Knot Their Valentine

Chapter 2

Chapter Two

“No. No fucking way.” She has got to be fucking with me! I can’t believe I blindly trusted her. What is it about our mothers that allows us to let our guards down? I thought maybe she was finally understanding me. Maybe she wants to see me happy. Then I stepped into this hall, and the scent of apricots hit me.

“Oh, Harlow, isn’t it wonderful!” My mother’s giddy clapping echoes in the empty space. She ignores not only my words but the look on my face.

I try to look serious. I try to growl, but as an Omega, the best I can muster isn’t the least bit intimidating. “No. No, Mom, this is not wonderful!”

This is bullshit.

It is damn near impossible for an unmated Omega to get a lease on their own.

And by damn near, I mean that you need more money than my entire familial line combined. Which I do not have. I’ve been living back home with my parents for almost three weeks, and it has been driving me up a wall. So last week, I started begging for my dads’ help to find something of my own.

They clearly betrayed me to their beloved mate. Do they know this is where she brought me? If I tell them, will they overrule her? Not likely… She’s the center of their world, but more than that, she’s the damn boss in this family.

I stare my mother down, considering my options. I could run…

She isn’t deterred by my frown or the fact that I’ve now taken several steps away from her toward the emergency exit. She marches right up to me and pushes my pink hair behind my ear. This close, she doesn’t look as…powerful? She’s soft and cuddly. Strict but loving.

I know she loves me, she just doesn't understand me! She doesn’t even try to.

“Oh, Har, don’t be so grumpy.” Her vanilla scent is strong as all hell, but it’s also comforting. She’s my mom, after all. No matter how menacing, meddlesome, or difficult she is, she is always doing what she thinks is best for me. Even when I almost always disagree.

The only people who have ever been able to reel in her crazy are my fathers, and even they aren’t often successful.

“Grumpy? Mom, you’re moving me into an apartment that’s already occupied by an Omega! And his mates…” This time, the panic in my voice, or maybe the way my hands shake, get her attention. She sighs, reaching up to fix her perfectly in place gray hair, while her blue eyes take in the sight of my anxiety. Her scent changes, filling the air to calm me. It half works. Right up until I remember who’s on the other side of that door.

“Don’t be silly, you’ve known each other since before either of you perfumed! You won’t upset anyone’s instincts any more than you would mine.”

My mother, who’s never been very self-aware, pats my cheek, nods once, and turns to knock on the door.

She never gets the chance. The door swings open, and there he stands. The most insufferable Alpha alive and the bane of my existence. Just the sight of his stupid handsome face sets me on edge.

Damn him.

“Good to see you again, Emily,” Caelum says, wrapping his obscenely beefy arm around my mother’s tiny form. “You’re looking radiant, as usual.” His compliment to my mother makes me bare my teeth. He glances up at me, slowly. As if just noticing I’m here.

As if my very existence is so minuscule that I don’t register to the superior Alpha.

“I hate you,” I mouth, glaring at him as he smirks.

“Right back at you,” he mouths back, and my mother is none the wiser.

When I was sixteen years old, I fell madly in love with Caelum Baker. He’d been my next-door neighbor most of my life and the son of my mother's best friend of twenty-five years.

For years, we only really interacted when they forced the issue. After all, they were the ones who couldn’t bear to be apart, and that had nothing to do with us. The more my mom tried to dress us in matching clothes or force me to play his dumb boy games, the harder I fought to dislike the kid.

That didn’t deter our mothers. They started scheming ways to get us to like one another, and all it did was create a rivalry. Who could do better in their respective sports. Who could get better grades? Who had better manners, and the list went on.

Until hormones, and being an Omega, did me dirty.

I still remember that fateful day, when I saw him shirtless in his tight-fitting football pants. Dumping water over his head. Shaking his shaggy hair…his muscles, which are so much fucking larger now, on display. I certainly wasn’t the only teenager drooling over him. But I was one of the few who’d already perfumed as an Omega.

