“Alright little doll, are you ready to tell us why you’ve brought us to a random sketchy alleyway in the middle of town?” Jude asks suspiciously. All three of the alphas have oh so graciously kept their questions to themselves this afternoon, and I’ve been silently betting in my head to see who breaks the silence first. I’m honestly kind of surprised Jude is the one to finally crack when McKenzie has been bouncing on his toes for the last twenty minutes.
The constant movement has been impossible to miss, even when I’m actively avoiding looking directly at my giant alpha. We arrived back on campus late last night whichmeant Mack had to attend baseball conditioning this morning to appease his coach, and he convinced me to meet him at Sugar & Spice for a midday coffee after. Naturally I said yes, but that was before I knew what his post-conditioning outfit looked like. Had I known, I would have suggested we meet at the practice facility.
My larger-than-life alpha had the audacity to show up in light colored jeans that barely contain his massive thighs and a fuckingcrop top. Have you ever seen thick washboard abs in a crop top? Well now I have, and I may never recover. My perfume bloomed and slick soaked my panties so quickly I questioned whether I was going into heat again. I manhandled the sexy idiot out of the coffee shop and away from what I was sure had to be at least twenty different appreciative stares before my omega had a chance to get too growly. McKenzie thought my jealousy was precious and walked all the way home with me wrapped around him like a koala, saying no one would be able to see his abs if he had my body to block them.
And I mean, he wasn’t wrong.
Snapping out of my crop top daydream, I shrug, leading them further down the alleyway to a nondescript door set between two dumpsters. We could have used the front entrance, but when Lainey suggested this place and told me about the side entrance, I couldn’t resist the temptation to mess with my alphas a little bit. “You’ll see.”
Mack beams at me, darting in front of me with impressive speed to open the door with a flourish. “After you, pretty girl,” he grins.
My answering grin is wide as I brush my hand across his still exposed abs, winking at him as I do. His groan is music to my ears and makes the other alphas laugh, only for the them to stop abruptly when the shop comes into view.
Paxton spins on his heel, panic written all over his stunning features. “Sweetheart, you know I love you, but if youbrought us here to get tattooed…” he trails off as his face tinges a sickly green color.
I rush forward, throwing my arms around his waist and bringing his nose to my neck where my scent is strongest. Their scents soothe me when I’m not feeling well, so I’m hopeful mine will do the same. He sags into my hold, sucking down deep lungfuls of my scent. “We’re not getting tattoos, Pax. Promise.”
“Then why are we here, Omega?” There’s a hint of a growl in Jude’s voice that does things to me that definitely aren’t appropriate for the public, so rather than respond and escalate things, I turn on my heel and practically skip to the front desk.
The man at the desk is intimidating as all get out, with shaggy black hair cut short on the sides in a sort of modern mullet style. Tattoos cover nearly every inch of visible skin, and jewelry adorns his eyebrow, ears, neck, and hands. I’m pretty sure this is the guy Lainey told me to ask for, so I take a chance and hold my hand out with a wide smile. “Hi! Are you Rhys?”
He scowls, glaring at my hand for a moment before he reluctantly takes it, letting go just as quickly. “Who’s askin’?” There’s a slight drawl to his words, not unlike my own. Three equally irritated warning growls sound behind me at Rhys’s brusque tone, making me roll my eyes.
“My name is Posey. My friend Lainey set up this appointment for me and told me to ask for you?” The words come out as a question, because I’m still not entirely sure this man is actually who I’m looking for, even if he does match the description Lainey gave me.
His entire demeanor shifts at the mention of my best friend, piquing my curiosity. “Oh, right! Yes, I’m Rhys. Sorry about that, we’ve had some videos go viral on social media and the number of people that come in asking for me or Shep.” He shakes his head, sighing heavily. “Anyway, you’re here for a piercing? Do you know what you want? I don’t do intimate areas, but we have a female piercer if that’s what you’re looking for.”
