Page 88 of Storm
I smile up at him, feeling lighter than I have in years. "Worth the wait?"
In answer, he dips his head and kisses me again, softer this time, but no less intense. "More than you know," he murmurs against my lips.
I hear the crunch of leaves underfoot and turn to see Fox and Alex standing there with matching smiles.
"That was hot," Fox gives a low whistle, his hazel eyes dancing with mischief.
“Maybe don’t do that directly in front of Reed. He’s a little possessive of you, Storm. And a kiss like that might just send him over the edge and snap Frankie’s neck. And none of us want that.”
Fox slaps Alex’s chest. “Don’t say that. Reed wouldn’t hurt him.” He looks at me to tell me he won’t do that.
“Reed scent marked me earlier.” I blurt out. But the way Alex nods at me, maybe he was giving me a warning that was a little too late. He knew. Of course, I smell like him.
“Let’s forget about Reed and let’s go find some fishes.” Fox reaches out to my hand and tugs me forward. After a few moments, Alex and Fox fall into easy banter.
It makes me smile and forget what Alex said about Reed… just a little.
The sound of running water reaches us before we see the stream, a gentle babbling that grows louder as we approach. Fox leads us around a final bend in the path, and suddenly the forest opens to reveal a small clearing with a crystal-clear stream. The water tumbles over smooth rocks, creating miniature rapids and pools as it winds its way through the woods.
"It's beautiful," I breathe, taking in the serene scene. Sunlight dances on the water's surface, creating patterns that shift and change with every ripple. The banks are soft with moss and fallen leaves of vibrant autumn colors.
"This is my favorite spot on the property," Fox says, his expression softening as he gazes at the stream. "When I first came here, I used to spend hours just sitting by the water, listening to it flow. It helped... after everything."
There's a weight to his words that hints at the trauma he's endured, the horror of being a male omega in a system that views him as an abomination. I feel a surge of protectiveness toward him, this man who understands what it means to be treated as less than human because of his designation.
"It's perfect," I say, squeezing his hand briefly. "Thank you for sharing it with us."
Fox smiles, the gesture transforming his face. "That's what pack does," he says simply.
Pack.The word still feels strange. In the Omega House, "pack" was always presented as something to be happy about. Yet it gave me nothing but fear. I still remember being told I had the right to arrange flowers now with my future pack. As if that’s something to look forward to. But here… it’s different. Not that I’ve been allowed to arrange flowers. But I have a feeling that with this pack, I could be allowed to do so much more.
Alexander and Fox settle on a large, flat rock near the water's edge, their bodies angled toward each other in easy intimacy. Alexander's arm drapes around Fox's shoulders, his fingers absently tracing patterns on his omega's arm. There's a tenderness in their interaction that makes my chest ache with something like envy.
Frankie and I find a spot a little farther downstream, where a fallen tree creates a natural bench overlooking a deeper pool. The water here is perfectly clear, revealing smooth stones and darting minnows below the surface. I kick off Elena’s borrowed boots and dip my toes in, gasping at the cold.
"It's freezing!" I laugh, splashing a bit of water in Frankie's direction.
He dodges, chuckling. "What did you expect? It comes straight down from the mountains."
"I haven't felt cold water like this in years," I admit, wiggling my toes in the stream. "Everything at the Omega House was perfectly temperature controlled. Nothing too hot, nothing too cold."
Frankie's expression grows serious as he watches me. "You really hated it there, didn't you?"
"Every minute of every day," I confirm, staring down at the rippling water. "It was like being buried alive. White walls, white floors, white everything. No real air, no real food, no real life." I glance up at him. "How did you stand working there?"
He shrugs, picking up a small pebble and rolling it between his fingers. "Didn't have much choice, at first. Needed the money for my mom's treatments." His voice drops lower. "Then, after she passed... I stayed because of you."
The simple confession sends warmth spreading through my chest. "Because of me?"
Frankie nods, not quite meeting my eyes. "I couldn't leave you there alone. And in a weird way, I was afraid of what would happen if I wasn't there. Like maybe you'd try something really dangerous, and I wouldn't be around to help."
"I probably would have," I admit with a rueful smile. "I did my fair share of stupid things, even with you there."
"Like rigging the lottery to pull Kingsley's name?" Frankie's tone is teasing.
I groan, flopping back against the trunk of the fallen tree. "Don't remind me. Biggest mistake of my life."
"Not from where I'm sitting," Frankie says quietly. "If you hadn't done that, we wouldn't be here right now. Together. Free."
