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I hold my breath, silently begging the Gods to make them play nice. Or make Mom step in and wrangle them into some semblance of order. Something. Anything.
Finally, after staring at River’s hand for what feels like ten minutes, but I know logically has only been a few seconds, Dad grips his hand back and shakes it. The breath whooshes out of me, and I visibly deflate.
“You, too. Call me Aeon. This is Shep and Damien.”
Papa and Pops take their turns shaking River’s hand next. Papa is the one to speak next.
“So. You’re taking our little girl back to your house today? And how do your mates feel about that?”
“Papa!”
“Shep!”
“What? Sugar Bear, it’s a valid question! This is uncharted territory. Our girl is walking into something we know nothing about, with another omega. One who already has an established pack. You can’t blame me for wanting to know how these alphas feel about an unbonded omega stepping into their home. I don’t want her getting hurt.”
This time I do groan and cover my face with my hands. I’d hoped there wouldn’t be any of these questions today. It’s only the first day of us officially hanging out in person. We didn’t have to get into all of this just yet; I don’t think. I peek out between my fingers when I feel a hand on my arm. River is smiling patiently at me and mouths ‘I got this’. I drop my hands and nod.
He clears his throat. “No, you’re right Shep. And I understand. This is your daughter, and you just want to make sure she’s going to be okay. I promise I have no intentions of hurting her. My mates are all aware she’s coming over today and they’re okay with it. Honestly, it’s just going to be me and Ripley today. I wanted to spend time with her by myself without them interrupting.”
He looks at me again and grins when he says the last part. The butterflies have turned into stampeding elephants and a pleased smile ghosts my lips. I think I just fell a little in love with him. Raising a brow at Papa, with my eyes I ask, ‘happy now?’
I can tell he wants to ask more questions. They all do, but they refrain for me. Now isn’t the time for an interrogation. They all nod, and Pops is the one to speak next.
“You keep our girl safe, River. We’re trusting you with her. Don’t disappoint us. Especially me.”
For fuck’s sake, Pops.
He just had to go and try to intimidate him.
“You have my word. Ripley is in excellent hands with me and my pack.”
With that answer, the three of them turn and head out to the backyard. Mom chuckles at their behavior as they push and shove each other, trying to beat each other out the door. You’d think they were still teenagers with the way they act sometimes.
“I think they like you, River.”
I raise a brow at her and give her a skeptical look. I’m not completely sure we were in the same room.
“You two have fun, stay out of trouble, and be careful. I’m with Damien. Keep my baby safe.”
She gives him a hug and follows behind where they all went. I watch until she shuts the door, and I turn back to face River.
“Sorry about that,” I say nervously, wringing my hands together.
He grabs them, holding them still, and places a kiss on my knuckles.
“I promise, it’s fine. I fully expected that to go much worse. It wasn’t bad. They love you, and I can’t say I blame them.”
I bite my lip. I think this omega is pretty perfect.
“Ready to go?”
I don’t even answer, just pull him out the front door. I don’t know what today will bring us, but I will say I’m not one hundred percent certain I’ll be able to keep my pants on for the entirety of it. Especially knowing we’re going to be alone. But hey, you only live once, right? So, if this omega keeps saying all the right things and lighting me on fire every time he looks at me, we’ll both have a happy ending tonight.
Eleven
River
Being so close to Ripley in such a compact space, breathing her scent in with every inhale, has me so hard it’s nearing unbearable. It’s like Syn tying me up and denying me what I want most. Except, based on the way Ripley is perfuming just from being in my presence, I don’t think she’d deny me anything. I think she’d give me anything I want, submitting to me without a thought. That’s an intoxicating thought to imagine. To be the one in control, and to have someone at my mercy. I want that. I want to have Ripley under me, begging me. Hopefully soon.
