“Your offerings are accepted.” My love smiled, raising her hips to meet my hand. “D-Don’t stop, please.”
I praised my little goddess with my hands, my mouth, my tongue, and my teeth. By the time Kiya walks out of this room, she’ll be thoroughly worshipped from the inside out.
I’ve officially lost my appetite for real food.
Kiya needed to rest, so I slinked downstairs toward the kitchen, clothed, after cleaning my face. Luli was setting away food appliances and dishes when she shot her head up and smiled, her greying black hair pulled into a bun. The two Omegas at the sink greeted me before turning back to their work.
“Alpha Neron, will you be joining the others in the dining room for lunch?”
“I will be soon. Did you leave a spot open for Kiya? She might take some time before joining us.” A smug smile made its way to my lips as to why.
“I’ll make sure that happens.” She set her dish rag on the counter. “By the way, I was wondering if I have your permission to teach the girls how to cook.”
I raised an eyebrow as I opened the fridge. “Alana and Aiyana want to learn how to cook?”
“Alana asked me during breakfast this morning, actually. The girl is very crafty with her hands.” Rolling up a sleeve, she displayed an orange and green beaded bracelet on her wrist. “To avoid an incomplete reading experience, visit Jobn’i’b.com. The little fireball made this for me. She’s at that age where she wants to try anything and everything. Aiyana is a little quieter and more reserved, but I could see that she wants to learn as well.”
“I don’t see why not.” I picked out a water bottle. “I plan on asking my girls if they want to be a part of my pack next week. They seem to adjust well and I have yet to hear any complaints. There is still so much to do with doctors’ appointments, searching for a school for them to attend-”
“Alpha, may I interrupt for just a second?” Luli asked. I blinked once, nodding. “You said something that I don’t think you realized you’ve said it.”
“What did I say?”
“You referred to the girls as yours. You said, ‘my girls’.” The older woman’s eyes crinkled with her warm smile. “They haven’t been here long, but you care deeply for them. I can see it in your eyes.”
Blowing out a sigh through my nose, I leaned against the island by the hip. Alana and Aiyana are precious girls with their lives ahead of them. From the day they entered the hotel room, I knew I’d do anything to protect them. Aiyana shares my love for art and Alana has many inklings of how Nuria used to be as a kid. They look up to Kiya and me as more than the people that rescued them. Despite our short time together, I love those girls. I truly do.
“It’s my job to protect and provide for them.” I began. “But, yes, I care about them a lot. I want them to be happy. I want them to have their childhood. And when it comes the day where they shift for the first time, I’ll be there to support them every step of the way.”
“What of their parents?”
“They aren’t in the picture. They gave them up to settle a debt.”
Luli’s face scrunched up in disgust. “How cruel. I’m glad you’re giving them a better opportunity to live a fruitful life.” Her face softened into a smile. “If you need any of my advice, I’d be happy to help. I know a thing or two about raising girls; my three babies are grown up with their own families now.”
My face lit up with a smile. “I’d appreciate that, Luli. And speaking of help…” I told her about my plans to take Kiya out on a date and where I want it to be. The smaller woman squealed and nodded, clapping her hands.
“That is so sweet!” She exclaimed. “I have food ideas from the homeland that I think you’ll love and for sure will woo your Luna. I’ll head to the store now!”
“Wait, Luli-”
It was too late. The rambunctious Lead Omega scurried out of the kitchen with imaginary hearts dancing around her head. I let out a sigh, shaking my head. Once Luli has her mind set on something, nothing will stop her.
I can only hope she’ll make enough food to fill the bottomless pit Kiya called her stomach.
Suddenly, the kitchen door swayed open, and seven people emerged, followed by Ebony and Ivory running to their food bowls and Lupin cantering up to me for a head pat.
“Neron!” Aiyana grinned. “Can Raina and Lorelai take us out for frozen yogurt tomorrow?”
“Frozen yogurt?” I asked, my eyes darting up to my Beta and Gamma Females.