His scent, his smile, everything about him drew me in, and like the silly love struck fool I was, I fell hard and fast as teen girls do.

I wrote his name, Caelum Baker, on page after page of every fucking notebook I owned. Practiced writing Harlow Baker right along with it.

If he noticed those first few months, he said nothing. Not even at Christmas that year, when I followed him and his best friends, Lachlan and Quinton, around the house like a fucking lost puppy.

Only Caelum had presented as an Alpha at the time. I had presented as an Omega early. It happens sometimes like when you find your scent matches young. But those are rare. So fucking rare, that no one really knows much about them. I know for an Omega, you need to be in heat with your scent matches to really know for sure. So the only explanation was that my hormones were just really freaking strong.

I knew we were compatible, Caelum and I.

Of course, in true Caelum fashion, he destroyed my heart. Well, not at first. One day, after crushing on him for a few months, I saw him kissing another Omega, and my hopes of being his were shattered. I was sixteen, it wasn’t a big deal. By fifth period that same day, I was already drooling over some other boy.

That is, until Caelum decided to fucking socially annihilate me the next damn day. By eighth period, Caelum had told the entire student body that I was in love with him. That I was obsessed. That I was his goddamn stalker.

Oh! And wouldn’t you know, he had proof! As the rumors went, I’d apparently talked my mom into moving in next door to him and his family at the age of four. I’d also managed to spend every holiday since I was seven months old at his place because I was obsessed with him and not because my mother fucking forced me over there. Look at me, a genius mastermind before I could even walk.

Teenagers are fucking stupid.

Memories of crying in bathroom stalls as I tried to eat my lunch plague me. For the sake of our mothers, we kept the truth away from them. Which only made his case against me stronger, in the court of public opinion, when he’d share the images of me in our combined family pictures looking like I want to kill him.

I glare at him, ready to say fuck it. To reveal the awful truth to my mother, even though I graduated from high school two years ago.

When she said she found me an apartment, I stupidly assumed she meant a solo apartment.

She thinks I avoid Caelum like the plague because of my lifelong desire not to be turned into his Omega against my will. I never told her he’s actually the worst fucking bastard ever.

Or the even more embarrassing truth. That while Caelum was my tormentor, his now mated Omega, Quinton, became my next epic crush. One I never managed to get over.

It was as if my subconscious was punishing me. Because along with falling for Quinton, I also found myself drawn to Lachlan. Two men who were off limits even before they became a pack.

So, I avoid them. Especially over the last eleven months.

I just saw them several weeks ago at Christmas, where I pretended Caelum didn’t exist, while Quinton sat cheerily by his side, attempting to include me from time to time, but I would rather jump off a cliff. Lachlan was polite as always, but I never spoke more than a few words to any of them.

Drenched myself in scent blocker for good measure too. Something that often goes against our instincts.

“Hey, Harlow, welcome home!” a softer, much kinder voice says from behind Caelum.

I take a quick breath and hold it before his scent can reach me. Peach cobbler. He’s like a bite of juicy fruit on a hot summer's day. It’s irresistible. His and Caelum’s scents mix so fucking well that it’s unbearable for my poor hormones. Which is why I utilize the scent blockers at family gatherings.

Right now? No scent blocker.

“Quinton,” my mother nods to him, giving him a chillier greeting than the ones she reserves for me when I piss her off. I know she always wanted me to end up bonded into Caelum’s pack, but to treat Quin so coldly? I’m about to tell her off, but Cae distracts me.

“You’re still salty about that stuff in high school, Harlow?” Cae smirks at me as he joins me in the hall. I’m still holding my breath, so I don’t respond. At some point, I’ll need to inhale, though. I lift my right hand and flip him off instead. My mother has stepped up to Quin and is saying something to him. I’m trying to focus on that instead of Caelum, but the Alpha is so imposing it’s fucking hard.

