Page 54

E veryone was exhausted after dealing with the chimeras, but we immediately set to work; the others helped to find housing and gather supplies and food for everyone while I worked on doing more thorough healings now that we were out of danger.

That first day felt like it lasted a lifetime, and while I was worried about my people, I couldn’t stop worrying about Serena.

She was swaying on her feet even before Lyle left, but she insisted she was fine, demanded she was able to help, and we let her; we just watched her very closely.

The villagers weren’t too happy to see Ryker, which was understandable, and before long, he left.

Serena was upset about it, raving about how he was the one that saved them, and while that’s true, he’s also the one who brought the chimeras there.

The villagers don’t know what we do. All they see is the face of a man who brings death and destruction with him.

It wasn’t a fight we had the time or energy for, Serena least of all, after all the magic she used. Instead, she stomped around with a frown on her face the whole time.

It was adorable.

Repairs are done faster than it would be if we were without our beasts, and having the guys makes it even faster than before, but it’s still not done overnight and doesn’t stop us from feeling the strain.

We haven’t really gotten a chance to talk about anything. Not about Ryker or Lyle. By the time we hit the pillow every night, we’re out, and when we wake in the morning, there's more than enough shit to be done to keep us busy.

The warmth of the sun wakes me, and I don’t need to open my eyes to feel everyone around me. Serena is buried between Sol and Storm in what she refers to as a twin sandwich. I’m not proud of how long that took me to understand, but the blush on her and Sol’s cheeks made it click.

Nope. Thoughts of sex are a bad idea; my mate might be in the same bed as me, but so are four other guys.

“If you put your dick anywhere near my ass, I’ll break it off.” Blair’s voice is rough with sleep, making him sound even more intimidating than usual.

I almost jump out of my damn skin. How the fuck did he know what I was thinking about? My mental shield is up, not to mention I haven’t even opened my eyes yet.

I feel Serena as she wakes, her mind still an open book. Usually I try to stay out of it, but this early it’s harder to resist, especially right now as the bond all but sings with her happiness.

Facing Lyle last was hard, but even I can’t deny things seem to be looking up. Not only did Ryker push back against his father in a way he didn’t believe possible, but Lyle… he almost seemed like he was there.

For the first time since he was turned, I think he really might be saveable.

Though I still have no idea how.

Ryker. Ugh, I still don’t fucking like the guy, but I saw the results of his training at the village. Serena has more control over her shadows than I’ve ever seen and more confidence.

“Don’t worry, B, I don’t mind sharing.” Serena’s voice is slurred, still half asleep, but her words are impossible to misunderstand.

My eyes fly open as I push up to glare at her over Blair, whose eyes are still closed. I swear if he hadn’t said something, I wouldn’t know he was awake. Guy’s like a damn ninja.

Serena meets my gaze with a sweet smile as if she didn’t just pretty much okay me fucking Blair.

“If watching’s what you're into, talk to Storm and Pike.”

Pike, who I also didn’t know was awake, doesn’t miss a beat as he climbs up the bed toward Serena.

“Oh, you can watch us anytime, Buns. I could even fuck you while Storm fucks me.” He sleeps at the foot of the bed—which is huge because we shoved so many mattresses together—whether he’s shifted or not. The only time he sleeps like a normal person is when he’s cuddling Serena.

And what in the fuck is happening right now?!

“Don’t just go offering shit like that, mutt,” Storm grumbles, kicking his leg out without so much as opening his eyes.

If not for his shifter reflexes, Pike would have taken a swift kick to the jaw.

Storm is confusing. He’s an asshole, but also seems to care about the rest of them. Serena said he doesn’t really like to be touched. At first I thought she was joking because I’d only ever seen him around her and their pack, but it seems they are only the exception to the rule, not the norm.

He’s not exactly controlling like Lyle or as watchful and ninja-like as Blair, but he’s his own brand of asshole; there’s no denying that.

Pike and Sol are much nicer and more approachable. Well, Pike is; his wolf, not so much. He didn’t seem to give a shit about ripping me apart when I stopped him from mating and marking Serena.

I swear sometimes when he’s shifted, I still see the annoyance in his eyes, and I have a feeling he’s holding a grudge even now that they’re mated.

“So you wouldn’t let him fuck me while you fuck him?” Serena asks with a pout. Her voice is so quiet I almost miss it, even only a few feet away.

