Chapter 25
WREN
“Look alive, bitches. This Omega has pre-gamed and is officially ready for round two.”
Nikita slinks into the doorway, wearing just a baggy T-shirt and cradling a coffee, coming to join me and Gabbie in the kitchen.
She’s the embodiment of a raccoon who just woke up from the best nap of her life. Considering how rapidly she fell asleep and was out cold the minute we got home from the rugby match, her batteries must be restored.
Shaking my head, I slide the pizza box across the table in her direction. “We really don’t have to go tonight. You peaked kinda early.”
“Umm, that was just my warm-up act.” She perches on a stool and folds a slice of pepperoni in half. “Besides, I pinky promised Gus I’d be there for proper karaoke later tonight. That man has got serious pipes. And I never go back on the sanctimony of a pinky promise.”
“It’s not a big deal if we skip it.” I don’t really know why I’m protesting. Do I want to go to a bar and party it up courtesy of the Wolves’ sponsors? Do I want to see the Alphas currently on a constant loop inside my head? My pussy does nothing but squeal excitedly at the prospect.
“We’re going. Besides, you’re gonna need the two of us to act as a distraction.” She looks at me thoughtfully while chewing a mouthful.
Gabbie gives me a little smirk. These two have been ganging up on me all afternoon, texting plans for how to make sure I end up right back in the thick of a Connor and Theo vortex.
How much trouble am I in that I’ve now got a third Alpha’s scent burrowing its way into my awareness, even though I only had the faintest hint of Atlas while sitting next to him in silence all the way back to Willow Falls. The guy didn’t say a single word, and yet I can’t stop thinking about him.
So, I’m firmly in my masochist era, it would seem.
“Daddy Brennan is gonna be there, right?”
“You can’t call him that,” I scold.
Nikita shrugs. “Well, he’s definitely Daddy. I’ll leave you to try that name on him for size and see what kinda scent match feralness you get treated to.”
My cheeks start to warm. I’m flooded with a tingling sensation at the simple idea of calling him that and finding ourselves in a situation where we might be able to indulge in the tension between us.
Yeah, that’s gonna be added to the roster of dates with my vibrator.
My imagination is getting one hell of a workout these days, with no lack of inspiration for a buffet of orgasms given to myself.
Nothing fucking touches the sides of what it was like when he talked me through it on the phone, mind you.
Another one of these weird fucking scent match tricks.
Obviously, I’m biologically wired to get off the hardest and be left completely boneless just hearing his voice tell me I’m a good girl for him.
“Oh look, G. We just melted her tiny little Omega brain.” Nikita giggles and gets up to place a kiss on the side of my head. “Girlfriend is already imagining how good it’ll be calling him Daddy while riding that knot.”
“You’re impossible.” I swat at her as she neatly evades my reach.
“Not denying it.” Gabbie winks.
I bury my face in my hands with a groan. “You two know far too much. The power has officially gone to your heads. You’re both drunk on the privilege you’ve been bestowed with.”
“Thank us later when you’re looking drop dead gorgeous and have those sexy-as-fuck Alphas ready to crawl to you.
” She claps her hands at me like I’m a lost duckling needing shooing along.
“Come on, move your ass, Miss Murphy. We gotta get ready, and if there’s even the slightest chance your fucknuckle of an ex is gonna be at this bar, I want you looking capable of breathing fire. ”
“Yuck. He’s probably gonna be there, isn’t he?” I scrunch my face up.
Gabbie nods. “Unfortunately. I heard a whole bunch of the law crowd talking about it while I was at the library today. I think most of WFU is going to be there, it’s kinda a big thing, apparently.”
Great. Let me just scream into a pillow.
“Oh yeah, how’d your little bookworm day go?” Nikita starts pulling clothes out of her wardrobe like rabbits out of a hat. Thank god we’re all more or less blessed with the same curves and height. It’s come in mighty handy having three wardrobes we can all interchange between.
“They told me the placement is mine.” She beams, picking up a silky green slip dress.
“Fuck yes. That’s awesome.” I point at the fabric she’s holding. “Approved. Definitely that one. Makes your tits look even more outstanding than normal.”
“What are you two doing for yours?”
Nikita thrusts a sapphire blue dress against my chest. “This one,” she commands, with all the authority of a high-fashion editor-in-chief, then turns to Gabbie.
“I think I’ve got something cooked up with the junior ice skating club.
I figure skated for years when I was young, so I think I’ve been able to negotiate a deal where I can do a placement with them in exchange for offering some coaching. ”
“You and my sister, Lark, will be instant soul mates. She’s been ice skating besotted ever since watching her first Olympic Games. If she hadn’t designated as an Omega, I seriously think she would have ended up going after a spot on the national team.”
“Tell her to pack her skates when she comes to visit. Now quit stalling and get naked.”
I can’t help but laugh when Nikita does just that, stripping her T-shirt over her head as she walks off to her wardrobe. At least we’re all well and truly prepared for pack life after these weeks living together. We don’t blink twice about getting undressed in front of each other these days.
A little swirl of something anticipatory lights up in my stomach at the thought of the men I’ve ended up entangled with and imaginary scenarios of what it might be like to be unapologetically naked and entwined with them.
To have them involved in a heat, where all ideas of clothes are completely abandoned for days and days on end, and none of us come up for air.
Goosebumps pepper my skin.
I really have to get all of these fantasies under control, because that’s all they can be.
Gabbie gestures at the dress she’s slipped into. “Does this look okay?” Her teeth nibble on her bottom lip. She’s a fucking bombshell and yet gives me that look of uncertainty I recognize all too well in myself when I get stuck in my head.
“Be prepared to come home with at least three marriage proposals and your lipstick ruined.” Wiggling my eyebrows at her, I love that it brings a tiny spark of brightness to her green eyes.
“You didn’t say what your placement is.” She turns her attention to the mirror and does her makeup.
“I’ve got a local dog shelter I’m going to talk to next week. They sounded like they just wanted to meet in person and show me around first, but that I can start helping with their promo and social media for the next fundraiser event straight away.”
“Cute,” she hums. “How many strays are you going to end up with?”
“Don’t enable me.” I laugh. “I’ll be there to strictly look and give cuddles but not adopt.”
“That’s what they all say.”
“Nope. I definitely want all the dogs one day, but not until I’m graduated and have my life sorted out.” Shimmying into the dress, it’s buttery against my skin. A vivid shade to complement my eyes, fitted to love on my cleavage, and floats around my thighs.
“Will Mr. Scent Match be there tonight?” Nikita decides on her skirt and strapless bustier combination set to steal hearts.
“I doubt it.” I shake my head. I haven’t texted Theo back since this afternoon at the game, and I think that’s the best plan. Surely he won’t be at a bar with his players.
Although, as I position myself in front of the mirror, I can’t help but apply my makeup a little bolder than usual.
The possibility of running into my ex already has me fueled by spite to look hot as fuck.
But that’s not the true reason behind my decision to dial everything up to smoky, sensual temptress levels.
With each swipe of shimmering eyeshadow, I’m definitely not imagining what Theo’s reaction will be if he does make an appearance tonight.
Adding an extra coat of mascara, I’m absolutely not thinking about how a certain charming superstar rugby player is going to respond to seeing me.
Applying a deep plum lipstick, I’m most certainly not recalling a particularly silent Alpha’s scent.
Not thinking about the three of them. At all.