Chapter 12
12
RIVER
“ S o, did her tits look as good as I’m imagining them?” I ask Levi, leaning against his desk with what I hope is casual nonchalance but is probably more like the desperation of a starving man outside a bakery.
Levi doesn’t even look up from his paperwork, the corners of his mouth twitching upward.
“I made a vow not to discuss it, and I keep my promises.”
“Come on,” I wheedle, perching on the edge of his desk and deliberately blocking his view of the evacuation plans he’s drafting.
“Just one detail. Hair color match the drapes? Any interesting tattoos?”
Finally, he gives me his full attention, that rare Levi smile spreading across his face—not the polite one he gives strangers, but the slightly wicked one that reminds me why he fits so perfectly in our pack.
“All I’ll say is this,” he offers, leaning back in his chair.
“Once you see her naked, you’ll never be able to unsee it.”
“You absolute bastard,” I groan, flopping dramatically across his desk and scattering his meticulously organized papers.
“You think I didn’t hear you last night? The shower running at two a.m.? Don’t pretend you weren’t flogging the log after spending all evening eye-fucking her over pizza.”
Levi chuckles, not even bothering to deny it.
“Seriously, River, she’s going to be the death of us. You have no idea what her scent can do when she’s close.”
“Oh, I have every damn idea,” I counter, remembering our encounter in the laundry room.
“Don’t let Atlas see you mooning over her like that,” Levi warns, though his tone is more amused than concerned.
“He’s still pretending to be the responsible adult of this operation.”
As if summoned by his name, Atlas charges into the office.
The effect would be more intimidating if I hadn’t seen him dancing in his boxers to 80s pop music just last week.
“While you two are drooling over Emma,” he begins without preamble.
“Remember she specifically told us she’s not looking for any Alpha, let alone three.”
I exchange a knowing glance with Levi.
“Right, because you weren’t flirting with her every second you’re next to her.”
Atlas runs his fingers through his already disheveled hair.
“Fuck, okay,” he concedes.
“She’s... affecting all of us, but we need to respect her boundaries. She just got out of a bad relationship, she was in a fire, and now she’s living with three Alphas who are all...” He gestures vaguely.
“Who all want to bend her over the nearest flat surface?” I suggest helpfully.
The look Atlas gives me could wither plants.
“Who all need to remember she’s not just some Omega. She’s Emma. She deserves better than being treated like a piece of meat.”
There’s a moment of silence as his words sink in.
He’s right, of course.
Emma isn’t just any Omega, she’s smart, talented, funny, vulnerable in ways that make my chest ache, and stronger than she gives herself credit for.
“You’re right,” I acknowledge, though I can’t resist adding, “But have you seen her ass in those sleep shorts? I caught a peek at it last night in the hallway. Because holy fu?—”
“River,” Atlas growls.
“Fine, fine,” I concede with a grin.
“So what’s the plan for today? Besides us all taking cold showers and practicing restraint?”
Atlas’s posture relaxes slightly.
“River, I need you to head out to the burned cabin. Police are meeting you there to go over the scene again. Use that eagle eye of yours for anything that might point to how the fire started. I have to attend another call.”
I nod, already mentally shifting gears.
Fire investigation has always been one of my strengths.
“Levi, you’re with me,” Atlas continues.
“We’ve got a job about a potential gas leak at the elementary school. Probably nothing, but?—”
“Better safe than sorry,” Levi finishes for him.
Ten minutes later, I’m sliding into my Jeep Wrangler Rubicon—lifted, mud tires, light bar on top, the works.
It’s loud, impractical for anything, and drinks gas like I drink tequila, but I don’t give a damn.
After years of having nothing to call my own, I’d splurged on something that matched the wild energy I could never quite tame.
Something that could take me deeper into the wilderness I loved, faster and rougher than anything sensible.
I’m backing out of the station parking lot when I spot Claire hustling toward me, clipboard in hand.
Great. What did I forget this time?
Claire volunteers at the station three days a week, helping with administrative tasks.
She’s attractive in an obvious way, sleek brown hair, careful makeup, and expensive clothes that show just enough skin to be distracting without crossing into unprofessional territory.
She’s also had a transparent crush on all three of us since she started six months ago.
Under normal circumstances, I’d have no issue with the attention.
She’s pretty, available, and enthusiastic, but something about her has always felt.
.. calculated. As if she’s auditioning for a role rather than being genuinely interested in any of us as people.
I roll down my window as she approaches, pasting on my professional smile.
