Page 5 of Hidden Fates

“Same as usual,” I comment lightly, trying not to draw her thoughts back to her weight struggles. Though I doubt she would notice since she is busy choosing polish colors for our nails.

Onyx grunts, speaking to the others in the background. “We’re finished at the studio and heading home. Should we grab food on the way, or is Sterling cooking?”

“Hold on.” Leaning over, I grab Skye’s attention.

“Darling?”

She beams at me, holding up a hot pink bottle. She’s lucky I live to indulge her, because it will clash with my warm honey skin tone.

“Onyx wishes to know what our dinner plans are?”

Her lip sucks in, teeth worrying it as she considers her answer. “It’s going to be a bit before we make it home.”

Raising a brow, I reply, “You know they’ll wait for you.”

Her smile softens. “If they don’t mind, something homemade would be amazing. Maybe those grilled fish packets Sly made a few weeks ago?”

Relaying her request to Onyx, he asks me to let them know when we leave so they can have it ready for our mate when we get home.

“We’re going to match.” she happily announces, showing me her dainty little toes that are already adorned with the same color the manicurist is applying to mine.

“I would say we’re twins, but that would be awkward since we’re mated,” I tell her blithely.

Watching her light up fills my heart with joy, and it reminds me to pull Onyx aside tonight and speak with him about a long break from the music world.

Whatever strings I have to pull, I’m getting my mate away from the stage for a while. She needs a few months to breathe without the weight of fame resting on her shoulders.

Walking into our house, we’re met with the heavenly aroma of butter, spices, and pack.

Laughter rings from the open-concept kitchen, where our family gathers. Skye lights up when she sees them, rushing to the counter to throw herself into Onyx’s arms. He catches her, hands slipping to her ass to help hold her against his chest as she buries her face against his throat.

“Missed you, bubbles.”

The two of them together never ceases to amuse me. Our pack leader is a behemoth, six foot six with tree trunks for thighs and arms. He’s well over a foot taller than our Omega, whose head only reaches his chest when standing next to him.

Their height isn’t the only thing about them that’s opposite; their entire aesthetics are too. Where Skye has white-blonde hair and wears soft pastels, Onyx has dyed crimson hair and only ever wears black.

“Did you have fun at the spa?” Sterling asks, closing the oven after checking on dinner. He joins them, pressing against their sides.

He’s their band’s lead singer, and blends Skye and Onyx’s aesthetics with his layered shirts, ripped jeans, and the rose-patterned bandana holding his braids away from his face.

His lips brush Skye’s head, one large hand tugging on the hair at the base of her skull.

“What color did our girl pick this time?”

An arm lands on my shoulder as Emmett wanders over. I lift my hand to show him the hot pink, and he chuckles. “At least she didn’t choose sparkles.”

He is the person I’m closest to in the pack. We’re both straight, only forming physical relationships with Skye, while Onyx, Sterling, and Bellamy are mated to each other. Their relationships often lead to Emmett and me spending time together, allowing us to form a close friendship.

“Jealous?” I tease, pointedly looking at the chipped black polish adorning his nails.

He claims the seat beside me, sitting with his back pressed to the counter. “You know pink isn’t my color.”

“What’s for dinner?” Skye asks as she slips from Onyx’s arms to greet her Beta mates.

“Cajun butter tilapia, assorted grilled veggies, fries, and chicken nuggets for the man with the child’s palate,” Sterling tells her, tossing a steaming hot fry at Bellamy’s head.

Without missing a beat, the Beta catches it and shoves it in his mouth, smirking at his Alpha. “What can I say? I know what I like.”