Chapter 9
NINE
Cathal
I sit in the lounge, leaning against the wall, the sound of their fucking filling the room like some kind of cruel soundtrack. It’s been hours – hours of Tadhg, then Lorcan, pounding into her, the sound of flesh on flesh, breathless whispers, desperate pleas. Every noise stabs at me, deep in my gut, but I can’t tear myself away. I should leave, but I don’t.
The scent coming from behind the closed door is intoxicating. Enough to send a lesser alpha into a rut for sure. But I refuse to give in to my base instincts. I have my alpha locked down tighter than I ever have in my life, drawing from reserves of control and strength I didn’t know I possessed.
Many might question how it’s even possible, but here’s the thing: Devlin doesn’t want me in there. And the thought of going against her wishes, of hurting her is so repugnant to me that it’s all I can think about. And that’s why I can keep my alpha firmly locked in his cage, even as he whines and howls that we should be in there with her.
Then they bond.
First, it’s anger. Pure, hot rage. It feels like a knife twisting in my chest. How could she do this? Force me to sit here and listen like some brutal punishment? And how could they? They know how I feel about her. I’m pack lead. I should have first bite.
I clench my fists, grinding my teeth until my gums ache. It’s a primal thing – the thought of another alpha touching her, of marking her. She was mine. She is mine. I want to storm in there, pull them off her, and take back what’s mine.
But then it hits me like a fucking wave, crashing over my chest.
This is Devlin. She’s not doing this to spite me. She’s not doing it because she wants to hurt me. She’s just...chasing her happiness. She deserves that. She deserves to be happy, even if it’s not with me.
And she’s fucking irresistible so I can hardly blame my pack mates for giving in to temptation. God knows, I would have if there wasn’t a door between us and a world of pain.
The anger starts to fade, replaced by something darker, more possessive. Because, as much as I hate this – hate them fucking her, claiming her – it ties her to me. To my pack. To us. She’s bound to us now, and that means I’ve got time. Time to prove I’m the one she should want, the one she belongs to.
I wait, staring at the closed door, waiting for the sounds inside to quiet down, until it’s just the dull hum of the hotel room’s air conditioning. The tension in the air has shifted; it’s over, for now.
I stand, my body aching with want, but I push it down. I grab some savoury snacks, a protein bar, a lollipop, a bottle of water, and a bottle of Tanora, my hands trembling. It’s not about them anymore. I need to take care of her.
I slip inside the room quietly, the door barely making a sound as it clicks shut behind me. My breath catches in my throat the moment I see her sprawled across the bed, naked, her skin glowing in the low light with her gorgeous red hair splayed out around her on the pillow like some sort of blazing halo.
The marks on her throat hit me like a fucking punch to the gut. Tadhg’s and Lorcan’s bites are there, raw and marking her as theirs. I’m still burning with jealousy, but there’s something else, too – a sick, possessive pride. She’s tied to them, but she’s still in my world.
Her scent hits me like a drug. Sweet, heavy, and completely hers. It wraps around me, pulls me under. I drown in it, my chest tightening with need. My alpha rises in me, demanding I claim her. I can feel it, the pull, the hunger to mark her as my own, to fuck her into submission.
But I force it down. I have to. This is about her , not my damn alpha instincts. So I take a deep breath, forcing myself to focus.
She’s so stunning now. So different. The girl I left – the one who fought for everything – she’s changed. She’s not the same person she was when we first met, before she presented. She’s stronger now, even more confident, and it kills me, but it also ignites something inside me that I didn’t even know was there.
Placing the snacks and drinks down on the bedside table, I stand there for a moment longer, just watching her, marveling at how much she’s grown. And then, like an instinct, my hands move toward her. I have to force myself to stop, and instead reach for the snacks and water, my heart still racing as I kneel beside the bed.
Her eyes flutter open, soft and half-lidded, and when she sees me, the smallest flicker of surprise crosses her face.
“Hey, Embers,” I say, my voice low and rough. “I brought you something. You need to eat and drink...”
