Emily
By secluded, they mean close to two hours up the coast, past where the freeway ends and the ocean curls right up to the edge of the unsealed road. It’s a vista of craggy limestone and bush scrub, punctuated with bright splashes of wattle and the fat white flowers of the grevilleas, oozing with nectar. It’s a ruggedly beautiful part of the state, but I can’t see how the distance is convenient given they all work in the city.
Although, as another cramp bites deep, the last thing on my mind is their commute.
“Derek, it hurts.”
I stopped caring about the needy whimper in my voice an hour ago.
I’ve napped on and off, but the itch under my skin is unrelenting. Plus, the swirl of alpha pheromones makes it hard to think of anything but sex. I want it in a way that barely makes sense to me, but I’m pretty sure that if Derek’s strong arms weren’t around me right now, I’d have already flung myself on the nearest knot.
“I know, Em,” he says, soothingly. I can hear a lingering rasp in his voice from his cold, but his eyes are clear and determined. “We’ll be there soon, and we can make you more comfortable, okay?”
I’m not completely unaware of what’s going on inside me. I might not have personal experience with heats, but growing up with an alpha sister, I was always curious about omegas, and I studied designations and dynamics as part of my under-grad course. I’ve read case studies on the physiological changes, including the slick, knots, and claiming bites… but it was always with a scientist’s objectivity.
Omegas usually present in their late teens and their first heat is always carefully monitored. Designation experts are often employed by the omega’s family to guide them through the process, and the heat takes place in a state-of-the-art facility, surrounded by trained professionals. Omegas might be the rarest designation, but the entire world revolves around meeting their needs.
My needs. Which is so far out of my frame of reference, all I can do is shake my head.
But my body doesn’t care about textbooks – I’m as hot as a summer bonfire, and that itch under my skin is now a deep, persistent ache. It’s her. The hidden omega within, trying to claw her way to the surface. She doesn’t care that I’m a twenty-six-year-old PhD student, the odd bee girl who haunts the dustiest part of the library. She’s going to burst from me like I’m a chrysalis, dragging me up into the light. But before we get there, I’m going to drown in this pulsing well of want, an emptiness wrapped in a fragile shell that is desperate to be filled.
Thankfully, my inner omega has no shame in begging for what she wants.
“Please, Derek. I need you now …”
I can’t quite articulate the rest of my plea, but Soren comes to my rescue, his voice dipped low for my ears only. “Don’t be embarrassed, sweetheart. The things I’ve begged for mid-heat would make a porn star blush. We all understand what you’re going through, and we wouldn’t be here if we didn’t want to help.”
I’ve heard them say that over and over in the last couple of hours. That they’re all in this together, that they’ll do anything to make their pack whole. I’m just not sure how that ideal extends to me.
Just one of the many things I need to clarify, but the throbbing ache between my thighs reminds me that this isn’t the time or place.
“Whatever you need, Em,” Derek says, distracting me from my churning thoughts as he pulls me more firmly into his lap. I’ve been sitting sideways on his knees, cuddled up in his arms, but as he moves me into a straddling position, I can’t help but moan into his neck. “Tell me what you want, babe.”
“Inside me.” I grit out the words, but sigh in relief as he immediately starts working on my trousers. The only disappointment is how his big fingers fumble on the tiny buttons. Why did I have to choose today of all days to forgo my easy-access skirts?
“Let me,” Soren says at my side, giving Derek a cheeky wink. “Helping hands, remember?”
He quickly relieves me of the button and zipper, Derek supporting me as Soren strips off my trousers and underwear. I should probably be embarrassed at being butt-naked in the middle of a packed car, but the cool air on my overheated skin is too distracting. “Kiss me,” I murmur, winding my arms tightly around Derek’s neck.
“I shouldn’t,” he says, holding back. “My flu…”
“You don’t need to worry about that,” Soren tells him, sending a wink my way this time. “Omegas are pretty much immune to infection during their heats.”
“Really?” Derek looks impressed.
“Yep. Plus our levels of oxytocin, dopamine, and vasopressin are off the charts. They’re basically our love drugs. When you combine them with relaxin, which loosens our joints, and estrogen, which slickens us up, is it any wonder we’re on a chemical high for three days?”
I smile faintly as they chat about the wonders of omega heat, because even though I’m not exactly loving it right now, I’m glad they’re getting along. The alphas are watching us like hawks - probably because Soren’s moods are still unpredictable, and Derek is a new and untested factor - but it’s nice to know we aren’t in this alone.
Although, everything fades into the background as he pushes a thick finger between my needy folds. “Is this better, Em?”
“So much better,” I groan, clenching around the stretch as he slides another inside. He pumps me carefully, toying with my clit, but I’m too greedy for the slow buildup. “Push them all the way in, Derek. I need to come!”
He winces at the desperate look in my eyes and immediately slips from under me, backing into the aisle while he wrenches his jeans open. Even with the Hummer’s enlarged interior, there’s not much room for him to manoeuvre, but I watch eagerly as he tugs the denim down. As soon as I see his thick cock, I wiggle forward, shamelessly exposing myself to him. There’s so much slick trickling down my thighs, I’m a mess, but I don’t care. I’m almost panting against the leather seat when he penetrates me, his hot, thick erection pressing in without hesitation. “Oh, God! That feels so good.”
