But my lips form another smile as I think about it.
What a fun challenge it’ll be.
* * *
We round the corner past the last cottage and make our way to the wide stretch of lawn where the pack gathers for events. Picnic tables, a swing set for the kids, and a large fire pit at the center. Looks like the whole damn pack has turned out for Blue’s welcome. Faces beaming, voices buzzing, everyone jostling for a look at the new omega.
Darius’s grandmother, a tiny woman, makes a beeline for Blue before we can stop her. She wraps the omega in a bear hug.
“Welcome home, sweetheart,” she croons.
Blue stiffens. Every muscle in her body goes rigid, and her eyes dart around, panicked, scanning for exits. Her scent turns sharp and sour, fear cutting through the berry sweetness.
“I’m not—” she starts, but a chorus of excited voices cuts her off.
“An omega!”
“We’re so blessed!”
“You’ll love it here, dear.”
“You’re so lucky to have fine alphas such as these.”
I watch her face. I can see the war in those blue eyes.
“Back off,” I growl, stepping closer to Blue. “Give her some space.”
The crowd quiets.
“It’s okay,” I say to Blue, keeping my voice low so only she hears it. “No one here is going to hurt you. They’re just happy to have an omega in the pack. It’s been a long time for us.”
She snorts, trying to cover her discomfort with attitude. “Right. Chaining me to the wall is a great way to build trust. Forgive me if I don’t start wagging my tail in gratitude.”
Fuck.I knew that was going to come back around.
I can’t blame her.
I think back to those dark days after the coup, when we were just kids, really. How we clawed our way back from nothing, four boys who’d lost everything, trying to hold together the scraps of two packs that had been torn apart.
“Everyone here knows exactly how we deal with those who threaten our pack,” I say.
“Trying to convince me you’re the good guys?”
“We do what we have to. The pack’s well-being comes first.”
She doesn’t respond, but she doesn’t shut down either.
We guide her through the crowd, introducing her to each pack member. Her posture stays rigid, her movements cautious,but she’s not completely closed off. She shakes hands. Makes eye contact. Mutters a few responses that aren’t insults.
It’s something.
Watching her move through the pack, I feel something I haven’t felt in years. Hope. It’s faint and fragile, and if Blue knew I was feeling it, she’d probably punch me in the throat, but it’s there.
Our community is damaged. We all are. It hasn’t been easy since the coup.
The betrayal. The blood. Our fathers were slaughtered by power-hungry fucks who decided they wanted to run things their way. We were young. Darius was sixteen. Elias, eleven. Silas and I were barely eighteen.
Some of those traitorous bastards died screaming. Others we sent into exile. A mercy they didn’t deserve. We heard rumours of Moss building power again, acquiring a new pack, hopefully he’s learned his lesson, and letting them live was the right move.