But my eyes – my eyes keep coming back to her throat. The marks. The brand of my pack mates on her.
And, fuck, I want to rip them off her.
But I don’t.
I want mine to join theirs.
But it won’t.
Not yet.
“Devlin,” I murmur again when she doesn’t respond. I keep my voice calm but firm, “you need to eat something. You’ve been through a lot.”
She shakes her head weakly, her lips parting as she insists, “I don’t want food...I want...more. I just need knots. Orgasms. Cum.”
I feel my jaw clench at the desperation in her voice. My alpha reacts, a tight coil of frustration unfurling in my chest. But I keep it together, keep the focus on her.
“Devlin,” I command, my tone thick with authority. “Focus on me. You’re going to eat and drink. Understand?”
Her eyes flicker, but she doesn’t respond at first. I watch her, my gaze unwavering as I lean in slightly, my presence filling the space around her. “Do you want to be a good omega, Devlin?”
She nods slowly, the tiniest movement, but it’s enough.
I give a low, satisfied growl in response, knowing that I’ve got her on my side. “Good. You’re going to give your alphas a break. They need to rest, and refuel so they can keep you satisfied. You don’t want them getting ill, do you?”
She shakes her head quickly, as if the thought of that troubles her. The gentle crease in her brow is adorable but I hate that I’ve put it there, causing her to needlessly worry. But alphas don’t have to fight fair when it comes to taking care of their omegas and I don’t plan to with Devlin.
I allow myself a moment of triumph before moving closer, keeping my voice gentle but insistent.
“Drink. Eat this,” I say, placing a protein bar in front of her, the wrapper crinkling in my hand. “You need strength, Devlin. For yourself, and for your alphas.”
Her hands tremble slightly as she reaches for the bar, but she shrinks back, pulling a face.
“No. Yuk.”
I have to bite back a grin. Dev never liked anything that could be considered even remotely healthy, and I can’t imagine that’s changed much since she became an omega.
“I’ve got a nice packet of Taytos here for you, and a bottle of Tanora. I hope they’re still your favourites.”
Her eyes light up and this time I chuckle. My girl never needed fancy gifts or showy displays of affection. I’m glad to see that hasn’t changed, though I plan on spoiling her regardless.
“Be a good omega, have the water and the protein bar, and then you can have your crisps and pop.”
She sighs, carefully wiggles herself into a seated position, pulling a soft blanket over her shoulders before opening the bottle of water and drinking about half. She pulls a face and holds out her hand for the protein bar, but she’s already eyeing up the other goodies on the table.
I make sure she sees my approving nod when she begins to eat. “That’s it,” I encourage, “good girl.”
After a few moments, I offer her the water again, and she takes a sip, her lips brushing against the bottle in a way that makes my dick twitch.
“Now, a shower,” I say, my voice slipping back into that calm, coaxing tone. “You’ve earned it. You’ve had enough...enough of them for now.”
She’s already shaking her head before I finish speaking, her expression stubborn, needy. “No. Don’t want to leave. Want them...Need. Nest. Mine. Mates. Please, alpha. Join us…”
I soften my voice, knowing how to handle her when she’s like this, even though the temptation to take her up on the offer has my alpha roaring and beating against his cage, trying to break free.
“Devlin,” I press, my hand reaching for her chin, guiding her gaze to meet mine. “You need to shower.” I’m gentle, but firm. This is her alpha speaking now and she will listen. “You need to take care of yourself, so that you can keep them satisfied. You’ll feel better, and it will make you an even better omega for them. Trust me.”
For a long moment, she doesn’t move, but then she shifts her weight, pushing herself up, slowly. “Fine,” she mumbles, not looking at me, but she moves toward the bathroom, her bare feet padding quietly on the floor.
I give her a moment, then turn to the others. “Change the sheets. Eat. Drink. If you can, take a nap.” My gaze locks with Lorcan’s. “I’ll distract her for as long as possible. Give yourselves a rest.”
