I cut him off before he buries himself too deep. “Grayson, your job is to lead the clan. I respect your authority there, I’m not standing in the way of that. But in our relationship, in this pack, we are equals. I don’t defer to you. I’m not one of your subordinates, you're not the boss of me.”
I watch his face, waiting longer than I’d like for the pieces to click into place. Then his expression shifts, the stubborn set of his jaw softening. “I’m sorry, Mona. I should have—you’re right. I’m used to making unilateral decisions.”
“I know. And it’s okay. It was a really big thing not to tell me that. But I’m really fucking pissed at Kendrick, too, so I’ll save my rage for him.”
Something rough and possessive rumbles in his chest before he leans in, claiming my mouth with his, hungry and insistent, his tongue sliding against my own.
I break the kiss, and he catches my lower lip between his teeth, just hard enough to make me shiver.
“Later,” I tease.
I slide off Grayson’s lap to find Orion waiting, arms open, a hesitant grin on his beautiful face. He pulls me close, his beard tickling my temple, the scent of chocolate hazelnut rising from his skin.
“Orion, honey,” I whisper against his chest.
“Hmm?”
“I was mad, I’m over it, blah blah blah, don’t do it again.”
He shakes with laughter and squeezes me tighter. “How did I get so fucking lucky to get a mate like you?”
I shrug. “You’ve been blessed.”
Silas laughs sharply, and while I shoot him a glare, he smirks unapologetically and says, “You sure are blessed, mate.” His eyes drop to my chest.
I roll my eyes, but my poor, gentle mate in my arms is still nervous. Orion says, “So we’re okay?”
“We’re okay. I didn’t tell you about Ghost, you didn’t tell me about Kendrick.”
“No more secrets.”
“No more secrets,” I agree, not realizing, by this time tomorrow, I’d have already broken that promise.
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Chapter 30: Mona
We linger on the balcony for a while longer. Mostly in silence, though Ghost’s absence gnaws at me, so I give in and ask if anyone’s seen him since I spotted him watching me from the rocks while I was cliff-diving with the wild ones. For one brief moment, I’d enjoyed that feeling of power—being the one who ignored him first. Then I looked up to acknowledge his falcon form only to find he’d left. The victory was hollow and petty, leaving behind an ache in my chest. No wonder I drank way more beer than I should have.
Eventually, we make our way to my room, and though I’ve been watching the nest slowly transform as Grayson, Orion, and Silas add personal touches, we sleep in my much smaller bed. It doesn’t feel right, being in the nest, yet.
The four of us barely fit in my bed, but I wouldn’t trade this closeness for anything.
Tonight I don’t ask my omega to show me a vision before sleep. So when the world reshapes in that familiar pattern, the edges darkening, like I’m stepping into another world,I’m caught off guard. But then I look around and realize, in confusion, I’m still in my bedroom, staring at my sleeping form. At Orion, beneath me, my cheek resting on his chest, Silas at my back, an arm slung over my hip. Grayson at an awkward angle near the foot of the bed, his massive arm dangling over the side.
I’m smiling down at us when I hear her.
“Cute family.”
I spin in shock. Though I was in heat the last time we met, I recognize her instantly.
“How—what did you do?”
Deidre studies us, her gaze lingering a beat too long on each of our sleeping bodies.
“What the hell is this?” I hiss. Then the panic sets in. Deidre ishere. Now. I rush over to my sleeping self. I try to slap my stupid cheeks, to wake myself up.
“Astral projection. You’re getting pretty good at it, actually. It helps that the half-breed witch is your mate. He’s sharing his power with you.”
