I opened the backdoor and let Artemis off her leash. The yard was fenced in, so she could go out herself and I didn’t have to freeze. She raced out and went immediately to do her business.
While she was out, I put on the electric kettle to make some hot water for tea. I didn’t need a sugary coffee at four in the morning.
It then hit me. It wasn’t just any morning, it was Christmas Eve morning. I almost wanted to cry again that this didn’t feel like Christmas. Miss Eloise and I would be in full celebration mode for weeks, but she was in the hospital, and Mariska would be leaving in four days. Not to mention my insane situation.
I peeked out at Artemis who was sniffing around the perimeter and would likely do another twenty laps before she was done. Only then did I lay my head on top of my arms on the counter and tried taking in several calming breaths.
“Are you okay?”
The voice made me jump and scream. My heart nearly flew out of my chest.
Jason. It was only Jason. Standing in the doorway between the kitchen and living room.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.” He moved forward as if he was coming to comfort me, but then stopped before he neared the island of which I was on the other side of.
Artemis was suddenly at the door, barking crazily. Mariska had trained her well as a guard dog, but it was only adding to my stress.
I went to the door and let Artemis see me. “I’m okay, sweetie. You go back and do your thing.”
She woofed a few more times and stood staring at me for half a minute. Then satisfied that I was actually all right, she loped through the snow to the back of the yard. I watched her for another minute and let her see me there to make her more at ease.
Jason was quiet the whole time. He stood where he was wearing only his boxers and socks. His blond hair was slightly mussed and his gorgeous eyes were half-hooded, but that didn’t mean he’d been sleeping. It only meant he was one amazingly hot Alpha. I wanted to run over and let him wrap me in one of his all-encompassing hugs and kiss me like the sex demon he was.
Fuck. It was going to be so hard to tell him to leave.
“You know, when I let Artemis back in, it’s best if you aren’t in the room. She doesn’t like Alphas.”
“All right, but we need to talk.” Jason not being his usual jovial or horny self was a bit intimidating. Or maybe the fact I knew what we had to discuss was making me anxious. “Ozzi told me what happened.”
Let’s see how much of what happened was twisted by an Alpha’s point of view. I put my hands on the counter and leaned forward. “What did he tell you?”
“He said he was an absolute idiot.” Okay. Maybe it wasn’t so twisted. “He told me that you saw the texts his mom sent and realized that his family was kinda shitty. That’s just his parents. They put a lot of pressure on him to do his familial duty and continue the Vakalis line. He thinks it’s bullshit, and so do I for that matter, but he loves his family. He already feels like he disappointed them by not becoming a doctor, so he’s trying to be the son they want for their sake.”
I knew that feeling. I loved my family, but things were messy there. I may not have been under the same pressure as Ozzi, but he could at the very least say no. Just a simple no. End of matchmaking campaign.
Yet he didn’t say no. He barely even seemed to blink at it. That thought riled my anger again.
“I understand tough family relations, but the whole thing is more than just bullshit. It should be a crime to do that to Omegas.” My voice was rising, and I caught it just in time before I started to shout. I didn’t want Artemis tearing through the door thinking she had to come in and save me.
Jason nodded and folded his arms. “You have to see it from his perspective.”
“And what doesthatmean?” I folded my arms too. I could look big and intimidating. Well, furious anyway. “There is only one way to see it. Trading off Omegas like they’re property is wrong. I don’t care from which perspective you’re looking at it from, it’s still wrong.”
“No one’s disagreeing with you.” Jason sighed and ran his hands through his unbound hair. “Just… fuck. I’m not great at explaining things like Ozzi. You know he’s falling for you, right? That I've long since fallen.”
My breath hitches, and I swallow funny. Fallen for me?
“From the way your eyes are bugging out of your head, I’m going to say that you haven’t noticed.” He moved forwardand leaned on the counter opposite of me. His scent slithered in, wrapping me up like a ribbon and tying tight around my heart and soul, and oh no, my pussy. I clenched my legs together and hoped I wasn’t suddenly perfuming like crazy.
“Ozzi would never take a mate he didn’t love. Not even for the sake of family.” Jason went on, never breaking eye contact. “The two of us have never scent matched with the same Omega before. He hasn’t even scent matched with anyone. Yet the two of us are more than a match with you, baby. We’re meant to be.”
If only this was a fairy tale. The two handsome princes and the extremely fashionable princess who were destined to be together. But I couldn’t have these princes, and the universe wasn’t going to give me forest animals to help with the housework.
“Scent matching means we’re physically compatible, not anything else.” It was all biology. Powerful, yes, but in the end, it took a lot more to have a truly happy relationship.
“We’re more than just scent matches and you know it. We haven’t even known each other for a week, and we’re so good together.” Jason reached a hand across for me to take. “Ozzi and I will dedicate our lives to taking care of you. You make our pack complete.”
My throat constricted and tears threatened. To be with them, to be a pack, fuck, I wanted it so much.