Lorcan growls low in his throat, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. “You better not bite her, Cathal. She’s not in her right mind and you guys still have shit to sort out.”
I give him a sharp, reassuring look, my voice cold but controlled. “I won’t bite her. I won’t even fuck her. Not yet. Not when she doesn’t want me.” I’ll keep my bitter promise, but the urge is always there, gnawing at me. For now, I swallow it.
With that, I follow Devlin into the bathroom, quietly locking the door behind me, the soft click of the lock echoing in the small space between us.
She’s already in the shower, the water pouring over her, steam filling the air. The sight of her – naked, water cascading down her curves – hits me like a freight train.
“Let me help,” I say gently, my tone shifting back to that coaxing, smooth voice she can’t resist.
She gives me a sideways glance, barely acknowledging me, her body still trembling slightly from the aftershocks of her earlier orgasms. “I don’t need help,” she mutters under her breath, voice soft and laced with exhaustion.
I step closer, leaning against the edge of the shower, eyes watching her every movement. “You do,” I reply, my gaze softening as I reach for a bottle of shampoo. “Let me wash your hair. You’ve done enough for today. You’re such a good omega for your alphas, let me take care of you.”
She hesitates, her body stiffening, but she eventually turns toward me, and nods and then moves to the side to allow me space to join her.
I quickly pull off my clothes and guide her where I want her, under the spray. The water runs through her hair, and I feel something settle in my chest as I work my fingers through her wet tangled strands. The connection is still there. She’s still mine, even if it’s not the way it used to be.
I drown in her scent, a mix of sweat, the faintest trace of our pack, and something entirely her own. My body reacts, blood running hot beneath my skin, but I keep control, because this is about her right now. It’s always been about her.
Her eyes flicker shut as I gently massage her scalp, her body relaxing into my touch as I murmur words of praise and encouragement to her. And for a moment, everything feels right again.
I let my hands glide through her wet hair, fingers working slowly, carefully, detangling each knot with the tenderness she deserves. Her strands are soft, slippery under my touch, the water running over us both as I hum a soft tune, something calming, something old. The gentle hum fills the air, blending with the sound of the water cascading down the tiles, and I watch as she begins to relax into my touch, her shoulders softening, her body leaning into me just the slightest bit.
Her breath evens out, steadying, and I’m reminded of just how much I’ve missed her – how much I’ve missed this. The intimacy, the connection, even if it’s only for a moment. I focus on that, my mind cutting through the jagged edges of jealousy, the possessiveness. This is not the time for that. This is about her. About us.
Her body trembles again, but this time it’s different. It’s not from the aftershocks of what we’ve all shared, but from something deeper, something I can’t quite place. She leans back into my touch as I rinse the shampoo from her hair, my fingers gliding over her scalp, gentle but firm, like I’ve always known how to make her feel safe.
“You’re beautiful, Devlin,” I tell her quietly, like it’s a secret just for her. “I’ve always thought so, but seeing the woman, the omega, you’ve become, brings me to my knees in awe.”
She doesn’t answer right away, but the softening of her features tells me she’s hearing me. Maybe she needs to hear it, even if she won’t admit it. I know this – she needs to know that she’s more than just a body to be claimed, more than just a pawn in a game that’s bigger than either of us.
“Everything’s going to be okay,” I add, my voice steady and reassuring, though I know I’m lying in a way. I have no idea what comes next. I don’t know how we’ll fix everything, how we’ll get back to what we were – or what we could be. But I will fix this. I’ll do whatever it takes. “Your omega has chosen the best possible alphas to care for and love you. I wouldn’t have been able to pick anyone better for you.”
She opens her eyes slowly, looking up at me from beneath wet lashes. There’s something raw in her gaze, a vulnerability she doesn’t show often, and for a fleeting second, I think I see a flicker of what we once had. But before I can say anything more, she looks away, pulling her focus back to the water.
I swallow the lump in my throat. “Come on, let’s get you out of here.”
