Page 28 of Spark (Damselverse #2)

Chapter twenty-eight

Zara

A few days pass by, and already I feel as if a huge weight has lifted from my shoulders.

The Wolf has finally been locked away, as well as his three little Pigs. Now I can live my life to the fullest and finally embrace pack life.

And I can finally take on the name Bloom—Zara Bloom does have a nice ring to it.

Grandma is settling in nicely at the pack house, and Nolan has even suggested converting the guest house into her permanent residence.

However, Granny only plans to stay for a short while. At least until she can get back on her feet and find her own place.

She even suggested finding a pack of Alphas of her own, and fair play…

Grandad has been gone for some years now. I suppose it couldn’t hurt for her to find her own dedicated group of Alphas who would do anything for her.

I’m just meeting up with Halle at the bookstore when I get a woozy feeling. My insides cramp, but I push the sensation aside and enter the shop.

Halle’s smile dazzles the moment she sees me. “Zara!”

She runs around the counter, throwing her arms around me in a sweet embrace. “I knew you would be okay. I have been driving the guys nuts. Just ask Penn!”

I smile, patting her on the back as I hold her close. “It’s okay. I'm safe, Halle, and Grandma, too. Now, where are my babies? I've missed them!"

“Of course! They’re just with Penn. Follow me."

She takes my hand and pulls me toward the back of the shop. We go behind the counter, and I can’t help but gaze around.

So, this was the bookstore Halle burned to the ground? With a match?

What was she thinking?

It breaks my heart to learn that she had been living on the streets. If I'd known, I would have reached out to her, but we'd lost touch.

The Wolf ensured that none of my friends could ever reach me ever again, which was a shame—Halle’s former pack and my former Alpha would have gotten along like a house on fire…

Or a bookstore.

I have to throw my hand over my mouth the moment I find the spectacled Alpha on the ground. Seraphina curls up on his lap, while Blaze, Enya, and Ember climb all over him.

Blaze wraps his tiny socks around his head, and he almost knocks his glasses off when he bites his earlobe.

“Ow…” the Alpha merely utters in a monotone voice, and I laugh.

Enya and Ember poke at his nose, and what is it with this Alpha? Do cats just love him or something?

Halle shrugs. “Penn just has a way with cats.”

Penn sighs, fixing his glasses. “I don’t see why. I’ve never particularly been a cat person…”

“Yeah, well, they love you, Penn, regardless. That’s just how cats are. They know …” Halle says.

The Alpha rolls his eyes, and Blaze finally knocks the glasses off his face.

Halle and I laugh louder at his plight.

Damn, Penn really is one pretty-looking guy now that I see him without the glasses—sculpted cheeks and full lips.

I’m so happy for my best friend.

Her last Alphas were pretty grotesque, inside and outside.

Dane is easy on the eyes, too. I have yet to meet Aiden, but from what I have heard, he’s quite awesome, too.

He’s our veterinarian, after all. The cats will be seeing a lot of him in the future.

“Come here.” I step forward, yanking the tiny cat off the Alpha. Then I grab the other two kittens, hugging all three of them.

They wiggle in my arms, but I don’t care. I missed them so much, and I rejoice as their tiny whiskers tickle my cheeks.

“Mew!” Blaze protests.

“Too bad! Mommy missed you…”

I can’t wait to take them home.

Finally, I place all three kittens back on the ground, and they continue to reign chaos in the back room of Penn’s bookstore.

Someone knocks on the doorjamb of the room, and we all look up.

My eyes blink. “Xavier?”

He grins that shit-eating grin. “The one and only, love.”

I approach his side. “What are you doing here? I thought Nolan was coming to pick me up.”

He shrugs, pulling out a vape from his back pocket as he inhales the small contraption. “Change of plans. I’m here now. Also, I need to see the Alpha in charge.”

Halle and I look at Penn. Do they have some clandestine friendship we should know about?

Nolan and Aiden were already close due to their shared field of animal rescue, and Dacre and Dane work at the same firehouse.

But I’m stumped as to why these two Alphas would form a friendship.

They are chalk and cheese.

“You can’t vape in here,” Penn announces next, standing up as he hands a purring Seraphina to me.

I place her in the carrier, then collect the kittens as I watch the two Alphas curiously.

“Here’s that concept art you asked for, P,” Xavier says, handing Penn a sketch.

Penn blushes red, snatching the sketch from Xavier’s hand. “Not now. And please refrain from calling me P.”

“Why?” Xavier asks, bemused. “P is a great name.”

“It is not. P sounds like something else," Penn replies, exasperated. The Alpha's gaze flickers over to Halle next, and his complexion turns even redder.

The Omega puts her hands on her hips. “Now, what’s all this about?”

I’m curious, too. What the hell is going on with these two?

Xavier sighs, placing his vape in his mouth again. “It’s your secret to share after all, P… I mean, Penn .”

Now we all wait for Penn to explain. He takes off his glasses because there’s a tiny pawprint on the lens, then wipes it on his jacket.

Then he breathes on the lens to make it that extra squeaky clean, then places his glasses back on his face. “I am writing a book. A graphic novel. And I hired Xavier for the artwork.”

Xavier gives another shit-eating grin. “We’ll be collaborating. ”

Penn nods his affirmative. “That is right.”

Well, that’s news to me. When did they organize this?

I’m startled next by Halle's squealing. She runs up to Penn, throwing her arms around him. The Alpha remains ramrod straight, and I snort a laugh.

“That’s amazing news, Penn! I can’t wait to read it."

The Alpha's eyes widen with horror, and I look at Xavier next, reminded of the time he didn’t want me seeing his art in his gallery.

Xavier seems to be having the same thought as he gives a knowing wink, bringing his vape to his lips again.

