Chapter 11
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Saint Cage, Haven
P anting, I shudder, as another wave of heat hits me.
Hot, hot, hot.
Sweat drips down my neck. I’m burning up.
…this heat will be deadly…
I whine in distress, remembering the doctor’s cruel words.
I’m going to die today.
Without a bond — multiple bonds — I won’t survive.
I thought that rutting an Alpha would be enough but it’s not.
Was I wrong to cling to my independence? Should I have given up on Lincoln long ago? Settled for any Alpha who’d accept me as a Reject?
Is it better to live a long life with clipped wings in a cage or a short life fleeing through the forest toward freedom?
I’d take the flight toward freedom every time.
I set my jaw.
If this is my last heat, then there aren’t two men who I’d rather spend it with.
Perhaps, this is fated.
“Alpha,” I whimper.
Thomas immediately clasps his hand lightly at the base of my throat over my scent gland.
I gasp, arching toward his touch.
My nipples harden. My pussy throbs.
My gaze shoots to meet Thomas’.
Thomas is sprawled on the bed next to me, studying me intently.
He’s the most undressed that I’ve seen him but he’s still wearing a light green shirt and black pants. He’s loosened his blue tie, however, and his hair is mussed.
I love seeing his hair like that.
I can tell that he’s close to tipping into rut by the spots of pink on his high cheekbones, how fast he’s breathing, and how hard his dick is in his pants.
He's struggling to keep himself under control, however, despite how darkened his eyes are.
His gaze is so hungry that it’s like he’s devouring me.
I shiver, happily.
Thomas is giving off such dominant pheromones that they calm my fear.
Lincoln is already stripped down to only his pants on the other side of me. His muscles gleam in the light.
He’s playing with my hair.
“I’m here, sweet Omega.” Thomas sounds as commanding as he always has. It makes me shiver in a good way. “I know that you’re sinking into your heat because hell, I’m being dragged into rut. I have the most beautiful Omega who I’ve ever seen in my bed, after all. But I need you to hang on and make one final decision, before I bring you more pleasure than you’ve known.”
I whine, attempting to wriggle closer to him, needing his touch. But he tightens his hand on my neck in warning.
“I will not have you die.” Thomas’ voice is frosty. “ You will not die . I won’t let you, when I…” He cuts off, turning his head away sharply. What was he going to say? He takes a deep breath, before turning back to face me. “Whatever you need, I’m going to offer you.”
My breath stutters. “You’d bond with me to save my life?”
“Fated,” Lincoln wraps his arms around my middle like he’s lost me already; his eyes gleam with tears, “I can’t live in a world without you in it. I’d do anything for you. Tom is my pack. He wants us both.”
I study Thomas.
Does he?
Or is he only helping me out now like he was prepared to with my heat?
Yet does it matter, if this saves my life?
Lincoln and I have already decided that we want Thomas as our Alpha.
But I have to know.
“Do you?” I whisper.
Thomas’ expression becomes pained. “I have secrets. Fucked up things in my past. I’m a bad Alpha.”
Lincoln hisses out a shocked breath.
“Don’t say that about yourself,” I whisper.
Thomas looks away. “I’m trying to be honest. Because this is your decision, and I want to lay it out there, even though we have almost no time. I swear, however, if you accept my bond, then I’ll dedicate my life to cherishing you. I already know to make you a strong coffee and bagel each morning for breakfast, the Alpha fairy smut books you love, and how calling you good Omega makes you melt. I also know that Lincoln and you have been in love since high school. And I’ll treat you both with equal respect.”
Is this real?
“He means it.” Lincoln strokes my cheek.
I swallow, voicing my secret fears. “You won’t keep Link as your servant? As nothing but staff? You won’t discipline him by beating him?”
“It’s fine.” Lincoln shrugs. “I’m only a Beta.”
“Stop,” Thomas snarls. He looks distressed. “I’m not like that. My bonded Beta will be loved. If you want to keep working as my bodyguard, Lincoln, then you can, the same as Candy has my permission to work in any way that she likes. But you’ll both be equally treasured.”
Treasured?
Since when are Betas treasured?