Derek groans as he slides all the way in, and I feel tears of relief leak from my eyes. He’s gentle as he pumps into me, but I thrust back, forcing him deep. Every inch of him is a revelation, and I clench down hard, making him hiss at the tight fit. I’m vaguely aware of him dropping kisses down my spine, but all I can focus on is the nerve endings he’s electrifying with his perfect cock.
“Derek…”
“More, babe?”
I should probably bury my face back in the seat cushion, but my inner omega is having none of it. “Don’t stop! Harder, Derek!”
I have my back to Finn, but Soren is right next to me, his thumbs brushing away my tears as I jolt against his thigh. He’s telling me how well I’m doing, how delicious we look, and I’m eating it up like he’s unlocked a new praise kink. I only have to turn my head an inch to meet Langston’s gaze, and my breath catches at the look in his eyes.
“So beautiful, ,” he purrs, his voice thick with lust. “You’re a vision, sweetheart, taking that big dick so well.”
Definitely a praise kink , because that’s all it takes to tip me over the edge. I come with a hitching scream, the world collapsing around me in shimmering waves.
I’m not sure how many hands are on me as I blink back to myself, but I’m rubbing myself against every leg I can reach. The fire inside me has been fed, but instead of reducing my heat to a simmer, I’m now shaking with the need for more.
“You need a knot, baby.” Derek says, his eyes stark in his flushed face. “I can take the edge off, but that’s what you need.”
“Don’t feel bad,” Soren counsels him. “It’s biological.”
“Yeah, but she’s in pain.” He gathers me close, feathering kisses over my sweaty temple. “I’m sorry, Em.”
“Don’t be.” I cling to him, furious that my body is betraying him like this. “You’re everything to me, Derek. We’ll get through this together, like we do everything.”
He smiles at my reassurances, and I can feel the others watching us curiously. Derek ignores them, smoothing my curls back and nuzzling my cheek. “This is just a new adventure. Like library bathrooms, and mango and coconut bath salts.”
“Ooh, I like the sound of that,” Soren says, giving Derek an appreciative look. “And if you’re wondering, there’s a whole bunch of omega heat toys you can use. You haven’t really seen a dildo until you’ve checked out the Dragon Knot Slickmaster version.”
I snort, but it comes out a bit broken, and Lang runs his hands down my arms. I think about crawling into his lap, but I don’t want to give Derek the wrong impression. “If the cramps get really bad, sweetheart, we have some medication you can use.” Lang hesitates, and I can tell from the sympathy in his eyes it’s a backup measure, at best. “But the need will still be there, under the surface. You can trick your body up to a point, but the best approach is an alpha knot and all that comes with it.”
I’m pretty sure there’s never been a more awkward conversation about the birds and the bees in history, but the ache is building, and I’m too needy to hold back. I rest my head on Lang’s thigh, but study Soren. “Do you have a knot?”
The smile that breaks over his face is all male anticipation. “Right now, I’m an alpha, which means I come with the full bag of goodies. I can take care of you, , especially if Derek here can lend a helping hand.”
“Yes?” I look at Derek, who nods, a faint blush climbing his cheeks and Soren licks his lips. “Glad we got that settled, because it looks like we’re here.”
I don’t think I’m the only one breathing a sigh of relief as we pass through a pair of security gates and start the long drive up to the house. Majestic pines form an impressive avenue on each side, with glimpses of the ocean in the distance, but my attention is snared by a familiar sight scattered through the apple orchard. “Are those hives? ”
“We had a local expert set it up a few months ago,” Finn tells me as I gape at the apiary. “You might want to make a few adjustments when you take a closer look, but he said it’s the prime spot for air flow, sunlight, and cross-pollination.”
I’m too surprised to voice any of the countless questions tumbling through my head, because we’ve reached the end of the road and I’m gazing up at an astonishing house. It’s three levels of pale limestone and glossy timber, with enough turrets, gables, and sea views to make me think we’ve stumbled on an oversized sandcastle. There’s a mixture of roses and natives growing beneath a huge wrap-around verandah, which is painted a soft white to match the frames around the large, stained-glass windows.
“Nice place,” Derek murmurs, but I can only nod. It's like stumbling upon my dream house, and I’m not sure whether to laugh or cry, because this is their packhouse . I glance at Soren, and when I see a matching wonderment in his eyes, I can’t help but feel a little jealous. As their omega, this is the place where he will spend the rest of his life, if he wants to.
“We can give you the full tour later,” Langston says as we enter a sweeping foyer with polished floorboards and soaring ceilings. “But you probably want to go up to your suite and get comfortable.” He hesitates, and I’m suddenly aware of every eye on me. Of course, they were all watching in the car, but now we’re here, in their home, I don’t know where I stand. Lang seems to sense my uncertainty, because he says, “We’re working off your cues here, . Whatever you need, we’ll do our best to provide it.”
It’s tempting to just slink away and deal with this later, but I force myself to turn and face them all. “Thanks, but I’m not sure what I need. Or what role you guys want to play in my heat.”
“If we haven’t been clear, that’s on us,” Soren says, shooting his alphas a narrow look. “We’re all attracted to you, as well as feeling responsible for your heat. If you want us in your nest, you’ve got us.”
“We can feel how compatible we are,” Creed adds quietly. “That can mean knots and bites, or it can mean cuddles on the couch and walks on the beach. It’s up to you.”
Langston makes a low sound in the back of his throat as he steps forward, his thumb sweeping across my bottom lip. “But alphas and omegas are all about their instincts, sweetheart, and our instincts are telling us to take you up to that nest and fuck you until you purr.”