Page 13 of Coyote Underground (Monsters of New York #9)

A Difficult Goodbye

A na Sofia

Diego’s words touch me in a way I never expected from him. For a while, I forget about our age difference. He doesn’t seem that much older right now, and I’m enjoying letting him pamper me. It helps me forget the challenges I have coming.

He rinses the conditioner from my hair, wrapping it in a soft, specialized towel for hair, before he grabs a bottle of bodywash and soaps me up.

I expect this to turn sexual, but it doesn’t.

This is an Alpha taking care of his Omega.

It’s about cherishing, respecting, and babying.

There’s nothing sexual here at all right now.

I can’t help but notice how muscular he is. Diego’s body is on display, just for me. I want to reach out and touch it, but I know he’s trying to keep this from heading that way. Instead, I decide to see if I can learn something about this Alpha who surprises me at every turn.

“Can I ask you something?” I lock eyes with him as he lathers soap on my body.

“Anything,” he answers.

“Are you intimate with Lorenzo and Isaac?” I ask, knowing the question pushes barriers. It could piss him off and get me thrown out of here.

He laughs, a deep sound that makes me shiver. “I won’t lie to you, Omega. We have been in the past and could be in the future. Is that a problem for you?”

I stare at him, open-mouthed and in shock. “Really?”

He smirks and nods, not answering with words. Another shiver runs up my spine as his large hands scrub my skin.

“That’s so hot,” I whisper, leaning closer to him.

Diego eases me under the spray again, rinsing the suds from my body. “I’m glad you think so. But you didn’t answer my question. Will that be a problem for you?”

I shake my head. “No ... well, I mean, maybe? If you won’t let me watch, then I’ll have a problem with it.

But if I can watch, and maybe participate, then I have no issues with it at all.

” I hum deep in my throat as his hands rake my body again, making sure all the soap is rinsed off. Why am I like this?

“Princess, we can definitely revisit this subject later tonight, if you want. For now, we need to get dressed and have a tough conversation. I know you want to avoid it, but we need to plan your sister’s funeral,” he says quietly as he turns the water off and grabs a plush towel to wrap me in.

“We can’t have a funeral until I recover her body,” I say without thinking.

“Did you think I wouldn’t take care of that for you?” he asks, sounding somewhat offended. I hadn’t really considered any of them doing something this important for me. “I’m your Alpha now, and it’s my responsibility to take care of you. I don’t take that lightly.”

So, I’m just a responsibility to him, huh? Well, that’s good to know. And here I was beginning to think he cared about me. Or at least that he was starting to. Maybe that was all in my imagination.

“How did you do that when you’ve been with me since my heat started?” I ask, desperate for his answer.

“I had one of my crews get her for you. They’ve had a few days to clean her up and get her ready for the funeral. I won’t make those decisions for you, though. She’s your sister, and you should be the one to decide where she’s interred and who is involved in celebrating her life,” he insists.

I’m not sure how to feel about this, but I believe he has my best interests at heart. “Thank you,” I say, shivering. I’m not sure if I’m cold or just upset.

“Let’s get you dressed before we discuss this any further,” he suggests, rubbing my skin with another soft, fluffy towel. I nod, letting him dry me off before he quickly dries himself. Diego wraps a towel around his waist, then scoops me up and carries me into the bedroom.

He sets me gently on the bed, where Isaac is waiting for us.

I can tell he’s freshly showered, too. I wonder for a moment if it upset him that I didn’t ask him to join us.

Isaac smiles at me sweetly, then brings a stack of clothes over.

He helps me get dressed while Diego disappears for a while.

I’m guessing he doesn’t have clothes in my bedroom or nest, so that makes sense.

When I’m dressed, Isaac and I move into the sitting room at the same time Lorenzo walks lazily into the room. He carries a tray of breakfast sandwiches and bottled juices. “I figured you’d be hungry when you got done.”

“Thank you, I’m starved,” I breathe, my stomach growling at the smells that fill the room. I take a sandwich from him as he opens a bottle of juice for me. I groan at the first bite as the heavenly flavor of the sausage, egg, and cheese biscuit fills my mouth.

Before I finish my breakfast, Diego returns, dressed more casually than I’ve ever seen him. “Are you ready to talk?” he asks as he grabs a sandwich and sits on the couch.

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” I answer, setting my juice bottle down and focusing on him.

“They were able to locate and recover her body. We have a mortician cleaning her up and getting her ready for you to say goodbye.” He pauses to start on his sandwich.

