Page 47 of Bliss & Her Idols (Pack Bonds Omegaverse #10)

“He’s also in charge of the pack’s clothing.” Una wrinkles her nose. “Rory, why didn’t you tell me that they were still only dressed in those ridiculous costumes?”

Instinctively, I clasp my hand over the bodice of my dress.

It may be stained and torn but it’s still the outfit that Jin chose to match his own.

It’s a piece of his soul.

Rory stills.

He swallows. “I didn’t… I’m sorry…”

“That’s two mistakes,” Devin chimes, thrilled. “Report to our study this evening for discipline.”

I expect Una to tell Devin to go fuck himself. But she doesn’t. She merely pets Rory’s curls.

I glance between this dysfunctional family.

Torin is still not eating, despite the fact that the twins have piled his plate along with their own with bacon. The twins are busy stuffing their faces.

Confused, I glance at Torin. He appears focused on the tabletop.

They’re brothers and sisters. Yet there’s a strict hierarchy here.

The sisters are at the top.

The twins are their lieutenants beneath them.

Rory, as the adopted brother, is without doubt at the bottom. I hate that he’s clearly serving the family, but nothing he does appears good enough for them.

As significantly the youngest, Torin is partly overlooked, gaslit, and bullied.

Una passes a buttered croissant onto Rory’s plate, as if it’s compensation for the punishment that he’s going to receive later. Then she tilts her head and assesses Cricket and me.

“I’ll have my Beta and Omega look through their clothes for things that should fit you. They’ll send them over later. Torin, for God’s sake, dress properly next time you’re invited to breakfast. Your old suits are still in your room.”

Torin glances flatly at Una. “Of course, sister.”

Aran smirks. “Uh oh, is Tortor in trouble too?”

My breathing picks up. I lean forward in my chair, clenching my hands.

Fuck, no.

Una narrows her eyes at Aran. “You’ll be in trouble, if you don’t show some compassion. Torin’s promised Beta is recovering from being poisoned. You don’t know how that would make you feel because you’ve never committed to more than a single fuck with anyone.”

Aran sullenly subsides into his chair.

Devin’s eyes gleam with rage.

He twirls to Una. “Harsh. Don’t talk to Aran like that. You know that he’s sensitive.”

So, the twins are protective of each other.

Una arches her brow. “He’s a playboy. You both are. When are you going to grow up and settle down with a bonded pack of your own?”

The twins exchange a look, before they burst out laughing.

“Never!” They declare at the same time.

Una shakes her head, indulgently.

“Where’s Mena?” Torin asks, carefully. “Is she going to be away for long?”

Devin touches his heart dramatically. “Aw, Tortor is missing sis. We’ll have to tell her to see him the moment that she gets back. Although, she may be a bit busy tearing out Rory’s throat.”

Rory becomes ashen.

“She’s sorting out complications caused by…” Una gestures vaguely at Cricket and me. “A day or so maybe. She could be home anytime. She’s unpredictable.”

Yeah, like this entire family.

My head is spinning.

Devin grabs a pot of coffee and holds it out. “My reputation has been defamed. I don’t want you to have a bad opinion of me. Let me prove that I do know how to treat sweet Omegas. I can act like a proper elite. Would you like a coffee?”

Is he seriously trying to act politely at last? Is it out of fear of Una?

She doesn’t sound frightening. But then, I don’t know how to judge any of these Idols.

The coffee smells sweet and nutty with a touch of caramel.

I melt.

It reminds me of Coffee Knot Tea, Piper, home .

I didn’t realize how much I missed my own family, until the scent of the coffee took me back to sitting in the front of the coffee shop, while Piper experimented with new inventions.

My bonds with my new pack are powerful. But I’ll never forget the home where I first learned that I was loved and accepted.

I’ll always belong in both places.

Immediately, I hold up my porcelain cup.

Devin pours the coffee into my cup and then leans over me to pour a drink for Cricket.

I drink the coffee down like I’m dying of thirst.

I sigh, wiping my hand over my mouth.

“A coffee fanatic after my own heart,” Devin praises, refilling my cup. “I order this brand in specially. The rest would be happy with instant coffee. Philistines.”

Despite myself, I smile, thinking of Piper.

Devin takes this as an invitation to edge his chair toward mine.

“Has Tortor told you how close we were as kids? We played games with him all around this estate. But look at him, sitting there all serious. He won’t give us a simple smile.

He was a boring kid as well. Everybody forgot that he existed most of the time.

You would have done as well. He was ordinary , you know? He didn’t even enjoy pranks.”

Rory snorts.

“Something to say?” Aran asks, sharply.

Rory clenches his hands on the top of the table. “Pranks? Like the time that he was kindergarten aged, and you told him that there was a Reject Omega witch living in the forest on the estate who ate Alpha kids?”

Torin looks like he wishes the earth would swallow him.

