“Three overprotective Alphas who purr at me?” she asks, a smile in her voice.
“Among other things,” Jake says, reaching over to brush a strand of hair away from her face. His fingers linger, and I don’t miss the way she leans into the touch.
Charlie pulls out onto the road, and I increase the vibration in my chest, feeling her sink even deeper into relaxation. Her scent is already starting to even out, the acrid notes of anxiety fading under the influence of pack presence and Alpha comfort.
What kind of life has she been living?
I meet Charlie’s eyes in the mirror again, and his expression has shifted from teasing to something softer. Understanding. He nods slightly, and I know we’re all thinking the same thing—how the fuck did she survive this long without a pack to care for her?
“You like that?” I murmur against her hair, increasing the vibration in my chest. She makes a soft, contented sound that shoots straight to my cock, but I ignore it.
Jake shifts closer on her other side, adding his own scent to the mix—chocolate and warm spices wrapping around us both.
But by the time we pull up to her house, we spill out onto her driveway, the autumn air cool against my skin. It’s a short walk to her porch, but the comfort from moments ago evaporates, and the anxiety I’d scented earlier has come back worse.
Jake’s nose wrinkles, and I can see the concern etched deep in Charlie’s face.
“What’s wrong, Wills?” Jake says gently, carefully. “I can smell it on you, and it’s driving my Alpha crazy. What do you need?”
“I don’t know.” Her voice is tight, frustrated. Small. “I can’t turn it off. It’s like all my Omega instincts are on overdrive. Everything feels too much and not enough all at once. I can’t—I don’t know how to?—“
“Hey, hey.” I cup her face, turning her to look at me. Her pupils are blown wide, her breathing too quick. “Stop spiraling. We’ve got you.”
I know what she needs. I know it the same way I know how to breathe, how to set a rope, how I know I could find her in a crowded room every time.
“Let us scent mark you,” I say, keeping my voice calm and steady even though my Alpha is demanding I do something—fix this, make her feel safe. “It’ll help. Ground you. Remind your Omega that you’re not alone.”
She hesitates, worrying her bottom lip between her teeth. Then nods.
Jake moves first—because of course he does, the bastard always knows exactly what to do with her.
“C’mere, Wills,” he says, voice gone soft and coaxing. Before she can respond, he picks her up—just lifts her like she weighs nothing, and her legs automatically wrap around his waist in a move that’s pure instinct.
My mouth goes dry.
Jake buries his face in the curve of her neck, rubbing his cheek along the scent gland there. Then lower, across her collarbone, against her chest where her shirt dips low. Marking her. Claiming her. Making sure anyone who gets within ten feet of her tomorrow will know she’s got a pack.
She makes this soft, breathy sound and then—fuck—she does it back. Nuzzles against his neck with her own cheek, her scent glands leaving buttercup and honey all over his skin.
“That’s it,” Jake murmurs, setting her back on her feet but keeping his hands on her hips to steady her. “Good girl.”
Before she can catch her breath, Charlie’s there. He pulls her into his arms and kisses her—deep and claiming and thorough enough that I can see her knees go weak.
When he finally releases her mouth, she’s breathless and flushed, and he takes advantage of that dazed state to rub his cheek along hers in a slow, sensual slide. Sage and sweetgrassmixing with buttercups until the whole driveway smells like them.
She presses a kiss to his cheek, soft and sweet, then marks him the same way she did Jake—face buried in his neck, scent glands working against his skin.
“Perfect,” Charlie breathes. “You’re perfect, Omega.”
I love how she flushes with the praise.
Then she makes eye contact with me, and I see the shyness there. The uncertainty. Like she’s not sure what to expect from me.
Oh, little Omega. You have no idea what you do to me.
I step forward, and she tilts her head back to look up at me. I don’t say anything, just pull her into my arms and lift her in a princess carry, adjusting her weight until her neck and shoulder are at my level. She gasps, hands clutching at my shoulders for balance.
“Beau—”