His chuckle warms my skin, so I step to the side, trying to get away from him. Caelum is a pain in my perky Omega ass.

I’ve focused so hard on not breathing, that I miss the exchange between Quinton and my mother. Right up until the Omega male is pulling me into a hug that shocks me. That's when my lungs give up, and I gasp for air, sucking in the Omega’s scent so deeply that I feel him inside me like a fucking sickness.

Oh, fuuuuuuck me. I tremble so badly that I make Quinton fucking whimper with the need to comfort me, no doubt. He whimpers! My responding whine is immediate, and I send myself into a coughing fit trying to cover up the sound.

These men smell like Omega catnip, especially Quinton. I’ve never thought the scent of another Omega was so alluring. Figured out how abnormal it was very early.

I double over and hack up a lung while trying to clear my senses. Quinton pats my back gently, and Cae lets out an Alpha growl. My mother looks unsure as she steps forward. The three of them close in on me, and my panic only makes breathing harder.

It’s only been a few seconds, but I’m sure this is how I die.

Until someone else steps out of the apartment and into the hall. He grips my waist in his hands and lifts.

“Come on, Omega. Let's get you some air,” Lachlan grunts. Before I know it, my ass is planted on the counter inside the apartment, and firm, warm hands caress my back in soothing circles. “Breathe, Omega.” His golden eyes are locked on mine, and he sucks in a breath with me to demonstrate. I feel like I’m in a trance as I do as he says. His scent of plums and honey makes my mouth water, even as it spikes to soothe me. His hands are cupping my cheeks now.

A few moments go by, and my heart rate slows, until I hear my mother's voice squealing something about how dramatic I am.

“This is hell, isn’t it?” I whisper, and Lachlan snorts before taking a step back. I never asked how these three men ended up bonded when, for two years, everyone believed that Lachlan was going to bond with his high school girlfriend. They broke up, and not long after that, these three formed a pack.

That was eleven months ago. I was away at college for all of it, and no one ever brings it up at the holidays. At least, not around me. And I never wanted to know any details. I still don’t. Okay, that's not entirely true. I’m super nosey. I like knowing everyone's business, but not because I care. I just like knowing.

“Thanks, Lachlan. Our little Firefly was really losing it, hmm?” Cae teases, and I nearly leap off the counter to rip his throat out when he uses my family's nickname for me. Fireball is already bad enough.

Lachlan places two large palms on my thighs, keeping me planted. My gaze flicks back to him, and he smirks like he can see my thoughts. The full beard along his jaw does a good job distracting me from my anger as I fight the urge to reach out and pet him.

“Oh, it’s your father,” my mother interrupts, pulling her phone out. “Cae, be a dear and grab the little Firefly’s bags while I take this,” Mom says, lifting the phone to her ear.

“Of course, Emily. Right behind you.” Cae shoots her his dimple-cheeked smile, charming her like everyone else that’s ever met this damn Alpha. Except me. Minus those few months in high school when I had a terrible lapse of judgment. I blame my hormones.

“Hello, Dear,” my mother’s voice trails off as she disappears out the open doorway, but I fix my glare on Caelum.

“What. The fuck. Is happening?” I snarl, but Cae just smirks like the shady fuck doesn’t have a care in the world.

“Emily didn’t tell you? You’re our new roommate. I heard you were struggling, so I offered our guest room.”

“You’re both fucking insane. What were all of you thinking!? You’re mated, and having another Omega in your space will fuck his instincts all up!” I throw my hand up, and then blink at the Alpha who still has his hands on my thighs when he squeezes them.

“I’ll be fine, Low.” Quinton is hidden behind Lachlan, who’s taller stocky frame easily hides the smaller male, and at the sound of his voice, Caelum steps closer to his black-haired Omega.

“How? How will you be okay when just the sight of you in a space I don’t even want to live in makes me want to crawl out of my skin? Just the idea that I’m expected to live here with you is making me want to…” Fuck you. Fuck your face, and ride your cock. Beg you to bend me over the counter and fuck me hard from behind while your Alphas watch us...