Her face is so damn red I’m shocked she was able to get the words out.

Storm blinks his eyes open slowly, looking at Serena as if in disbelief. She bites her lip hard enough that I worry she might bleed, but damn it if she doesn’t look so hot like that. Her hair spread out on the pillow, cheeks flushed, teeth sunk into her lower lip.

She looks like a queen—no, like a goddess.

Storm reaches up, his thumb pulling her lip free before he leans in to press his lips to hers, ever so gently. I know I should look away, but I can’t.

“I never said that.” Storm’s lips are still on hers, but it’s impossible to miss the way her eyes shoot open, pupils blown wide, full of lust and disbelief.

The scent of Serena’s arousal fills the air, and I can’t resist breathing it in, my beast growling his satisfaction, and I’m not the only one.

The sounds of our beasts rumbling their approval feels almost strange considering we were all alphas. For all intents and purposes, we shouldn’t get along, we shouldn’t be able to share not only a bed but a mate, and we shouldn’t all be scenting our mate together.

That’s not how alphas work; that’s why they’re called alphas, and even in packs that have more mates, there’s never more than one alpha.

So why do I get the feeling my beast would happily fuck her right now, even with an audience?

My selfish, hoarding wyvern. This goes against everything he is.

Our pack.

His voice sounds in my mind with the only answer that makes sense.

We're a pack, all of us, even those who aren’t here right now.

We make it downstairs to eat and actually sit and enjoy breakfast instead of rushing to finish and get to the village.

Blair and the twins will be going back later today to help finish up a few final things, but the urgency is gone.

At least for now, with the village anyway.

Other things still need to be talked about and handled, even if I’d rather pretend they didn’t exist, like everything was perfect now.

“Hey Rena, can I talk to you?” She looks up, away from Pike, who’s currently lying on the bench, his head on her lap, demanding ear scratches despite still being in human form. I nod toward the entrance of the main hall, hoping to get her somewhere less crowded, not so many listening ears.

“Uhh, sure.” She nods, pushing at Pike’s head for him to move, which earns me a glare.

Boohoo, at least he gets cuddles and love. I was more than half sure she was going to tell me to take a hike rather than go off to talk to me alone. Especially after what happened the last time we ‘ talked ’.

Yeah, not my best.

But I’ve been trying to do better, to be better for her.

Even if that means dealing with Ryker, who I can’t help but think I might have been wrong about, maybe.

I’m not one hundred percent on that yet, but, fuck, maybe Mom was right.

Ugh, why is she always right?

“So…” Serena says, startling me out of my thoughts.

Crap, I’d forgotten she was even here.

Serena doesn’t miss it either, not even attempting to hide her laughter as I grip the railing to stop myself from tumbling down the stairs.

When the hell did we get here?

Doesn’t matter.

“I wanted to talk to you,” I tell her as we once again start up the stairs, now that I’m no longer at risk of falling.

She raises a brow at me, looking unimpressed. “I got that when you said it the first time,” she tells me with a laugh, shaking her head as she continues up the stairs, leaving me to stumble after her like a lost puppy.

“I…ugh, I wanted to talk to you about Ryker and Lyle,” I tell her as she reaches the top of the stairs. Stopping dead, she turns to me, and I feel her eyes as she looks me over, no doubt looking for anger or signs of another fight.

She won’t find it.

I walk up the last few steps, and her eyes never leave mine, even when she has to tilt her head to continue to meet my gaze. Serena might be small, but she’s no longer the scared little girl she was when we found her washed up on the shore or even when she was sent away.

Time has changed her, changed both of us, and for a while there I wasn’t sure it was for the better…

Now I know it was.

I was wrong about so many things, but most of all, for not trusting my mate.

I won’t be making that mistake again. From now on, we’re a team, and this is our pack.

“What about them?” Serena finally asks, her eyes narrowing, ready for the fight she’s so sure is coming.

Reaching out, I wrap my arm around her waist, pulling her into my chest. “Nothing bad, Tiny, I promise.” I press a kiss to her nose and can’t stop the smile that pulls at my lips as her cheeks turn the most adorable shade of pink and she goes cross-eyed, looking up at me.

Releasing her, I continue down the hall, sure she will follow me now, if only to satisfy her own curiosity.

It takes a second, but the unmistakable sound of her footsteps behind me makes me breathe a sigh of relief.

I can fix what’s broken; I know I can.