Pack Obsession (Love Knot War #3)

Chapter 6

Chapter

Six

NASH

T he knife trembles slightly in her hand as she cuts into the steak. I pretend not to notice, just like I ignore the fact she’s barely touched the expensive cut of meat. Across the table, Logan methodically works through his dinner while Axel pushes vegetables around his plate, his usual restless energy making the silence even heavier.

"This is good," she says softly, as though testing the waters. "Thanks."

"Our housekeeper stocks the freezer." I’m not sure why I offer this information. Maybe to fill the crushing silence, maybe to see if she’ll relax those tense shoulders even a fraction. "She comes once a week."

Axel cuts me a stare, and fuck yeah, I know I said too much.

"Fancy." Her attempt at lightness falls flat. "Most criminal hideouts I’ve been in just order pizza."

Axel’s fork stills, and he grins. "Been in many, have you?"

"No, I..." Color touches her cheeks. "Sorry. Nervous humor."

"Eat." Logan’s voice carries that edge of command that makes most people jump to obey. But Casey just lifts her chin slightly, that steel I noticed earlier showing through.

"I’m trying." She takes another small bite. "It’s not easy with three Alphas staring at me like I might sprout wings and fly away."

"Would you?" The words slip out before I can stop them. "If you could?"

Her dark eyes meet mine across the table, and something electric passes between us.

"Wouldn’t you?"

I study her face—the way she holds herself like she’s expecting a blow—yet she doesn’t shy away, and I admire that.

"Hell, yeah, I’d fly away." I lean back. "Straight to Norway. All those fjords and mountains. Perfect place to disappear."

"Boring." Axel spears a piece of steak. "Give me Thailand. Full moon parties and amazing street food."

A ghost of a real smile touches her lips. "Hawaii for me. Where my family’s from."

That explains the exotic blend of her features—the sun-kissed skin, those eyes that captivate me.

"Missing the beaches?" Axel asks, but there’s something careful in his tone.

Her smile fades. "Haven’t been back since I was little. Before..."

Logan watches her over his glass, those eyes missing nothing. The weight of what she’s not saying fills the silence—before her parents’ death, which we’d found in our research after taking the job, before her running from Nexus, before Julian.

She lets the word hang there, offering nothing more, then turns to Logan.

"What about you? Where would you escape to?"

Logan sets down his fork, and for a moment, I think he won’t answer.

"Mountains," he says finally. "Somewhere with snow. Like Alaska or the Alps."

"Of course, you’d pick somewhere that requires survival skills," Axel snorts. "Bet you’d build your own cabin, too."

"Better than your beach parties and mystery meat from street vendors."

"Hey, I’m still alive, aren’t I?"

They both chortle.

She’s grinning, and fuck, but she’s beautiful. Her fork moves more steadily now, small bites of steak disappearing as she studies us.

I find myself staring at her hands—delicate but strong, nails short and practical. The way she holds her fork suggests she attended the proper finishing school training for Omegas.

"I’m finished," she says finally, setting her knife down. "Thanks for dinner, but I’m tired now."

"I’ll show you to your room." The words come out fast, and I’m on my feet.

A flash of uncertainty crosses her face, yet she follows me upstairs, her boots silent on the hardwood.

I’m hyperaware of her presence behind me, of how I picture the way her loose shirt and pants do nothing to hide her curves...

"This is you." I stop at the east wing’s guest room, the one with reinforced windows. "Bathroom’s in there. Clean clothes in the dresser. We always have spares because, in our line of work, you never know who we bring home with us."

"Thanks." She hesitates in the doorway, fingers twisting the end of the tips of her hair. In the soft hallway light, she looks almost angelic, with all silver-white hair. "I know you don’t want me here, that I ruined your job, but... I’m grateful. For not sending me to Julian."

Something dark stirs at that name. Before I can think better of it, I step closer, bracing one hand against the wall above her shoulder. She backs up instinctively, but there’s nowhere to go.

"You’re safe here, you know that?" My tone comes out rough, and I almost laugh when I say that while towering over her. "Walking into a house full of Alphas, asking to stay… That’s not an easy feat."

Her breath hitches, but she lifts her chin. This close, I see pale golden flecks in her dark eyes.

"I know exactly what I’m doing. Choosing the monsters who might protect me over the one who’ll definitely destroy me."

"Is that what we are? Monsters?"

"Maybe. I don’t know yet."

I lean closer, inhaling deeply. Her scent hits me like a drug—sweet summer rain and wildness underneath.

"You’d know better than most, wouldn’t you? What monsters look like."

"I know what they feel like." Her voice wavers. "How they hurt."

