Page 10

Six weeks after those few riotous days, Hara was standing with her hands on her hips, and she watched the beach crew finish the last of the polishing. She had local instructors, an incoming travel blogger, and several vacationers who recognized her from her national wins and wanted to learn.

Hara looked at Narro and Kek. They looked great mopping the floor, but she had sworn never to share the picture. It was currently Alohi’s lock screen.

A soft knock got her attention, and Hara walked over. “I’m sorry. We aren’t quite open yet; I haven’t buffed the alphas.” She squinted into the light of the late morning, and a familiar voice spoke.

“That is a critical point to the process. You should get on that, Hara.” The chuckle was the dealbreaker.

Hara rushed out and felt concern in her links. “Amby?”

“You’ve got it, cuz.” Ambermarle Dillard stood there with a backpack, sunburn on her nose, and a cheeky grin. Amby was tall and curvy, and alphas in the distance were locked onto the presentation of her seriously impressive ass in leggings.

“Amby, what are you doing here?”

“Vlogging around the islands. It’s a project that Ford got in his ear, and apparently, Emerald, Wonder, and the other islands in this chain have very specific festivals and attractions, so I am here experiencing life for the first time ever.” She smiled. “I am not going to partake of these offerings, but I can advertise the parties and such.”

“Wait, what do you mean experiencing life.”

Amby shrugged. “You weren’t the only one they did it to. I can actually walk with a full stride now. It’s amazing what we begin to feel is normal when we are told it is.”

Hara’s eyes watered, and she hugged her cousin. “I am so sorry.”

“I would say it’s fine, but I had to give a deposition. Anyway, that is how your friend Ford found me. He tortured me into giving him some tracks, and when that was done, he asked me if I wanted to travel. I said sure, and he mentioned that this is where you were, so of course, I came. I have gotten some great footage during my layover on Emerald. Wanna see?”

Hara gasped. “Of course. Wait. Why are you here?”

“I am doing the vlog on your new dance studio. Treasure Dance. Your instructors have to teach me to dance, island style. They have five days, which is the average time that folks spend here on the island, and while that is going on, I have to climb a cliff, go to a butterfly garden, and swim in the ocean.”

Hara felt the curiosity of her mates, and she kept Amby outside. “That is quite the itinerary.”

“I think Ford designed it because of my tattoo. Or whatever it is.”

Hara paused. “You have a tattoo?”

“Yeah, it’s really weird. Butterflies, a manta ray, and a waterfall. It’s like someone was drunk and put it together.”

Hara blinked. “Oh, right. Well, don’t mention this to the guys. They might know the ray and try and hook you up.” She paused. “Unless that’s what you want.”

“Well, I am a crappy swimmer, so unlikely to be the focus. Now, how are you doing?”

“Honestly, it was a rocky start, but now we work together pretty well. My mates are... well, the darkest one is Narro, the burnished bronze tall one is Kekoa, and the omega is Alohi. Kekoa and Alohi are the royal couple.”

“What are you, chopped liver?”

“No, I work for a living.”

They laughed together, and Amby came inside to meet the rest of the Treasure Pack. When that was done, the camera was set up, and interviews started. Amby was great and very natural in front of the camera.

After Kekoa had talked lovingly about his islands and the possibilities therein, the dance instructor came in, and Amby was off to her first lesson. She had an itinerary, and no one would stop her.

Hara watched as Amby stood barefoot and mimicked Illu, the master instructor, as they moved around to island music. Illu taught the stories with the movements and urged Amby to remove a layer or two of clothing.

Amby sighed and pulled off her tee and then her tank top. The rigid sports bra was all that was left on her top, and Hara held her breath as the dance instruction resumed and Amby slowly turned.

Hara held in her gasp. The butterflies were vivid and flying diagonally from hip to shoulder. The manta rose from her hips, and from right shoulder to mid-back, there was a tumbling waterfall with a glittering cascade. It was vibrancy and colour, and you would have to be blind to miss it.

Illu said, “That is quite the tattoo.”

“Isn’t it? I am still getting used to it.”

“What do the motifs mean?”

Amby looked at Hara. “I am sure I will find out eventually. All right, back to the torture.”

Amby’s arms moved with incredible grace, her bare feet slid, and her hips rocked.

Illu said, “You have to move your hips. Come on, a pretty girl like you must have had her hips rocked a time or two.”

Amby shook her head. “No, but I am working on it.”