“Morning, Claire. What’s up? ”
“Hi, River,” she chirps, leaning to rest her arms on my door, giving me a deliberate view down her blouse.
“I was wondering how Emma’s doing, seeing she’s moved in with you three? Is she planning to stay in town long?”
The fact that she’s asking about Emma, again, sends a little warning flare up my spine.
“She’s fine,” I say, keeping my tone light but offering nothing more.
“Oh, good,” Claire replies.
“It must be nice having a female around your place. Bet she’s making herself right at home, huh?”
There’s something in her tone, a hint of jealousy poorly disguised as casual interest, that makes my protective instincts bristle.
“I should get going,” I say instead of answering.
“Police are waiting.”
I start to roll up my window but pause halfway.
Something compels me to turn back to her.
“Claire,” I say, all pretense of casualness gone from my voice.
“You’re an amazing volunteer here, and you’ve always had our backs, but don’t think that makes it okay to try to scare Emma away from us. Be careful.”
Her carefully constructed facade slips for just a moment before she recovers.
“So, you do like her,” she says softly.
“All of you.”
I study her face, seeing the genuine hurt beneath the calculation, and feel a twinge of sympathy.
Claire isn’t a bad person, just insecure and overly invested in a fantasy that was never going to materialize.
“Everyone will find their perfect match eventually,” I tell her, gentling my tone.
“It just takes time and patience to recognize them when they appear.”
She nods, stepping back from my car with a forced smile.
“Thanks for the fortune cookie wisdom, River.”
As I drive away, I catch a final glimpse of her in my rearview mirror, standing alone in the parking lot, looking smaller than before.
“Fuck me, I sounded like damn Atlas,” I mutter to myself, revving the engine as I hit the open road.
“What is wrong with me?”
The answer comes immediately—Emma.
She’s what’s wrong with me.
Or right with me. After just a few days, she’s managed to burrow under my skin in a way no one has in years.
The way she laughs without restraint when something genuinely amuses her.
How she gets this tiny crease between her eyebrows when she’s concentrating.
The steely backbone beneath her softness.
Twenty minutes later, I park down the road from the burned remains of Cabin #3.
Yellow police tape surrounds the blackened skeleton of what was once a charming rental.
Looking at it in daylight, Emma was lucky to get out alive.
The damage is extensive, the structure nearly gutted, yet half the front wall and door remain almost intact, even if slightly charred.
I park and check my watch.
The cops are, unsurprisingly, late.
Again .
“They better not fucking stand me up,” I grumble, drumming my fingers on the steering wheel.
“Fourth time this month.”
To kill time, I pull out my phone and scroll to Emma’s name in my contacts.
We exchanged numbers this morning for emergencies, she insisted, though the way she’d programmed hers into my phone had been adorably telling.
I hesitate only a moment before hitting call.
It rings twice before her voice comes through, slightly breathless.
“River? Is everything okay?”
“Everything’s fine,” I reassure her quickly.
“Just checking in. How’s life in the tower?”
“Amazing, actually,” she explains, and I can hear the genuine enthusiasm in her voice.
“I haven’t been this productive in months. I’ve written almost three thousand words already this morning.”
“Look at you, being all prolific and talented,” I tease, settling back in my seat.
“What’s the secret? Our coffee? The mountain air? My devastating good looks inspiring your romantic hero?”
She snorts, a delightfully undignified sound.
“Definitely the coffee. Though the view doesn’t hurt.”
“Which view are we talking about?” I ask suggestively.
“The mountains or the one you got of Levi’s abs last night?”
“River!” she gasps, but I can hear the laughter beneath her feigned outrage.
Then she’s laughing.
“I might need to stay until I finish this book,” she muses after a moment.
“I forgot what it feels like to write without constantly second-guessing myself.”
“Done,” I say immediately.
“No backsies.”
“Did you just say backsies?” she asks, giggling.
“What are you, twelve?”
“Mentally? Sometimes. Physically? I’ve been assured I’m very much a grown man.”
“I bet you have,” she mutters, and I grin at the flirtatious undercurrent in her voice.
“Anyway, all good as you called?”
“Yep, just checking in on you, that’s all. Making sure there are no spiders coming after you for revenge.”
“Oh God, don’t even joke about that,” she groans.
“I’m going to have nightmares for weeks.”
“You know,” I say with deliberate casualness.
“Levi’s actually pretty good at handling spiders. You’re lucky he was there. I would’ve probably just filmed the whole thing.”
There’s a moment of silence on her end, and I can practically hear her trying to decide if I’m joking.