I turn off the water and reach for the towel, wrapping it around her slender frame, careful not to touch too much, knowing that if I did, I’d be lost again. I help her step out of the shower, my hand steady at her back as she stumbles slightly, the effects of everything still weighing on her.
Once she’s fully wrapped, I take a step back and let her breathe. I’m so fucking close to just taking her again, to marking her, to reminding her just whose she is. But I hold back. It’s about trust, not force. Not now. Not yet.
“Let’s get you something more to eat,” I say, my voice rougher than I intend. “You’ve done so well, Devlin. So so good.”
She doesn’t reply, but I don’t expect her to. Not yet. I’ve seen the exhaustion in her eyes. It’s not just physical, it’s more than that. Her whole world has shifted, and I’m trying to put the pieces back together, but even I know this won’t be easy.
I guide her backwards, making sure she’s settled against the edge of the counter, the soft hum of the bathroom light our only company. Her hair is still damp, and the towel clings to her like a makeshift robe, a little too revealing, but it’s the only thing she’s wearing.
I leave her for a moment, retrieving another bottle of water and a protein bar from the bedroom. She’s more alert now, but her eyes are still a bit distant, as though she’s still caught between wanting to let go and holding herself back.
“Here,” I say softly, placing the water into her hands. “Drink. It’ll help.”
She looks up at me, hesitant, but she takes the bottle, fingers grazing mine just briefly, sending a flare of heat through my chest. It’s enough to make me swallow down the instinct to pull her close. I let her have her space for now, letting the tension between us stretch, delicate and fragile.
But then, I see it.
Her gaze flicks downward, and my breath catches in my throat. Visible through the thin fabric of my towel, is the hard, undeniable evidence of how much she’s affected me.
“Alpha...” she breathes. “Knot. Mine?”
I clear my throat, not embarrassed that she can see how much she affects me, but conscious of making things awkward between us. She looks back up at me, uncertainty in her eyes, before her gaze drops again and I have to think fast.
I’m losing her to another heat spike already and I know I should call one of the guys in here to take care of her, but I promised them they could rest, that I’d distract her.
I snatch the lollipop from the counter and hold it out for her. It’s bright, sweet, and enticing. Exactly what I need to distract her from my dick.
Her frown deepens. “Lollipop?”
I step closer, brushing a hand over her knee, a whisper of contact that makes her shiver. “Specially formulated for omegas in heat. The hotel included them in the hamper of snacks they sent up. Apparently it replaces the key nutrients you lose. Much better than any energy drink. And,” I say with a teasing grin, “what omega can resist something sweet?”
Her brow furrows, and I take it as my cue to lean in closer, my voice dropping to a low, soothing growl. “If you’re a good girl and suck on that, I’ll lick something else and make you feel good.”
She whines, an almost imperceptible sound that makes my pulse quicken. Without another word, I lift her onto the bathroom counter, her legs spreading wide as I settle between them. Her hands instinctively clutch at the lollipop, ripping off the wrapper and holding it to her lips, but her eyes remain on me, watching.
“Go on, be a good omega, suck,” I command, my hands bracing her hips as that tantalising tongue darts out to tease the tip of the lollipop, making me groan, I can’t believe I thought this was a good idea. She’s going to kill me. “Let’s make you feel good, Embers.”
She hesitates for just a second, but then, her lips part, and she takes the lollipop fully into her mouth. I watch her expression shift from confusion to something more desperate, more eager as the soft, sweet flavor bursts on her tongue. It’s like she can’t help herself, the sweet taste grounding her as her body quivers under my gaze.
I settle between her legs, dropping to my knees, my breath hot against her skin, the air thick with the scent of her desire. My hands slide up her thighs, lifting them gently, spreading her wider so I can get closer. My eyes flicker to her mouth, watching as she sucks on the lollipop, each movement slow and deliberate, her gaze never leaving mine. The way her tongue flicks over it makes me groan quietly.