Perhaps Halle is his very own muse, too—the leading lady in his graphic novel.

“I said no vaping, Bloom,” Penn says, his voice robotic. His arms remain by his side, and it appears he doesn’t want to express his affection for Halle in front of us.

Xavier sighs, stuffing the thing in his pocket. Then he looks at me, pointing at the cat carrier. “So, you ready to go?”

I glance at the cats in their carrier. Then I peer back at Halle pressing her head against Penn’s chest.

A low vibrating sound in his chest confirms that Penn is purring for her. I think it’s time we gave these two some privacy.

I have a feeling that Halle wants to show Penn how proud she is in much more intimate ways.

“We'd best go, Halle. Thank you once again for minding the cats.”

The Omega barely hears me as she nuzzles her cheek against Penn’s tweed sweater. “Anytime,” she whispers, getting her scent all over him.

Penn’s face ticks, and I really think it is time we left. His glasses are steaming up.

Xavier chuckles as we leave the bookstore. “I think we’ve outstayed our welcome.”

I bat his shoulder playfully as he carries the cats to his car. “Why didn’t you tell me you were working on a graphic novel with Penn?”

He shrugs. “I guess we had a lot going on these last several days.”

Of course. Shame colors my cheeks as Xavier straps the carrier onto the backseat, ensuring the cats are safe when we’re on the road.

“I’m sorry. I should have known.”

He smiles as he gets in the front seat. I get in the backseat with the cats, but he meets my gaze in the rearview mirror.

“No worries, love. I guess now we have the rest of our lives to talk about things.”

We do, and my heart thrums in excitement.

Finally, Xavier starts the car. Just at that moment, the open sign of Penn’s bookstore flips to closed, and it appears they really did want to be alone.

“I hear Pee Pee is quite good in the sack despite everything else,” Xavier chuckles as he vapes and drives.

I roll my eyes. “Despite what?”

He meets my eyes in the rearview mirror. “The fact that he’s a psychotic nerd and a bit of a robot?”

“Oh , he’s the psychotic one? And no vaping!”

I point at the cats in their carrier.

Xavier concedes, putting his vape away.

He will have to have his vape when we are finally home—in his very own designated smoking shed out in the back yard.

Grandma built it herself.

***

The house is redolent with the sweet scent of cookies the moment we enter through the door.

Xavier groans in satisfaction. “Fuck… I’m so glad we have our very own grandma now.”

I grin as I take off my jacket, ignoring yet another spike. It’s probably nothing, but I am more lightheaded than usual.

“Yeah. Grandma's cooking was the thing I missed most," I reply. "You’re in for a treat, Xavier. Grandma’s cookies were always to die for."

The Alpha moves straight for the kitchen. Meanwhile, I head upstairs, then open the carrier as I let the cats settle in their room.

“You know this place, don’t you? This is home… ”

All four cats look up at me.

If only they could talk back.

Now I fill their cat bowls with biscuits, and they soon fill their faces.

It's time I headed down for one of my own biscuits as I move downstairs, having to hold on to the handrail as I make my descent.

For some reason, I am craving sweets right now.

When I enter the kitchen, I find Xavier rubbing at a red mark on his knuckles.

Granny wags a wooden spoon at him. “No seconds!”

The kitchen spins in circles.

The Alpha grumbles, peering up to meet me. That’s when his eyes widen. “Zara?”

Granny has a knowing expression in her eyes when she finds me swaying, too.

Suddenly, the floor flies up before me, and the next thing I know, I'm floating in Xavier’s arms.

“Love?”

“For goodness’s sake," Granny scolds. "Get her upstairs if you know what is good for you. She has gone into heat!”

Xavier nods. “Yes, Granny.”

“Meanwhile, I will ring the other two.” She grabs the phone from the wall, dialling their numbers.

My head is swimming, but I squirm in Xavier’s arms, gripping his white shirt. “Xavier…”

“It’s okay, love. I’ve got you. I’ve always got you.”

I squeeze my eyes tight shut as another cramp cripples me. It’s even worse than the phantom heat.

“The… the cats…” I gasp.

“They’re okay. Granny will take care of them!” Xavier exclaims.

Oh, God, no… I can’t go into heat in the same house as my grandma!

“No… Granny…” I mutter.

Just then, Granny’s voice comes from the bottom of the stairs. “It’s okay, Zara sweetheart. I’ve just called the other two. And do not worry a thing about me. I’m seventy-six... I’ve seen it all before… I’ve lived it.”

If the cramps don’t kill me, then those last few words surely will. “So embarrassing…”

“In fact, I think your dad was conceived during my favorite orgy back in the summer of seventy…”

“Please, stop!” I cry, covering my ears.

Xavier is choking himself with laughter. “Granny! Who knew you had such game?”

Granny scoffs. “Oh, you have no idea, kid. No fucking idea…”

This is awful. So, so bloody awful.

Finally, my nest comes into view, and Xavier buries me under all the blankets. He rips off my clothes and then his own, and now he presses me flush to his chest, purring softly for me.

Hopefully, this heat will be more pleasant.

The Alpha brushes the hair from my eyes. "It's okay, love… it's okay…"

Just then, my insides coil and twist as a cramp wracks through my whole body. "Xavier…"

"It's fine. I've got you," he reaches down, fisting his cock as he slips inside me.

"Xavier. I can't fuck in the same house as my grandmother!"

The Alpha blinks at me in shock. Then he smiles lazily, stroking his fingers through my hair. "She's fine, love. More than fine. You heard her…"

Yeah. I heard too much. I'm scarred for life.

Another cramp splits right through my mind, body, and soul, and screw it. I thrust my hips, sliding along Xavier's cock, and the moment his knot swells inside me, the pain stops.

Then I fall into sweet oblivion.