“You wouldn’t dare.”
“Try me,” I tease.
“It would’ve gone viral. Hot Omega vs. Killer Spider: The Showdown. We could’ve monetized it, split the profits.”
“You’re terrible,” she says, but I can hear the laugh she’s trying to suppress.
“And I bet you hounded Levi for details when you two were alone, didn’t you?” she asks abruptly.
“To be fair, the guy is solid and didn’t spill,” I admit, genuinely impressed by Levi’s restraint.
“What did you do to him? He’s never kept a secret from me before.”
Her laugh this time is more satisfied, almost smug.
“I appealed to his sense of honor.”
Still no sign of the police.
“So, tell me about this book you’re writing. I want to be able to brag that I knew you when.”
There’s a pause, and I can practically feel her considering how much to share.
“It’s a fantasy romance,” she finally says.
“The fifth in my series. This one has a bit more adventure than the others—my heroine is on a quest to find a magical artifact that can save her kingdom.”
“Oh, Atlas mentioned you were writing something about him. Same story or different?” I tease.
“Can I be in your story, too? I’d make an excellent roguish thief or charming prince.”
She laughs.
“Do you guys share and talk about everything?”
“Yes,” I say, my tone shifting to something more serious.
“Every single thing.” I pause for effect.
“Well, except where Levi made a promise not to.”
“You’re so easy to talk to,” she says after a moment, her voice softer.
“I should probably let you go, though. These words won’t write themselves.”
“Go create worlds, wordsmith. I’ll see you later.”
After we hang up, I sit in my car, waiting for the damn cops and thinking about Emma.
It’s impossible not to imagine what she looks like naked now, especially after Levi’s non-answers and the way she blushed anytime the shower incident was mentioned.
Her wet hair would fall down her back, darkened to a rich honey-gold.
Water would bead on her skin, trailing down the generous curves.
Her breasts would be larger than they appear, spilling over my hands when I cupped them, topped with rosy nipples that would harden under my touch.
I imagine her on her knees in front of me, those big hazel eyes looking up as her pink lips parted.
Or bent over the kitchen counter, her bare ass raised, begging for my hand to come down on it.
Emma’s legs wrapped around my waist as I fucked her against the wall of the shower, her head thrown back in pleasure, my name a breathless cry on her lips.
My cock throbs painfully against my pants at the mental images.
Fuck, I’m getting hard just thinking about her, like some hormonal teenager.
If the cops weren’t due any minute, I’d seriously consider taking care of this uncomfortable situation right here.
The fantasy refuses to leave as I picture Emma spread across my bed, her hair a golden halo on my pillow.
Or Emma riding me, her back arched, those perfect tits bouncing with every move.
Emma on all fours, my hands gripping her hips hard enough to leave marks as I thrust into that sweet pussy from behind, claiming her with every inch of me.
Even more intoxicating is the idea of sharing her.
Not just taking turns, but all of us together—Atlas holding her down, sucking on her nipples, while I fuck her mouth, Levi buried between her legs.
The three of us worshipping every inch of her, driving her to the edge of pleasure over and over until she’s limp and satisfied, marked by all of us, claimed completely.
Mine. Ours.
Movement in my peripheral vision jolts me from my increasingly deepening daydream.
I lift my gaze toward the burned cabin, where a brunette figure is picking through the charred remains and partial structure of the house remains.
She’s slender, dressed in dark jeans and a fitted jacket, moving quickly as she sifts through debris.
I frown, straightening in my seat.
That’s definitely not a police officer, as there’s no cruiser in sight, just a nondescript sedan parked near the cabin that wasn’t there when I arrived.
Curiosity piqued, I exit my car, adjust my aching cock, and approach the scene, deliberately making enough noise with my boots on the gravel that I don’t startle her.
She doesn’t notice me immediately, too focused on whatever she’s searching for among the ashes.
“Finding anything interesting?” I ask casually, keeping my tone friendly.
She startles, spinning to face me with wide eyes.
Up close, she’s conventionally pretty with minimal makeup applied, expensive clothes, and sleek brown hair pulled back in a ponytail.
“This is a closed site,” she says, recovering quickly.
“You shouldn’t be here. ”
I raise an eyebrow at her audacity.
She’s the one clearly trespassing, yet she’s trying to warn me off?
“I could say the same to you,” I reply, gesturing to the police tape we’ve both ignored.
“Looking for something specific?”
“Nothing,” she says too quickly.
“Just... searching. You should mind your business.”
