Seb opens his eyes and turns his head sharply towards me, worry tugging at the corner of his mouth. "D'you think she'll react okay? With the whole…" he gestures at us. "Y'know. Job situation…?"
There's a pulse of tension in the air. "Well, you never know, but sheseemedfine with things when you said we tested regularly? And she seemed very pragmatic about birth control, so…"
I really, really hope I'm right.
The soft yawn Clarke swallows makes my heart throb. "Mmm. 'S'not right not to say something…" He yawns again.
"Mmmm. In the morning. We can fill her in after we've all had a good sleep, 'kay?"
Shit. I'm going to have to think that one through really carefully.
The toilet flushes. The whisper of the running sink fills the room. All of our gazes are drawn to the bathroom door like a magnet.
"Jesus, you idiots, move! She's gonna get all self-conscious if you're all staring at her when she comes out of the bathroom," hisses Seb. "Not you, Zeke, don't you dare move yet," he adds, as Zeke braces himself to turn away. "Just be cool," he adds, frowning at me.
I throw myself onto James' spot, then realise I'm posing like an '80s heartthrob.Fuck. I need to act natural. How the hell do I act natural?
I sigh, and check in with myself. My alpha is restless in my chest. This is not like him. He's normally quiet and sated after we've been with an omega, whether for business or for pleasure. But he's scrabbling in my gut, climbing themetaphorical walls inside me, panicking because she's out of his sight.
I pull myself off the bed, just as the water shuts off. I go to the bathroom door, but it opens before I could knock. She startles and lets out a small squeak.
Stepping backwards, I take her in. Her hair is a bird's nest. She's wearing my shirt—it's so big on her that it falls halfway down her thighs.
I can't remember ever seeing anyone look so beautiful.
Fuck. Seeing her in my clothes makes something small and private inside me glow with satisfaction. "Sorry! Sorry, little star. My alpha was just a bit, um…"
"His alpha was being a bit alpha-y," Seb interjects. I can feel him roll his eyes from behind me.
"Oh! Yeah. I get it. I think my omega had a bit of a moment, too," she says, shrugging.
"Well, your omega can have a moment, or even two, once she's hydrated," mutters James, as he carries copious different colored Powerade bottles into the room. "Unnatural red, oddly fluorescent blue, neon green, bizarre purple, or disturbing yellow?" he asks her.
She chuckles. "Green, please."
He drops the bottles in the middle of the bed, grabs one of the green ones, cracks off the lid, removes the seal, replaces the lid, and passes it to her.
Oh, James.My heart melts a little bit. For us, he always does that in the kitchen.
I wonder if she would have accepted an open drink from one of us?
"Thanks," she says, smiling.
He raises an eyebrow at her and folds his arms. "Go on."
She looks confused.
"James' alpha gets very, uh, concerned about our wellbeing. Indulge him. He won't back down until he sees you've taken care of yourself."
She shrugs, and sips from the bottle. James visibly relaxes. He stalks over to the bed and taps Zeke's hip. "Scoot down." He helps Zeke shuffle to the bottom of the bed. "You fuckers—uh, sorry, Dellie—um, you all better get hydrated."
I wrap an arm loosely around her waist, and pause, waiting for her reaction. I feel my alpha release a little tension as she leans ever so slightly into me. My mouth relaxes. Clarke has hazily passed a bottle to Seb, and has selected one for himself. He's leaning against the bedhead with feigned nonchalance, grinning like a kid on Christmas, but his eyes are drooping.
My poor beta. He's spent, but I can feel through our bond how much more he wants, and how determined he is to hold it back. I can also feel exhaustion creeping in through the edges of the bond.
My beta needs his pack alpha. And weallneed… her.
Careful…
