Page 25

Seraphina

I’m no longer in the closet when I wake up but the room is much darker than it was earlier. Callum’s wrapped around me, his arm heavy across my waist, his breath steady against my neck. The initial terror of the fire has faded, Lyle on my other side, his hand resting on my hip. I’m in one of their shirts and I smell like Lyle’s body wash, which means they bathed me at some point, their care a quiet promise I don’t remember but feel in my bones.

I don’t remember moving from the closet, but I’m here, safe, surrounded, and it’s enough, almost. I sit up a little, Lyle and Callum moving with me. Callum’s voice is rough with sleep when he speaks. “How you feeling, sweetheart?” he asks, his hand stroking my arm.

Lyle’s hand tightens on my hip, his green eyes searching mine. “You okay, Fi?”

No doubt he’s asking because my Omega took over completely at some point. “Mostly. I slept well, though. So, there’s that.” I force a smile onto my face, Callum leaning in to run his nose along my temple. A few days ago, I would be terrified of what that meant but right now I’m craving it. Lyle leans in on the other side, mirroring the same motion, my body thrumming with energy at the attention they’re giving me.

They aren’t touching me anywhere else, just offering a quiet comfort that’s my speed. And I love it. So damn much.

The door opens and Ambrose steps in, balancing heaping containers of food and a bottle of orange juice. I frown, my eyes catching his bare chest, the sweatpants slung dangerously low on his hips, the V of muscle making my mouth dry. Tattoos line the bare skin, creeping up his neck, his silky hair pulled back into a small ponytail. I kind of want to lick him.

“I grabbed some things from the diner,” he grins, setting the items down on the mattress.

I frown deeper, jealousy warring the rest of my emotions. “You went out like that?” I say, my eyes flicking to his bare torso. This isn’t the first time I’ve felt this emotion. Every time Ambrose has been at the store and someone has given him a second look, I growled like an animal. It’s embarrassing but I also don’t like anyone thinking they can have Ambrose.

He chuckles, shaking his head. “Angel, no. I was fully clothed outside. However, the diner sucks ass and not everything was warm so I reheated it in the kitchen.” That’s enough to satisfy me as he starts opening the containers to reveal scrambled eggs, bacon, and sausage.

Callum props himself up further, sitting back against the headboard, his voice playful but edged with mock offense. “Hey, I’ve never gotten this kind of treatment.”

“If you’d take my knot, I’d be glad to bring you breakfast in bed.”

Lyle chuckles, stealing a strip of bacon, continuing the teasing. “It’s true. I’ve had breakfast in bed several times.”

I let out a quiet sigh, nibbling the last bite of a piece of bacon, the mattress cluttered with empty containers. The room is still dark, from blackout curtains once I took in more of the room but it has to be at least six or seven in the morning. “I should clock in, right? Do you think someone… right, my computer is damaged.”

Callum lightly tugs me into his side. “Sweetheart, you’re not going back to work right after that. I’ve also put in for a few vacation days to help you settle in, make sure you have everything you need here.”

I want to argue that but Ambrose slides off the bed, shaking his head. “Vetoed. We’ll figure out the work thing. You can call the chief if you want but he said to take all the time you need. So, you get to rest with Callum and we get to get all the things our beautiful Omega should need.”

“At least let me pay for my own pillows this time!”

Ambrose is halfway out into the hallway, Lyle on his heels, humming like a child as if he can’t hear me. I know he won’t take my money but at least I offered, right? It’s silent after they leave so I slide back down to lay my head on the pillow, Callum moving with me. He hands me a small device, my eyes lighting up when I realize it’s my phone. I must have dropped it in my nest when I was gathering my keepsakes.

“Seems you’re a little popular, sweetheart.”

I frown and swipe open my phone to see a flood of messages from the Chatted app. They’re all extremely worried about me but I’m not sure why. The thirty-five missed messages doesn’t make any sense. Opening up the chat, I see a slew of ‘are you okay’ and ‘what happened’ before reading the last one.

MacNCheese – just tell us you’re okay. Please.

Coolblue – shit she just read the messages. Come on bubbles!

Strawberrybubbles – I’m fine. What’s going on?

Razorfox – We saw the news and remembered you lived over there. Are you okay?

Strawberrybubbles – Physically, yeah. I’m safe, though.

MacNCheese – thank fuck. Are you at a hospital or something? Can we come see you? I know we never have but I’m worried.

I stare at that last message, realizing how many people I’ve had in my corner and just hadn’t figured it out.

Strawberrybubbles – No, I’m okay. The Alphas I’m always telling you about came and got me.

Razorfox – Okay, I demand to know when you’re going to claim those men. Seriously? Big strapping firefighters save you from a fire and they’re still THE Alphas?

Strawberrybubbles – They’re mine.

My face warms at the declaration, the lips pressed against my neck no doubt a direct response as Callum reads over my shoulder. A shudder of need runs through me as his breath fans my skin, a whimper tearing from my throat. In two days, I’ve somehow come to terms with what has to happen for my heat, my Omega spurring me until the only thing I can focus on is their hands and fingers and cocks and knots. I’m still worried that something will change, that they’ll attack me—but that worry has now fed mostly into something else.

Because I don’t know who that Alpha was, I can’t fathom the idea of going outside. But in here, in these confined spaces, with my Alphas, I think I’ll be okay. Especially when Callum places a hand on my stomach, his fingers splaying out, his pinky hanging dangerously close to my pussy.

I drag my attention back to the chat, seeing a lot of whoops and cheers.

MacNCheese – I’m so happy for you, Bubbles. You deserve it. Now, go have fun with them and if you need us, we’re here.

Strawberrybubbles – I’m just resting.

Even as I type that, a gasp tears from my throat at the tendril of need that worms its way through me, slick coating my thighs again. I part them slightly, tilting my head back in a silent plea, Callum’s hand dipping lower.

“Do you need me, sweetheart?”

I scrunch my eyes closed, gripping my phone in my hands a little tighter. “I don’t know why. Last night… I just...” A whine cuts off my words as two fingers swipe through my slick heat.

“It’s a preheat, Fi. The spikes are going to ramp up but that’s what we’re here for. Whatever you need. Tell me where you want me.” His cock thickens against the seam of my ass but I’m too tired and too sore so I just widen my legs a little more, his fingers sliding inside of me. “Let me know if this is too much. Color, Fi.”

“Yellow. Just… just your fingers.” I breathe out, his other arm moving to wrap around my waist. I cling to that arm, gasping every time his fingers enter me. I need relief so bad but I’m also not ready to fully give myself over to my Omega. Soon, but not yet.

His fingers move delicately, giving me what I need without taking too much. The soft words he whispers in my ear make my Omega preen with happiness. He tells me that I’m his perfect Omega, that I was made for him, that he couldn’t imagine being anywhere other than right here.

My body trembles in his hold, an orgasm moving towards me as I gush on his fingers, a little cry falling from my lips.

“You make the prettiest sounds, sweetheart. You’re going to be so beautiful during your heat, absolutely gorgeous and I can’t wait.”

I can’t form any words, something garbled coming from me as I sag in his hold, the familiar Omega weariness taking over as the pleasure thrums through my limbs. Once again, these men are proving that they’re not here to take or to ruin. They’re here to caress and to love. They’re not him, I remind myself one last time. They’re mine.