Page 56 of The Omega Project

“I’ve got Spiderman, mum,” Jacob says, stars in his eyes as he stares at the superhero emblazoned on his boogie board. “Of courseI’m okay.”

No mention of my three mates hovering around him like mother hens, and I bite my lip as Dee hooks her arm through mine, leaving the guys to shepherd my nephew into the gently rolling surf. I give them all a grateful smile before letting her drag me up the beach a few paces. “Only you could go from dating your best friend to afull packin under a week. Andpleaseexplain that vision of masculine beauty who answered the door. He looks like that omega heartthrob from Werewolf Dreams, but he smells like an alpha. How does that work exactly?”

I trust my sister with my life, which is why I don’t hesitate to share Soren’s secret with her. “Well, he’s a switch. Sometimes omega, sometimes alpha.” I pause to face her, and she narrows her eyes at the way I bite my lip. Secrets, it seems, are easier to share than details of your first omega heat. “Turns out, I am too. He triggered me, and things progressed from there…”

“You went into heat!”

I’m pretty sure she can be heard on the yacht bobbing on the horizon, and I slap her arm. “Inside voice, Dee.”

“Well, I guess this explains why you fell off the face of the planet for a few days,” she laughs, then takes an exaggeratedsniff of my neck. “Other than sea water and a dash of honey, you don’t smell much different.”

“I’mnotdifferent,” I protest, although I can’t resist cupping the mating mark on my neck. I’m pretty sure that whiff of honey is Lang, too, but that’s a detail I keep to myself. “The thing is, we’re all still just finding our way, but it feels right.”

The sun is sifting through her blond hair, giving it some of the sheen I remember from happier days, but there’s no missing the soul-deep pain in her eyes. “That’s because they’re your pack.”

I grip her arm, sympathy welling up inside me, even though I know she doesn’t want it. But how would I function if Derek was suddenly torn away from me, or Lang never came home? Without Soren, the world would never feel right again. And as for Finn and Creed, I’m not sure if we’d be a pack at all if they were taken from us. “I’m so sorry, Dee. And I’m so damn proud of you. To survive what you have, and still have the strength to take care of us all…”

Her tortured gaze drifts to Jacob, who’s flying through the waves like a miniature Spiderman. I’m not sure if he realises Derek is providing most of his propulsion, but his face is lit up with so much joy, it brings tears to my sister’s eyes. “You find something to live for,” she says quietly, “but I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.”

I give her another hug, but she only leans into me for a moment before pulling away and swiping her hand across her eyes. My heart is still aching for her when she glances up at the house and huffs out a laugh. “Who ordered the beach invasion?”

I turn to watch Finn and Creed approach, their beach attire bringing a blush to my cheeks. They’re wearing old jeans and long-sleeved tees, but there’s something about seeing them out of their more familiar clothing that warms the pit of my stomach.

I click my tongue at her in warning, but she’s unusually polite as she greets the other alphas. It’s pretty clear they know each other by reputation, and I can see some of the steel return to her spine as they chat. They might be standing on a beach talking about the weather, but there’s no missing the way they’re sizing each other up in the process.

Thankfully, the caterer Finn hired tells us lunch is ready, and after fishing Jacob out of the surf, we make our way towards the pavilion. I sit next to Claudia as we eat, smiling as she and Jacob snap juicy crayfish claws at each other. The table groans under the seafood feast we share, and then the guys take my nephew out for a game of beach cricket while Dee and I flop on the sun loungers and groan about our food comas.

“I wonder if holding himself in like that hurts,” she remarks as we watch Jacob bowl Lang out to raucous applause.

I follow her gaze, lifting my brows in curiosity. “Finn?”

“Mmm. You know he’s crazy dominant, right?” She takes a sip of her iced water, then sets it down on the table, rolling on her side to face me. “After all we went through as kids, I have to say, I’m kind of shocked, Em.”

“There’s more to him than just his designation.” I think of the way Finn transformed the larder into the room of my dreams and realise how different he is to the cold, terrifying alpha I met during my job interview. “But he’s not a fan of dad. In fact, he’s offered to make his life very uncomfortable if we want him to.”

Dee gives a hard chuckle, but I can clearly see the shadows in her eyes. “Uncomfortable how?”

I arch my brows at her as I think of the vulnerable moment Finn shared with me last night. “Whatever we want, but I told him what dad did to us as kids and he’s feeling pretty motivated.”

“Good.” Her eyes flash as she looks back at her son. “I’ve wracked my brain trying to understand our parents, but I’mdone with that now. As soon as we move into our new place, mum is on her own, and dad can rot in hell for all I care.”

I nod, but her voice has carried a little, and Finn’s head jerks in my direction. I’m not sure what he can read on my face, but as he starts loping across the sand towards me, Claudia sits up straighter, her mouth dropping open. “Jesus, he reallyismotivated, isn’t he?”

I chuckle, but can’t suppress a shiver as I leap off the lounger and meet him halfway. “It’s okay. I just told her that we need to make a decision about dad.”

He nods, but draws me back towards my sister, who’s sitting up and watching him like a hawk. “Whatever you need, I’m at your disposal.” He looks over and nods at Jacob. “As far as I’m concerned, you’re all pack, but I’m not extending that to your parents.”

“Um. Thanks. And I’ve just told Em I’m cutting ties with them. I won’t expose Jacob to any more of their poison.”

“If you need a new place or job…”:

“Thanks, but I’m managing.”

Dee’s prickly front is better than armour, but Finn doesn’t look put off. “I can see that, but trusting people doesn’t come easily to me. If you were to take over managing one of my businesses, for instance, it would be one less thing for me to worry about.”

Dee gapes at him, her hands curling on her knees. “You can’t think I’m qualified for something like that.”

“I’ve read every word ever written about you, Corporal. You’re more than qualified, in my opinion, and the rest can be learned on the job. I have good people working for me, but not a lot of family.”

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