Chapter 11 #2
Then he yelps into the kiss, as Icarus fists his hand in Zero’s long hair and tugs. Icarus drags the Beta around to kiss him.
Zero melts, caught between us like hunted prey.
I thrill with the sensation of courting this strong, talented Beta, and for the first time possibly in my life, feeling like I am the one in control.
Icarus’ cheeks are flushed. He looks just as turned on by willingly surrendering his power.
“Well, that was quick work, even for you, stella mia,” a commanding voice says disapprovingly from the doorway.
When a powerful orange espresso scent floods the room, my eyes widen in shock.
Could it really be…?
My stunning scent match.
“Your Alpha, I presume?” Icarus protectively stands, placing himself between the new Alpha and Zero and me.
He’s still hiding that he’s injured and protecting me regardless.
Yet I squirm off Zero’s lap and over the arm of the couch to run toward the Alpha. “Lion…”
I throw myself into the startled Alpha’s arms.
Lionzio embraces me, as if shocked that I would hug him like this. I am crumpling his gray suit, but he is too busy breathing in my scent to notice.
But then, I am too busy breathing in his intoxicating scent as well. I forgot how hard it hit.
Being with him is like finally discovering my home.
I glance up at him. He’s fucking gorgeous.
“Looks like you’re working just as quickly, handsome.
” Zero sprawls on his front on the couch, kicking his legs like he’s at a slumber party.
He watches Lionzio and me with twinkling eyes.
“Say hello to my Alpha, the prick. How to describe him in three words? Genius, protector, workaholic. He’s totally fucking head over heels for you, love. I’ve never seen him like it.”
Lionzio’s eyes flash. “I only need one word for you, Zero.”
“Brat?” Icarus supplies.
I can tell that Icarus approves of Lionzio by the way that he’s assessing the smartness of his outfit, his slicked back silky black hair, and the fact that he’s already dressed at this time in the morning and hard at work.
Unlike our diva Beta.
I can’t believe this.
How could I have got it wrong about Lionzio? This Alpha isn’t an accountant — he’s the wealthy Alpha of a celebrity Beta.
A guest.
This changes everything, right?
“Do you still want to get to know me?” I ask in a small voice. “I thought that you were staff. You helped me with my boss. But now, you’re here in this swanky suite, while I—”
“That’s the point, mio tesoro.” Lionzio’s expression hardens.
“When I saw you shivering in that freezing garden, without warm clothes, while that asshole threatened you, it killed me. I hate that I may have scared you by requesting you like this but I couldn’t think of another way to make sure that you were safe and warm over Christmas.
I can order you anything you want to eat.
I’ve always dreamed about having a female Omega to hand feed.
You don’t have to. I know that I haven’t earned it, but—”
“I would love that.”
“Where’s Zoe?” Lionzio glances around me, hopefully. “I bought her a lion stuffie. Is that okay? I admit that I don’t know much about kids but I’m excited to see her again.”
My eyes burn with tears.
My daughter has never had a new plushie bought for her.
Lionzio misunderstands my tears, pulling back from me. His expression shutters.
“Am I moving too fast?” Lionzio smooths down his tie. “I apologize. I shouldn’t have presumed that you would want me getting to know your daughter yet. I will find a way to make this pack yours if…"
Instantly, Icarus stalks closer, exuding uber dominant pheromones that I know are meant to intimidate. By the way that the shorter Alpha trails off, I know that it’s worked.
“Let me introduce myself,” Icarus says with a weaponized politeness, “I am Icarus Sinner, Grace’s Chief Alpha.”
Lionzio automatically holds out his hand, as if it’s a reflex reaction that has been beaten into him. “Lionzio, sir.”
He blinks like he didn’t mean to add the sir but it just slipped out.
No guest has ever called Icarus sir before.
Broke as Icarus is, hearing it now from this billionaire is pushing all his buttons.
Icarus’ pheromones immediately calm down, and a wicked grin breaks across his face. “You may be Grace’s scent match, but I am her Alpha by choice. I love her, I will standby her, and always support her and Zoe. In any pack that we form, I will be the Chief Alpha. Is that understood?”
He squeezes Lionzio’s hand tighter, and Lionzio winces.
I grab their hands to stop their my knot is bigger than your knot pissing contest (seriously, Alphas), until they release each other.
Then I kiss them both in turn, grabbing each of their hands in mine.
“Shouldn’t we vote on that?” Immortal excitedly glances between the Alphas like he’s watching a soap opera.
“No vote,” Lionzio replies, staring at Icarus, as if he’s the answer to a prayer that he didn’t know he’d made. “I won’t challenge Icarus for the position of Chief Alpha. I am happy that Grace has someone who so clearly loves her. I hope that we can be friends.”
As if a switch has been flipped, Icarus leans closer, grabbing the smaller Alpha by the scruff of the neck and circling the soft hair there with the pad of his thumb just once. “I hope that we can be more than that.”
Lionzio sucks in a shocked breath. “Yes, sir.”
He looks dazed but happy, as he stands in a circle with Icarus and me.
My scent match.
“Good Alpha,” Icarus murmurs.
Lionzio’s pale blue eyes darken with desire.
“Hey, I hear voices. Why didn’t any of you wake me?” A sleepy voice calls from the doorway.
My mind short-circuits.
Startled, I break away from both Lionzio and Icarus and sprint across the vast lounge to the doorway where an adorable, sleep tousled male Omega is slouching in black satin pajamas with a silk scarf wound around his neck.
His Rej bracelet glints in the light.
Piper’s eyes brighten when he sees me. “My Gracie. Long time no see.”
“Wolfie.” I nuzzle against Piper, as his wavy silver hair tickles me.
How is my Omega soulmate here too?
Yet as much as I am beginning to trust my Alpha soulmate and his Beta, Piper is a still a Hotel Omega.
Why have they ordered another HO? Are they trying to help him like they are attempting to save me? Or have they been lying about being different to the other guests here? Have they been using Piper, the same as other Alphas use Bird?
I clench my jaw.
Piper is breaking at least seven of the rules still, and I can’t risk that he won’t get in trouble.
I guess that his intense mentorship starts today.
Panicked, I fix him with as strict a stare as I can, when my heart is hammering in my chest with joy that I have found him again.
I have been so fucking worried, even if he looks like he has no idea that HO are anything but treasured.
Does he have any sense of danger?
I run my finger over his pierced brow. “Page two hundred through to two hundred and forty-four in the Rules for Staff Handbook on appearance, remember? Staff are not permitted to wear nail varnish, makeup, or have any visible tattoos or piercings.”
“Gracie, you really do love your unique dirty talk. You’re making me hard right now.” Piper’s voice lowers to a rumbling purr that makes slick dangerously slide down my thighs. “What’s the rule about Omega soulmates?”
“So,” Icarus’ voice is soft but in a way that makes the hairs rise on the back of my neck; I don’t know who is in most trouble in this room, but I suspect that it may be Piper, “you’re the rebel Omega who went missing and had both Grace and me searching for you for days?”
“That’s me.” Piper gives a sunny smile.
He’s dead.
“A HO,” Icarus says, even more frostily, “without training should never have been sent up to you. I will return him back to the dorms, sirs.”
“Wait, what’s with the whole sir thing again? I thought that we’d agreed to date each other here?” Zero sits up, hurriedly. He frowns. “And what’s with calling my bonded Omega a HO?”
“Our bonded Omega,” Lionzio corrects, marching to drag Piper into his arms possessively.
My eyes widen in shock.
“What’s with calling our boss,” Zero winks, “a HO? Haven’t you ever seen an Omega lead a pack before?”