Julian’s finger lightly traces a pattern on the back of my hand. His touch is so soothing, I want to rest my head on his shoulder and lean into him. Instead, I sit upright and look toward the entryway of the room.
Caleb, Damon, and Raiden have already stepped outside the house to welcome their parents in. My foot taps the carpeted floor while my ears strain to hear the sound of their voices.
“What have you got in here?” Raiden’s voice alerts me at once. “Did you buy the entire grocery section at the supermarket?”
A burst of soft, trilling laughter reaches my ear.
My head whips toward Julian. A soft smile curves his luscious lips as he looks toward the doorway. “They’re here.”
I jump to my feet and nervously smooth the front of my dress.
Next moment, a beautiful woman in a long peach-pink coat steps inside the room. She has startlingly blue eyes that rove all over the vast entrance hall before settling on me and Julian.
“Caroline!” Julian gushes, rushing forward to hug her.
I stay back and use the opportunity to study the stranger. She has the easy, nonchalant elegance of an omega. Dressed in a white and gold dress, she looks like an angel.
“It’s been so long since I saw you,” Julian says, smiling so brightly his eyes have turned into violet, gleaming slits. His happiness sends warmth washing over me despite my nervousness. He absolutely adores her.
“I’ve missed you too, kiddo,” Caroline says, patting his arm. Her gaze sweeps over him. “Are you okay, though? I heard you were badly injured.”
“Almost as good as new,” Julian says, stepping before her.
My gaze falls on a new presence. A tall man in a black overcoat has come to stand beside Caroline. Long, sleek strands of silver fall past his shoulders. His eyes are silvery-gray, the same shade as Caleb’s eyes.
Caleb, Damon, and Raiden walk into the room, each carrying a ridiculous amount of grocery bags in their arms.
I rush forward immediately. “Let me help you with some of these,” I say, grabbing some of the bags Raiden is carrying.
“Iris, don’t,” he says. “They’re all heavy.”
“It’s not a problem,” I say, taking two large bags out of his hand.
My arms immediately feel the massive weight of their contents. Peeking in, I see that one of the bags is full of potatoes. Surprised, I follow Raiden and his brothers inside the kitchen.
“Why did your parents bring us potatoes?” I ask curiously when it’s just the four of us.
Raiden rolls his eyes. “Mom is cooking dinner today.”
“She hates it when ingredients are missing,” says Damon, breaking into a can of beer. “So, she brings the entire grocery section home with her.”
“Why the hell are you drinking now?” Caleb hisses.
“Oi!” Damon shouts, stepping out of the way as Caleb reaches forward to take his beer away. “One beer isn’t going to make me drunk.”
“Dad will smell it on you.”
Damon rolls his eyes. “This is a casual visit,” he says. “We’re allowed to have a drink or two. Just fucking relax.”
Caleb frowns as Damon takes another deep swig of his beer.
“Iris is always like this,” I hear Julian’s voice coming from outside the kitchen. “She’s always going out of her way to help us.”
Next moment, he steps inside the kitchen with Caroline.
“You must be Iris,” Caroline says, coming toward me.
“Hi,” I say in a soft voice.