probably wouldn’t be in the cards for the future for me.”
“We’re clearly not opposed to group sex,” Zev interjected with a chuckle as he blew me a kiss.
“Double the fun, isn’t that right?” Chann remarked, throwing his arm around his brother’s neck and wiggling his eyebrows. More than once those two had offered to put me in the middle of a twin sandwich, and goddess help me, I wanted what they offered despite my inexperience.
“How?” I turned my eyes to the ceiling, clasping my hands as if in prayer. “How did we get here?”
“I think it started with—” I waved off Zev’s words.
“Can we stop talking about who has been in my bed and all this stuff and get back to me being mad at you guys? Or how about everyone being worried about Lyle?” Or anything that wasn’t going to make me combust, for that matter.
“I thought you wanted your opinion considered,” Chann teased, and I growled at him. “Besides, this is all important to talk about, and you’re the one who wanted to do more than train.”
“Yeah, but I meant watch movies or, I don’t know, do anything besides this,” I seethed, digging my fingers into my hair as they chuckled.
“You’ll get used to it,” Ian assured me. “It’ll be second nature before you know it, kitten.”
I murmured a noise they seemed to take as agreement and turned my focus back to Alarick. “I really do want my opinion considered in everything. I will train, I promise, I just need a say in what that training is.”
Alarick sighed, setting his plate aside. “I know you think we’re pushing you too hard, but we want you ready for anything that’s going to happen.”
“I want to be ready too,” I told him softly. “I just want to be strong enough to survive it, and that means periods of rest as well. I’m not talking about a week’s vacation, but I need a full night’s sleep. If I’m going to have night drills, I need naps during the day to make up some of that time. And I need to sit down to have full meals during the day.”
“She needs time to play as well,” Shannon interjected when Alarick opened his mouth to say something. “You’re not going to just schedule every minute of her day. There needs to be some flex in the schedule.” She hesitated for a moment before adding, “And I think she needs to see Luna.” I froze, staring at Shannon in shock.
“I don’t think she really needs to see me,” I objected, nausea rolling in my stomach.
Shannon stood and came over to wrap her arms around me. “Angel, I know you’re having nightmares about it.” She pressed a kiss to my temple, and even with the audience, I didn’t hide from the affection. I needed her touch right now, and I leaned into it, desperate for the comfort as self-disgust ate at me. “I’ve felt them through the link. It may not help, but until you take steps to deal with it, you’re not going to be able to start sleeping any better.” Her glowing green eyes were filled with tears as she tilted my chin up to brush a kiss over my lips. I felt my emotions ease, and I knew she must have pulled them into herself.
“Baby, don’t,” I murmured, fighting her power with my own. “I know you can’t help but feel some of what I do, but you don’t need to take it.” I didn’t want her feeling this, she was too good, too pure, to have to deal with what I’d become. Other hands brushed over me, and it took me only a moment to recognize Chann’s soft touch as he stroked over my hair and back, lending his support and comfort as well, brushing gentle kisses across my forehead.
“Tinkerbell, I think you’re making this nightmare worse in your own mind,” Chann murmured. “I’ve taken time every day to check in on Luna. Partly for my training, but partly because I knew you’d want us to keep an eye on her for you. She doesn’t hate you. She misses you.” My chest squeezed tight, and tears dripped down my cheeks that the two omegas were quick to wipe away as they stroked my cheeks, legs, and arms, offering comfort to me and my wolf. “I agree with Shannon. I think it would do you good to see the pups again. Not today, but soon.”