Page 85 of A Nest of Maple & Mist

I clutched her arms, giving them a gentle squeeze. My baby sister always held a special place in my heart. I adored all my siblings, but as the youngest of us all and a newly presented omega, I was extra protective of her.

My alpha stirred at the potent scents clinging to her skin. Her pack huddled around her. I relaxed, trusting them implicitly with my baby sister. Not long after her first heat, she’d found her scent-match pack.

Naomi—a rare female Apex—dipped her chin. The smell of brown sugar bloomed as she palmed Sienna’s nape. Sunlight glinted off her bronze skin, making it glitter with flecks of gold.

Sienna’s other two alphas appeared. Twins. Michael and Erik. Freckles lined their cheeks, and matching short-cropped copper hair made them impossible to tell apart.

For me, at least.

A deep V appeared between Sienna’s brows as her nose twitched.

“Jay. You smell… different? Do you have an omega?”

A quiet laugh rattled my ribs. I raked a hand over my beard and nodded. I hadn’t told any of my family about Mia yet. Mainly because some uncertain part of me feared that if I spoke it out loud, I’d wake up to find out none of this had been real.

“We’re courting her, yes. I believe you know her. Mia Birch.”

“Mia,” she squealed, clapping her hands together. “Oh gosh. Jay! Really? You always made googly eyes at her. Is she here? I want to go say hi.”

“Easy, little rabbit,” Naomi purred.

“Yes, Alpha,” Sienna huffed, rolling her eyes.

Naomi bent low, whispering something in French to Sienna. Pink colored the tops of her cheeks, deepening into a shade of scarlet within seconds.

I failed to hide my snort. Sienna had always been a bit of a brat, but her pack doted on her.

“Mia’s at the Hawthorne Farms tent with Fern. They’re doing a pancake breakfast if you want to say hi.”

“Thanks, Jay.”

My sister and her pack disappeared. I stole a moment to reminisce about the vision Mia made this morning. All sleep-rumpled and sated from the orgasms Shane had given her.

Tonight, we were taking her out as a pack. Showing off the beautiful omega who’d agreed to let us court her. In a few hours, other staff would arrive to handle our booth, allowing us to enjoy the festivities with Mia.

I wanted her on my arm, nestled between our pack, letting the whole damn town see she was ours. The thought of it was the only thing keeping my inner alpha from snarling at anyone who looked at her for longer than a second.

As I rounded the corner of our main tent, Mia’s scent invaded every fiber of my being. My feet stuttered. My fingers gripped one of the support beams. Heavenly waves of sugared vanilla danced on my tongue.

A breath hitched in my chest. Mia had never looked more beautiful. A smattering of flour mingled with the freckles over the bridge of her nose. She giggled at something Sienna said, clicking a set of tongs animatedly.

Gods, I loved her. Loved how she fit into our lives, like she’d always belonged there. Steam from the griddle swirled in the tent, making her curls frizz and pinking her cheeks.

Two hands squeezed my shoulders. Caramel and apples wafted from Shane, the scent thick with pride. A lopsided smile curled on my lips.

“Fucking beautiful. Isn’t she?” Shane said.

“Stunning,” I breathed, my fingers reaching up to grip his forearm.

A blur of rust-colored fur drew my attention. Umbra wove through the legs of guests, eyeing anyone who looked like they might drop a piece of pancake. Fern lowered to a knee, scratching behind Umbra’s ears.

The fox raised its muzzle, and I swore it glared at me. Her chest puffed slightly, as if proud that she garnered the attention of an omega.

I ignored Umbra’s theatrics. A rosy flush crept up Mia’s neck. Teeth burrowed into that plush lower lip.

Grinning, she flashed us a tiny wave.

Nearby, Ty was in his element. Two dimples appeared on his cheeks as he winked at us before turning his attention back to the patrons. Corded muscles flexed in his forearms as he explained the boiling process to an enraptured family. Ty had that effect on people. He could make watching water boil sound enthralling.