“Thank you for that. You have no idea how much it means to me,” I insist. “I don’t really know what to do now. Our parents were cremated and there was no ceremony or anything. Will you guys help me?” I feel too vulnerable asking the question, but don’t have a choice.

****

I saac

Ana Sofia’s request touches my heart in a way I can’t explain.

“Of course, kitten, we’ll help you in any way we can.

Do you want to have her interred in the family crypt?

” I ask. When she looks at me, confused, I realize she has no idea what our pack has access to.

“I’m sorry, kitten. I should have explained that better.

Pack Reyes has a family crypt. We can have your sister laid to rest there, and you can visit her anytime you want. ”

Her eyes light up at that, and I know it was the right thing to offer. “Yes, please. Are you sure you’re okay with that, though? She isn’t your family.”

“Yes, princess, she is. Did you forget we claimed you?” Diego says. We all watch as Ana Sofia’s face turns red while she remembers the moment we claimed her. “That makes you ours and your sister our family. We would be honored for her to be with us in that way.”

Tears fill her eyes and I know if I don’t diffuse the situation, she’ll be crying again. “Well, now that we have that settled, we can focus on the rest. What kind of ceremony would you like? Something small or large, religious or not?”

Ana Sofia groans, and I’m not sure what I said to upset her. “It’s too much to decide on,” Zo tells me, then turns to her. “We can come up with a plan, then you can make whatever changes you want. Does that sound better?”

She smiles at him and nods. “Yes, thank you. You’re right, it’s all too much. I can’t make decisions right now.”

Zo pulls out his phone and starts typing. I know he’s setting up a schedule and planning the whole thing for her. He’s right, it will take a lot of stress off our Omega. I glance over and see that Diego is doing the same.

I turn to Ana Sofia, knowing she needs to relax and take her mind off everything. “Would you like to watch a movie with me?” I ask.

She agrees quickly, and I lead her to my room. I let her choose the movie, knowing it will be a sappy rom-com, and being completely fine with that. I make it my job to distract her while our Alphas make the plans she will either accept or veto.

The movie is sweet, and about two-thirds of the way through, Ana Sofia falls asleep snuggled up next to me on my couch. I pull a throw blanket up over her, making sure she’s comfortable.

****

L orenzo

With Ana Sofia occupied, Diego and I go about planning a celebration of life for a girl we never got to meet. I pull up Valerie’s social media accounts, making notes of who her friends were and what she posted about. Diego handles the arrangements with the family crypt and the catering.

When we finish, Diego motions for me to sit. “Everything is sorted, except who to invite and what music to play,” he explains, sitting across from me.

“That’s good. I think our plans go well together. And it should be easier for her to make those two decisions than to plan the whole thing. Do you think she’s okay?” I can’t help worrying about her.

“I’m sure she’s not. The next few days, hell, maybe months, will be hard on her. We have to make sure she understands that we’re here to take care of her. I don’t know how she’s going to handle this situation when the shock of losing her sister wears off.”

I wonder what he’s talking about, but he continues before I can ask.

“We’re not complete strangers to her, but she doesn’t know us very well.

Being claimed by us, no matter how attracted she is to our pack, could become a regret for her.

We have to do everything we can to make her see this is where she needs to be.

And we must keep her from harming herself.

I don’t know if that’s something she would do or not,” he says.

“Tragedy affects everyone differently, and there’s no way for us to know until the time comes. I’ll make sure I keep an eye on her. We all will,” I agree.

****

A na Sofia

The next few days pass in a blur. Diego and Lorenzo planned a beautiful service for my sister. The only responsibilities I had were the music and guest list. Both were simple. I hooked up her phone and we listened to one of her favorite playlists and invited all her friends.

There were no other attendees besides my new pack. I’m still not sure how I feel about being claimed by them. While I can remember asking for it, I don’t know what made me so certain it was the right thing to do at the time. I have no idea why they agreed so easily, either.

I can tell they’re worried about me. I rarely have time alone, and when I do, one of them texts me to check in.

I want to tell them I’m okay, but I’m not.

I miss my sister. More than that, I feel so alone now.

Everyone I loved is gone. Can they really expect me to open myself up to that kind of pain again?

It doesn’t matter. I’ve given my word, and I’ll honor it to the best of my ability.

I want to make this work. I mean, would I rather have a pack that is completely in love with me?

That isn’t what I ended up with, and I’ll just have to make the best of a bad situation.

At least they’re kind to me. And I know they’re sexually attracted to me, which is nice.

I like knowing they find me irresistible.

It’s a nice feeling. I just wish it could be more.