Chapter 23
Ibreathed in the coffee scent tickling my nose. Trying to move on the mattress didn’t work.
I opened my eyes to find an unfamiliar dark gray ceiling. Arms wound around me, tangled so tightly I couldn’t tell who was who. Chests crowded me to the point that my cheeks were smashed between them.
Cade groaned, the noise vibrating against my ear. He inched closer toward me, legs tangled with one of mine to where I couldn’t move, much less try to free myself. Rafe lay between my legs, his head pillowed on my sheet-covered sex while his hand stayed on my side, fingers pressing into my belly.
They had me pinned.
Dorian, on the opposite side from Cade, held my arm to his chest, my hand tucked under his jaw. I wouldn’t be able to get up without waking them. Which I was sure was purposeful.
Soreness radiated through my body, even without moving, which told me how much the heat had taken out of me.
All the suppressants I’d taken had caused it to hit me harder and longer, but I felt the difference in Repressitol.
I couldn’t imagine the effect it would have on an Omega that had been taking the harsh drug for months, let alone years.
I shivered and clenched my hands until my nails pinched my skin.
Small snippets of being submerged under warm water whispered along my memories. They’d bathed me after I’d collapsed from pure exhaustion. I’d only been able to rouse in short bursts, very, very short bursts. All I’d managed to do was lay in whatever arms cradled me, spent and exhausted.
It was . . . disorienting.
Now they had me clasped in their arms like I belonged, and it set my teeth on edge. I gave an experimental wiggle, but it did nothing.
I sucked in a hard breath and released an ear-splitting scream.
Dorian jerked back and thudded onto the floor. Rafe was up, eyes frantically scanning the surroundings, head swiveling. Cade startled, body jolting against me, and arm winding around my waist harder. It didn’t take Dorian long to stand, blinking sleep out of his eyes.
In the silence after, they were so still. Nerves swirled in my stomach.
It took me shoving Cade before tossing myself back to roll off and onto my feet for them to snap out of the hypervigilance.
Cade sat up. “Fuck,” he hissed, cupping himself. “My fucking cock hurts.” He wrapped his hand around his limp shaft and gasped.
Movement from Dorian brought my attention to him.
He was already moving toward me. I put my hand out, panicked, and my back smacked against the wall.
It made my nudity more obvious. I could be blasé about nudity, but in front of my Scent Matches, it felt different.
Everything was more intense and visceral.
The knot in my throat would attest to that . . . knot . . . The way they’d claimed me with their thick kno—stop. I exhaled shakily.
“If you’ll excuse me.” I flicked my hand as if to swat them to the side. They didn’t move.
Damn. I was hoping that would work.
“You’re our Scent Match.” Dorian’s voice was low and rough, rivaling Rafe’s natural tone.
“And? It changes nothing. You already have an Omega for your Pack.”
Their silence made me more nervous. I shuffled from one foot to the other. Whatever they were dwelling on was making me nervous.
“You knew.” Rafe’s eyebrows raised. “That’s why you asked us if we ever wanted to find our Scent Match.” His eyes widened, and clear horror reflected in them.
“And we—” Cade cut off. There was an odd look in his eyes that I’d never seen. “Why wouldn’t you say anything?”
“You have an Omega,” I repeated. “Anyway, why would I want to?” I retorted, lifting my chin.
“I preferred everything happening this way. Now I know you would have never truly wanted me,” I shot at them.
“How do you think I felt? Knowing you were mine, but watching you paw at other women?” I spat at Cade.
He jerked like I’d hit him. “And you expected me to tell you?” I scoffed.
He was stunned into silence.
“Even before all this. We were planning to keep you,” Dorian snapped.
“Yet, you still search for the Omega you were going to claim. Were you expecting to keep us both?”
A vein pulsed in Dorian’s temple. “Enough about Susanna. She’s a nonissue!”
I set my teeth and remained still.
“You will need Alphas to satisfy your heat,” Rafe said. Now he was trying the logical angle?
“You guys seemed to have forgotten the auction.” That silenced them, and they all avoided my gaze. “I’ll find Alphas to satisfy my heats—”
A rough, choked sound left Dorian, and he speared his fingers through his hair. Cade watched, wide-eyed and not seeming completely present, while Rafe was frozen, anger splashed on his face.
I clamped my lips tightly together.
“Those fucking suppressants,” Dorian hissed. Then he suddenly tensed, body so still it mimicked a statue. “Your illness.” His eyes widened and pinned me. “You took Repressitol.”