Cricket whines in distress.

I set my coffee down with a crack.

Way to traumatize an Alpha at a formative age. No wonder Torin’s heart was frozen to begin with, when he met two Reject Omegas.

The twins, however, burst into laughter, as if it’s a hilarious, happy memory.

Rory looks away, uncomfortable.

“Oh, do you remember the time…?” Aran is laughing so hard that he can barely get out the words. “We carried our baby brother out into the middle of the woods, and he was so scared because we’d told him that the Reject Omega witch was waiting to eat him?”

Devin nods, holding his sides with laughter. “Yes, yes! Then we held Tortor above our heads and tossed him between us over this patch of nettles like he was this little ball or something, and he was all red-faced and wailing. It was a game, but he just kept…”

“…Screaming and begging to be put down. Then you dropped him. Shit, I’d never heard him yell so loud. He was such a cry-baby. Alphas shouldn’t act like that. So, we pranked him.”

I can hardly hear them. The blood is rushing so loudly in my ears.

My skin prickles with heat.

I drag at the throat of my dress, struggling to breathe.

They call that playing with him? Terrorizing their baby brother and dropping him into nettles?

I’d known that Torin had been mistreated by his pack. But this is much crueler than I’d imagined.

How could brothers have done this to each other?

When we take down Mena, we’re taking down the twins.

I’m going to make sure of it.

Torin is unnaturally still. He’s retreating into himself, freezing a layer of ice over his expression. I’m desperate to pull him away from this meal to a place where he’ll never need to do that again.

“We left him alone in the forest,” Devin adds gleefully like the climax to a joke that we’re all in on. “He kept screaming for us not to leave him alone with the Reject Omega witch and that he didn’t want to be eaten .”

“He kept promising that he’d be a good boy .” Aran chuckles. “As if that would have made us take him home with us.”

“How did you find your way out of the woods, anyway? I never did bother to ask,” Devin says, flippantly.

Torin sits in stony silence.

Cricket loses hold of his control at the same time as I do. We both leap to our feet with a growl.

Sweat is dripping down the back of my neck. Why am I so hot?

Rory slams his hand down onto the table, making me startle. “How can you still joke about that night? He could have fucking died .”

“Manners.” Una grabs Rory by the hair and yanks him hard enough to bare his neck. “Don’t forget your place. That’s three.”

Rory reddens as he’s forced into submission publicly.

Devin stabs another piece of bacon with his fork, rolling his eyes. “You’re as bad as Tortor. Neither of you have a sense of humor. You cry just as hard now, when we prank you.”

“Prank either of them again,” I snarl, “and you’ll find out that Reject Omega witches do far worse to adult Alphas than merely eat them.”

Torin’s eyes brighten.

The twins stop with their forks halfway to their mouths, staring at me in shock.

I give the twins the most intimidating smile that I can, which is copied from Chase. He uses it during cage fights. Sometimes, it’s enough to have other fighters tapping out before the fight has even begun.

“Keep your psycho Omega away from me,” Aran whimpers. “Stop her looking…”

“…Smiling at us like that.” Devin edges away from me.

“ Looking at you and smiling ? Unfortunately, I don’t have rules forbidding such outrageous behavior,” Torin drawls.

Of course, he doesn’t add that he doesn’t have any rules at all.

When a wave of dizziness hits me, Cricket grabs me by the elbow to steady me.

“What’s wrong?” Cricket drags me against him in concern.

“I don’t know,” I gasp. “It came on suddenly. I feel…”

When slick gushes from my pussy, I press my thighs together.

My cheeks flame.

Shocked, I try to blink through the gray spots that are blurring my vision.

But it can’t be my heat.

It’s too soon.

Please, not now.

Torin pushes himself out of his chair, letting it clatter behind him.

He prowls to me, wrapping his arms around me. “A chroi, how can I help? Shall I take you back to my bedroom?”

“You’d better take her to my Omega Chamber.

” Una studies me compassionately. “Why didn’t you excuse her, if she was this close to falling into heat?

It’s most inconsiderate of you, Torin. My Omega has already agreed to share their chamber, whenever this occurred.

It’s set up and ready. Well, what are you waiting for? ”

“Is my sister right?” Torin’s arm tightens around me.

“I don’t understand.” I allow Cricket and Torin to lead me toward the exit. “It feels different. It came on too suddenly. And it hit me — bam.”

When I hear the twin’s mocking laughter behind me, a chill runs down my spine.

“We were only trying to help you, Tortor.” Devin’s voice is sly.

“I spiked your Omegas’ coffee with a heat accelerant.

You need to bond, don’t you? If you manage it before Mena arrives, then maybe she won’t be able to rip your little happy pack apart.

After all, it would make a greater scandal, if she denied legitimate bonds.

Well, off you go. You’d better get started.

Your knot does work, right? Sis could be back at any moment. Run!”