"Something's amiss," Nicole starts the second she steps into Liam's office, their eyes locking as she walks further in.
"Mhmm," Liam hummed absentmindedly, pulling her into his arms. "I've missed you." He rasps against her ear and Nicole giggles, his breath ticklish as she melts into her mate's warmth. All the weight on her shoulder dissipated to nothing.
He pulled away too quickly for her liking, holding her face between his palms and planting a kiss on her forehead.
Nicole's wolf purrs in satisfaction, wanting nothing more than to remain in his arms. They'd been mates for a little over two decades now, but it never felt like that with the way his touched always seemed to make her body tingle in the newest ways.
Liam holds her gaze, eyes unbelievably soft and full of love like he had read right into her thoughts. The woman who held his heart in the palm of her hands, whom he would be ready to give it all to in a heartbeat.
In a swift movement, he sweeps her into his arms, gently depositing her on his desk before diving in for a much-welcomed kiss. Their lips slot together with the precision of a puzzle piece falling into place and Nicole sighs into it.
Her breath comes out heavy when she finally pulls away, smacking him on the chest quite weakly, "This is why we can't work in the same space," she chides softly, "you're so distracting"
Liam chuckled, his arms tightening around her, "but I missed you," he said, obviously not affected by her words, as he leaned in for another kiss.
Never one to not fall for his charms, Nicole welcomes him again this time, arms going to rest around his neck as his hands and tongue grow more demanding. She whines at the kiss, returning it with as much fervor.
"Ugh," a voice groans loudly as the door to Liam's office flies open. "And here I was thinking you were discussing your daughter."
Liam replies with a loud instinctual growl as he breaks away from the kiss, keeping a protective hold on his mate as he shields her from the eyes of whoever dared to intrude on their moment, teeth-baring even without his fangs.
Garrett raises his hands in surrender, shaking his head as Liam shuts his eyes in exasperation. He leisurely strolls to the couch in the office, taking a seat, his features still bright with amusement. James pokes his head in next.
"Don't worry," Garrett laughs, waving him in, "We're all clear."
Nicole bites back an embarrassed whine as she buries her face in Liam's chest. She could never get used to their intrusions.
After a few minutes pass, she clears her throat and tries to pull away from Liam, who growls lowly in his throat before pulling her even closer. Without much of a fight, she gives in, staying perched against him. He hums in satisfaction before regarding his two closest people in the world.
"Why are you here?"
Garrett smirks and James shrugs, his usual disinterested face on.
"Marisol," Nicole spoke up, and he nodded, his expression morphing into one of seriousness.
"I've sensed it too. Is that what's troubling you?"
Nicole swallows before replying, "Yes. She's been.... different. I don't know how to explain it. It's like... something's coming, like a storm is brewing within her."
Liam's brows furrowed. "I understand how you're feeling. James, how was training today?"
James shakes his head. "Whatever this is, it's not physical. She's in top-notch form."
"I'm not surprised." Garrett adds immediately, "She's a lot like Nicole. She is determined to hide it till the end."
They all looked pointedly at Nicole, who rolled her eyes at the accusation.
"She's been avoiding me lately," Liam supplies.
"And that's another thing," James sighed.
"Well maybe, if you weren't such a helicopter parent, she would've come to you." Garrett laughed.
"Yeah. Marisol's smarter than all of us put together. I think she believes that we'll make a huge fuss out of what she's trying to convince herself is nothing." Nicole says, lips downturned.
"Or she's avoiding her father because she knows that he'll get the truth out of her," James said, and before they could all reply with sounds of agreement, the door swung open once again to reveal Marisol. She looks around the room before crossing her arms over her chest.
"Aren't you all supposed to be busy?" She hissed.
They all looked away as guilt threatened to eat them up.
"Once again, you are all gathering and worrying over nothing. I'm sure there are more important pack matters to worry about, you know?" She says, making a beeline for the cabinet and pulling it open to grab some files out of it.
"Prove it then." Garrett suddenly says, nobody misses the way Marisol immediately spins around to meet his eyes, but he is unrelenting, "Prove to us that there's nothing to worry about."
"How, Beta?" She asks, voice tight.
"Restore your link with the pack."
"I will. But only after the ball." She replies without missing a beat.
With one final look around the room, Marisol rushed out of the room, her heart pounding. That was close. They were onto her, and it looked like they now only needed something to prove their suspicions. And it was all because of her recent nightmare.
If they were reacting this way after getting just a glimpse of the emotions that tumbled through her each night, what would they do if they were to find out the whole truth?