Page 111 of Generation Omega: Revealed
Perilous in anormalway or is this something new?Sure, I talk to invisible legacies all the time—it’s just my thing.
New, dangerous, deadly.
Lovely.Why now?
This pack’s formation is expedited. The sudden clash of alphas may be lethal. Any violence in the nest and the omega will shatter.
The legacy now has my full attention.What can I do? I’m not even sure I’ll be allowed in the nest during her heat.
Youmustbe in the nest. All will fail without you. You are pack.
Is it just me or is the legacy hesitating to deliver its entire message?
I swear the legacy just snorted at me.You have a duty that no one else can perform.
Okay, let’s hear it.
You are the pack guardian, the only one who won’t be lost in the rut. The only one who truly understands the omega’s heart. Without requiring a bond, you are mates.
A sinking feeling hits me hard.Wait a second.I’m supposed to wrangle five feral alphas and one lust-drunk omega, ensuring everyone survives the heat-rut, and if I fail, we all die? Is that about right?
Yes.
The legacy abruptly vanishes from my awareness, as Tillie places the last pillow.
She looks like an amused angel as she turns to me and gestures toward her nest. “What do you think?”
“It’s perfect.” She’s perfect, and for her, I get busy shoving aside everything the legacy just said, so that I can be fully present right now. I still have time—before the alphas arrive—to come up with some way to be a pack guardian. At least, I hope I have time.
Tillie’s shoulders finally relax and her innermafia donfades into the background, replaced by breathtakingly bright eyes infused with pure peace. I’ve never known her to look like this, not even in the nest I built for her. This was meant to happen—all of it.
I tilt my head toward the ginormous picnic basket that Kaz and I filled. “From what I hear, you needallthe carbs.”
“That’s awesome, because Iwantall the carbs. Are there cookies?”
“White chocolate macadamia nut and chocolate chip. We’ve got French bread and cheese, and bottles of water and juice. There’s also a variety of cupcakes. This ship is loaded with sweets, though Kaz acted like that was abigsurprise to him.” I don’t tell her about the look Kaz gave me when he mentioned melting cheese onto the fresh bread and adding bacon sprinkles. I’m not sure what that was about, but we were in too much of a rush to get into it.
“Okay. I want cupcakes, cookies, water, bread, more cookies, and then cupcakes for dessert.”
“Done.”
After extracting everything on her list, we use the basket as our table and munch on all the yummy food, mostly talking about the past, only good things. Our serious conversation can’t be avoided forever, but this has to be done right. We’re in her nest and, even without my shiny new title or the legacy’s terrifying warning, I already knew that this space is sacred.
When Tillie leans to grab a final vanilla cupcake with strawberry frosting, I glimpse her bondmark peeking out from her oversized robe. Seeing it, knowing it’s real and what it means, I can’t help but feel a profound sense of loss. Unconsciously at first, I rub my palm over my bondmark, instantly feeling Kaz’s support and his reminder that I belong here and always will. Between Kaz and the legacy, I don’t have any doubt about that anymore.
Tillie’s eyes widen when the ship’s motor turns on and we begin moving. “I guess we’re either leaving Thatcher’s body or they’re playing nicely with each other.” She licks the frosting off her finger. “Wow, the pre-heat meal plan is fabulous. I’m going to wash my hands and then…” Her gaze drifts toward the bed. “I know what I’d like, but…”
“What?”
Her nose scrunches. “I’m afraid to ask for what I need, which is so weird because you’reyouand I’mmeand it’s never supposed to be weird between us.”
“You can ask me for anything, and I’ll give it. I’m still yours.”
“But you’re alsohis, and he came to kill us—not the best beginning for any kind of relationship, other than archnemesis maybe.”
“I get that. It’sa lot, just like you said, and I don’t know anyone who would be handling it as well as you.”
Tillie blurts a laugh. “Right, except I tried to find the escape hatch and almost used it.”
