Page 43 of This Fate That Guides Us
Pressing a hand to my chest, I gasp in mock irritation. “They aren’t that bad!”
“Grace nearly broke her ankle running to get you a drink when you said you were thirsty,” Tee points out.
“That’s what being the youngest is all about, right gorgeous?” I glance at Omen who looks uncomfortable again. Shit.
“My sister spoiled me a little bit,” she finally supplies, her eyes focused where she’s examining her freshly painted fingernails. “She’d sneak me chocolates and little cakes from the kitchen sometimes.”
It takes every ounce of strength for me to keep myself from frowning. If her idea of being spoiled is her sister sneaking sweets from the kitchen, I can understand why my girl isn’t used to receiving big gifts like the box of pamper products.
“My big sister always spoiled me too,” Nebula tells her. “She also always blamed me whenever she made a big mess. I was put in time out so many times because of her.”
“That’s my brother,” Omen laughs. “He always blamed me whenever he knew he would get in trouble. He didn’t want to get punished for getting into things. Like when he got a hickey from some girl at school and tried to use our mother’s makeup to cover it up. The powder he used was broken all over the floorand her vanity. I don’t know why he tried to pin the mess on me when he still had cover-up caked to the edge of his shirt.”
The smile falls from her face as if the memory attached to the story hurts her in some way. The more I learn about my girl, the more I realize how much she hides behind the mask she uses. One day I hope I can break it open and see the gorgeous girl I know is hiding behind it.
“Ready for the next question?” Callisto asks, distracting her. “First concert?”
“Candy Courage!” she cheers.
“The show we opened for them?” Nebula questions.
“Nope, I saw them two years earlier when they toured. I don’t know if you’ve caught onto her obsession, but Bea is a hardcore Candy Courage fan girl. She got tickets for their show for her birthday and we went together. Their show is where I discovered my love for concert photography. And when Bea decided she wanted to work in the music industry.”
“Zale and the girls are certainly inspirational,” Cal murmurs softly.
“Did you guys grow close when you toured with them last year?”
“They’re besties with a capital B,” I quip. “Zale helps Cally Boy when he gets stuck writing a new song.”
Omen beams at the two of us, whispering her thanks when I point out her painted toes. She goes to move her feet off my lap but I wrap my palm around the top of her foot and hold them there. I don’t want to lose this contact with her yet.
Digging my fingers into the bottom of her foot, I work out all of the tension from the muscles there, smirking when she groans in appreciation. Her head falls back against the back of the couch and I take the opportunity to adjust myself without her eyes on me. My other mates absolutely notice, not that they can say shit since I can feel the threads of arousal in all of their bonds too.
“You guys didn’t answer,” she breathes, peeking one eye open to look at the four of us. Finding all of our gazes riveted to her, she flushes the sweetest shade of pink.
“We all grew up in or around Nashville, so music was everywhere,” Nebula explains. He tells her about the concert Elizabeth dragged him to when he was seventeen. A super popular female country artist. She even made them wear matching bright pink cowboy hats.
“She sounds amazing.” Omen sits up a little more, nudging her other foot against my hand. I shoot her a grin as I switch feet, glad she’s getting more comfortable asking for what she wants from us. Even if it isn’t with words yet.
“She was,” Neb replies. His voice is full of the sadness still suffocating him since her passing. My poor alpha still hasn’t found a way to manage his grief. He buries it until it overflows, bubbling up and forcing him to break down. “She died a few years ago.”
“Oh, Nebula,” Omen breathes. “I’m so sorry.”
Nebula reaches over and grips her hand in his for a few seconds. The lost look in his eyes seems to fade a little more with the contact. Once more, I’m reminded of how perfect my girl is for all of us. She’s the sunshine we didn’t know was hiding behind our cloudy skies. Warm and bright, bringing light to all of the dark places in our minds and hearts.
I’m going to keep her. No matter what I have to do to convince her, she’s mine. Maybe I should lick her so she knows it too.
Letting the impulsive thought take hold, I lean down and drag my tongue across her knee. She squeals and sits up to gape at me.
“What the fuck, Nex,” Nebula sighs. He’s used to my antics so he probably already knows exactly where my thoughts were.I don’t answer any of them, I just smile and keep massaging Omen’s feet.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
NOW PLAYING: THEApparition- Sleep Token
The crowd of assholes outside our show in Louisville tonight was much tamer than the group in Grand Rapids. They weren’t spouting anti-designation bullshit, only the usual anti-pack stuff. A bunch of outdated, backwoods trash, which is all they’re taught to believe. It’s ridiculous.
Sitting around our campsite earlier, I’d noticed the dark bruising beneath Omen’s eyes. Her apprehension visibly built the closer we got to show time. Those plush lips of hers abused by her teeth, and her hands started to shake.