“You look so good, baby,” I mutter, brushing my thumb over the delicate skin of her inner thigh, just barely grazing the edge of where I want to be.
Her lips part in a soft gasp, but she doesn’t pull away. Her body is trembling, and I can feel the need building in her, her scent thickening, more intoxicating than anything I’ve ever known. I smile at her confusion, the flicker of frustration in her eyes.
“Relax, sweetheart,” I insist, moving closer still, my breath brushing against her most sensitive spot. “You’re doing great, Embers. Just keep sucking on that sweet thing, baby.”
I lean in, pressing my lips to her inner thigh, kissing the soft skin there, feeling her shiver beneath me. I slide my hands under her hips, lifting her just enough that I can taste her.
“Let me show you just how good you can feel,” I say softly, the words vibrating against her skin as I finally dip my head lower. My tongue brushes against her, slow at first, tasting the heat of her, the sweetness that mirrors the lollipop between her lips.
She moans, the sound soft and pleading, and it makes me want to devour her whole. I let my tongue dance over her, just the right pressure, just the right speed, and I watch her body react, her legs instinctively tightening around me as she sucks harder on the lollipop, trying to keep herself together.
“Good girl,” I rasp, my voice thick with satisfaction as I continue, my own need building with every breath. “Keep sucking, and I’ll keep making you feel good.”
Her hips shift, her back arching slightly as she chases that release, her whimpers growing louder, more desperate. She’s close, I can feel it. I pick up the pace, circling my tongue in time with the way her body moves, feeling the tremors rippling through her.
“Don’t stop,” she whines, her voice low and needy, and it’s everything I can do to not lose control. But I don’t stop – I give her more, savouring the way she responds to me, her pleasure feeding my own.
Finally, with a broken gasp, she tenses beneath me, her body shuddering with release. Her grip tightens around the lollipop, and I can hear her quick, uneven breaths as she comes down from the edge.
I pull back slowly, lifting my face from between her legs, my lips glistening, a satisfied smile curling on my lips. “That’s it, baby,” I urge, my voice heavy with desire. “You did so well, my beautiful omega.”
She’s breathless, her eyes unfocused, her body still twitching from the intensity of the pleasure. I can’t help but stand up, leaning in to kiss her, soft and slow, letting her taste herself on my lips, before pulling away just enough to murmur against her mouth.
“Now, sweetheart,” I say, my voice dark, “let’s see if you can be a good girl for me again.”
She’s still trembling, breathless, lips wet from the lollipop, eyes heavy with need as she blinks down at me as I drop to my knees once more. The flush on her cheeks deepens, her thighs twitching where they rest over my shoulders, still spread wide on the counter. She looks wrecked – but it’s not enough. Not for her. Not for me.
“Please,” she whimpers, voice rough from pleasure, from desperation. “Please, I need it.”
I know exactly what she’s asking for. My knot. The instinctual need to be stretched, to be claimed, to be filled until there’s no space left inside her. It’s written in every part of her body – the way she grips at my shoulders, the way she squirms closer, trying to press against me, the way her scent thickens, wrapping around me like a drug.
But I won’t give it to her. Not yet. Not until she’s begging in the way I want.
“Not tonight, sweetheart,” I insist, dragging my fingers over the slick heat between her thighs, spreading her open, feeling how soaked she is from just my mouth alone. “You’re not ready for my knot.”
She lets out a broken sound, half a sob, half a growl of frustration. “I am ,” she protests, trying to roll her hips against my hand. “I can take it. I need it. Please.”
I hum, slipping a single finger inside her, curling it just right to make her shudder. “I’ll give you something else instead,” I promise.
She moans as I add another finger, pushing deep, feeling how tight and hot she is around me. I fuck her with them slowly, teasingly, letting her feel every inch, every stretch. She rocks against my hand, chasing more, chasing that feeling of fullness she’s so desperate for.
“More,” she gasps, her head tilting back against the mirror, her breath fogging the glass. “More, please.”
I chuckle darkly. “Greedy little thing,” I declare, slipping in a third.
