Page 100 of Storm
"Fox is in his nest," Alexander says, leaning against the doorframe. "He's been anxious, worried about our fathers." Something in his tone makes me look up. The unspoken question hangs between us—Will you check on him?
I nod slightly. Fox and I have an understanding, a relationship that doesn't fit neatly into any category. We aren't romantic partners like he and Alexander, but there's a bond between us. I might not have marked him as mine. But he is. Especially during his heats, when he needs more than Alexander can provide alone.
"And the others?" I ask, though I already suspect the answer.
"Reed and Storm are..." Alexander hesitates, clearly unsure of how I'd react. "They're together. In Reed's room."
I take a slow sip of coffee, letting the bitter liquid burn down my throat while I process this information. Reed and Storm. I'd sensed the attraction between them from the beginning, though both had fought it fiercely. Part of me had expected this, perhaps even hoped for it. Reed needs someone who challenges him, who isn't afraid of his darkness. And Storm, she needs someone who understands her fire without trying to extinguish it.
"Good," I say finally, surprising even myself with how much I mean it.
Alexander studies my face, seeming to search for any sign that I'm hiding my true feelings. "You're not upset?"
"Why would I be?" I set the mug down on the counter. ""Storm doesn't belong to anyone. Least of all me. She made that clear from the start... and I respect her." I pause, considering my next words carefully. "She and Reed make sense in their own chaotic way."
"And Rook? Frankie?" Alexander pushes, always the one to force uncomfortable conversations.
"That's for Storm to figure out," I say with a shrug. "We're not exactly a traditional pack, Alex. We never have been."
He laughs softly at that. "Understatement of the century."
I finish my coffee and rinse the mug, placing it in the sink. "I'm going to check on Fox."
Alexander nods, understanding passing between us as it always has, even when words fail. He knows what Fox needs from me, just as I know what Alex gives him that I cannot. We balance each other in ways I never expected when we first brought Fox here.
Fox's nest is in the east wing of the house, a room he's made entirely his own over the years. I knock softly on the door, waiting for his response. When it comes, it's quiet but clear. "Come in."
The room is dimly lit, golden light filtering through gauzy curtains. Fox has created his nest in the corner—a soft haven of blankets and cushions, strung with delicate fairy lights that cast a gentle glow. He lies curled among the softness, his hazel eyes finding mine as I enter.
"Jonathan," he says, relief evident in his voice. "You're back."
"I'm back," I confirm, moving closer to the nest. I don't enter uninvited. That's a boundary I respect without question. "May I?"
Fox shifts, making space among the blankets, a clear invitation. I remove my shoes and jacket before joining him, settling into the softness with practiced ease. His honey-chamomile scent wraps around me, familiar and soothing after days in the harsh world outside.
"Did you fix it?" he asks, his voice small. "Are we safe here?"
I reach out, tucking a strand of light brown hair behind his ear. "Yes," I tell him, the truth simpler than I expected it to be. "They've agreed to our terms. This place remains our hidden sanctuary."
The tension drains from his body, his shoulders slumping with relief. "I was afraid," he admits. "When you stayed behind—" he breaks off, shaking his head.
"I know what you thought," I say softly. "But I would never let them find you. Never let them take you back to that place." The fierceness in my voice surprises even me, the alpha in me rising to the surface with protective instinct.
Fox moves closer, resting his head against my chest. His weight is slight, his frame small, but there's strength in him that never ceases to amaze me. After everything he endured beneath the Omega House, he still finds the capacity for trust, for connection.
"I missed you," he whispers, the words muffled against my shirt.
Something in my chest loosens at his admission. With Fox, I don't need the walls I maintain with others. Here, in the safety of his nest, I can be vulnerable in ways I'd never allow myself elsewhere.
"I missed you too," I admit, my hand coming up to stroke his hair. The strands are soft between my fingers, like silk.
Fox tilts his head back, looking up at me with those hazel eyes that see too much. "You're different," he says. "Something's changed."
I consider denying it, but there's no point. Fox has always been able to read me in ways even Alexander cannot. "The world is changing," I say instead. "The rebellion, Storm, all of it."
He studies my face for a long moment. "I’m not just talking about the outside world. I’m talking about in here, with Storm." He places a hand over my heart, the touch gentle but deliberate.
I cover his hand with mine, feeling the warmth of his palm against my chest. "Nothing will change between us, Fox." I need to reassure him. "You will always be my omega.Always. But Storm—" I pause, searching for words that won't hurt him. "She awakens something in me I didn't know existed. Something different, but not something that diminishes what we have."