I study her, taking in the tense set of her shoulders and the way her eyes keep darting back to a particular section of the burned cabin.
Subtly, I slip my phone from my pocket and snap a few photos of her while pretending to check messages.
“If you tell me what you’re looking for, I might be able to help,” I offer, stepping closer.
“These fire scenes can be dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing.”
She gives me a more thorough assessment now, her gaze traveling from my boots to my face with growing interest. When she meets my eyes, her expression shifts, a calculated smile replacing her wariness.
“Well, I lost something,” she explains, her voice suddenly softer, more inviting.
“Dropped it here the other day, and I just need to find it, that’s all.” She takes a step toward me, head tilting flirtatiously.
“But thanks for offering. Maybe we could catch up for a drink later if you’re free?”
The transformation is jarring, from defensive to seductive in the span of seconds.
It reminds me uncomfortably of myself in my younger years, when charm was a survival strategy rather than a natural expression of personality.
I shrug, noncommittal.
Something about this woman makes my instincts flare with caution.
“How about I help you first? Hate to see you going through these fire remains alone. Like I said, it can be dangerous.”
She steps forward again, close enough now that I can smell her perfume, something expensive and overpowering that makes me want to step back.
“I know what I’m doing,” she snaps, then immediately softens her tone, composing her features into something more pleasant.
“I mean, I’m being careful.”
An uncomfortable silence stretches between us as I study her.
The calculation in her eyes, the slight tension in her posture.
She’s hiding something.
“My name’s River,” I finally offer, extending a hand.
She hesitates before taking it, her grip too firm, like she’s trying to prove something.
“Nice to meet you, but I am a bit busy.” She withdraws her hand quickly.
“So, either yes to drinks later, or please don’t waste my time.” She turns away, resuming her search by poking through the remains with a stick, deliberately ignoring the police tape that marks this as an active investigation site.
“I can’t do that,” I say, dropping all pretense of casualness.
“Especially since I’m here to investigate what started this fire.” I reach out, gently but firmly grasping her arm as she starts to move away.
“Unless there’s something you want to tell me about this cabin and the fire?”
She glances up, and I feel a slight tremor run through her arm before she controls it.
“I told you,” she says, voice tight.
“I dropped something here the other day. I know nothing about this stupid fire.” She wrenches her arm free with more force than necessary.
“Fair enough,” I say, unconvinced but unwilling to escalate the situation without backup.
“You got a name? And number... for later, then?”
She stares at me for a long moment, calculation clear in her dark eyes.
“Nah, you lost out on that, pretty boy,” she finally says, turning away and marching toward her car with quick, angry steps.
I watch her go, memorizing the license plate of her sedan as she drives away.
Something isn’t right here, but I can’t put my finger on exactly what.
Before I can dwell on it further, a police cruiser finally pulls up, nearly an hour late.
I sigh, heading back to my car to retrieve my gloves and investigation kit.
Whatever that woman was looking for, I intend to find it first.
“ S o far, we haven’t pinpointed exactly where the fire started,” I explain to Atlas and Levi back at the station later that afternoon.
“Burn patterns give us some clues, but a lot of the structure’s collapsed, especially around the eastern wall. We need more hands to move the fallen sections safely and check underneath. Once the cops get back to us and we’ve got access again with a bigger team, we’ll head back out and take another run at it.”
Atlas nods, his expression grave.
“Any sign of deliberate tampering with the wiring?”
“Nothing obvious,” I admit.
“Old cabins with some signs of rodent wear on the wiring as you’d expect in any place, but nothing to start a fire. So, I doubt it was that. Something started the fire on the ground floor inside the cabin I suspect though. There was some evidence of soot buildup as if it was a candle, but she had said she blew them all out, so unsure if that was from the fire just consuming candles left behind. But there could be more once we remove the fallen walls.”
“Emma was convinced she hadn’t left any candles lit,” Levi suggests.
I sigh and lean back in my chair, throwing my feet up on the desk despite Atlas’s disapproving glare.
“And then there was this woman poking around the scene before the police arrived. Brunette, about 5’6”, expensive clothes, claiming she lost something at the cabin, which was super suss.
”
“Did she give a name?” Atlas asks, already reaching for his notepad.
“Nope. Got defensive when I pressed, then tried to flirt her way out of the situation. I got her license plate number.” I ramble it off.
“I’ll run the plates with my contact at the station,” Levi says, already typing on his laptop.
“Should have a name soon enough.”
“The police want to talk to Emma again tomorrow morning again,” I add.
