Page 30 of Marigold Run

Dassy walks to the dresser, grabbing a small hair tie out of a large, white porcelain dish. It looks heavy.I really do need to check out everything in this room.

“That’s better,” Dassy says as he ties off the end of my braid. “Is there anything else you need, omega?” He leans down, bringing his face right next to mine. I turn to him, feeling his warm breath fan across my face.

He smells amazing. Like the forests that I used to call home. Earthy but still somehow sweet.

“I’m okay,” I whisper, looking deep into his bright blue eyes. They sparkle as he smiles.

“I’m going to sit by your bedroom door so you can rest.” He leans in, and for a moment I think he might kiss me. A burst of disappointment cuts through me as he kisses my forehead. “Let me know if you need anything.”

Deep longing for the alpha slams into me, but I refuse to ask him to sit with me.

I like Dassy, but falling for him isn’t an option.

I have to find my brother.

The Kitchen

Everly

“Mari seemed to really like the croissants you made yesterday,” I tell Andre as I place the omega’s medicine on her breakfast tray. The tiny plastic cup stands out next to the white flatware. It’s not very fancy, but it will do. “You were right about adding the chocolate.”

Andre smiles at me, pointing to a glass cake stand on the other end of the kitchen island. “We have a few more.” He stirs a pan of fluffy scrambled eggs. “Omegas always love chocolate.”

I eye the flakey pastries and my stomach rumbles. “Maybe I’ll take one too.”

Andre’s eyes crinkle as his smile grows. The beta has only been with us for a few months now, but he’s my favorite chef so far. Initially, I wanted someone younger that I could chat with during the day while the boys were at work, but Izan wanted someone with more experience, and he was right. Andre isprofessional, organized, and, even though he’s a good forty years older than me, he’s surprisingly easy to talk to.

“Good morning, beautiful,” Izan walks up behind me, placing a chaste kiss right beneath my ear. I close my eyes, pretending my overlapping mating bites tingle the way they would for an omega. Some betas get a similar sensation, but unfortunately my body refuses to connect with my mates that way. Dassy says it doesn't matter, our connection is deeper than that, but it’s hard not to be disappointed about it some days.

“Fruit?” Andre asks Izan as he plates the alpha’s steak and eggs.

“No, thank you.” Izan never wants fruit, but the beta always asks.

“I’ll take it for Mari.” I reach for the small cup as Izan moves around me. Surprise followed by swift disappointment hits me. Izan is wearing a blue dress shirt and black slacks. He only wears button up shirts when he has to work. Something he promised he wouldn’t be doing after we brought home Mari. “Are you working today?” I set the fruit on Mari’s tray.

Izan’s dark green eyes cut into slits, and agitation slams into me. “Don’t start with me, Everly.” He takes in my tight expression. “Ihaveto work.”

“You promised?—”

“I promised that I’d worklessfor the first month,” he cuts me off, giving me a stern look. “And I kept that promise yesterday. Or do you not remember the twins and me at dinner?”

I immediately frown, not happy in the least. “Mari needs you to be home,” I say firmly. I don’t want to push the alpha’s buttons, but this needs to be said. “She needs to build a bond with you and she can’t do that if you’re never here.” I drop my gaze, staring at the white marble floors. “She feels so distant since we brought her home. Not the bubbly omega from our phone calls.”

“I get that you’re worried.” Izan places his big hand on my shoulder, squeezing gently. “But Iamhome. I’m?—”

“You’renothome,” I interrupt the alpha, instantly regretting it. Izan’s eyes flash and his hold on my shoulder tightens. I slowly bow my head in submission as I speak in a softer tone. “You’re in a locked part of the house, away from us,” I whisper, hoping it makes me sound more respectful. “That’s notbeing home.”

“We talked about this, beta.” Izan angles his head down so he can look right into my eyes. “The world doesn’t stop because we claimed an omega.”

The frustration in my belly grows, and it takes everything in me not to huff loudly. “Mari needs your constant love and attention, or she’s going to fall into a deep distress.” I cross my arms, hating how dismissive he’s being about our omega’s delicate state. “That could mean depression, infertility, or even death.”

“Okay,” Izan says in a cold, flat tone. “You need to calm down. There’s no need to plan Mari’s funeral because I’m taking a few meetings.”

My face falls as all the air is sucked out of me. Izan’s eyes go wide and I can tell he regrets what he said, but it’s too late for him to take it back. “Everly,” he says my name so softly. Almost as if I might shatter into a million pieces.

Sensing the tense conversation, Andre moves the pan off of the stove and exits the room.

“I can’t…” My throat tightens with the threat of tears, and I sniffle. “I can’t lose Mari.” My chin quivers and Izan’s hand slides down my back, caressing me. “I can’t go through that again.”

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