She cries out, her body arching off the counter, and I have to hold her still with my other hand on her thigh. Her slick coats my fingers, dripping down, soaking her skin, making it so easy to slide deeper, to give her exactly what she’s begging for – just not in the way she wants.
I curl my fingers inside her, pressing against that perfect spot, and she jerks, moaning around the lollipop still between her lips. “That’s it, baby,” I croon, watching her unravel. “Come for me again.”
She shatters with a strangled cry, her whole body locking up before the tension snaps. Her release gushes over my hand, soaking my wrist, dripping onto the counter. My cock throbs at the sight of it, at the way she’s still begging even as she falls apart.
“Knot,” she sobs, still trembling, her hands fisting in my shirt. “Please, I need it…I need you to?—”
“Shhh,” I hush her gently, withdrawing my fingers only to press back in, slower this time, deeper.
I don’t stop.
She gasps as I slide another in, stretching her further, working her open inch by inch, watching the way her body struggles to take it, watching the way her lips part around the lollipop, drool glistening on her chin as she pants.
“See?” I press, my voice thick with satisfaction. “You want to be stretched, filled? You will be. But like this.”
I ease my whole hand inside her, slowly, carefully, watching her every reaction, making sure she stays relaxed. She trembles, her breath coming in short, desperate gasps, her walls fluttering as she struggles to take it.
“That’s it, baby,” I soothe, pressing kisses along her inner thigh as she stretches around me. “This is as close to a knot as you’re getting from me tonight.”
She whimpers, her legs shaking, her body caught between pleasure and overwhelm, and I can feel her starting to clench again, like she’s going to come all over my fist, just from the stretch, just from the feeling of being filled so completely.
I smirk. “Go on,” I insist, my voice dark and coaxing. “Come for me again.”
Her walls clench around me, and then she shatters. A sobbed, wrecked moan spills from her lips as she comes, her body pulsing around my fist, her release soaking me, running down my wrist, my forearm. She trembles, shuddering, her legs twitching in my grasp as pleasure crashes through her in violent waves.
I don’t move, just let her ride it out, let her feel every stretch, every impossible inch of fullness, her body spasming in the aftermath of her release. She’s still gasping, her eyes glazed and unfocused, her body trembling under the weight of what she’s just experienced.
Slowly, I pull my hand from her, keeping her eyes locked on mine as I move, my gaze dark with satisfaction. She’s still panting, her chest rising and falling in shaky breaths, and I take a moment to savour the look on her face – the way she’s unraveling, the way she’s so desperate for more.
Without breaking our gaze, I lift my hand to my mouth, dragging my tongue slowly over my fingers, tasting her slick and her cum, her sweetness, licking every drop from my hand and wrist, my forearm. The sound of my tongue against my skin is wet and deliberate, echoing in the tense air between us.
Her breath hitches at the sight, her eyes widening, her mouth parting as a desperate whimper escapes her. She reaches for me, her fingers grabbing at my shoulders, greedily pulling me toward her, needing me in a way that makes my pulse race. She tugs me into a searing kiss, her tongue meeting mine in a messy, desperate clash, the taste of herself still lingering on both our lips.
I groan into the kiss, pulling her closer, but then there’s a sharp, unexpected knock at the door.
I pull back from her, with an effort, wrenching myself away from the intoxicating warmth of her lips, my body aching with need.
“Stay here,” I command, brushing her hair back from her face, though I can see the hunger still clouding her eyes. I straighten, my jaw clenched with restraint, and step toward the door, opening it to reveal my twin, standing in the hallway.
“She’s ready for you, brother,” I say flatly, my voice tight, though there’s a flash of satisfaction in my gaze as I step aside.
My twin’s eyes flicker to me, to her, and I see the way his gaze darkens. He knows what’s been happening, knows what he’s about to step into. Without another word, I turn on my heel, my footsteps heavy as I leave the room, the door closing behind me with a finality that leaves her alone with him.