My face flames, especially when I hear the choked groan from behind me. “No!” I stumble over my words, but Rhys just waits patiently for me to get myself together. “Sorry. No, I want to get my nose pierced.” I turn around, my eyes meeting Paxton’s with a wink before sliding to my pack lead. “I’ve been thinking about it since I met Parker, and I think it would be fun to surprise him with a matching nose ring.”
All three alphas beam at me, and Pax nods enthusiastically. “He’s gonna lose it when he sees.”
I know I didn’t need their approval to put a hole in my body, but it feels good to have it and it settles my omega. Rhys quickly hides a curious look when I turn back around, but I’m distracted when he leads me across the shop to his station. There are framed drawings all over the walls that range from portraits to monsters and more. One in particular catches my eye, looking familiar for some reason, but before I can ask about it Rhys leads me to a partially reclined leather chair. I’ve never been in a tattoo shop before, but it looks exactly like one you would see in a movie.
“Do you have any other piercings?” Rhys asks. He wipes down a metal table in front of the chair before laying out what I can only assume are the tools and things he needs to do this.
I nod, pointing at my ears. “Had them done in a piercing parlor in Georgia when I was a kid, but nothin’ else.”
His green eyes light up, getting infinitely lighter. “I thought I recognized the accent. I’m from Georgia, too.”
The guys insert themselves into the conversation then, telling him about our trip as Paxton kneels down next to me. His eyes are shining with gratitude as he clasps my hand between his. “Park is already obsessed with you, Pose. I can’t wait to see the level of insanity he reaches when he realizes you put a hole in your body just so you could match him.”
I lean down and place a gentle kiss on his lips, trying to remain aware of our surroundings so we don’t make anyone uncomfortable. “I hope you know I would do the same for you. Plus, what’s one more hole in the grand scheme of things?” I shrug.
He snorts, drawing the others’ attention to us. Rhys uses a skin safe marker to place a dot on my nostril and hands me a mirror to check the placement. “It’ll probably hurt about the same as your ears but because of the location your eyes might water. Just remember to breathe,” he reminds me. My alphas crowd around the back of the chair so they can be out of the way but still watch and my stomach flutters when Rhys gloves up and pulls out the needle. “All right,” he murmurs. “You ready?”
Blowing out a steadying breath, I inhale the combined scents of my alphas to calm my nerves and nod. “Ready.”
“If you don’t stop staring at our omega she’s going to get a complex,” Pax chides from the kitchen.
“Yeah, a goddess complex,” Mack chuckles from the front hall. He’s determined to move me into their apartment until we can find something else but I didn’t want to give up my pretty furniture and decor, so he’s been hauling all of my stuff over here and slowly replacing their things since we got back from my appointment this afternoon.
I would feel guilty, but the second I expressed selling my things and using theirs all of the alphas expressed their outrage at the idea, even Parker chimed in through text when Jude asked. None of them seem to mind my girly style and have given me free rein to decorate how I like.McKenzie even offered to go shopping with me so I could “Posey-fy” his room as well.
Jude ignores Paxton’s warning, continuing to stare at me with an intensity that usually meansveryfun things, especially when his kettle corn scent swells, making my mouth water. “I hope she does,” he mutters. “And I hope her ego gets so big she never doubts how utterly enthralled we are by her.”
Heat suffuses my cheeks but before I can come up with a response, the dull thud of boots sounds outside the door. My heart takes off in my chest and I must not be blocking my emotions well because Parker sends a pulse of urgency down the bond. I barely manage to hold myself back from running to my impatient alpha to show off my nose, instead waiting him out on the couch. I know the other guys want to see his reaction, but most of all Pax.
Parker stomps into the living room, his bond a maelstrom of excitement over seeing me, relief at being home, and curiosity at why we’re all staring at him. “Why the fuck are you all staring at me like you’re waiting for something?” He grumbles, toeing off his combat boots and making a beeline straight for me. “Not you, flower. You stare at me as much as you want.” He smirks.
