Page 96 of Tides of Fate

Gideon has always thought so, but more and more these days, he finds himself wondering exactly who orwhatNix is.

Logan has had enough of Nix and Arlo’s drawn-out goodbye and simply starts walking away.

Arlo shouts, “Jay! Cat is the lead on your install. Password is Frankenstein. Bye!”

They must look ridiculous, because Arlo just shakes his head. Gideon realizes the three of them are standing in a row, their right hands raised in identical gestures of goodbye.

Leo follows Finn out to ensure they get away smoothly. When he returns, he immediately starts unhooking the current system components in the kitchen.

Nix arrives soon after, giddy with excitement. With a running jump, he catapults himself into Jay’s arms from ten feet away. His scent is sugar and vanilla—oh, so happy.

Gideon has to get in close for a kiss.“Kisses from my happy kitten, please.”

Nix is happy to oblige, already parting his lips when Gideon makes first contact. Submitting easily to Gideon’s plundering, his vanilla scent turns sugar-sweet when Gideon finally pulls away. Jay moans as he watches them part slowly from his front-row seat, and Gideon takes one last lick of his kitten’s slick lips.

“Sit down before you fall down.” Gideon grins, giving his leader a little push. When Jay is seated, Nix grinds down in his alpha’s lap, right over Jay’s impressive erection already tenting his pants.

Nix just gives Gideon a sassy wink. It’s sexy and free.

Come to think of it, Nix has seemed more content since coming home with Finn, despite all the security shit.

It hits Gideon then—they’re finally, fully bonded as a pack.

His omega is grinning, eyes bright, body loose and warm. He looks loved. He looks safe. He looks…home.

Gideon exhales a slow, shuddering breath.

No matter what comes next—whoever is coming for them—they’re unbreakable now.

“That was the best thing I’ve ever seen. Arlo is so brave. It must really hurt, you know, but he’s happy. Excited, too. I can hardly wait until that’sus, Jamie.”

Jay whimpers, and—fuck that breeding kink.

“Me too, baby boy. We can talk about it when you’re settled in. Lots of time, yeah?”

“Yeah, okay. But don’t forget.” As if any of them could. “Hey, why is the food so late?”

Good fucking question. It had been over an hour since he ordered. Checking the app, he finds a message about the delay.

“They should be here any minute. I’ll head them off at the gate.”

“Can I come, too?” Nix asks, eyes big, lips pouty.

Gideon agrees against his better judgment, leaving Leo and Jay to rally the others for dinner.

The sun has long since set, and though the moon hides behind a thick bank of clouds, the coach lamps along the drive cast a soft glow.

Nix sits on the step, pulling his hood up against the chill, a small smile curving his red lips. Once again, Gideon notes how content he looks, and his wolf wags its tail in response.

The quiet before the pizza delivery arrives gives Gideon a moment to take in the house. He studies it carefully, recalling the flaws Logan had pointed out and scanning for anything else that might have been overlooked.

He’s checking the angle from the front door camera—making sure the keypad isn’t visible in case someone hacks the system—when he backs into a hanging flower pot overflowing with orange marigolds.

“Ow, fuck.”

The pot crashes down onto the porch. As it rolls down the front stairs, bouncing past a startled Nix, it hits the bottom step and explodes into a pile of dirt and blooms.

Grayson will certainly complain about the mess. And the broken, no doubt hand-hewn pot. And probably—possibly—about his injured mate.

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