Maybe it was foolish of me, but I believed him. Ethan had always been my protector. As long as he was able to, he’d make sure no harm came my way. Of that one thing, I could be certain.
“Is there anything else I need to know about the Tupilaqs?” I pressed then. “I can’t take all these revelations being parceled out like this. Just rip the band-aid off and give them to me all at once.”
“That’s everything,” he assured me, rocking in place to help soothe my jangled nerves.
“Ethan,” I tentatively began then. “You’ve called me an omega a few times now,” I recalled with a blush when I thought about how he’d used the term when we’d been in bed together. “What does it mean?”
“An omega is sacred to wares, Millie,” Ethan explained. “They’re the ideal mate for an alpha. More desirable and sought after than the most precious gems on earth. They secrete pheromones that set ours into overdrive. Because of how rare they are, most males are willing to fight to the death to make one of them their own. That’s why I didn’t want to leave you unmated. My scent deters other males from fighting over you.”
That answer was way more intense than I’d expected. I was more forlorn and overwhelmed than ever now. “What are we going to do, Ethan?”
“I don’t know yet,” he admitted, “but give me a little time, Princess. I’ll put a plan together and then we can make that decision together once I do.”
I appreciated that more than he realized. After being kept in the dark for so long, I didn’t want to be sheltered or lied to anymore.
That being said, I did have a lot on my plate at the moment. Namely, I needed to understand when I was going to have my first change and what that would look like. Before I couldask any probing questions about that topic though, Ethan’s phone rang.
Reluctantly letting me go, he answered it. “Gavin, is everything alright?” I heard him say, and shuddered at the reminder of last night.
When Ethan caught that, he placed his hand over the phone and said, “I’ll take the call in my study. Start eating whatever tempts you. I’ll make that omelet when I return.” With that, he walked off to his study and closed the door.
Despite everything, I realized I was, indeed, still starving. Snagging food from the plates of sausage, cheese, and bread, I began to assemble a makeshift breakfast sandwich and eat it over the counter. I was deep in thought when I heard a door open and close and assumed it was Ethan done with his phone conversation. Not bothering to turn around, I felt a large presence behind me, and then a tall, muscular figure pressed snugly against my backside.
“And who are you, little one?” an unfamiliar voice purred into my ear, taking a deep drag of my scent and letting out a low, throaty grumble that emanated from deep within his chest.
Screaming, I turned around to see a man I’d never met before pressed up against me. Ethan immediately came barreling out of his office, snarling and ready to fight at the sound of my distress.
The stranger was dressed in all black military-like garb, and was smiling from ear to ear, despite the seriousness of the situation. He was so tall, the gun strapped to his hip pressed against my breast, but it was overshadowed by the hard weapon he was sporting in his pants a few inches lower, pressed against softness of my belly.
“Am I interrupting something, Ethan?” The stranger posed, his gaze traveling up and down my nearly naked body. “I’d say I’d come back later, but I’m too… intrigued to do that.”
Ethan
I’d been in my office talking with Gavin when I heard Millie’s scream. Without thinking, I charged into the kitchen, ready to do battle. Thankfully, there was no need.
Flint, another misfit from the boy’s home I’d grown up in, was in the kitchen, eye fucking Millie something fierce. I really had to stop giving out keys to friends, I thought as I raced to my mate’s side.
“Flint, what are you doing here?” I demanded, circling around him to get to Millie who was obviously shaken from yet another dominant male nosing around and invading her personal space.
Even though her unmated heat scent had faded since I’d been with her, Millie wasn’t entirely in the clear yet. She might have taken my knot, but until I bit her throat and sealed the deal, she’d smell deliciously ripe to all the shifter males who weren’t mated. Flint was young and hadn’t paired off with anyone yet. Hence the wood he was unabashedly sporting as he rudely sniffed my mate. If he hadn’t been such a good friend, I would have ripped out his throat and buried him in the woods where nobody could find the rotting corpse. As it was, if he kept looking directly at Millie’s barely covered body one more time, I still might.
Flint ignored my question and asked one of his own. “Who’s our new friend, Ethan? Is she staying with us for a while? I sure hope so.”
Sandwiching myself between my mate and Flint, I shoved him forward and protectively blocked his view of the shaken woman. “Millie is not your concern.”
“Millie,” Flint repeated, like he was savoring the word on his tongue. “So does Millie have a story? Or a man?” he asked, trying to gaze past me at the woman hiding behind my back.
“She does,” I emphatically exclaimed, meeting his cool green gaze head on. “Me. She’s my mate, and that’s all you need to know about her.”
That comment got Flint’s attention. “Your mate? Shit, man, I’m sorry,” he quickly apologized, stepping back several feet and lowering his eyes so as not to appear so predatory.
Millie, why don’t you go upstairs and change. You can take anything from my closet or drawers that you need. Later on, I’ll drive you over to your apartment so you can gather some supplies together.”
Millie looked like she wanted to argue, but didn’t. It was clear I’d be getting an earful later, but she wasn’t willing to fight about this in front of strangers, or, more likely, in front ofthisstranger while still half-naked.
As soon as I heard her padding up the stairs to my room, I gave Flint my full attention. Sighing, I asked, “Why are you here, Flint? What’s going on?”
His attention still lingering on the stairwell, Flint took a moment to collect himself before answering. My warning growl might have helped him focus some.
