Page 60 of Embracing Sky
In moments, I stood on shaky legs—all four of them—on the lawn, my sides heaving as I panted for breath. Adam moved to my side, his muzzle nosing at my cheek and ear, sniffing my fur. I whined softly and tilted my head, submitting to my Alpha. He licked my face.
Then he broke away and trotted several paces towards the woods, to stand next to Fletcher near the forest’s edge. I hesitated, glancing back at the house, the lights still on inside although no one was home. Adam barked, the sound like a gunshot in the silence, and my attention snapped back to him.
He wagged his tail, then turned and slinked between the trees. Fletcher came bounding over, little stub tail wiggling as he rubbed against me. Then he, too, ran into the woods. My ears flicked back, taking in the sounds all around me. Not wanting to be alone, just in case something happened, I hurried after them.
I caught up quickly. I wasn’t a small wolf, despite being an Omega. It might’ve been the Alpha-Omega bond, the connection River and I shared in the womb for nine months, that gave me my stature and my size. I wasn’t sure. In the end, did it really matter?
I brushed up against Adam, who still dwarfed me. He shoulder-checked me and picked up speed, and soon, the threeof us were flying through the woods at breakneck pace. My paws devoured the earth, as if I were built solely for this purpose.
I wasn’t sure what it was, but I felt something inside of me break loose. Like the glass around my heart finally shattered, and it felt like it could beat again. Free. I felt free. I broke loose from my shackles, releasing myself from the prison I’d been trapped in—possibly the cage I’d locked myself in.
Each stride felt like coming home, and my heart yearned to sing to the moon, to let it hear my call.
Adam bumped me and jerked his muzzle to the left. I slowed, following his gaze to where a young doe was grazing. As if realizing she was in danger, she went stiff, looked around, then took flight, bounding away with long strides.
My inner-wolf yipped as we took chase.
We raced along after her, but stayed far enough behind to watch her leap through the woods, all powerful grace and smooth, sinewy muscle, but this wasn’t a hunt to kill. It was one to admire the beauty of the forest—and that’s when I smelled it.
Too-familiar, sharp and bitter in my nose, I pulled up short and nearly tumbled head-over-tail. Something inside me sparked, like flames threatening a wildfire, and I bristled with a low growl. I was only vaguely aware of the pressure of my mates at my side as my twin’s shadow fell over me.
River stood there, tall and broad and guarded. His two-toned eyes were cold. His ears flattened against his skull and his tail flagged high over his back. He bared his fangs at me as he snapped at the air. His teeth clicked audibly as they snapped together.
A warning.
The warning he’d given me so many months ago slammed back into my mind, and I shivered. Not with anger, but with fear. It washed over me, leaving me cold and prickly all over. That quiver turned into a full-body tremble as I stared River down,locked in place and unable to look away. Would he kill me, like he’d promised he would? Would I bleed out beneath the pallid light of the full moon?
Adam stepped between us with a growl of his own.
I froze, my heart hammering. Fletcher gently tugged at my scruff, pulling me away from the confrontation, but my mind screamed that River was dangerous. I backed away, shaking like a leaf, but I wasn’t able to pull my eyes away from my Alpha.
Adam and River growled and snapped at each other. Adam was bigger, much bigger, but River had always been vicious when he was angry, and that scared me more than I wanted to admit.
I held my breath, but instead of a fight, River shot me one last look, then turned and disappeared between the trees. I sank to the forest floor, my legs refusing to support me any longer. Panting hard from the adrenaline dump, I lay there in the middle of the woods all while being comforted by licks and nudges from my mates.
After what seemed like an eternity, I could stand again, and we made our way back home. The minute we reached the backyard, I collapsed in the grass, shifting back with a soft sob. I wrapped my arms around myself and buckled over, crying softly.
Fletcher was immediately at my side, soothing me. “Hey now, shh…” Normally he would’ve been the one I resonated with, the one I gravitated towards when I felt so disconnected and scared, but right now, I wanted Adam.
Pushing Fletcher’s hands away, I crashed into my Alpha. My savior. My protector. Adam was tall and strong and solid against me, everything I needed in that moment. He hummed low, running his long fingers through my hair as he spoke to me.
“Everything is alright, baby,” he assured me. “You did very well, all things considered. I’m proud of you, Sky.” My eyes burned with unshed tears, but I only held on that much tighter.Fletcher came around to hug me from behind, and in that moment, I felt loved.
37
ADAM
I awoketo pale bars of sunlight streaming in between the blinds, my body buoyant and humming with happiness. Last night, we’d all fallen asleep on the couch together after our moonlit romp. I ended up carrying Sky to bed. The younger Omega had barely stirred.
I remembered a time when Sky would’ve jerked awake, claws out, ready to fight. Now he trusted us, and it made my chest tighten in the best of ways.
I gazed across the king-sized bed to Fletcher, who was also awake, his mossy green eyes half-lidded. A small smile played at the corner of his lips. Neither of us said anything. We didn’t have to. In unison, our gazes fell to Sky, slumbering peacefully between us, his breathing coming out in gentle purrs.
He was so damn beautiful… All long legs and subtle curves, fair skin aglow with vibrance, silken blond hair worn short on the sides and long on top, flopping into his face every time he turned his head. I ran my hand down his side, over each gentle bump of his ribcage, and over his hip, drawing him closer to me. Once upon a time, I could barely keep my hands to myself—but now I didn’t have to.
My lips found Sky’s neck, kissing him softly as I aligned my body with his. Fletcher made a soft sound and rolled closer. His hand caught my jaw, drawing my face back up, and our lips met. We kissed, my hand cupping Sky’s hip and Fletcher’s hand resting on the Omega’s chest, using him as a prop as our lips and tongues caressed one another.
Sky shifted, and the sound he made was damn near breathless. Fletcher pulled back to look down at him, a smile tugging his lips into an almost playful grin. “Morning, baby.” Then, before Sky could say anything, Fletcher cupped his face in his hands and kissed him too. I growled low and nipped the back of his neck, grinding myself against Sky’s ass, loving when the Omega quivered beneath me, giving himself to us.