Ope. No… Nope, can’t go there. This is the kind of thinking that could get me into serious trouble. Tempting as the man is, I am not going down that road. He’s an Omega and belongs to Caelum and Lachlan. Having me here will only make Quinton’s instincts go berserk. And who knows what my scent will do to the two Alphas.

Or, you know, what the fuck the three of them will do to me!

My emotions are all over the fucking place right now, but Lachlan is still an Alpha, so when I cycle from distraught to horny to fucking sad, he notices.

I’m sure Cae can feel my rollercoaster of bullshit as well, but he’s had practice ignoring me and my emotions.

Lachlan’s grip on my thighs tightens, and his scent spikes, just a little. Just enough. I breathe deeply, wanting to curl up in his fucking arms and purr.

I blink, blink again, and then shake my head as I fight my way out of the mental fog that is Lachlan.

A shiver travels down my spine, and I suck in a sharp breath.

“Quin says he’ll be fine. Trust him. Lachlan and I aren’t beasts, we have self-control. No one is going to slip into a rut and maul you, Harlow,” Cae grumbles.

“I never said you would. I said instincts would fuck with us,” I hiss through gritted teeth.

“You saying you find us so irresistible that you can’t control yourself, Fireball?” Cae’s cocky smile enrages me.

“Caelum.” My eyes narrow on him. “You know damn well that’s not what I’m saying. None of us can control certain aspects of our instincts. Like how an unmated Omega might disrupt a pack in their mated home.”

“No scent blockers…” Lachlan randomly grumbles, snatching my attention away from Cae. His messy dark brown hair is falling into his eyes as he looks at me. “Normally, you have them,” he adds, clearing his throat. He steps away from me and over to the fridge. I hear him pop the lid off a bottle and assume it’s a beer, rather than see it.

“Low…” Quin murmurs, using the nickname that only he has ever been brave enough to give me. “My instincts aren’t reacting negatively to you. I don’t see you as a threat.”

I flinch. Ouch. I don’t see Quin as a threat either, but my instincts react to him, but not in a…rip his eyeballs out kind of way like I normally would around Omegas in close quarters.

No, instead, I’m bombarded by mental images of all the moments I’ve accidentally seen Cae and Quin kissing. My instincts think Quinton is a viable mate option. Ignoring the fact that he’s already bonded. And a fucking Omega.

Cinnamon and peaches, plum and honey, as well as the scent of fucking sugary apricots fills the room. Surrounding me like a fucking straight jacket.

Men…

“There’s no fucking way I’m living with Caelum.”

“So to be clear then, Quin and I are safe?” Lachlan smirks as he passes by and heads for the couch.

“Just…be reasonable, Harlow!” Cae snaps before stomping out of the apartment, probably so he can go grab my fucking bags. I pull my phone out of my pocket and text my father.

Harlow: If you knew and didn’t warn me, I’m putting raisins in your favorite dishes every holiday until you die.

Dad Max: I was as surprised as you, I promise.

I scoff, plopping my phone down on the counter. The counter I’m still sitting on.

“I think we can make it work. I know you must hate living with your parents,” Quin murmurs, stepping closer to me.

We’ve always kept this…distance between us. There was a time, not all that long ago, when I would have done anything to bridge that divide.

“This isn’t a good idea. Cae and I hate each other–”

“I’m sorry, Low. I-I could have done more to get him to lay off… I just let him be himself, I guess.” Quin looks genuinely distraught, and I can feel the anxiety wafting off of him. I reach out, gripping his bicep, doing my best not to notice how toned he is.

“What could you have done? Cae was on the warpath, and I was his only target. Whatever his reasons, nothing you could have done or said, would have made him back down. We’ve had this conversation before.” I shake my head, looking into his eyes for the first time today, and my heart rate kicks up a notch. “I guess I can stay until I find my own place. Living with my mother has been difficult. Hopefully, Cae is less insufferable,” I chuckle, trying to put him at ease. I don’t like it when he’s upset. Fucking instincts.