"And you’re not afraid we’ll hurt you?" I drag my gaze to her mouth, lingering a bit too long on beautiful her lips, wondering how they taste. "Three Alphas who kidnapped you, who could do anything..."

"You already would have." Those eyes search my face, looking for something I’m not sure I want her to find. "But you haven’t."

"Yet." The word hangs between us like smoke. "Do you know what you do to us? Your scent alone..."

"I can’t help that." Her words break slightly.

"No." I trail my fingers along the wall beside her head, not quite touching her but close enough to feel her shiver. "You can’t. Like you can’t help the way your pulse speeds up when I’m near. The way your breath races. The way your body knows exactly what I am."

"Stop." It comes out barely a whisper.

"Why? Because I’m right?" I lean closer until my lips nearly brush her ear. "Because you’re afraid of what might happen if I don’t?"

"Because..." She swallows hard. "Because you’re proving my point."

"Which is?"

"That you’re dangerous."

"I’m trying very hard not to be." The admission surprises us both. I force myself to step back, needing distance from the way she makes me feel—protective, possessive, and hungry all at once. "Get some sleep, Casey. Lock your door."

"Will that actually keep you out if you wanted in?"

Our gazes meet, and for a moment, the tension crackles between us like lightning about to strike.

"No. But it’ll remind us both that you’re not here for that."

She slips into her room without another word, but not before I catch a glimpse of her face—confusion and fear warring with something darker, something that makes my blood burn. Her lips part slightly as she draws in a shaky breath, and for one dangerous second, all I can think about is how those lips would feel against mine, wrapped around my cock, how her voice would sound, crying out my name in the darkness.

Fuck.

I make myself step back, running a hand through my hair. This isn’t why she’s here. She’s a job—was a job—and a complication we need to handle. Nothing more. The lock clicks into place with a finality that should comfort me, should remind me of all the reasons this is a terrible idea.

It doesn’t.

Because now, all I realize is how quickly I can override that lock, to show her exactly what happens when an Omega plays with fire. To make her?—

No. She’s here for protection. Nothing more. A temporary arrangement until we figure out how to handle Julian.

I head to my room, trying to keep my attention on work, on the job ahead… on anything except the Omega now sleeping down the hall, but her scent lingers in my nose, and her words echo in my head.

Choosing the monsters who might protect me...

The question is—can we protect her from ourselves?

And more importantly… do I even want to try? I told myself I wasn’t interested in her, in an Omega just yet. However, actions speak louder than words.

My room is down the hall—stark, cold, cool air blowing in from the open window. I kick off my boots, the soft thud barely registering. I can’t settle. I’m wired, buzzing. I pace to the window and stare at the forest cloaked in night.

Her face keeps flashing in my mind—those wide, dark eyes, those soft curves, lips I want to taste, breasts I want to suck. She’s a fucking distraction, all right, a weakness I hadn’t planned on.

I drop onto the bed like I’ve been shot, landing face-first in the pillow. It smells of laundry detergent and crisp cleanness. My eyes squeeze shut, but it doesn’t help. I can still see her, that soft skin, the way her waist tapers in, her scent heavy in my nostrils. She’s a fucking ghost haunting me.

A groan escapes my lips. I picture her again, her lashes dark, that slight tremble in her lips when I lingered too close to her. In her presence, it sent a jolt of pure lust straight to my cock. I’ve never been one for flowery thoughts, but she feels… different, like a goddamn drug, and I’m already craving another dose.

I roll onto my back and slide my hand down to my belt, unbuckling it. I push down my zipper, my breath jamming in my lungs as my heavy cock pops out. My pulse hammers against my temples. I close my eyes, the image of her becoming clearer, more vivid, like I can see her beneath my lids. I can almost taste her. I wrap my hand around my thick cock, palming it. I hiss….

"Fuck!" The friction ignites a fire.

I inhale faster, each intake a ragged tear in my control, picturing her naked, kneeling in front of me, deep-throating my dick. The mirror in front of my bed showing her bent over, her ass high, and her thighs spread, showing me her pink little pussy, glistening for me.

I shudder all over.

The blood rushes to my ears, a deep roar drowning out everything else. My grip tightens, my hand pumping faster.

I tense, muscles coiling tighter and tighter until I fucking burst.

"Casey," slips past my lips, followed by a guttural growl. I explode, a roar tearing from my throat as I come all over my damn hand.

I gasp for air, my vision blurry, my chest heaving. Even now, her image lingers, taunting me. I open my eyes, staring at the ceiling.

I didn’t expect this, didn’t want this.

I’ve never lost control this way. Yet a dark smile tugs at the corner of my lips.

That blonde, with her angelic face and those curves, she’s got me, and I’m not sure whether to be pissed or thrilled.