“Jude,” Zayden growled from across them, him and Kai staring jealous daggers at him. “Leave her alone, or I’m going to steal her from you.”
“Hmph.”
Sonnet gave him a sweet, soft kiss on the cheek before both of them watched the jet take off, one minute the view of the ocean, and the next nothing but a sea of clouds.
For the first time, Jude wasn’t the first one to fall asleep. Sonnet was snuggled into him, and it felt like being engulfed by the warmest, softest teddy bear with pink fur that smelled like strawberries.
“Man,” he whined, “do we really have to bring her back to our house? It doesn’t seem right having her, who’s like literal sunshine, be in our dark, gloomy bachelor pad.”
Kai frowned. “Our house isn’t gloomy.”
“Of course you’d say that.Youpicked it out and pouted until we all caved in!”
“Don’t shout,” Zayden growled. “Let Sonnet sleep. Besides,” he looked at Felix, each of them giving each other a familiarlook that said they were planning something. Sure, Zayden was the lead alpha, but what’s a lead Alpha without his second in command?
“Things will have to change to benefit our omega. However, for now, we need to focus on strengthening our bond and building Sonnet’s trust in us. Her heat cycle will be coming quicker than any of us can plan out, and we need to make sure we’re all prepared for what that means.”
Zayden’s words held a deep edge, as if he were trying to drill into them to be on their best behavior. But he was right. Sonnet’s cycle was coming up fast, and with that came a lifetime of commitment. Did Dr. Burdough fix what needed to be in their pack before bonding? Or could everything fall apart in the same amount of time they had just fixed it all?
Jude didn’t like those questions at all.
Zayden’s work phone chirped, and it wasn’t long before he put Maddox on speaker. He didn’t even say hello, just straight to business.
“We’re all pleased down here at the label to hear how successful your impromptu vacation has gone. The marketing team is already prepared to run socials, and the rumors have been rewritten after the disaster of your concert. Damage control has been a success. The next phase is what will begin your next chapter officially and publicly.”
Jude and everyone else made eye contact. They knew going into this that after their healing vacation would be a public display of courtship. Still, it felt like a lifetime since Jude had been seen by the public. He’d become a family man, a partner, and he didn’t know what it meant to be famous anymore.
Red carpet? No, thanks.
Being part of a boy band was feeling less exciting. Jude still didn’t know what he wanted to do, but he was becoming more certain that being a drummer was no longer it.
“That being said,” Maddox continued, “I know you’re all most likely planning your transition back to reality and home life. However, I’m here to remind you that you are expected to attendwithyour omega for Chicago’s Autism Awareness Charity Gala.”
“We remember,” Zayden said slowly, as if he was hoping to forget. “I’m certain you and the team already have a plan.”
“Indeed. After all, this will be your return to the light after your disastrous concert—”
“Do you have to keep reminding us of that?” Kai interrupted.
Maddox, being Maddox, didn’t respond. “I’ve spoken and directed the team on every possible scenario and preparation. We’ve already rented a vehicle, and I have scheduled a private dressing for the four of you and your omega. When you arrive at the charity, you need to be happier and healthier versions of yourselves, with your omega at the center. Which leaves me to ask, are you all prepared to bring your bond to the public? Were your sessions with Dr. Burdough as successful as you’ve said?”
There was a pause. A lengthy one. And no one wanted to be the first to speak up.
To be real, Jude didn’t feel like any of them were ready to go public with Sonnet. They were comfortable in their little home-life romance with their omega. Jude didn’t want that bubble to pop and the paparazzi to come flooding in with their cruel photos and even crueler journalism.
But were their sessions with Dr. Burdough successful? Could they go public without breaking up in a month?
Jude didn’t know for sure, but looking at his brothers, he felt confident in his answer.
“We’re ready.”
Zayden raised an eyebrow. “Yeah?”
“Yeah!”
Maddox sighed with relief before going into game-plan mode. Zayden took him off the speaker and handled the discussion with ease.
Jude wasted no time and snuggled close to Sonnet, ready to snooze. Reality with Sonnet didn’t seem so scary anymore.