“Thank fuck.” Quin lets out a breath so heavy that I can’t help but snort. He doesn’t elaborate on why he seems so relieved that I’ve agreed to stay with them, but I don’t push for an explanation either.

Caelum and my mother return, the Alpha’s arms filled with bags as my mother chatters on and on about something none of us gives a shit about.

I jump off the counter and narrow my eyes on the woman. My arms are crossed over my chest, and even though she stands two inches shorter than me with her heels on, she doesn’t even notice my glare.

“Alright, Firefly. Have a good night getting settled in, and don’t forget that you have to go on dates with the Alphas and the pack before Valentine's Day! It’s for charity, after all.”

“And Quin,” I add, frowning at her. He’s in the pack, too. Each member gets a date and one pack date. Dating Cae is certainly fucking charity, though…

“Right, right…”

“Did you say that you and your pack had dinner plans? You look amazing, of course, but I know how much you like to get dolled up for them…” Caelum says, cutting her off. She blushes and nods as this dreamy look passes over her face.

My mother might be a damn menace, but she loves my dads like the moon loves the stars. All my life, she’s talked about how important getting dolled up for her husbands is, no matter how many times they’ve seen her.

She pecks my cheek before fluttering out of the apartment like the butterfly she is.

“That was much more entertaining than I was expecting,” Lachlan says from the couch, and I glance over to see him tipping his beer back to finish it off.

“I don’t need you to help me unpack, Quin, really,” I say, but he waves my comment off and starts unzipping a bag. The one with all my underwear. I watch as he pulls thongs and g-strings out, unfazed.

After my mother left, I snatched up all my bags, demanded they show me to my room, and then hid in here for half an hour before Quin came knocking.

The guest room they put me in is made up of neutral tones and tan accents. It’s obvious from the clean lemon scent that it had been freshly cleaned before I came. The stack of my bags in front of the walk in closet with built-in drawers won’t fill even half of the space. I hadn’t packed much beyond the necessities, like my scrubs for work and my bag of nesting supplies. Casual clothes, pajamas, things like that. I didn’t have enough notice, or time, to pack much more than that.

Watching the other Omega, I’m a little bit confused about how he’s touching my thongs with zero reaction, until reality sinks in and embarrassment floods my system. My cheeks burn hot, as I stifle a groan.

He’s unfazed, because the attraction is one-sided. Quin doesn’t give a fuck about what garments spend the day pressed against my pussy, any more than he’d care about my skin care routine.

Wincing at that reality, I turn my back to him and try to hide the horror I’m currently feeling. Fantastic Harlow. You have immaculate taste in men. All the ones that don’t want you.

What’s next? Should I throw myself at Lachlan’s feet and beg for a crumb of attention? The instinct to rush out there and curl up in his lap is strong. He helped me earlier. He’s an Alpha, and it made my Omega instincts go wild.

I might think Caelum is the worst, and want nothing to do with him, but I’m still an Omega.

How long will I last? Before I break, that is. Before I’m crawling on all fours to the golden eyed Alpha? Or begging Quin to give me just a little taste?

I give myself six days tops. I’m that weak. At least I’m self-aware, I guess.

Behind me, Quin sucks in a breath, and his cobbler scent of cinnamon and peaches spikes heavily in the air until I’m inhaling nothing but his desire. My eyebrows climb my forehead, but I don’t dare look at him. His scent is so ripe that I think maybe he’s close to his heat.

His low whine turns to a deep growl, and my body erupts in goosebumps. I have to bite my lip, hard, to avoid reacting to the sound.

I can’t do fuck all about the way my body responds, though. My nipples harden, and my own scent dances with his, filling the room with chocolate drizzled strawberries and peaches. I’m frozen in place for a long moment.

