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“No more waiting,” I growl, enjoying the way his green eyes go slightly unfocused. I love the way his hair always looks slightly mussed, and his scruff on his face refuses to be tamed.

“No more,” he promises.

Together, we make and shape several loaves of bread. This kitchen has a double oven, which will help ensure this is done by the time dinner is served. Covering the bowls of bread, I preheat the ovens and stick them in so it’ll rise faster.

“That’s a nifty trick,” Ethan teases me.

“I know a thing or two,” I laugh.

Just having Nina with us helps to lighten things up. There’s been a cloud over us, especially after we agreed to become a pack. It’s been a reminder that we’re omega less in a lot of ways.

That’s no longer true, we just need to focus on bonding and spending time with Nina. Our timeline is tight, especially without her ability to scent us, but the three of us thrive on challenges.

We’ve come this far, after all.

Nina

I can’t breathe. Water is flowing over a hood on my face as I’m tilted upside down on a table. My arms and legs are strapped down and no matter which way I move, I can’t escape the water.

What’s worse is I also can’t close my mouth, the gag holding my lips open wide while I scream and scream. I’m drowning.

“Nina, you can make this stop,” Dr. Kind yells over the rushing water. “All you have to do is reject your alphas. Admit you were wrong and that your mother has your best interests at heart.”

Reject? No. There’s no way I could possibly do that.

My head moves from side to side, and the water stops suddenly, allowing me to breathe.

“I’m sorry, I couldn’t hear you. What was that?” he asks.

“No!” I scream, jolting awake.

“Nina,” Cooper gasps, wide eyed as his arms squeeze me so tightly I can’t breathe before abruptly falling away. “Shit, I’m sorry. Are you okay?”

Pushing myself up, I gaze down to see the wild state he’s in.

“It was a really bad dream,” I croak out, swallowing hard.

“I could have hurt you,” he says.

“No. No,” I growl, flicking his nose with my fingers. “I’m not going to break, Cooper. You were reacting to my dream. Did you fall asleep too?”

“I did. I don’t usually sleep so deeply,” he says, his hands up and away from me. “Fuck, I heard you scream and my arms crushed you. I shouldn’t?—”

“Cooper, stop,” I say. “You reacted to my fear. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

“I know, but I’m not safe for you to be around, Nina,” he groans.

“Fuck that,” I state, laying back on top of his chest and tugging his arms back down to hold me. “I’m the safest right here.”

We lay in silence as I listen to his heart thunder. He didn’t hurt me. I know he’s worried he did because he squeezed the breath out of me when he woke up, but he immediately let go.

“Nina,” he breathes, as if he’s releasing every ounce of oxygen in his lungs. “Okay. I believe you.”

“You bet your ass you do,” I sass, squealing as he squeezes mine instead.

“What did you dream about?” he asks. His voice is so damn deep.

“Being tortured,” I mutter. “I dream about it sometimes.”