Page 58 of Brave New Omega, Part 2

Chapter 58

KATIE

T he haze of the heat breaks a few hours after the bonding. Max disentangles himself from our pile of limbs and sweat to open a window. As the fresh clean air sweeps into the room, I realize just how much my perfume has coated everything – from the bedding to the very walls. It all smells of cinnamon and maple syrup.

Which made me hungry.

“Come on, we all need to eat,” Max says as he offers me a fluffy white robe. He shrugs on a pair of gray sweatpants. Damn, who knew gray fucking sweatpants could be such a turn-on?

“What about them?” I nod back to my two sleeping Alphas, both facing the empty spot where I had lain, both with twin frowns.

“They’ll catch on. And if not, more for us.” He winks at me.

Max makes me pancakes, bacon, and eggs – enough for all four of us when Callum and Loren finally awake. I stuff myself with the food.

I feel his pleasure at feeding me, his happiness and calm excitement. And his love, like a warm pulse in my chest.

I rub my breastbone.

“Yeah, it’s kind of weird,” Max says, but turns that playful grin at me. “But I like it. I like knowing you’re happy and satisfied. I like feeling the buzz of you under my skin.” He leans forward and kisses my nose.

“This is incredible. There’s nothing like it on Earth,” I say, shaking my head and shoving a forkful of pancake into my mouth.

“Then it’s a good thing that the gods brought you to Amaata,” Loren says. He and Callum both enter the kitchen and Loren plants a kiss on my cheek. Callum wraps his arms around my shoulders and nips my ear.

“Good morning, Katie.” His voice is all gravel and a tiny spark lights between my legs. But the driving need isn’t there. Just attraction and love.

Callum raises one eyebrow. “Need a little satisfaction.”

I close my eyes, licking my lips.

I could fuck him. But I don’t need to.

“Actually, I think… I think it’s mostly gone. I’m tired – and a little sore. But the insatiable need isn’t so… needy.”

“Ah, we satisfied our Omega at last.” Loren smiles into the top of my head.

“Well, maybe some part of me,” I flash a smirk, then force myself to concentrate. “Everything happened so fast– Genevieve and the Betas, then the heat. Maddie’s okay? Layla?”

My anxiety over my sisters starts to rise up like a wave off the shore. But just as it crests, my body is flooded with soothing calm. Three sparks of peace humming in my chest, an anchor against any storm.

“Both of them are fine. In fact, I think Maddie broke at least one nose, and busted a couple of lips. Captain Zhao was impressed,” Callum says with a snort.

“I need her at my gym. Maybe we can have Omega-only nights. She’d be a fucking rockstar,” Max says, squeezing my knee. “Katie, your sisters were both ready to draw blood for you. You may not have packs where you’re from, but they certainly act like pack. I thought Layla was going to rip Rafe’s arm off when he tried to prevent her from coming upstairs after us.”

“I don’t think Rafe’s the one you should worry about Layla hurting,” Callum says, before sipping deeply from his coffee.

“What do you mean?” I prod. He’s amused. I can feel it like a tickle beneath my ribs.

“I think,” he pauses, a slow grin spread over his features. “I think she might have found a scent-match.”

Loren and Max both stare at him, their jaws open. I blink.

“What am I missing here?”

Callum puts up his hands. “It’s just a guess, but the way she and Hugo kept circling each other.” He shrugs. “Maybe ask her about it next time you call.”

“Oh fuck, do they know I’m okay? How long has it been! Is anyone hunting down Dar Haskan's Operatives? Do we need to give statements to the police?” My muddled, sex-filled brain suddenly kicks into high gear and all the mission-critical tasks come blazing back. Shit , this heat was really inconvenient.

“Whoa, simmer down, Tough Girl. Everything is handled. Genevieve and the Betas are in one of the national prisons, being held and interrogated. Zhao got a statement from Maddie, and the Conservatory has your sisters under double security.” Max claps both hands on my shoulders, kneading his thumbs into my tight muscles, but careful not to aggravate his or Loren’s bite marks.

“Duke Monrhutton– Hugo– serves on the Council of Peers and has a hand in the… intelligence operations across Savolinna. He’s looking into it personally,” Callum says.

“What we’re telling you, Love, is that everything is taken care of right now. No need for you to gallop into the rescue. There will of course will be places for you to aid in our work, and Zhao will want a statement. But for right now, you are still recovering from your heat and will have spikes over the next two or three days. Just rest and let us take care of you.” Loren leans forward, cupping his hands around my cheeks. I cover his hands and sigh, letting my body relax, leaning back into Max. Callum squeezes my knee.

A shot of need rockets up from my core, all of this comfort and physical contact rekindling the fire that had just started to wane. Three spikes of desire shoot through my chest.

“Damn, this bond is going to tell me everything y’all are feeling.” I can feel all their own neediness, their own desires for my body and all the creative ways we can satisfy one another.

“It is, but you might have to look deeper,” Callum leans forward, kissing me until my knees go weak and I slump further into Max’s embrace.

“Yes, we want you, our perfect Omega. But we love you more.”

I press my hand to my heart, covering Callum’s own bond mark. I feel that too– not just desire – though that's still red hot even after four days of nearly constant sex. But, next to the desire is a well –no, an ocean –of love. For me, for one another, for our family. Our Pack.

“Who could imagine a love beyond the stars?” I murmur, almost breathless.

“Whatever gods gave us this boon we are indebted,” Loren says.

“Shhh, Lor, don’t announce that. They might come to collect.” Max slaps Loren’s shoulder and we laugh, warmth wrapping around the four of us, like a nest we can carry out into the world. A joyful armor against whatever else life is preparing to throw at us.

I take a deep breath, sinking into this feeling– the usness of our bond.

We can build any life we want, because we are together.