When I work up the nerve to glance over my shoulder, Quinton is holding my massive blue alien vibrating knot simulator in his hands.

I blink at the vibrator, then at Quin. Our eyes meet, and he shocks me so deeply, that I feel it in my soul when he smirks.

“Kinky, Low. Giant alien cock, huh?”

The usually sweet, shy, and quiet Omega has rendered me speechless.

“It’s… I’ve never used it. It’s so big that I’m scared it’ll hurt,” is apparently the response my brain decided to go with. Quin frowns, looking away from me to assess the giant cock still in his hands.

“You’re an Omega, you could take twice as much…” He looks so confused. Like he’s comparing the size of my alien cock to Alpha cock. Caelum’s cock? Is he thinking of his mate’s cock? My cheeks flame hotter, no doubt lighting my pale skin up like a Christmas tree. Quin tilts his head sideways, still frowning. “I mean, I take…” He trails off, catching himself before he can finish that thought. FUCKING THANK GOD!

Was he about to say he could take more? Oh, hell… Now I’m thinking about how much cock Quin can take. While he’s fucking me. Or was he thinking of his own cock? Omegas don’t have knots. Male Omegas tend to be pretty fucking big, though…

“Are you a virgin?” he asks, his eyes wide like he’s horrified by the notion, right as my door creaks open. Fan-fucking- tastic. Should we invite the entire complex in to witness my humiliation?

“Virgin?” Lachlan stands there in the doorway of my new bedroom and looks from me to the alien cock to Quin and back to me. I watch as his face morphs from shocked to curious to fucking entertained. There’s a long stretch of silence where my heart does flips in my chest, and my cheeks burn so hot I probably look like a stop sign.

“Ah, so I was correct earlier,” I decide, making a slightly disgusted, but also self-deprecating face as I nod. Lachlan frowns like he doesn’t know what I’m talking about. I fill him in. “This is, in fact, Hell.”

He snorts again, smirking once more. At least he isn’t making that cute ass confused face anymore.

Lachlan crosses his arms and leans against the doorway, clearly not leaving me to wallow in my shame. Quinton still just looks lost. Like being an unmated, virgin Omega is so fucking unbelievable.

“Did you want to borrow that, or?” I hold my hand out and wait patiently for Quin to hand me my dildo. He glances at my hand then startles, shaking his head as if trying to break himself out of a trance.

I snatch it away from him and stuff it under the bed. It lands with an overly dramatic thump if you ask me, and I close my eyes, pinching the bridge of my nose.

“If this isn’t Hell, they should take notes,” I grumble to myself. I’ve got two sets of dazzling eyes trained on me when I look up. “As fun as this is, did you need something?” Quin finally realizes what he’s been unpacking prior to the giant cock being discovered. I forgot that damn beast was in that bag…

“I think so. Can’t remember what, for the life of me, though.” Lachlan just keeps that damn smirk on his face as he watches Quin and me. Is it just me, or does he look…interested?

That’s just wishful thinking. And honestly, fucking insane of me. Lachlan has an Omega. Quinton. The man that’s still staring at my panties.

At least Caelum isn’t here.

“I can unpack alone,” I announce, but when no one moves, I throw my hands in the air. “Quin, can you give me some privacy? I don’t love that you just announced my virginity, while holding my alien dick. Or the way you’re folding my things, to be honest.” My eyes bug out as I try to get these men out. Sleeping tonight will be fucking fantastic. With their scents heavy in the air. Wonderful.

“Come on, Omega, before the lady Omega starts attacking,” Lachlan teases, grabbing his mate’s arm and dragging him out of my room. The second the door clicks shut behind them, I fall backward onto the bed.

“Yep, definitely Hell.”

Quinton

Lachlan closes Harlow’s door behind us, his arm still slung over my shoulder. We don’t usually touch this much. It feels good.

