick follow, Remi on their heels. I grab a cup in silence, gulping down several glasses before I’m ready to face this long-awaited dinner. A week ago, I was sitting across the diner with Maverick as the head of our group, glaring at River and Remi, wondering why they were entertaining someone else.

And now, I’ll be sitting beside Mateo as his equal.

“Ready, sunshine?” An arm snakes around my waist as Remi pulls me to his chest. I stare up at Asani and Maverick, both waiting for an answer before nodding. “We’ll be right there with you. We’ll have to be strong for Mateo. He’s hurting more than he lets on.”

I know as much because I sent out that same wail when I returned to my pack lands and everything had been stolen from me. The way I steeled my heart so that I wouldn’t hurt and the desire for that serum so I wouldn’t have to deal with my biology didn’t make me stronger. Finding the men I was supposed to be with and learning to lean gave me the strength I needed.

Silence filters in as I stand there, shuffling in my nest telling me that it’s nearly time to leave. When Mateo makes it into the kitchen, he engulfs me in his large arms, tucking his head into my neck. I sink into his chest, both of us needing each other to calm our wolves. Where I’m anxious and worried, he is angry and restless. A perfect match, right?

“I’ll just get dressed and we’ll leave, princess.” He kisses my forehead and trudges to his room, the heaviness of this moment starting to weigh in. My other Alphas begin shoving on shoes and coats as I turn to Maverick who’s merely leaning against the entrance of the living room, no doubt watching over my Beta.

“You aren’t coming?”

“Someone has to watch him. Dari, right?”

My nose wrinkles as I search for his name. “Darius. Yes, it’s Darius. Dari is for me.“ I temper down my jealousy because it’s stupid to be annoyed that someone else is using the name I gave my Beta. Even so, Maverick pushes off the wall and steps up to me, settling his hands on my waist.

“You’re allowed to keep some things for yourself, Nepheline. I’m just here to make sure he’s okay and with so much happening, we thought it best that I stay here until I’m fully integrated into the pack.” He sports a small smile before Remi comes up behind him and slaps his shoulder.

“Or, your last Alpha decided that if something went down and he was the only one who couldn’t shift, Asani would have to carry him.”

The air is suddenly supercharged with lust as my body heats and Maverick stutters for a response. Oh, he really does have a crush on Asani, doesn’t he? Although, the image of Maverick on Asani’s back isn’t really the fantasy I want to have in my head. Switch it around and place Maverick on the earth floor as Asani plows into him…

“Whatever you were thinking, kitten, don’t. You’re going to have horny Alphas on the way to the diner and I guarantee you that you will have a heat spike. As much as you enjoy performing, I don’t think you’re ready to do so in front of your entire pack.” Maverick squeezes my waist, dragging me out of my head as I mumble a sorry and scurry toward the front door.

“Since you’re not going, I’m bringing back dessert,” I yell as I stuff my feet into the shoes River picked out. They’re dark blue boots that lace up to my calf but are highly impractical if I need to shift.

“Like a date?” Maverick questions and I nod. Just me and him.

Several groans meet my ears after my silent declaration as River comes up against my side, wrapping his arms around my waist. “None of us have taken you on a date, sweetness. Shit, this is going to make us look bad.”

“We can do dates later.” He seems satisfied with that as we step outside, Mateo taking my hand in his as Asani brings up my other side. The freeing emotions inside the house are replaced with the somber atmosphere as the earth beneath us bleats with energy. I clutch Mateo’s hand a little tighter as we near Calista’s house, Asani placing a small bag in my hand and then kissing my temple for good luck.

Everyone except for Mateo falls back and I hold my breath when Calista answers the door as if she had been waiting for us. “Again? What for? Yes, your father is dying. He’s a waste of space and he’s not useful to the pack. What else do you need?”

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