Page 99 of Storm

His gaze holds mine steadily. “The first omega I’ve ever knotted,” he confirms.

“But Fox?” I ask, confusion swirling through me.

Reed shakes his head, his expression earnest. “Alex and Jon, they tend to his heats,” he explains. “The one time I helped him out...” He hesitates, as if unsure how I'll react to what he's about to tell me. “I love Fox, he’s pack.” The honesty in his eyes takes my breath away.

"But you, Storm. You are the first I've knotted." His fingers trace my cheek with tenderness. "And the only one I want to."

His words settle heavy between us, sinking into my bones. I should feel trapped, marked. Instead, I feel something far more dangerous.

I feel like I might finally belong.

Chapter27

Jonathan

The mountain road winds beneath my tires, each turn bringing me closer to the sanctuary we've created. I grip the steering wheel tighter, my knuckles white with the lingering tension of the past forty-eight hours. Exhaustion pulls at me, but satisfaction runs deeper—I've done it. I've secured our safety, at least for now.

My fathers' faces swim in my memory. Their shock when I confronted them in their private study, the gradual shift from outrage to grudging acceptance as I laid out my terms. For once, I had leverage that they couldn't dismiss. The rebellion had given me that much.

I saw what the beta-born alphas did to the Omega House—the fear, the blood, the desperation.

The authorities crushed the uprising fast, but not before damage was done. Rumor had it one of the omegas was taken during the chaos, vanished without a trace.

It sits like a stone in my gut.

Storm doesn’t know, and I don’t ever want her to.She deserves better than a world that keeps taking from her.

"The omega stays with Pack Kingsley," I had told them, my voice leaving no room for argument. "You will abandon any plans to transfer her to another pack. You will cease your search for her current location. And you will publicly announce that you support my claim."

Father’s cold green eyes had narrowed. "And why would we agree to such terms, Jonathan?"

“Because I know about the financial irregularities in the eastern district development. I know about the chemicals being added to the water supply to trigger dormant omega genes in the beta population. I know about the male omegas.”

The silence that followed had been deafening.

I shake the memory away as I turn onto the final stretch of road leading to the house. The sun hangs low in the sky, bathing the mountains in golden light. This place has always been a refuge, but now it feels like something more—something permanent.

A home.

As I pull into the driveway, I notice Alexander's car and Reed's SUV parked side by side. The house looks peaceful, lights glowing warmly in the gathering dusk. For a moment, I allow myself to feel relief. We're all here. We're all safe.

The moment I step from the car, I catch it—a shift in the scents carried on the evening breeze. The familiar dark chocolate of Storm's omega perfume, but now intertwined with something else—the saltwater and cedar that belongs to Reed. My nose twitches as I process this new information, a complicated emotion rising in my chest. Not quite jealousy, not quite relief. Something in between.

I grab my bag from the backseat and head for the door, my footsteps crunching on the gravel drive. Before I can reach for the handle, the door swings open, revealing Alexander's familiar face—my mirror image, yet softened by a gentleness I've never managed to master.

"You're back," he says, relief evident in his voice. He steps aside to let me in, his eyes quickly scanning for injuries. "How did it go?"

"Better than expected," I reply, dropping my bag in the entryway. The house smells like home—like pack and safety—but that new scent combination lingers beneath it all. "Our fathers have agreed to back down. For now."

Alex's eyebrows shoot up. "How did you manage that?"

"I reminded them that family scandals work both ways." A thin smile crosses my lips. "They care more about their reputation than they do about Storm. Or any of us, for that matter."

I move past him into the kitchen, where Elena is preparing dinner. She glances up, offering a warm smile that I attempt to return. Even after all these years, her easy affection still catches me off guard.

"There's coffee," she says, nodding toward the pot on the counter. "You look like you need it."

"Thank you." I pour myself a cup, the rich aroma momentarily overpowering the other scents in the house. "Where is everyone?"