Page 91 of Ondine: Vol. 2

Jake comes running out of the house toward us. Sabbies turns us so he’s protecting me from Jake’s trajectory.

“Ondine!” He yells and Sabbies continues to turn us away from him.

“Sebastian, I swear to god if you keep moving away from me I will bite your ear off!”

“Leave her alone. She’s upset,” Sebastian says calmly.

Jake mutters a whole bunch of mean and inappropriate things before he huffs and gives up.

“I didn’t get the position,” I mumble to Jake.

“I know, baby. Shadow told me. I think it’s about time we pay a visit to the conductor and knock his skull around a few times. Show him what alphas can really do.”

I smile, despite myself.

“It’s just so stupid I’m upset about it. I knew I wasn’t going to get it.”

Jake growls. And Sebastian growls back.

“I need Arnie. And my nest,” I blurt out suddenly. Shadow jumps in suddenly, “I have your little nest here.”

I pull out of Sebastian’s arms to see Shadow holding my book with the tie and the comb. I grab it and pull it to my chest. Oh my god, that feels good. A rush of endorphins pumps through me.

I step back into Sebastian, my back to his front and he puts his hands on my shoulders.

“Fuck ’em,” Shadow says. “Fuck those bastards. They have to be incentivized to take on an omega and they still can’t get out of their fucking circle jerk to try? Fuck ’em.”

Jake adds, “You don’t need them. You have so many more options. Bigger and better options. There’s the solo performance. It’s much better than being one of many in a place that barely recognizes you.”

I use my finger to ask him to get closer and he does. I kiss his jaw and tell him thank you. A genuine smile spreads across his face. “And thank you, Shadow.”

Shadow nods.

“Come on, sweetheart. Let’s bring your things inside.”

My chest gets tight. “But I don’t have a room.”

Before anyone reacts, Sebastian replies, “The whole house is your room. Your things will go everywhere.”

I look at my things and smile at that.

“Wait, where is my beanbag chair?”

Sebastian visibly shudders.

“It didn’t make it.”

I eye him suspiciously.

Shadow, Jake, Sebastian, and I start bringing in my things. I direct them on where I want my pillows, books, and dishes.Everything has a place by the time Sebastian is cooking shrimp tacos for everyone for dinner.

Arnie emerges from his room limping and looking ragged as hell. He kisses me on the top of my head and then joins me on the couch.

“Freddie is a big hiker, I’m guessing.”

“He thought it was a 10 mile loop. It was a ten mile there, and ten mile back trail. I don’t know if you know this, but I’m not a big hiker.”

I laugh at my poor, sore man and snuggle up close. He was gone for like seven hours.