Page 103 of The Omega's Bloodlinem: Part Two

Witchcraft, Velda murmured in my head.

“It helped?”

She nodded, nuzzling closer to me, wedging her face into the curve of my throat.I have enough screaming in my own head. Don’t need to add more. I’m sure the others appreciate you shutting me up a little.

I frowned.That’s not what I was trying to do. I like sharing space with you.

Sorry, sorry. I get self-deprecating when I stress people out.

Yelena stretched her little cat body and walked up mine, tiny paws finding my internal organs before she flopped down beneath my chin so she could shove between Velda and me.Your anxiety doesn’t translate as much as you think it does, and in any case, I would rather know so I can help.

“Exactly.” I played with Velda’s hair, the strands like silk between my fingers. “Sharing the connection means we can help each other, sense stress and fear, and intervene as necessary to mitigate it. It’s not a bad thing to need support.”

“You already have so much stress, though,” Velda replied. “I don’t want to add to it.”

Yelena wriggled, offering Velda her belly to pet. She didn’t say anything, but I knew she was trying to work the same magic Caden had always used for me. And it worked. The longer Velda rhythmically stroked Yelena’s fur, the more they both relaxed, Yelena’s purr vibrating her whole body.

A flare of surprise from Kendrick in the bond had me turning to see Seth climbing into his arms in his cat form, his amulet around his neck. I wasn’t sure where he had put it during the heat, but I was glad it was accessible for him. Kendrick cradled the purring black lump, Seth’s eyes closing and his purr rumbling.

Can I stop being in people form?Haru asked, looking blatantly at Kendrick.

My stag’s anxiety tumbled through the bond, but he nodded anyway. Haru melted into his wolf form and flopped down, laying his head on Kendrick’s legs.

Feeling them navigate the bond together was interesting. Haru was completely chill, and Kendrick could directly experience that, all of the predators being calm, and it helped his tension leak away slowly.

This is fucking weird, Kendrick said.

“Because you have a wolf on you and you don’t want to sprint into the night?” I asked.

Kendrick nodded stiffly.It’s like the bond is arguing with my instincts. I’ve never been able to fully know that there’s no harm intended. It’s harder to be afraid.

Good.Haru huffed, tail giving a few wags.This is my preferred form, but I’d have suffered through a human one long-term if I needed to.

Kendrick set a tentative hand on Haru’s shoulder, stroking the thick pelt. It was a curious mix of awe and nervousness, like he had never in his wildest dreams expected to touch Haru in any friendly way.

Caden joined our pile in the cat form, curling around my head like a little hat.

Velda laughed. “Logan, you are too fucking cute.”

“What did I do?”

“Feels like you’re going to vibrate onto another plane of existence over the Caden hat.”

“It’s not my fault he knows how to be exceptionally precious.”

“Never said it was.” Velda snuggled closer. “Just saying it’s cute as fuck. I like being able to feel how jazzed you are about all of us. Never felt so wanted in my life. Hey, no, don’t feel bad about that.”

It wasn’t exactly a downside, but I wasn’t used to everyone reading me quite so clearly.

Caden planted his forehead on mine, an excellent distraction from the swell of guilt that my sweet bear hadn’t been getting the love she deserved. I turned so I could reach her mouth, trying to pour all my affection into her through my kiss.

“Whoa,” Velda said with a laugh as she pulled away. “Gonna give me a head rush.”

Yelena licked my chin with her sandpaper tongue and stretched all the way out until her back toes touched Kendrick.We all get to have a crash course on experiencing the bond together. Secrecy is basically gone, so everyone has to be honest about their needs. No steeping in misery unnecessarily.

Caden sighed, rubbing his cheeks against my hair.I wish I was in there with everyone.

Me too.Fucking Rachel ruining this for him and me.

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