Page 65 of Bliss & Her Idols (Pack Bonds Omegaverse #10)

CHAPTER THIRTY

Torin’s Bedroom, Idol Estate

S ix months later…

I burrow deeper into the nest in Torin’s bedroom. I pull the fresh, velvet covers that are in every color of the rainbow, around me against the cold.

Outside, frost lattices the windows. Snow feathers from the gray sky, covering the gardens and woods.

Inside this manor, however, the world has been transformed from dreary gray to bright color.

As soon as Torin became Head Alpha six months ago, I expected him to want to move out of his tiny bedroom. He insisted, however, that he never wanted to forget where he came from and that we had permission to hand him his ass, if he ever became an Alphahole like his family.

I know how much that weighs on him. I understand because my own legacy has done the same.

But not any longer.

I’ve forged my own path. I will have pack bonds, love, a journalism career, and I can still work for the PBU.

My mission hasn’t changed, but I have.

I’m going to help Torin to see the same thing.

This is why we worked together as a pack to clean and then decorate this bedroom.

Jin painted the walls blue to match Torin’s eyes but ended up with more paint over himself and in his hair than on the walls.

Cricket and I hung leather drapes and chose the new rainbow bedding with a huge pile of dragon and wolf shaped cushions.

Torin has rested in an act that I know is defiance about ten guitars around the edges of the room, including the indigo one that he played in the concert that liberated us all.

The one that went viral around the world.

It also made Torin as famous as Jin and Immortal, just as he always should have been.

A well-worn and loved knitted cricket and a newly knitted dragon with wonky wings sits on the nightstand in pride of place next to a pile of folded letters, which are tied with a silver ribbon.

They include every single letter that Cricket wrote to Jin.

Jin saved them, reading them devotedly every day. He hid them to protect them from Zoe. They truly saved Jin because they gave him hope that he was cared about and loved.

Jin placed them on the nightstand as a symbol of our new lives.

He never has to hide his love again.

He never has to only read about family life.

Honestly, the room is an aesthetic disaster. But none of us care because we chose it.

None of my men have been allowed to make decisions about their rooms or even their clothes before.

I’d have been okay if they’d decided to paint the entire room black with skull motifs.

My lips soften into a smile, as I watch Cricket bustle around the bedroom. He stands on tiptoe to attach mistletoe to the wardrobe.

“Do you think that Charming will like this?” Cricket glances over his shoulder at me. “I want to catch him in a kiss, as soon as he gets back from teaching.”

I nod.

I’d say more but I’m on a call to Piper. I only meant to check that my brothers and Lionzio were all set for the next mission because it’s taking place over Christmas.

I’m visiting the coffee shop to have lunch with them, as soon as they’re back from the dangerous undercover mission that I hope rescues the at risk Omegas.

Piper has been merrily talking about Immortal like he always does.

The man’s in love and doesn’t appear to know it.

“Mistletoe is magic, right?” I whisper, holding the phone away from my mouth for a moment. “You can hunt and trap your Alpha with it, and I’ll hunt our Beta. Good work, Crick.”

Cricket puffs out his chest and grins.

Cricket has already decorated the room with bright red and green tinsel. He has even managed to fit a miniature fir tree in the corner, which he sat cross legged in front of this morning, attaching glistening glass stars to the branches and finally on top.

It’s beautiful.

But more beautiful was the joy in his smile.

It was pure.

He didn’t need to tell me that he’d never been included in Christmas celebrations before for me to know it.

I shiver, taking a breath of the bedding that smells deliciously of the mingled scents of my men.

It’s Christmas Eve.

The last six months have been the busiest and best of my life.

Torin and I have worked hard to make sure that both Jin and Cricket have been included in the Christmas rituals and routines.

In fact, all the remaining Idols on the estate have been given two weeks off to spend with their families.

Any who remain are going to come and spend Christmas day together with us in the manor.

The camp is more like a huge adopted family any way now.

Jin is always inviting some teenager who needs extra support over for dinner or Torin will give guitar lessons in the lounge.

Christmas will be a day of present giving, feasting, and festivities.

My smile widens at the thought of the pile of presents beneath the large fir tree in the performance hall, which the Idols decorated themselves.

It made me purr with happiness to see the kids laughing and relaxed, while Jin and Immortal directed them with as much energy and enthusiasm as the other Idols.