“Ask her a few more questions about the night of the fire. I told them we’d bring her in.”
Atlas nods.
“We can take her to the festival afterward, maybe. Help take her mind off things if the interview stresses her out.”
“Great plan,” I agree.
“Nothing helps you forget about a potentially suspicious fire like fried food and carnival games. Plus, I make it my mission every year to win at least one of those rigged shooting games. This year, I can win her one of those giant stuffed animals.”
Atlas rolls his eyes, but there’s fondness in the gesture.
“You just like showing off.”
“Damn right, I do,” I agree shamelessly.
“And I’m good at it.”
Levi looks up from his laptop suddenly, his expression uncharacteristically troubled.
“What if she did accidentally start the fire?” he asks quietly.
“A candle tipping over, or maybe something electrical she plugged in?”
The question lands like a stone in still water, rippling through the room and changing the atmosphere instantly.
Atlas straightens, his protective instincts visibly kicking in.
“If that’s the case, we’ll handle it. Accidents happen.”
“But legally speaking,” Levi continues, ever the logical one.
“She could be facing serious liability issues. Property damage, insurance fraud accusations if they think she did it intentionally?—”
“That’s not going to happen,” I interrupt, all traces of joking gone from my voice.
“Even if it was an accident, we’ll make sure she’s protected.”
Atlas nods firmly.
“We have connections in this town. People trust our assessment. If we say it was an accident, they’ll believe us.”
“And if the evidence suggests otherwise?” Levi asks.
“Then we find other evidence,” I say simply.
“I’m not letting her get railroaded for a mistake anyone could make.”
Atlas gives me a measuring look.
“This isn’t just about wanting to get her into bed, is it?”
I meet his gaze steadily.
“No. It’s not.” And I’m surprised by how true that is.
Yes, I want her, desperately, but it’s more than that.
I want to see her smile, hear her laugh, watch her face light up when she talks.
I want to be the one she calls when she’s scared or happy or just needs someone to listen.
“For any of us,” Levi adds softly.
We fall silent, each lost in our own thoughts.
The only sound is the occasional tapping of Levi’s fingers on his keyboard.
Outside, the sun slants through the blinds, casting stripes of light across the floor.
Atlas leans back in his chair, staring at the ceiling.
“Do you think we’re moving too quickly with her?” he asks finally, voice quiet but intent.
“It’s only been a few days.”
The question hangs in the air between us.
Levi stops typing, considering as he lifts his chin.
“Depends on each individual.”
“When it comes to Alphas finding their Omega mate, not really,” I counter, spinning a pen between my fingers.
“She’s different,” Atlas says, not looking at either of us.
“This feels... real.” He’s rubbing his hand over his face.
“We’re smitten with an Omega who explicitly told us she wants no Alphas.” He looks between Levi and me, his expression troubled.
“Are we setting ourselves up for something bad here? Heartbreak?”
I’ve never seen Atlas look so uncertain.
Our natural leader, always so sure of every decision, now questioning if we’re heading straight for disaster.
Levi is quiet, but I can see the tension in his shoulders, the way his fingers tap a pattern only he understands against the table.
“Fuck that,” I say, standing up abruptly.
I can’t sit still with this energy coursing through me.
“We are going to make her ours, and she will see that soon enough.”
Atlas raises an eyebrow.
“River?—”
“No,” I cut him off.
“I know what you’re going to say. That we need to be patient, respectful, give her space. And yes, we do. But that doesn’t mean we can’t also show her exactly what she’d be getting with us. ”
“He’s right,” Levi says, surprising us both.
“Emma’s been hurt. She’s guarding herself against more pain. But what if we could show her that what we’re offering is nothing like what she’s experienced before?”
I nod emphatically.
“Exactly. We’ll respect her boundaries while making it damn clear that when she’s ready, we’ll be waiting.”
“All three of us,” Atlas murmurs slowly.
“All three of us,” Levi confirms.
“Together,” I add, a wicked grin spreading across my face.
“We’ll show her what it means to be claimed by a pack who worships her.”
Atlas and Levi exchange a look, and I know they’re on board.
Whatever it takes, however long it takes—Emma is going to be ours.
And God help anyone who tries to get in our way.
“I want this,” I say simply, looking from Atlas to Levi.
“I want her. I want us, all of us, together.”
Levi nods, solemn but with that intensity that burns behind his careful facade.
“So do I.”
“Then we’re agreed,” Atlas says, a slow smile spreading across his face.
“Now we just have to convince her.”
I can’t help but laugh.
“Piece of fucking cake.”