Page 16 of Bailey-Rose: The Complete Duet

Taking the glass, I spotted Eli leaning casually in the doorway, watching. I was proud of him for leaving me alone with the guys after my spell when normally he wouldn’t have let me out of his sight. There was no doubt in my mind he was the one who made the drink and brought it over but was kind enough to let my newly-matched Alphas take care of me.

My oldest brother was one of the most amazing people I knew, and I wanted nothing more than for him to find his own happiness. Maybe now that I’d soon be out of the house and with my pack, he could focus on himself. I mouthed my thanks, and he nodded but didn’t budge. Letting out a sigh, I rolled my eyes and lifted the glass to my lips, knowing he wouldn’t leave until I drank the whole damn thing.

Finished, Lysse took it from me and sat on the coffee table watching me carefully. “I think it might be best if we let you rest.”

“What? Why?” I asked even as I sank back against Warrick. “I’m good. Besides, Yun-Sun hasn’t had a chance to share.”

“Sweetheart, we don’t need to accomplish everything in one day when we have the rest of our lives together,” Yun-Sun pointed out. “It’s clear you’re tired, a lot has happened, and none of us want you to overdo it.”

I scowled at the man, feeling like a little kid who’s being told to go to bed when there’s a party going on. “I think I know what I can handle.”

He gave me a patient look, but a smirk was tugging at his lips. “Of that, I have no doubt, sweetheart. Would you humor me and take a moment, close your eyes, and really listen to your body? If you’re absolutely confident you don’t need to take a break, then I won’t say another word.”

It was hard to argue with someone when they made an infuriatingly reasonable request. Letting out a heavy sigh, I closed my eyes and took a few deep breaths.

“Good, now I want you to start at the very top of your head and work your way down, taking stock of how your body is feeling,” Yun-Sun directed, his voice soothing.

With my eyes closed, I realized my ear was resting over Warrick’s heart, and I got lost in its steady, solid sound. Moments later, it felt like I was being carried somewhere, but that didn’t make sense. I hadn’t figured out how my body was feeling yet.

“Good thing I had the staff come in straight away to clean in here.” I heard Eli say, his deep voice distracting me from what I was doing. “The sheets have been changed as well, so you can settle her in there.”

“How did she not realize how tired she was?” Gareth asked. “Should we be worried?”

“No, I’m amazed she lasted as long as she did after her episode. Normally, that would have worn her out to the point she’d be in bed until the next day,” Eli commented. “I think she was so worried about you guys freaking out, it gave her the determination to ensure you were all right.”

“Our pretty lady has big heart,” Vili added. “This we need to keep eyes on.”

A sigh escaped me as I was placed in my bed, sinking into the puffy mattress topper that made it feel like a cloud. Immediately, I reached out, randomly searching for Pearl. I couldn’t ever relax if I didn’t have her close. Knowing she was with me told me I was safe, where I should be, and everything would be all right.

Instead of finding Pearl, I grasped someone’s arm. When I dragged it close, I was once more transported to that summer morning baking muffins with my mother. Wrapping my arms around the limb, I nuzzled my cheek against it and started to purr—something I never knew I could do.

“Do you hear that?” Yun-Sun asked, his voice soft as if worried he would wake me. “Did you know Omegas could do that?”

“No.”

“So goddamn fucking cute.”

“Not puppy, our pretty lady kitten.”

“How is that possible?”

They all said, talking over one another in excited voices, making me grumpy enough to stop purring and exchange it for disgruntled grunts.

“Shh, sweetheart,” Yun-Sun soothed, stroking a hand over my head. “Just sleep. Ignore everything else and be at peace.”

His voice was like melting butter on chocolate chip pancakes easing my irritation until I resumed purring. While I was comfortable, I still felt like I was missing something, so I rolled over and curled myself in the crook of Yun-Sun’s body. This was better but not quite right.

“What do you need, Rosie?” Lysse asked as his finger stroked my cheek.

I cracked open an eye and found we were in my bedroom. Somewhere in my brain, I already knew this but hadn’t accepted the fact I’d fallen asleep and lost to Yun-Sun’s challenge. Ulysses sat on the edge of my bed with Pearl in his lap, ready to hand her over since he knew she was essential to my life. Yet when I looked at my beloved octopus, all I could think of was how pissed I was she was on his lap and not mine. That took me by surprise. Never had anyone or anything in my life replaced my need for Pearl.

Feeling confused, tired, and unable to answer his simple fucking question, I let out a loud, frustrated whine. It was natural for Omegas to whine when they were overwhelmed, sad, or upset. It was akin to babies crying as a means of communication. Omegas were highly sensitive to emotions—theirs and others. So when we became, for all intents and purposes, paralyzed by the emotional overstimulation, we whined, triggering any Alpha nearby to instantly tend to the distressed Omega. From what I’ve heard, when the Omega is scent matched, their whines demand attention from their Alphas. Betas still feel the urge to be of help, but for Alphas, it’s an undeniable instinct.

I got to witness this as all five of my Alphas were instantly on my bed, forming a circle around me. Warrick was stretched out along the headboard, nuzzling his face into my hair, Lysse held my hand, Vili had my feet in his lap using his thumbs to massage one, and Gareth’s hand rested on my hip. Yun-Sun wrapped his other arm around my waist and tucked me tight against him like a perfect big spoon. Finally, the feeling that something wasn’t right vanished, and I let out a contented sigh, twining my fingers with Lysse’s so he couldn’t leave.

“This is what I need,” I mumbled, wriggling so my mattress formed around this current position.

Never in my life did I believe such a precious gift as Bailey-Rose would appear. Her angelic face, which was so expressive when she was awake, looked so peaceful as she drooled on my arm. It didn’t matter that it went numb an hour ago or that I was still fully dressed, only having removed my shoes at the door when I came in. Thankfully, I’d taken off my suit jacket earlier as we talked, or I would have been sweltering. Our little Omega was a furnace, but I would let her burn me alive just to hold her for a moment longer.