I know he’s been lonely. I feel it through the bond. I wish he’d open up to me. I’d offer comfort, if I thought he’d accept it.

But there’s something getting in the way. I don’t know what’s blocking him, but I’m not going anywhere.

When he’s ready, I’ll be here.

“She’s going to mix things up, hmm?” Lachlan chuckles, and I nod. I don’t know why Caelum decided to have her move in with us, but I’m glad he did. I meant it when I said it would be nice to have another Omega around. Especially since I’ve been struggling with my instincts a lot.

They’ve always given me a hard time, but lately… I feel like I can’t tell what’s instinct versus desperation.

Like right now. The memory of Harlow’s scent, plus Lachlan being so close… It’s all too much. I’m ready to climb Lach like he’s a fucking tree, and I’m a feral squirrel.

Caelum will soothe some of the ache, once he realizes how great my need is, but there will still be a needy little void inside me that wishes Lachlan were there too…

I fell for Cae first. Easily. I’ve loved him since we were too young to understand what love really is. Cae’s Alpha presented first, then I perfumed, next was Harlow… That was a hard day.

Not because I was jealous, but because I found myself drawn to her scent. As a teen, that was very confusing. Especially because everything else about my life was already confusing.

Omegas don’t fall for other Omegas…or so I had always been told.

But maybe they had just never gotten a lungful of chocolate and strawberry? Fucking intoxicating. Last to present was Lachlan. At the time, he was dating an Omega who was a year older. She was nice, I guess.

But she only confused my instincts more. Why was I drawn to Harlow, but Lachlan’s girlfriend made me want to claw her eyes out?

Just the thought of her being the one moving in down the hall has my hackles rising, and a growl slipping from my throat.

Lach tenses beside me, dipping his head to get a better look at me.

“You alright, Quin?” he asks, tipping my chin up with his finger. I nod, but don’t speak, worried I’ll reveal my need for him. He must feel me through the bond, though. Does he know I’m needy for Harlow too?

Has he always known?

In high school, I used to sneak off to look for her, just to try and get a few moments to myself with her. She smelled so good and soothed my Omega instincts.

The first time Caelum fucked me was at our combined high school graduation parties. Lachlan and his then girlfriend were fighting about something… They fought a lot in the end.

And Harlow was there. She seemed sad and lonely. But it was a pool party. She was in this damn bikini that made every coherent thought I’d ever had erase itself from my brain.

I swallow just from the memory of her perfect breasts in those triangles. Omegas go into their first heats shortly after turning eighteen, and mine was due any time, since I’d been eighteen for weeks.

Harlow is only two weeks younger than I am, and her scent had changed by then too. Fuck, one look at her, and I was slick and hard.

Caelum noticed and dragged me away from the party and up to his bedroom.

It was hot and fucking perfect.

He never brought up what made me so needy that day… Thank fuck.

“You like her?” I ask, Lachlan still assessing me, his finger under my chin.

Lachlan lifts his brow, but doesn’t answer. His bond responds, though. I can feel his sparks of curiosity and desire, even before the honeyed scent of plum reaches me.

“Who doesn’t like Harlow?” He shrugs, and I roll my eyes at his non answer.

“If you did like her, it wouldn’t be a problem.” I clear my throat and step out from under the arm of my Alpha. He’s mine, but… He must be horny? Every time Cae and I fuck, I can feel him through the bond. I know it turns him on.

“Because you like her too?” he asks, not letting me flee, as he follows close behind me.

“Goodnight! I’ll see you tomorrow!” I squeak, disappearing into my bedroom.

Cae is spread out across the bed, naked. His hands propped under his head, eyes closed.

He looks so fucking good. His cock is hard, the knot at the base already swelling.

“Is there something you need from me, Omega? What were you getting up to in Harlow’s room, huh?” The devilish smirk that slides into place challenges my ability to make conversation. Low’s presence and Lach’s touch already struck the match.

I don’t answer Caelum, I just pounce.