Lincoln’s eyes are wide with wonder.
Even though I’m panting with heat, I’m just as shocked.
It’s Thomas’ startling declaration, which allows me to dare to make one more demand. “I want Link to bond with me as well.”
“She doesn’t know what she’s saying. It’s the heat.” Lincoln lays his body over mine, flinching as he waits for the blow.
I don’t blame him.
Despite what Thomas has promised, even liberal Alphas wouldn’t allow a Beta to bond bite an Omega.
It’s taboo.
Bond bites are for Alphas.
Yet what feels shimmering in the air between us three is different. I’ve always felt the draw to Thomas like I have to Lincoln.
Is this what Lincoln means about being primal fated mates?
Thomas’ expression is sad. “I know that you don’t have much reason to trust me but I’m not going to hurt you. Do you think that bonding with an Alpha and a Beta will improve Candy’s chances of survival? It would be two bonds.”
Lincoln carefully edges himself to sit up next to Thomas, reaching out to neaten Thomas’ tie. “It sure would, sir.”
“What aren’t you telling me?”
Lincoln freezes, before smoothing down Thomas’ suit. “The small matter that we’re all fated mates. I have faith that after this heat and bond, we’ll get Soul Marks.”
Thomas looks fascinated. “That’s a myth.”
“Not amongst my pack. So, that’s an affirmative to my bond biting our Omega then, sir?”
I shiver at his casual use of our Omega .
Thomas reaches out and tucks the curl of hair that falls forward behind Lincoln’s ear. “Anything to help her and anything that you want too, love.” He hesitates like he was testing out the word and is waiting for Lincoln to react badly to the pet name. When instead, Lincoln only challengingly meets his gaze, Thomas’ lips curl into a smile. “And don’t call me sir , during the heat. I’m not the boss in bed.”
To my shock, Lincoln’s hand shoots out and grips Thomas hard by the back of the neck. Lincoln gives him a shake.
It makes me realize how much larger and stronger he is than our Alpha.
“Yeah, you’re not.” Lincoln tightens his hold.
Thomas’ eyes are wide with shock, but then, he looks delighted, before he can school his expression. “So, call me Tom.”
Lincoln’s eyes take on a dangerous gleam, as he nudges at the peacock stuffie behind Thomas. “I’ll call you my peacock .”
When Thomas growls, Lincoln only laughs.
Unexpectedly, Lincoln drags Thomas closer into a kiss, which is rough and hard.
But it makes Thomas melt.
The two of them together is the hottest thing that I’ve seen.
For the first time, I know that this is going to work.
Finally, I relax, and my heat takes me.
Pulses of need wash over me. Slick drips down my thighs.
Yet I’m caught up in the joy of the moment, snuggled in my first true nest, surrounded by my Alpha’s pheromones and the scents of the two men who are going to bond me.
I feel safe.
Purring, I watch as Thomas and Lincoln kiss.
Lincoln plays with the soft hair on the nape of Thomas’ neck, as he gentles the kiss, before pulling back. They exchange a long, silent look.
“I can smell that our Omega is in heat.” Thomas kisses Lincoln again like he can’t resist it or can’t believe that he’s allowed to. “Go and strip her. Then prepare her for my knot.”
“Bossy peacock.” Lincoln gives a sardonic smirk.
“Always.” Thomas smooths down his hair, when Lincoln lets go of him.
Lincoln grabs him by his tie, however, and drags him like the tie is a leash to sit with his back at the headboard. “Stay.”
“Bossy, love.” Thomas jerks his tie out of Lincoln’s hold.
“Always.” Lincoln cages me, pushing my sweaty hair back from my face. “Okay?”
I nod.
“Hot. Need…need…” It’s hard through the haze to think clearly.
My mind feels like it’s full of cottonwool.
I feel hollow and empty.
All I know is that I’m desperate to be filled up by my Alpha’s knot.
“I know what you need, fated,” Lincoln says. “And we’re going to give it to you.”
He slowly unbuttons my white shirt, before sliding it off my shoulders. When he tries to pull it away from me, however, I growl possessively.
It smells of my Alpha.