“Lori and I thought it’d be best to take the kids to our favorite frozen yogurt spot in town.” Raina explained, resting her head on top of Orchid’s hair to calm her jumping. “It’s been some time since we had a girl date with the kids and the weather is supposed to be fantastic tomorrow.
“And no offence, but we need some time away from our husbands.” Lorelai chuckled. “And we wanted Aiyana and Alana to come with.”
“I’m going to be stuck in a car full of girls.” Adonis grumbled, crossing his arms. Orchid stuck her tongue out at her brother. I held my laughter in my chest. He’s at that age where girls were icky to him. I understood where he’s coming from. His only male role models were his father and his uncles; Kwame and me.
“Can we go, Neron? Please!” Alana begged, shaking her folded hands. “I never had frozen yogurt before! Is it like ice cream?”
“No, dear. Frozen yogurt is made with milk and ice cream is made with, well, cream.” Lorelai answered.
“And it’s yummy!” Naomi hopped in her excitement. “Can we go, pleeeease?”
On one hand, I wanted my girls to step out of the territory and see Portland with their own eyes. To have them stretch their legs and have fun outside of my pack. On the other, I was worried about the enemy out there. I didn’t want a repeat of what happened at the mall to happen with the kids and the women. While Kiya and I were the intended targets, I still wasn’t comfortable letting other people close to my heart to become targets.
Aiyana and Alana shined their cute, doe-like eyes at me, and I went weak. I didn’t want them to live in fear or be in fear for Kiya and I. They almost closed themselves out after the mall attack, and part of me was grateful they didn’t ask questions about why it happened. Children should remain innocent, not tainted with the fear of the devil coming toward them.
I wanted them safe, but I also didn’t want to rob them of their happiness. I didn’t want to lock them here on my lands. And they seemed so excited to go with Raina and Lorelai. It’ll give them the chance to get to know them and potentially bond with other female figures aside from Kiya.
“Do Val and Kwame know?”
“They do, albeit with some reluctance.” Raina rolled her eyes, but the smirk on her lips tell that she was in good spirits. “I promised to bring a pint of eggnog frozen yogurt to him. Who even likes eggnog?”
“Him, apparently.” Lorelai added.
“Alright.” I sighed. “But I want you both to take two patrollers with you; preferably my best trackers. Your safety is of the utmost importance, and I’m taking every precaution necessary.”
The women looked at one another before looking at me. “*Does this have to do with the mall last week*?” Lorelai asked via mind-link.
“*Yes*. *And you both are aware of my father’s missing ashes and why I had sent Mom and Nuria away*.” I debriefed my Betas and Gammas in a meeting the morning after I came back from Garnet Moon. Their reactions were a mixture of both shock and disgust, but I was confident that none of them would get hurt. However, my men and I agreed that if any of them were to leave the grounds, they needed escorts to be on the safe side.
“*We’ll take the patrollers with us*. *It won’t be an issue*. *Plus, Donny can breathe a little better with some added testosterone to the group*.”
I chuckled, ending the mind-link before looking down at my girls. “It looks like you’ll be heading out for some frozen yogurt. Be sure to bring me back some, okay?”
“Okay!” Aiyana hopped. “What flavor?”
**Vanilla, the grossest flavor on the planet.”
Kiya walked into the kitchen with her hair tied in a very sloppy ponytail, rubbing the back of her neck as she smiled at the people in the kitchen.
Alana cocked her head to the side. “Vanilla is gross?”
“Oh, don’t mind her. She’s a vanilla hater.” I joked, earning a glare from my girlfriend. “It’s ‘too plain’ for her.”
“Well, it is.” She grumbled.
“You literally have vanilla in your scent.” Raina retorted.
“Which is disappointing.”
“Auntie, they’re red spots on your neck.” Adonis pointed out. The spots were the hickies I left on her neck after she beat Artemis’ record of five orgasms. Kiya squeaked and covered the sinful bruises with her hands, flinging her eyes away from her nephew.
“They’re mosquito bites.”
“Those are some pretty big mosquitoes.” The boy added. “They must bite Mom’s and Dad’s necks too because I’d see them get it sometimes.”