Nix’s voice drops down into a seductive purr as he walks his fingers down Finn’s t-shirt to tap on the metal of his belt buckle.
“What do you say, Dr. Merritt? Interested in some skinny-dipping and maybe a little making out?”
Finn is no fool.
Without hesitation, he wraps his arms around his mate’s waist, pulling their children snugly between them, and hurls them sideways into the pool.
Nix’s gasp of surprise and delight rings out, a burst of joy echoing in Finn’s mind like sunlight on water.
29
Epilogue Two: (Leo and Rowan)
Leo
It’s just before dawn on their second day at the beach mansion when Leo rolls out of the nest, muscles pleasantly sore from the day before. The pack had spent the afternoon by the pool, reconnecting between swims, meals, and naps—a true day of relaxation, their first since the Christmas trip to Aspen last year.
Even then, five weeks ago the tension had been palpable.
Gideon had not been subtle with his efforts to shield them, his unease written in every absence and gesture. Jay, in desperation, had taken up late-night stalking of him like a restless shadow. Grayson and Rowan were at each other’s throats constantly, their usual banter replaced by sharp edges and harsh words. And Luca…Luca had clung to Leo more and more, seeking comfort in his presence, much like he had in theold days before they’d stumbled upon his soulmate in Quest’s kitchen by chance or divine intervention.
Even Finn had started spending more time at the hospital, pouring himself into his work with new Andrology patients. It was partly to escape the tension at home, but it felt like more than that. It was as if he were taking on a responsibility that wasn’t his to bear—caring for Omegas who reminded him, in some way, of Nix. As though he needed to prove, to himself or someone else, that he was capable of protecting and nurturing them. That he was worthy of caring for the gift they’d been given in Nix.
And what a gift it is.
Leo stands beside the nest so he can watch his mates curled together like a knot of love. Noses pressed to throats, and into shoulders. Hands resting on waists or, in Gideon’s case, on Jay’s ass. Contented scents combine to create the scent of home, continents away from their house in Nashville.
Pulling on Jay’s shorts from yesterday and a giant t-shirt that saysI {heart} Clearwater, he creeps out into the hall and down the stairs. He doesn’t stop for coffee, intent on seeing the sunrise. It won’t be long before they head back into the February winter further north, and while Nashville isn’t the Arctic Circle, Leo wants to carry these memories and this feeling of calm strength home with him.
He drags a lounger toward the opening in the wall that overlooks the sea, settling it just where the view feels endless. The air is still, surprisingly calm, with only a faint breeze brushing against him. To his left, the moon casts its soft glow. Behind him, the first rays of the sun light up the sky, soft light shimmering over the black water.
The harmony between the two—the moon yielding to the sun during this quiet changing of the guard—sends a shiver through him, despite the warm morning air. He’s never stopped to noticethis moment before, and now that he has, it strikes him as achingly beautiful.
“Leo?” Nix whispers from behind him.
He’s wrapped in the green blanket that usually sits on their sectional at home.
Leo is reminded of watching Jay tell Nix about them being Were while it had covered his thighs, and of how it has wrapped him up on so many other occasions—from movie nights to post-sex comedowns. It’s a welcome reminder of home, all wrapped up with one of his favorite people.
“Nix, my love. Come share your blanket,” Leo coaxes.
Grinning, Nix adjusts the blanket, spreading it wide enough to cover them both.
He’s naked underneath, his skin dotted with small, mouth-shaped bruises on his belly, thighs, and throat. Logically, given his rapid healing, the marks should’ve faded by now. But it’s not the first time Leo has wondered if maybe Nix wants to keep them—so he does.
Nix settles his warm, vanilla-scented self between Leo’s legs, wriggling slightly until he’s comfortable. Then, with meticulous care, he pulls the blanket up under his armpits, smoothing it down over them both like a contented cat claiming its favorite spot. “You’re out here all by yourself,” he says, but it sounds more like a question.
“Mmm. Wanted to watch the sunrise. Glad you’re here now, though.”
And it’s true, Leo always enjoys Nix’s company; how could he not? But seeing him this morning, just as the sky turns from gray to pale yellow, settles his busy mind.
“Nice. What were you thinking about so hard all night long?”
“Wha–?”
He almost asks how his mate had known he’d had a restless night, but it’s probably those Goddess-gifted bonds. He’s notjealous, he’s not. And if he concentrates, he can feel his bond to the man in his arms burn softly.
“Hmm. Well, we’re headed home soon.”