When the kids discovered that there were gifts underneath from Torin for every Idol, the squeals were deafening.

Some of the Idols couldn’t remember being given a present before.

I can’t wait for Cricket to open his huge pile of presents from the rest of the pack.

Cricket deserves everything… the world .

I stroke over my sweater.

Cricket knitted this sweater for me last week. On the front is a bee wearing a crown.

“A queen bee.” Cricket’s eyes danced, as he held it out to me.

“Our Queen,” Jin corrected. “I can’t wait to worship you, while you’re wearing this, my Queen.”

I’ve worn the sweater today, hoping that Jin will follow through with this plan.

I’ve paired it with my favorite short leather skirt and no panties.

I’m feeling optimistic.

I love that Cricket is dressed in his favorite outfit even to decorate.

It’s hard to get him to take it off, including when he’s sleeping. He usually adds one of his jackets to our nest.

It’s a light tan suit, which reminds me of the woods that he loves.

Nature is still Cricket’s happy place, and he wakes up early to fit in a stroll through the forest by himself at dawn each morning. He always returns glowing with happiness like he’s soaked in the early morning sun, clutching wild flowers for each of us.

Cuddling a sun warmed Cricket, as he fixes a flower into my hair and chats about the deer or fox that he’s spotted, is the best way to start the day.

Well, if you add in the piping hot mug of coffee that Torin leaves on the nightstand. Plus, the gorgeous rock god who starts off each morning by tonguing me to a toe curling orgasm.

A cricket symbol is embroidered over the pocket of Cricket’s tan suit, which matches his cuff links. His gold buttoned waistcoat is decorated with leaves. His white shirt is unbuttoned, revealing a tantalizing glimpse of his tanned chest.

He looks elegant in a casual, rumpled way, despite the ugly Rej bracelet around his wrist.

The color of his suit makes his startling amber eyes appar even more vibrant.

When we could all choose our own clothes, Cricket took a couple of weeks, before he knew what he wanted. He’s never been dressed in anything but hand-me-downs or borrowed outfits.

Finally, Torin offered to take him out to a mall to see if it would help.

When they didn’t return with any bags, I was worried. Torin told me with a quirk of his lips, however, that Cricket had excitedly chosen a tailor’s, and a dozen bespoke suits were now being designed for him.

“It’s lucky that I’m wealthy now.” Torin laughed. “I believe because there were no prices on display, our sweet mo stoirin thought that it was a cheap place. Let’s allow him to keep thinking that.”

Cricket has finally discovered his true style. It matches his handsomeness, which has been ignored or denied for most of his life.

Every time he dresses in his suit, it’s helped his confidence grow. Over these months, he’s become almost as comfortable living with us in real life, as he once was in his online one.

I’m still equally as addicted to falling asleep, after his last words: Good night, sweet dreams . Except now, he can murmur them against my neck, while he spoons me with his arm around my waist.

Now, I’m holding my mobile loosely to my ear and am only half listening to my brother on the other end.

Piper has been telling me in great, great detail for the last hour about everything Immortal has been doing.

I don’t know if Piper realizes just how obsessional and possessive he is of the Beta. They spend almost every day together.

Piper has made it his personal mission to take Immortal out on weekends to bars, clubs, and restaurants. In fact, to show Immortal a world that he’s been shut away from.

It's strange to see an Omega taking the lead but it’s not strange if you know my brother.

Immortal calls them dates .

My brother insists that they’re just two friends and often invites Lion along as well.

I know that despite everything, Piper is taking this slow. He has walls around his heart, which are even higher than mine used to be.

If anyone can break them down, however, then it’s Immortal, who is as seductive as fucking sin and appears even more smitten with Piper than my brother is with him.

The two dumbasses will work it out in their own time.

Soon, I hope.

The yearning in the air, when they’re together could be cut with a knife.

“Then Lion scolded Zero for being reckless and risking his life again for a case,” Piper is still talking about Immortal because of course he is.

“And Zero dared Lion that he didn’t have the knot to go out on a mission himself.

And he took the dare! Lion is joining us on our next undercover mission to the Omega Hotel.

You should have seen it, sis. I can’t work out if those two are more obsessed with the BPU or fighting each other.