Hara watched her learn to dance as the first challenge for her time on the island. When Illu called an end to the hour, Amby stretched and got her camouflage back on.

Hara asked, “Can you come to the palace for dinner?”

“No. I am here to have five days in the tourist area, but after that, I can come for a day or so until you get tired of me. Then, it is off to the next islands.” Amby turned off her equipment and got things back into her pack. “Tonight, it is quick food and then some night market and then bed. Tomorrow, I climb that waterfall.”

“Seriously? We can do that here?”

Illu smiled as she made notes. “We were adventure tourism before folks realized that we were sex-positive. Then, all bets were off, and more folks showed up here to get their backs blown out than you could imagine. We have a ridiculously high alpha population. I am not complaining. I have a set of my own that I tried out first.”

Hara covered her mouth.

Illu winked. “I am old, not dead. But frankly, alphas are good at making money, defense, and sex. May as well let them feel useful.”

Amby chuckled. “Well said. I am on my way to my assigned quarters.”

Illu asked, “Where are you sleeping?”

“The ocean-facing manor?”

“I will take you. My brother-in-law runs it, and he has been mentioning an interview.”

“That would be me.” Amby chuckled.

She heaved her pack up and grabbed her pack. “Lead away, Illu. Hara, call me if you have time.”

Hara smiled. “Your number is in my new phone. So, yes. I am very curious about the night market.”

Amby grinned. “Perhaps I will see you there.”

Amby hugged Hara and headed off with Illu.

Kek came around from the back and said, “You are not going to the night market. It’s full of drinking and horny alphas.”

“It’s where you met Alohi.”

He sighed. “That is true, but it is still dangerous.”

“Why?”

“Because one drunk grabs you in the ass, and you are going to turn to gold and deck them.” He grinned.

“It happened once. And when I found and punched that dolphin, he survived.”

“He now has a gold monocle around his eye.”

“Yes, and now I don’t have to punch all the dolphins in the area. He knows what he did.” Hara shrugged.

Kek laughed and hugged her. “Maybe the night market if you are up for it by then.”

“What are you planning?”

“A distraction.”

She prodded him in the chest. “I haven’t seen my cousin in a decade, and she finally washed up on the island where I am now living. I am not going to miss an opportunity to hang out with her just because you have suddenly gone prudish.”

“You know why I am wary.”

“And you know I am refusing to take a test until eight weeks after your rut. I can’t believe you bit Narro.”

“He had Alohi to console him.”

“Yeah, and you rutted me raw, and then I had Narro to console me.”

He blushed. “I should have been gentler.”

“Yes, you should, but we all know you save that for Alohi.”

He sighed. “Instinct is instinct. He may be my omega, but you are my treasure.”

She tapped his lips. “If I am the treasure, stop banging the box around, or we’ll see if the monocle effect extends to alphas.”

He winced. “I get a little... enthusiastic around you lately.”

“Yeah, and if you are worried that my uterus is occupied, you should behave, not try to put a dent in the occupant.”

He had been super attentive since his heat, but he got very excited, which caused aches, which got Narro to cuddle and soothe her, which led to other things.

Every morning, they woke up four in a bed with Narro, Hara, Alohi, and Kek. He was always reaching for her in his sleep, and gentle suggestions didn’t work. Alohi still wormed between them, and she suspected it fuelled the desperation.

* * * *

Narro sat with Alohi and asked, “So if a baby comes, are you going to stand between it and Kek?”

“No. Of course not. That is ridiculous. Why are you asking?”

“Because you are keeping Kek and Hara from finding balance, and as a result, he’s hurting her.”

Alohi frowned. “I am not being too... I don’t get... am I really that bad?”

“It isn’t bad, but you have had him to yourself for a long time. Sharing does not come naturally to some omegas. You are feeling a lack in some areas, so you are insecure. It is unfortunate, but you must give Hara a chance because when she does eventually carry for Kek, she will need a lot of contact from him. If it hasn’t come naturally by then, it will be dangerous for mother and baby.”

“What should I do?”

“Let them have a date night. Just them. Twice a week. And you and I will stay away until the following morning.”

Alohi frowned and then nodded. “That is doable.”

Narro grinned.

When Kek and Hara came in and said, “Hara wants to go to the night market,” Alohi laughed and looked at Narro. “Sounds like the first date night to me.”

They explained the concept, and Hara and Kek agreed. Date night would begin that very day. Night. Whatever.