Cade scoffed, the sound so disapproving. I didn’t let my face react.
“Admit it.” Dorian was suddenly in my space. “Why would you take that shit?!” Dorian roared, the shout vibrating in my chest. I managed to avoid his hands again, flinching against the wall.
“I would never harm you.” His voice sounded husky, but his face remained emotionless, and he kept blinking. He poked a finger toward me. I would have bitten it if it had been closer. “You’re not leaving us,” he mumbled more to himself. “You’re not to step a foot outside of this bedroom.”
Rafe scowled. “But—”
“She’s staying in here!” Dorian’s dominance blazed from him, and I felt the full force. I locked down the lust, but I didn’t have to fight for long because he rounded and stormed out of the bedroom, slamming the door behind him.
In the aftermath, Rafe turned toward me, approaching. “Dorian is . . . struggling. He just needs a moment.” I stiffened, and he noticed, stopping before touching me then sighed. “Repressitol is illegal for a reason.” Rafe’s disapproval slapped me across the face, and I lowered my head.
“So is buying an Omega.”
The corner of his mouth tipped up, and he slightly bent his head in agreement.
“And I don’t regret it. It brought you to us.” With that, he gripped Cade’s shoulder, who was still frozen, watching me with blank eyes. He staggered under Rafe’s guidance, then I was alone.
I was always alone.
Thickness grew in my throat. If I let myself feel everything, I would crumble.
The chill of the room reached me now that they were gone.
I hugged myself and numbly walked over to the rectangular mahogany dresser.
Their coffee scent emanated from it, and as weak as it was, I sniffed it in like an addict.
I opened the first drawer. It was full of watches lined up prettily, while there were cuff links on the other side. The next drawer had neatly folded clothes, and I pulled out a button-down shirt. Quickly donning it, I rubbed my arms to soothe the chill.
Dorian’s stuff was set up so neatly. His shout rang in my memory, making my heart jump. His lack of control was a contrast to how calm and collected he’d been.
I yanked the drawer out the rest of the way until everything spilled out. I avoided the wood hitting my foot. Staring down at the pile of shirts, I gritted my teeth. Creating the mess felt as good as the first time.
So I repeated the motion with the drawer below it, and folded pants were added to the pile.
Then the next one with socks and briefs.
Clothes littered the floor. Lastly, was the one with the watches.
Everything in the top drawer was expensive, but I still pulled, making sure to avoid anything hitting my foot.
I tossed the drawer onto the pile of other drawers, and they clashed together.
A single rectangular frame lay face down near my feet. I crouched and grabbed it.
All the guys were easy to distinguish. They looked so serious staring into the camera, but they weren’t alone. A slight figure stood next to them, and my heart leapt.
Wait. That woman. My eyes widened at the redhead. She was just as glammed up as the last time I saw her.
Is this Susanna?
My heart stuck in my throat. I’d met her before.
But not as Susanna, as Demi.
My knees gave out from my crouch, and I fell to the floor, holding the picture frame. I wasn’t sure how long I sat in stunned silence, but I didn’t hear Rafe come in until he sucked in a breath. His large hand gripped the frame, but I didn’t release it.
“You shouldn’t have to see that,” Rafe said gruffly and pulled the frame again.
“This is Susanna?” I whispered.
Rafe met my gaze, frowning. He left me in suspense, even though I already knew the answer.
“Yes,” he finally answered in his rough voice.
My fingers went numb, and he managed to take it. He was still watching me, but I was numb.
“I’ll get rid of it.” His muffled voice reached my ears as if it was far away. Demi was Susanna. Susanna was Demi.
Rafe pushed something onto my lap. And he scooped me up.
“Let’s get you off the floor.”
I was limp in his arms. He placed me on the bed and covered my legs with the blanket. I eyed the Epad he’d placed on me.
“Dorian asked me to give it to you.”
I only grunted.
Rafe studied me for another second, as if waiting for something, but I stayed silent. Finally, he left the room, grabbing the picture frame he had placed on the dresser on his way out. The picture of Susanna.
It wasn’t making sense to me. She was so possessive of the Greymont Pack, talking about them like they were her Alphas.
That couldn’t be her, right? I had to be wrong.
I closed my eyes, hugging the Epad resting on my belly.
But if it was . . . it would break their hearts.
A protective swell spawned. The urge to protect my Scent Matches from pain, to protect them from her.
Would they even believe me if I told them?