Page 3 of The Omega's Bloodlinem: Part Two

“Getting there,” said Yelena.

“Was it another panic attack over the lockdown?”

“More like the past coming back to haunt us,” I replied.

Velda settled on my other side, planting a kiss against my temple. “The past can certainly be a bitch. You’re drawing quite the crowd outside the library. Should we transfer to the suites?”

“Yes,” said Yelena. “I would imagine everyone could do with some rest.”

My thoughts drifted to Rachel while we collected ourselves to go upstairs. Seth and Caden spoke so little about her and I was morbidly curious about the woman who had ensnared them both. Who was she? Was Rachel even her real name? Why had she stayed hidden for so long? The questions turned over in my head, but no answers were forthcoming.

Yelena and I carried Seth and Caden, Haru walking at our side, and Velda lacing her fingers with mine. We waded through the crowd and disappeared upstairs, away from the multitude of curious eyes.

“You did well dealing with your first panic, little witch.” Velda offered me a soft smile. “It’s good practice. I can only imagine they will become more frequent.”

“I’m only good at it if they shift and let me cuddle them.”

“A great many people here crave a gentle touch. If you’re offering them that without judgment or reservation, I’m sure you’ll find plenty willing to do that.”

When we reached the door to Yelena’s suite, Velda drew me into a kiss. “I’ll go make sure all is as well as it can be.”

“Do you need help?” I asked.

She shook her head. “Stay with your panthers. I promise I’ll call you if you’re needed.” Velda kissed me again and waved as she departed down the hall.

Whatever this was—pack, pride, or something else—I wanted to keep it. I may not have understood all the intricacies, but fate brought us together for a reason. My job was to love them, and luckily for me, they were making it easy.

“You weren’t planning on skipping training, were you?” I stepped up behind the uppity little witch that had invaded our nest and secured herself a position as Protector here.

She jolted, turning wide brown eyes on me, her maddening earthy jasmine scent filling my nose. “Yelena said I’m not supposed to train with you by myself.”

“Yelena is busy dealing with a brawl. It’s now or never, witchling.”

Her gaze hardened.

“I would invite you to remember that one of the conditions of you becoming a Protector was to commit to training withallof us.”

“So you want me to disobey one order for another?”

I chuckled. “You’re a Protector. Yelena’s orders aren’t for you; they’re for the nest. If you’re going to submit so easily, maybe you don’t belong in this echelon.”

“Does it get exhausting being a jackass all the time?”

“Not at all.” It was something I cultivated on purpose, not that I would ever tell the others that.

Logan rolled her eyes. “What’s so important you need to train me on it right this second?”

“How many of the nest residents have you actually met?”

She pressed her lips into a thin line.

“Exactly. How do you think you can rule a people if you don’t know them? You’ve been so fixated on your panthers and the other Protectors, you haven’t spared a damn second for the people who live here.”

“Those panthers are mymates,” she hissed.

“And?”

“What do you meanand?”