Page 65 of Marigold Run

Those heat-suppressors are working through Mari’s body a little faster than expected. The omega’s skin has been running hot lately, and her scent has been noticeably sweeter. And now she looks like she wants nothing more than a good nap—something she hasn’t done once since she arrived. Omegas in pre-heat are known to nap a lot leading up to their cycle…at least that’s what the paperwork from Havenfield said.

I wish I could scent her nest, but the air purifier overhead is working overtime, sucking up all of Mari’s vanilla peppermint aroma in the main part of the room, and pumping out crisp, clean air. I want to turn it off, but Izan wants it running at all times until after we mate with Mari. He thinks it’ll help keep our desires under control around the omega. I’m sure he’s right, but it’s still so hard to think with our gorgeous omega less than ten feet from us.

“You look tense.” Everly reaches for Mari’s shoulders, rubbing them in small, focused circles. Mari hums and her eyes float closed. Slowly, the omega’s head falls forward, making her golden tresses shift into her face. “Do you want Dassy to braidyour hair?” Everly whispers, trying not to disturb the tranquil mood too much.

Mari lets out a quiet breath, and the softest “yes” drifts from her lips.

Dassy’s whole body goes tight with excitement. His hands shake as he forces himself to slowly stand. The fool has been dying to get into Mari’s nest for weeks, but I have a feeling our determined little omega won’t let him yet. She seems to hold on to certain things, controlling who gets to do what with her. With Izan it’s licking her pussy, with Dassy it’s stepping into her nest, with Everly it’s touching her hair, and with me, it seems to be any kind of tender affection. The omega doesn’t smile at me, or even flirt. Hell, maybe she hates me, but I can live with that. After all, this is a waiting game. We’re all gaining the omega’s trust in the hopes of building a bond that will last a lifetime.

“Omega?” Dassy comes to a stop at the edge of Mari’s little alcove. “May I enter your nest?” He gives a little bow.

Mari raises her head, looking right at Dassy with sleepy half-hooded eyes. “No,” she whispers, then scoots to the ledge where he’s standing. Mari sits with her back to Dassy, waiting quietly. My brother literally deflates, but he doesn’t say a word as he grabs Mari’s tiny desk chair.

The phone in my pocket buzzes, but I ignore it, too wrapped up in watching the people I love. Everly looks like she’s in heaven, sitting in the middle of Mari’s nest, while our omega gets her hair braided. And while Dassy wasn’t pleased with being denied entry into Mari’s sacred place, he is beyond happy with being allowed to touch her in any way he can. It’s all so…sweet? Relaxing? I’m not sure. But it feels good.

Is this happiness?

It’s been so long since our pack has been truly happy—not fighting death or sickness—that I can’t remember what it feels like to just be.

“Where’s Izan?” Mari asks, her voice dreamy and soft.

“He’s working,” Everly says, glancing over at me. There’s a lot of excitement in the beta’s gray eyes. “Do you want me to go get him?”

“No,” Mari hums, tipping her head back as Dassy continues to braid her hair. “I was just curious.”

“Hutch?” My brother glances at me over his shoulder. “Will you get me a hair tie? There should be one on the white tray on the dresser.” He shifts to one side, showing me his fingers already twisted in Mari's golden tresses.

I nod and stand.

The dresser is covered in all kinds of shit. There are a few folded pairs of panties and socks, a notepad and a pen that no doubt belongs to our beta, and a large porcelain tray that’s covered in tubes of lip gloss, necklaces, and tiny white cards with earrings hanging from them. It looks like Everly went a little overboard with the shopping.

“Can you find one?” Dassy asks, still working on Mari’s hair.

I grab the tray and carry it to him. “Here.”

He leans over, examining the cluttered mess. “Shit, Mari. How do you find anything?”

The omega lets out a soft giggle before turning to look at the tray. “It’s right here.” She plucks a thin black hair tie from the center.

A dangling gold earring hangs from it, refusing to let go. I reach for it, grabbing the piece of jewelry at the same time as Mari. Our fingers brush together, and something electric moves between us. For a second, I fear I’m the only one who felt it until…until Mari lifts her lashes to look at me. Her brown eyes travel from the earrings over my fingers and up my arm, not stopping until she reaches my face.

I’m stunned, immobile as this tiny omega holds me in place with nothing but a look.

Mari’s pink little tongue pushes out, swiping over her bottom lip. Her chest rises as she pulls in a deep breath, no doubt sensing my heightened scent, and I swear her pupils dilate. I don’t know how this girl does it, but she has a grip on me like no other.

She’s like the ocean, an impressive force that has the power to easily destroy me, and I am nothing but a helpless leaf, desperate to be sucked under and consumed.

I wish I could tell her that.

“Uh,” Dassy’s deep voice cuts through the heated haze. “You two okay?”

Mari’s lashes flutter and she’s the first to look away. But I can smell her blush in the air. Is she embarrassed? Aroused? Angry?

Fuck, I hate not being mated to her.

“Alpha?” Everly holds out her hand, pointing to the hair tie. I didn’t even realize I was holding it.

“Sorry.” I hand it over, then turn on my heel, quickly returning to the dresser. But before I can put the tray back, I notice a folded piece of paper right where the tray had been sitting. I pick it up and put the tray back where it belongs. The paper looks fairly new, crisp and white. I shouldn’t open it—this isn’t my room—but my curiosity gets the better of me.

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