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He gives me one last peck, pulling me into his arms and surrounding me in his warmth. I sigh out again, all the tension from earlier draining out of me at being surrounded by him. My head lays against his chest, his purr vibrating against my cheek. It’s like music to my ears.
All three of them have purred for me now, and each time it’s made me so unbelievably happy. An alpha purr is a wonderful thing. So soothing. I could stay here in his arms the rest of the day, drifting off with his purr echoing in my ears, and be completely content. He picks me up, cradles me in his arms, and sits on the edge of my bed. I cuddle closer in his arms, shoving my nose in the crook of his neck, inhaling, and just relaxing for a bit. These alphas are spoiling me in all the right ways.
In his arms, I catch the faintest hints of coffee and mocha and honeysuckle and coconut. He was with Syn and River earlier. There’s no telling what kind of naughty things they got up to together. I nearly whine at all of their scents intermingling and at the thought of missing out on the fun. Just missing Kian’s calming pine and Nico’s mouthwatering teakwood scent, and I’d be in heaven. Although, maybe that’s for the best.
I don’t believe for a second that this impromptu cuddle is just for me. Knight might not say it out loud, but he was really worried about me when I called. I could hear it. Maybe this is just a little reminder for him I’m here and I’m safe. Reassurance.
Fine with me. I needed this anyway.
Eighteen
Knight
Ripley is wrapped in my arms for the first time, and it feels beyond fucking good. When she called earlier, I thought I’d get to tease her a little and hear her laugh. Instead, dread hit me when she whimpered down the line. To know someone was following her, stalking her, and making her panic pushed my alpha instincts straight to the forefront. I wanted to rush to her side, but knowing she was in her car gave me some semblance of relief. There’s no telling who it could have been, but I’m guessing it’s just a random alpha that caught the scent of an unbonded omega. Still fucking creepy. I’m just glad Ripley was aware of her surroundings.
Holding her against me, breathing her in, it’s like a sense of coming home. Just like with River, Syn, and Kian. Hell, even Nico, but on a more familial level. When she shoves her nose in the crook of my neck and inhales, I purr louder for her, kissing her on the top of her head. Getting a chance alone with Ripley isn’t easy. River is a greedy omega goblin, and since she’s started relationships with Nico and now Syn, it’s been even more difficult to try spending time with her so I can begin building my own relationship with her. I think I’ll take her on a date to finally get that one-on-one time with her I’ve been craving.
“We should probably get down there.” Ripley mumbles against my neck, her breaths puffing against my throat sensually. “Either River will come barging up here soon because we’re taking too long and he’s nosy, or someone in my family is going to come up and embarrass me.”
I chuckle, giving her one last kiss on the head and help her stand. “My money is on River coming up here. He was foaming at the mouth to get to you before we even got out of the car. Luckily, your mom distracted him so I could sneak up here alone.” I smirk.
“Well, let’s not keep our covetous omega waiting any longer.” Ripley grins cheekily, straightening her dress. Then she reaches for my hand and grasps it in hers, leading me out of her room and down the stairs.
Pictures line the walls, plenty of their whole family, some of Ripley and her siblings as kids, and more following along as they all grow up. I want to stop and inspect every one, but Ripley is tugging me along behind her impatiently, quickly heading for the back patio. I chuckle at her eagerness to get to everyone else, not complaining about not getting the opportunity to be nosy. There will be time for that later.
Just before we reach the back door, I tug her back into me and give her another quick kiss. She sighs into it, her plush lips so soft against mine, desire pooling in my gut at the way she feels against me. Kissing her may become my new addiction quickly.
Her eyes are still closed when I pull back, so I take the time to just stare at her for a moment. Thick, black lashes rest against her cheekbones, flushed red with desire from my kisses. Her lips are slightly swollen, pink and shining. Wisps of her ink black hair stick out from the messy bun she’s thrown her hair in, and I tuck one piece away that’s hanging in her eyes.
As I push the strand behind her ear, her hazel gaze fixates on mine. Such beautiful eyes. The green that dominates is such a pretty shade, light and bright, with specks of gold. It reminds me of moss on the forest floor. I grin at her dazed look, nudging her ahead.
“Come on, Sweetheart. Let’s go make sure none of your family needs saving.”
“It’s not them I’m worried about. You should worry more about our pack.” She snorts offhandedly.
I think it takes her a minute to register what exactly she said. Our pack. I like that. It feels right. Every time she’s with us, it feels more natural. Like she’s always been there. Today finally pushed me to take that extra step with her. When she called, everything in me screamed mine, and wanted me to go after her, to protect her. I’ve been holding back, letting Nico and Syn get their time before trying my luck, but I’m done with that now. Time for River to learn to share a bit more. I don’t expect Kian will wait much longer, either. He’s been the most patient of us all, but after so long with him, I can recognize when he’s close to snapping and taking what he wants, what he’s been denying himself.
I can’t explain it, but everyone has been more relaxed since Ripley came around. River is more content, back to his normal self. We’ve all noticed he’s been off the last year or so. Something was missing, and I think that something was a five-foot-something curvy omega with the ability to send us all to our knees.
Syn smiles more than I’ve seen since that disaster of a first courting with Chelsea, the first omega we’d matched with. She lost a bit of her shine after that disastrous encounter. Ripley is bringing it back out in her, and I love it.
Nico is home more when she’s around. He’s usually so busy, so stuck in his head, that he spends more time at the shop than at home, unless River needs or wants him. He’s been giving the other artists more responsibility since Ripley, leaving them in charge of the shop so he can be around when she is.
Kian loves it when she’s at the house, even if he’s too nervous to take that next step with her. He’s always finding ways to engage with her at every turn and they’ve become sort of gaming buddies recently. He’s talked non-stop about taking her for a hike on some of our old trails that lead to some cool places. Places he hasn’t been able to get us to go to because none of us are big on hiking. Especially River. Ripley has expressed interest in it though and doing so around Kian had his eyes lighting up with excitement at finally having someone to do outdoorsy shit with.
Me, well, I like how perfectly she melds in our little family. I love that she meets everyone’s needs in some way, and that we all meet hers. She called us for help when she needed it, not anyone else, and damn if that doesn’t feel fucking good. Her calling us hers fills something in me with so much joy. She sees herself as part of us, or she’s starting to, at least, which is a start.
Her eyes widen when her brain catches up with her mouth, and she tries to take it back, stumbling over her words. I silence her with another kiss and grin at her. “Let’s go make sure our pack doesn’t need saving, then.”
Obvious relief bleeds onto her features and she grins so big, like she’s never been as elated as she is at this moment. Fucking perfect.
I lead us the rest of the way. This time it’s me pulling her along, and she just continues beaming, her blackberry and cheesecake scent trickling out. It’s the sweetest it’s ever smelled. Her joy over my words is clear.
“There you two are.” I grin at River when he rushes over to our side the minute we step outside, snatching the omega from my grip and into his.
Ripley laughs when he picks her up, kissing her without a care for our audience. My pack mates all have varying degrees of smiles on their faces as they watch the two omegas kissing. Ripley’s mom has her hands clasped under her chin and a twinkle in her eyes. The men who I assume are her dads are trying to hide small smiles that want to come out at seeing their daughter happy. There are three other men sitting at a table, but they give nothing away with their expressions and I’m at a disadvantage not knowing much about Ripley’s family.
When River sets her back down on her feet, their heads lean together, and they stand forehead to forehead. River whispers to her, making her blush with each word that passes his lips.
