Page 33 of The Omega's Bloodlinem: Part Two

Good girl,Caden crooned.You’re doing so well. It’s almost over and then he’ll be gone.

Another whimper fell from my lips, Kendrick’s grip tightening on my hand.Hide from me if you want, but you know where to find me.“I think we’re done for now.” Kendrick unlocked my fingers and drew our hands out of the ward, leaving me shivering in Caden’s arms as he stood.

Reality broke through the quiet bubble, Seth and Velda descending to crowd around me and draw me into my nest. I sank onto the blankets, almost instantly replenished by my lovers’ soft touches and insistent cuddles.

“Sorry you had to endure all of them,” Velda said softly.

“It’s not so bad.”

“Did the experiment work?” Caden asked.

“Mostly,” I replied, covering a yawn. “Not quite as effective as having direct touches, but it should make charging things less awkward if I’m going to have to do it every day now.”

Well, that was probably a lie. Coming in Caden’s arms while Kendrick held my hand was definitely still in that realm. They were going to figure me out if I wasn’t careful, but at least for now I could keep Kendrick at arm’s length.

For the sake of everyone, I had to.

“They’re so cute. I can’t stand it.” Logan watched the throng of shifters in their smallest forms, all waiting for the bell to go off.

We’d set up an obstacle course for them around the back, and a lot of the nest had been surprisingly into the idea of competitions while they bided their time. The Protectors had agreed to participate to encourage everyone else. We kept it toourselves that one of the motivations for these games was to make sure everyone stayed in decent physical condition if they had to run.

Yelena flicked her tail, looking back at us. She was in the line with Shakti and a dozen other feline shifters.Join us.

I couldn’t deny it would be good to get some energy out, so I slipped into my smallest form as well, trotting over to stand next to her. Logan rang the bell and we set off like rockets, grass disappearing beneath our paws as we sprinted forward and launched ourselves up one of the few trees inside the fences. I hadn’t moved like this in so long. Feeling the wind in my fur and digging my claws into rough bark fed the primal parts of my brain.

Leaping across the gap to the next nearest tree almost had me tumbling to the ground, but I swung around, getting a grip on the trunk before scrambling all the way down. Tiny bodies darted around me, everyone’s energy focused for once instead of chaotic and tense.

Yelena held back, or at least I assumed she did when she didn’t claim first or second place. Estrella was the one to claim the lead even though I was surprised she wanted to participate to begin with. Logan was on her knees, stroking Estrella’s silver tabby head, our chef so caught up in her victory that she allowed the open affection in front of everyone.

“That was incredible!” Logan cooed. “You’re so fast!”

Second place was a cougar shifter I didn’t know, and they also happily accepted a few strokes from Logan. My love tapped away on a tablet, adding points next to everyone’s name. We all got one for participating but the top three got extras.

I sat at Logan’s side for the canine races and the birds of prey. Most of the nest still couldn’t see or hear the monster, thankfully. It shrieked on the other side of the wards, slowly circling the nest and pausing to watch us every so often. Yelenakept a steady eye on it while Logan directed everyone for the competitions.

Do you think it’s helping?I asked Yelena.

They’re certainly having more fun doing this than being cooped up inside.

We had events like this scheduled every day for the next while to help keep everyone relaxed, as well as games indoors that would be held every afternoon in the dining hall. It felt a bit like trying to prevent a prison riot, except no guards were present and we were all equally trapped.

If we survived the week, we had a public display planned too. I still wasn’t quite sure how I felt about everyone seeing Logan that way, but she had agreed to it and that was the most important part. Sharing a partner had never come naturally to me, but that was a lesson I needed to learn quickly. No sooner had I accepted Seth as part of everything, did the gods deliver Yelena, Haru, and Velda. I wasn’t going to waste time railing about how unfair it all was. Logan was trying so hard and I had no choice but to support her. Being antagonistic to the bonds she was trying to form wouldn’t help anyone, and the last thing I wanted was friction between her and me.

Your head is too far away, panther.Yelena bopped me on the side of the head with her nose.

She was something else I didn’t know what to do with. Magnetic was the only way I could think to describe her. When I met Logan, I had instantly settled into the idea that she was mine, but Yelena made me uncomfortable on multiple levels despite the fact I felt drawn to her.

Sorry.

Don’t apologize to me.She stretched out in a sunbeam, the glow highlighting a dozen different shades of red and gold in her fur.Your mate needs your focus.

We both know I can’t claim her as that until I find out what’s going on with Rachel.

Maybe so.Yelena turned golden eyes to me.But you would have bitten her already if you could. I would say that counts.

I sighed, lying out next to her, fur instantly warmed by the light.I’ve wanted to get my teeth into her since the first moment I tasted her.

I’m sure fate has her reasons for making you wait.

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