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One perfectly arched brow quirked as Storm took us in. Having risen to our feet, my brother and I stood to our full heights, hoping she wouldn’t find us lacking. We desperately wanted to make a good impression on our future omega, even if she didn’t know who she was to us yet.
She marched over to us both and craned her neck to look up. I knew the two of us made a striking pair. I was vain enough to know I looked good, and as my identical twin, Declan did as well. We just had to hope that we were pleasing enough to her.
“You two”—she paused to poke both of us in the chest with her finger—“better take good care of Ryan. He’s my best friend, and alphas or not, I will end you if you hurt him.”
The fire in her eyes as she delivered her statement would have shriveled lesser men than my brother and me. As it was, I had to fight to keep the grin off my face as I bowed my head in acknowledgement of her statement.
“His heart is safe with us, Ms. Vareth.”
“And the rest of him,” Declan added, a wicked grin crossing his lips as he winked at Ryan.
Our beta flushed bright red, but Storm snorted. “Yeah, you guys will be great for him. Come on, let’s eat and you can tell me how you met those devilishly handsome alphas, huh, Ryan?”
She turned and slipped her arm through his, pulling him to what I assumed was the dining room. Storm’s fathers grinned good-naturedly at her and motioned for us to follow.
Chapter16
Storm
Goddamn, Ryan’s alphas were hot. Identical twins.Oof. If they weren’t so clearly enamored with my friend, I might have tried flirting a bit. As it was, I was thrilled for him. He deserved happiness, and it was obvious Victor and Declan provided that for him.
I pulled Ryan along with me, leading the way to the table. I slid into my normal chair and pushed Ryan into the one next to me. “Alright, you’ve been holding out on me. Where did you meet them? How long have you all been together? Tell meeverything!”
Ryan snickered cheerfully. “Slow down there, speed racer. I’ll tell you.”
I nudged him with my shoulder. “It’s just, I’ve been at school two months and come home to find you’ve got yourself a whole pack.”
“Well . . . I have known them for longer than two months . . .”
“Ryan! And you didn’t tell me? I’m offended,” I joked, grinning at him.
“I didn’t want to jinx anything. I really lo— I mean, I really like them.”
“Ryan Jerome Brown. Are you inlovewith them?” I hissed under my breath, eyes wide.
“Shh! I haven’t told them that yet. But also, that’s not my last name anymore. I’m a Birmingham.” His gaze flicked over to where Victor and Declan sat across the table and his face reflected how pleased he was with that.
“You haven’t told them you loved them, and yet you’re a pack?”
“Things happened kind of fast.” He squirmed in his chair. “But they are everything to me. I’m really happy.”
“I can see that. Ryan, I am so excited for you. You deserve this!”
“Thanks, firefly. I appreciate that.”
My lower lip poked out in a pleased pout. I was sure my eyes were reminiscent of a puppy’s with how tickled pink I was. “Firefly . . . You haven’t called me that since we were kids.”
“Yeah, but you always were my firefly. My bright point in the darkness when I needed it.”
I reached out and grasped his hand in mine. Ryan hadn’t always had a great childhood, and I could remember him coming to my house to get away from it all. I started leaving my bedroom light on for him, so he could see to scale the wall and get inside on the worst nights. He said it glowed like a beacon, like I was calling for him like a firefly. I was so happy he had gotten away from his family when he had.
“Ryan, I’m so sorry I didn’t do more—”
“Hush. None of that. You did plenty. You helped me get rid of my father. And you were my friend. That’s what I needed back then, and now.”
I gave him a sad smile. “Would’ve been pretty awesome if it was more.”
He pursed his lips to the side. “Yeah, it would. But your dads said you met someone at the academy?”
