Lights, Camera, Omega - Page 109

“I know, I know—I can’t be a burden to any of you; you love me,” he blubbers, really ugly cries now.

“I would tell any of you the same thing. I love you no matter what, I’m here for you no matter what! I’ve been such a fool, thinking I could shoulder everything on my own, that I could keep all my pain my own private secret,” Cosmo sobs into Daphne’s hair.

“But I promise–that era is over; I’m putting it behind me. From now on I’m going to be totally transparent with all of you—with my pack.” He gets his ragged breathing more under control—straightening up and looking each of us in the eye.

“I’m going to be vulnerable—to ask for help, and to actually let myself be helped,” he swears.

To my surprise, I feel the hot wet of tears on my own face.

“I trust you, Cosmo.” I look him in the eyes as I speak the affirmation.

“I love you, we all love you,” I assure him—the four of us closing ranks around Cosmo, wrapping him in a protective group hug as he disintegrates once more into tears of relief.

After possibly the most emotionally exhausting concert of our lives, Cosmo introduces me and the rest of Pack Silver—his chosen family, to his blood family.

Cammy and Lotte, a pair of high-achieving omegas, were overjoyed to meet us.

Though I’d been particularly worried about whether or not the girls would approve of me, much less like me—it seems like I had nothing to fret about. Cammy and Lotte spend almost the entire time we’re out at dinner asking me questions about finding out that I was an omega so late in life—about what it was like to experience the scents of my pack for the first time, fresh out of the omega center.

I’m almost sorry that they have to leave us at the end of the night—rushing back to their apartment to get a good night’s rest before they take off for the summer contest circuit in Europe. Not that I don’t adore the company of my boys, but sometimes it’s nice to have some other girls around to relate to.

“Oh, don’t you worry,” Cosmo chuffs happily as we wave the girls off in a blacked out SUV he called to bring them safely home.

“Since we’re going to start trying to really do this happy family thing, you’ll see them at Thanksgiving and Christmas. The two of them love L.A.—they’ll insist on following you everywhere as if they’re your damn shadows.” He hooks my arm around his waist, drawing me toward him for a kiss.

I know that Cosmo’s words are meant to stir affection in me, to make me look warmly toward the future… But the reality of my upcoming role in the new LaRenta film; Green Planet, threatens the next five to six months of those happy plans. Doing the math—I’d be somewhere on a remote island during both Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Magnus must catch the change in my expression, because he leans in over Cosmo’s shoulder and says, somewhat bafflingly, “Don’t fret Daphne, there’s nothing to worry about. This isn’t the only surprise Cosmo and I have in store for all of you.”

I blink, my confusion apparent–because Magnus clarifies, “we should get back to the hotel. We have another early day tomorrow—we have to be at the airport at the asshole of dawn.” He shakes his wrist so that the face of his rolex actually shows him the time.

“If we get back within the hour, we should be able to get about four solid hours before we need to get back on the road,” Magnus adds matter-of-factly.

“Wait, what!?” I blurt out–looking from Sol to Julian to see if they have any better handle on what’s happening than I do. They look just as surprised, only Cosmo smiles smugly–like the cat that ate the canary.

“Like I said, back to the hotel! Sleep! Early morning!” Magnus crows happily, easily dodging my question.

I swear… these men may very well be the death of me… But I love them. Despite my better judgment, I throw my hands in the air—surrendering to the absolute absurdity of my situation.

“Fine! Let’s go back to the hotel and get some shut-eye. We can continue this magical mystery tour in the morning after some much needed rem sleep and at least thirty-two solid ounces of cold brew” I declare—Sol already halfway off the curb, flagging down a yellow taxi.

Thanks to the incredibly strong indica gummies Magnus gave me, along with my coffee and pastry this morning, in conjunction with my building sleep debt, I passed out dead asleep almost as soon as we re-boarded the private jet bound for our next mystery destination.

Aside from waking up a few times to scarf down a bit of lukewarm, slightly-better-than-average airplane food and slug down a glass of water or to go to the bathroom; I sleep nearly the entirety of what turns out to be a nearly sixteen hour flight.

When I wake up in the plush leather jet seat—reclined all the way back, the light pale and pink in the small cabin, almost everyone else is asleep.

Everyone except for Magnus.

I’m about to shimmy out of the deep cushions and cross the narrow aisle to whisper quietly with him, possibly to trouble the stewardess for a hot cup of coffee, when the pilot’s voice comes over the loudspeaker, soft but still loud enough to be clear over the sound of the engine.

“We are now preparing to make our descent, arriving at Nadi airport—where the local time is just after 6:30 AM,” the captain’s calming voice announces.

I feel my heart jump into my throat.

“Magnus…” I gasp, unable to fully catch my breath.

He only gives me that wolfish grin before he leans in and kisses me, full on the mouth.