Page 5 of Absolute Devotion

This morning?I frown and peek out from under the covers, surprised to see the dim sunlight filtering through the shades. It must be late afternoon, my entire day wasted in bed. My gaze falls on the Alpha, Xylo quietly standing behind her. It never fails to amuse me how much smaller she is than him, her smooth dark skin in stark contrast to the rich olive tones in his.

Even with how worried they both seem, they’re dressed immaculately and in too many clothes. My Omega wants to tell them to shed the extra scents and crawl in bed but I shove down that desire and just stare at them as they step inside.

Zahria tilts her head to the side, heavy reddish brown curls moving to rest against her temple. “Nala, where’s your nest? Wouldn’t you be more comfortable there?”

I’ve been telling her for a week that it’s in the wash or that I’m buying new pillows. All lies. “In the dryer,” I push out, trying for a new lie. The way her eyebrows crease tells me that she can see right through it. Her shoulders fall as she continues to approach until she’s at the edge of the bed, running her elegant fingers through my hair. I can’t help the way I lean into her touch, soaking up that fresh magnolia scent as Xylo takes up the other side.

He smells like warmth and happiness, if that could even be a scent, like a cozy fire in a living room full of love and family. Together, they smell safe.

I flip around, eyes wide, unsure of them both here. In my fantasies, it’s all I want. In real life, my brain and my heart can’t agree. The tortured expression on his face has me reaching for him, my outstretched hand begging him to come closer.

“I’m not going to smother you, Nala. That’s not what you need.” Xylo takes my hand anyway and brings it to his lips. “You are too precious for me to push you. However, I’m excited for the day when you take what you need, when you demand from us, when you show us where we belong.”

My face scrunches up. “That’s not how Omegas work, Xylo.”

“Then whoever explained packs to you was woefully mistaken. Omegas are always the center. They are the glue, the life, the sunshine and the reason the rest of us are still excited to press on.” Just as he releases my hand, I tighten my hold on his fingers and tug him into bed. Xylo and Bear have said similar things over the past few days. That I’m the center of this growing pack. I still firmly believe that everything will change when the patch comes off but for a few moments, I want to soak up their presence—as selfish as it is.

Xylo slowly slips off his shoes and shuffles onto the mattress, Zahria taking up my other side as I resituate myself until my head is in her lap and I’m squished between their thighs. Xylo lays one of his hands on my hip, my body tensing and then relaxing as he purrs for me.

“What happened, Nala?” He squeezes my hip, his fingers digging into my belly softly. At first, I’m unsure of his touch but then desire replaces the anxiety and I wiggle between them. “Bear said he’s never seen you that terrified.”

“It wasn’t him,” I mumble. “It’s never you guys.”

four

ZAHRIA

Nala doesn’t explain further as her lids slowly fall shut, the soft snores rumbling against my leg allowing me to relax. I survey the room, hating how empty it is. Every time I ask where her nest is, she has some answer but it never makes any sense. The fact that her apartment doesn’t even smell like her tells me she probably never had one in the first place. An Omega without a nest means she doesn’t feel safe here.

Nala shivers, a small gasp tumbling from her lips before she settles again. Her fingers dig into my thigh, almost as if our presence is chasing away whatever demons are running through her head. “What do you think it was, Xylo?”

My Beta doesn’t respond, his gaze firmly on our Omega between us. His nostrils are flared, his jaw pulled tight at her spiked scent as he surveys her sleeping form. I’m just as captured by her soft beauty even if we’re nearly the same size.“Bear said that she wasn’t looking at him. Through him, maybe? Her scent spiked and she just took off.”

A frown pulls at my lips. “Does it have to do with the academy she graduated from? She’s only mentioned it once at the station and I think I heard her brother saying something about it the other day.” Another gasp falls from her lips, her lids fluttering as she starts to flail between us. I continue running my fingers through her hair, hoping that our scent is enough to settle her. Whatever nightmares plaguing her mind can’t be easy to deal with at the same time as her looming heat.

“I don’t know, Ria and it fucking hurts to watch her suffer when we’re right here. Seeing her so hesitant to accept us, I feel like we’re forcing her even though I know she wants this.” He sighs, meeting my gaze for the first time since we entered her apartment. Then his brows furrow as he slips out his phone, a dark chuckle rumbling through his chest. “Bittersweet timing I suppose. They finally pulled our fucking contract from the Omega Center a few towns over.”

“You and your brother were—”

“I told you about our Omega but we never stopped hoping that a unicorn would pop up and we’d get a call. Unfortunately, few Omegas want a pack without an Alpha and we were in no place to start a family anyway. Not like I am now.”

“What do you meanwithout an Alpha? Bear’s an Alpha, right?” His scent has never made sense to me and I’ve never been able to understand some of the things he does. At times, I could swear his scent is sweet like an Omega, and the way he melts around things he loves reminds me of Nala. However, the rest of the time, he’s all Alpha. In a way, I thought he was just like Ren, an Alpha with a softer side.

Xylo shakes his head. “He’s a Zeta. Not a really well-known designation but few doctors ever classify Zetas correctly. I’ll let him explain all the biology stuff but he’s a step down from anAlpha, with Omega characteristics. He might be an obsessive bastard at times but it’s out of love.”

I can’t help but snort. “Between the two of you, you just had to hog all of the designations, hmm?” So long as Bear protects Nala, I don’t really care what he is. Xylo’s phone vibrates again and I’m about to have his ass for it when he shows me the screen.

Chief Hart

Please report to the station this evening. Detective Tanner will be assisting you on this information task force.

Fucking finally. I feel like we’ve been buried in evidence and loose information that hasn’t helped us understand anything about POCA. Sure, over a year ago, Michael was our first real clue that an organization as twisted as POCA existed. However, as of now—the organization itself has fallen apart but the lower levels are still trying to round up Omegas for a quick buck.

They almost got to Kieran and Nala.

And there are still a few agents running around, waiting for the perfect opportunity to steal our Omega or any other unsuspecting Omega away. It’s why I’m so terrified that she’s in this apartment all alone, tucked away from us.

“I guess the fun starts tonight,” I mumble, no joy in my tone. We’ll finally be starting an investigation I’ve been itching to put to bed for months just as our Omega starts her heat. Nala starts squirming between us again, her nails digging further into my thigh as her hips rock forward. Xylo’s hand on her hip keeps her from moving too much, her face scrunched up in frustration.

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