I need it.
It’s mine.
I ball up the material, holding it under my nose.
Sugar cookie martini.
“Hey,” Lincoln picks me up like I weigh nothing, still clutching onto the white shirt, “how about I bring you to the real thing?”
I nuzzle against his neck, blinking.
Then he drops me gently onto someone’s lap.
My Alpha!
I look up through hooded eyes at Thomas. He clasps his arms around my waist, holding me closer.
I purr, sniffing his neck, before I start to lick and suck.
Thomas inhales sharply. “Good Omega.”
Thomas widens his legs to make room for Lincoln to kneel between them.
Lincoln teases at my nipple, rolling it between his forefinger and thumb.
I suck harder at Thomas’ neck to muffle my whines.
With his free hand, Lincoln strokes down my stomach, before circling my navel. Then he dips down, circling over my clit and then over the folds of my pussy.
I howl, almost biting Thomas’ neck.
Hurriedly, I lick over the marks in apology.
Biting an Alpha truly would break the final taboo.
Yet biting Thomas has made me wetter than I ever have been before. And I can feel how hard it’s made Thomas as well.
Interesting.
“These pants are ruined now,” Thomas mutters, as my slick covers his lap.
His cock is grinding against my ass, however, like he can’t stop himself.
Lincoln looks smugly satisfied. “She’s ready to be wrecked.”
Lincoln manhandles me off Thomas’ lap in a way that makes me throb with desire. He places me in the middle of the nest on all fours.
I clutch the white shirt hard in my hand.
Then Lincoln kneels in front of me, unbuttoning his pants. His gorgeous cock springs free. I’m desperate to wrap my lips around it, feeling its weight and taste on my tongue.
I’ve missed it.
When I lick my lips, I look up through my lashes at Lincoln.
Lincoln’s pupils dilate. He traces his thumb over my lower lip, before gently tugging open my mouth.
I widen my mouth willingly, licking his thumb.
Lincoln shivers. “Are you that eager for my cock to stretch your sweet lips, fated? Will choking on my dick help you to come?”
I nod, shaking with desire.
I want to feel his new piercing and how sensitive it has made him.
He takes one more moment of stroking his wet thumb over my open mouth, before drawing it away.
“You don’t come, before our Omega does.” Thomas’ voice orders from behind me.
Lincoln grips hard onto the base of his hard cock, as his thighs tremble. He’s holding himself back from thrusting into my mouth.
It’s agony for both of us.
Then Thomas lightly slaps my ass, and my face reddens at the same time as a pleasurable warmth radiates out between my thighs. “Spread your legs.”
Moaning, I do.
Thomas leans over my back. His tie trails like a snake across my sweating skin.
“Look at all these pretty wet spots you’ve made for me.” Thomas’ commanding voice is cool and in control. It makes me squirm in just the right way. “You’ve covered me and this bed in slick like a good Omega. Your cunt is drenched and ready for your Alpha. I’m going to breed, bite, and bond you.”
Thomas straightens as he kneels behind me, gripping my hips.
There’s a rustle of fabric behind me, before something nudges at my pussy.
My eyes widen.
Hell, that’s a huge cock.
Lincoln whistles. “Now I know why you strut and preen so much, peacock. You do have impressive tail feathers to show off.”
Thomas laughs, reaching across to entwine his fingers with Lincoln’s. Their hands rest on my back.
I purr, made happier by their connection in this moment than anything else could have made me.
My Beta has an Alpha who wants him too.
Finally, Lincoln and I have found our pack.
At last, I truly sink into my heat.
Lincoln and Thomas keep their joined hands resting on my back.
“Do you want my knot?” Thomas traces his cock teasingly up and down my pussy.
“Y-y-yes,” I pant. “Fuck, y-yeah.”
“Beg me.”
“P-p-please.” I can barely speak, but it seems enough for Thomas, who squeezes Lincoln’s hand.
Both men thrust into me together, spit roasting me.
I’ve never experienced this before. It feels incredible.
Lincoln thrusts hard in and out of my throat like he can’t hold himself back any longer. I struggle to lick around his piercing, making him moan.
