Zero claps. “How about Piper and you mud wrestle for control? I’ll watch.”
“You can be the Chief Alpha. It’s only a title,” Piper replies. “It has nothing to do with our roles at work, yeah? Nothing to do with our established dynamic. Just don’t go around setting up new rules or giving out orders because advanced warning, I won’t be following them.”
I chuckle. “What’s the name of your pack then?”
Zero’s expression suddenly becomes unexpectedly blank.
He hesitates, before he replies, “The Idols.”
I glance between them.
I guess that it would be too revolutionary to call their pack after the Omega, and Piper may not want the stigma of the Wolf name.
But why haven’t they taken the Alpha’s pack name? Unless Lionzio lost that right when he ran from his mafia family?
Lionzio lets go of Icarus’ tie, smoothing it down.
Then his expression creases with concern, as he studies Icarus more closely. “Did I handle you too roughly? Hurt you? You’re in pain.”
“I’m not.” Icarus avoids his eye.
“I know exactly what it looks like to hide pain. I’ve spent most of my life doing the same trick, after being roughed up by my dad, then having to act like the boss around the rest of the pack. So…” Lionzio runs his hands over Icarus with a worrying level of practice, until he prods hard enough at his ribs to make him hiss out. “…fractured ribs.”
Zero looks horrified. “I am kicking your bloody arse, Lion. You don’t know your own strength.”
Icarus shrugs away from Zero. “It wasn’t you. I’m made of tougher stuff than that. I was trying to save Grace’s brother, who is a Hotel Omega, from being sent to a guest over Christmas. He’s dangerously overworked. Let’s just say thatmyOmega boss didn’t agree.”
My guts churn with dread when I think what Bird may have been faced with when his hotel door opened.
And it won’t have been his soul mate, scent match, and a sexy Beta holding an elf boot.
Zero looks down, troubled. “We can find a way to help your brother, love. I know what it’s like to be overworked like that. I’ve seen friends almost die from it. Any way that I can help, I’m here for you, yeah?”
I stare at him.
My Sinner pack, the staff and HOs will support and do anything for each other.
Yet I have come to accept that bonded packs are merely for business, political, or status reasons and not love.
Will these men prove me wrong?
“We’ll be careful with you.” Piper slowly approaches Icarus. “May I nuzzle you?”
Icarus raises his eyebrow. “Do you still want to?”
“Of course.” Then he looks vulnerable. “Or don’t you want me as your Omega now that you know I’m not submissive and shit?”
Icarus snorts. “Have you met Grace? Look, Piper…”
“Pip.”
“Pip, I’ve had to hold it together in front of the cameras in the hotel’s corridors to act the strict, Traditional Alpha, running an entire hotel. It’s not who I truly am. Yet every mistake has been on my shoulders. Naturally, I have taken the protector boss role, which has been crushing. Grace here, however, has a spirit thatis anything but submissive. You remind me of her, and believe me, it is attractive. I adore Grace as much as it sounds like your Alpha here adores you.” Both Piper and I blush. “I am ecstatic that she has found her soulmate. Plus, the idea of two such wild Omegas in a nest together makes me want to…”
He grabs the tiny Omega by the scruff of the neck, dragging him closer and whispering into his ear.
Slowly, Piper’s blush deepens. His eyelashes flutter.
Piper licks his lips. “Wow, I didn’t know that anyone could rival Zero for dirty talk. Who knew that such freaky kinkiness could beat beneath such a stuffy suit?”