But seriously, their hate sex is going to be spectacular. ”

My eyes widen. “I love both Lion and Zero. But they’re a total personality clash. Zero crashed into the BPU with all his bad boy swagger, and Lion is…”

“Our best friend who needs everything organized, in its place, and being shaken out of the strict rules that his Alphahole dad beat into him . Zero is good for Lion. He just doesn’t realize it.”

“Hmm. Are you sure that it’s Lion who is obsessed with Zero?”

“I’m Zero’s friend. Plus, I’ve always been his fan.”

“Stan,” I tease, remembering what Piper said to me about Jin, before I’d met him, let alone won him in the Pack Bonds contest.

Piper chuckles. “Follower. Stalker, possibly. I fancy the fuck out of the man. And I know that Chase and you have found your pack bonds. I’m happy for both of you.

But I’m finding it hard to trust that this is real.

As much as I can see that Zero has been courting me for six months — the nests that he’s built me have been the best in my life — I wanted to give him some time by himself, before I commit. ”

My brow furrows.

That’s thoughtful.

“You mean, after he was freed from his contract?”

“Yeah, sis, it was hard for him. He suffered a lot in the camp. Shit that you don’t know about as well.

You must see it with Jin. The Idols don’t understand about free time or making their own choices, even boundaries.

I wanted to give him these six months as his friend to help him find what he likes, from movies to dealing with the world without a supervisor at his shoulder, even if he does drive Lion wild with his impulsivity.

Chase has been supporting him too. Zero has decided to continue working with Jin as a singer but also, dedicating most of his efforts to the BPU. He’s a good guy.”

I smile.

I knew that my brothers would look after Immortal.

“Does that mean you’ll let him properly take you on a date soon…?” I ask.

“Maybe…” Piper laughs. “Stop fishing. Is bug with you?”

“Crick.” I don’t know why I’m still trying to correct him.

“Say happy Christmas for me.”

“Pip says happy Christmas,” I call to Cricket.

Cricket’s expression brightens. He rushes to the bed and crawls onto it. He lies down, laying his head in my lap.

I stroke my fingers through his hair, pushing his curls off his forehead.

“Merry Christmas, Pip,” Cricket calls. “Don’t forget to send me the new target for the hack.”

Of course, Cricket is also working for the BPU.

“Tell bug it can wait until after Christmas, when I get back from my mission.” Piper replies. “Your insect works too fucking hard. Your pack all do. I’ll take you out to a bar and let Zero show you some real fun. Even I can’t keep up with him.”

Cricket is looking up at me with a gentle, adoring expression.

This shy but brave man has changed a lot since I first met him.

He’s found ways to cope with meeting strangers. Methods to cope with being in rooms with crowds.

I admire him so fucking much for that.

On the other hand, being in a loud, crowded bar would be his nightmare.

“I’ll relax Crick in my own way,” I reply.

“TMI, sis,” Piper teases. “Have an amazing Christmas. Lion and Chase say hi too. Love you.”

“Good luck on the mission. Be careful, please? Love you too, bro.”

I turn off the phone, throwing it onto the nightstand.

Normally, I wouldn’t worry because Lion is going with Piper undercover and I’d trust that my Alpha best friend would keep my Omega younger brother safe.

But throw the whirlwind beta, Immortal, into the mix as well and who knows what will happen.

It’s also both Immortal and Jin’s first mission.

Will Piper also discover love and pack bonds like I have?

I lean down and indulge myself by kissing Cricket. He moans, pushing up as far as he can to meet me.

He tastes as sweet as his lips are soft. Yet he kisses me hard, reaching to caress down the back of my neck over my wolf tattoo.

When I draw back, his pupils are blown wide, and we are both purring.

“I love you, Bee.” To my surprise, however, Cricket sits up.

When he fidgets with his hands and nerves sheet through the bond, anxiety swirls in my stomach as well.

I tilt my head, studying him. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s about my health condition.” He avoids my gaze. “I didn’t know how to tell you.”

Instantly, my breath stutters. My blood chills.

Cricket has been receiving treatment for his rare Omegaosis for six months to stop it being life-shortening. His parents didn’t think that it was worth spending money on medications for an Omega, when he was a teen. So, now he’s past the usual age that it’s treated.

Am I about to receive the best gift of all this Christmas or hear bad news that will shatter my heart?