“Yeah, that’s right.” He grips me by the hair. “Fuck, Candy…”
Thomas snarls, pistoning into me at the same speed to match Lincoln. I feel caught between both of them.
Safe.
I felt hollow and empty before.
But now, I’m more filled than I’ve been before. It’s exactly what my body’s been screaming for.
It’s making me feel fuzzy and whited out with pleasure at the same time.
“Alpha!” I mumble around Lincoln’s cock.
“I’m here, good Omega.” Thomas’ tie is still dragging up and down my neck, but he’s breathing hard.
“You’re going to take my knot now.” Thomas voice becomes softer than I could imagine with the intensity of the possessive words. “And you’re not going to fucking die.”
He drops his hand between us to rub over my clit. The wave of pleasure reaches its peak.
Almost.
Then Thomas is hitting exactly the right angle inside me on every thrust, and the wave tumbles over its peak.
I’m washed away on ecstasy.
My back bows, and I’m coming.
The jolts of pleasure make me feel like I’m floating in water.
In fact, as if I’m still coming, rather than still being shaken by aftershocks.
“Come now, love,” Thomas orders.
Like the words are electrifying, Lincoln groans and comes.
I swallow in a daze, licking and sucking, before allowing Lincoln to carefully pull out.
I kiss the head of his soft dick, around his beautiful piercing, as he draws his cock from my mouth. He hisses, before ducking to kiss my mouth.
Thomas’ fingers dig into my hips, when his thrusts stutter. Then he stiffens.
“Sweet venom,” Thomas gasps like he treasures both sides of my personality, the lightness and the dark.
Then he’s coming as well, but this is different than any time that I’ve been with Lincoln.
Thomas’ knot inflates.
It feels amazing and like it shouldn’t fit.
His cock is already the largest thing that I’ve had inside me and now it’s getting larger and larger, pushing me back over the edge of pleasure again and again and…
I howl, tossing my head side to side.
Lincoln lets go of Thomas’ hand. Once more, he captures my lips in a kiss.
Thomas twists me in one powerful move that rolls us, until I’m lying on my back and he’s on top with his knot inside me.
His gaze is intense, and his knot is locking us together.
I’m blinded by pleasure.
I’ve never felt this close to anyone. Why did I resist this for so long?
I thought that the level of pleasure that I experienced with Lincoln was enough, but bonding is life changing.
I’m shaking.
Weeping.
Wrecked.
Then Lincoln’s pinning my wrists down, a familiar feeling that anchors me, and he’s kissing away the tears.
He ducks his head, mouthing at my neck. His teeth graze the skin like he’s barely holding himself back from biting.
We’ve both wanted this for so long.
It means everything.
I need to feel Lincoln’s teeth break the skin and pierce me in the same way that Thomas’ cock is deep inside me.
I can feel Thomas’ knot, where we’re locked together.
We’re no longer two; we’re one.
Life thrums through me. The scents are no longer overwhelming but stabilized.
My men are saving my life.
Thomas dips to kiss me like he can’t believe this connection either. “My perfect, beautiful Omega. You’re mine, but I will spend my life working to set you free. We’re prisoners here. Fuck, I’ve been a prisoner my entire life. But I’ll give my life for our freedom, I swear. Candy, will you accept the bond of the Saint pack?”
I stare deep into Thomas’ eyes and I feel for a moment like I can see his soul — his burning anguish.
The weight that he’s carried alone for all this time.
And I want to share it with him. He won’t be alone with this anymore…with Raylan, this cruel Saint Cage closed around him, this fight.
He’ll never be alone again. None of us will be.
I’m strong enough to shoulder this.
My expression steels with determination. “Please, yes… ”
Thomas inhales sharply, before he leans forward. His copper hair falls over his eyes, as he lowers his mouth to my neck.
Lincoln widens his mouth as well on the other side of my throat.
I tingle in anticipation.
Yes, yes, yes.
Then both Thomas and Lincoln bite at the same time.
I howl in agonized ecstasy, as two bond bites are made at once.
I’m marked as Thomas’ Omega and an official member of the Saint pack.