Chapter 2
Tense Moments
Liora
"Li? We're going to be heading up to the offices to get some work done," Finn called through the dimness of the second floor. "Marco will take you home so you can get some rest."
"Okay." I got up, stiff from being in the same position for hours. I'd kept the bond shut down the entire time, not wanting my alphas to feel my inner turmoil. They had networking to do. Now, I let their bonds trickle in, feeling their tiredness and a faint spark of excitement.
"We'll see you in the morning, babe." Finn smiled and kissed the top of my head, before ushering me downstairs.
He turned and headed for the elevators where the others waited.
Including Andrea. She gave me a little finger wiggle wave and a smirk before she spun on her heels and stepped into the elvator with them.
The building was eerie at night, with no one left except me.
I walked quickly down the stairs and headed outside to where the limo was waiting.
Marco opened the door for me and I slid into the back, leaning against the leather seats and staring at the ceiling as we drove back home.
Home to an empty mansion with far too many rooms. Devoid of anything.
Inside the house was silent, too. I set the alarm and went to the kitchen for some water before heading up to my room.
Peeling off the dress, I left it draped over a chair and went to shower before curling up naked in my bed.
The men preferred I slept naked, so they could slip into bed with me at any point in the night and feel my skin against theirs.
Not that any of them had come to me in a while.
The past few months had been so busy, I'd barely seen them, except for my heat and even then, they'd traded off.
What if Andrea was right and I really was holding them back?
Tears welled up in my eyes. I loved my pack.
From the first time I'd met them when they stepped into Omega Diner, looking out of place with their fancy suits and shiny smiles, I'd fallen for all three of them.
Finn, with his carefree attitude and loving touches.
Aiden's instantly calming demeanor and subtle humor.
Mace's quirks and obsession with being in control.
They'd all fit perfectly together as a pack. And I'd slid right in there with them.
Sleep was hard to achieve. I lay there imagining my men with Andrea. Spreading her out on their desks, feasting on her like they used to feast on me. Thrusting into her. It made me sick to my stomach to think that they were with her right now while I was here in my bed, in an empty house.
I didn't dare let the bond open. Just in case I'd feel the lust and excitement flowing through it. That would kill me. So I lay there, crying and staring at the ceiling and waiting for the crunch of wheels in the driveway. A sound that never came.
***
In the morning, my face was puffy from crying and I spent a long time in the shower, trying to look presentable again. Then I primped in the bathroom, perfecting my makeup, covering the dark circles under my eyes and doing my hair so it was the way Mace liked it, up in a bun, neat and tidy.
Finally, I headed downstairs to where our cook, Miranda, was busy in the kitchen. She smiled at me and passed me a plate with an egg white omelet and a glass of low-fat milk.
"You look very nice today, Liora."
"Thanks, Miranda. Just trying to look good for my men."
"They're not here right now. I had a message saying not to make breakfast for them," she told me.
"Oh. Alright. Thank you." I went to the dining room and sat in my usual spot, which should be Mace's right side, picking at my omelet. My appetite was completely gone and I wasn't sure what to do with myself now.
They hadn't come home. That meant they'd spent the night with her.
My belly twisted and I gave up on eating, going out into the back garden.
The fresh air felt good against my too-hot cheeks, and I stood there for a long time, staring at the roses that Finn had imported for me.
I'd seen them on a tv show and fallen in love, so he'd surprised me by having a rose garden planted out here.
There were only a couple of roses blooming right now, but I ran my fingers over the soft petals and bent to smell the delicate scent.
It reminded me of Finn, with his rose and lime aroma.
The rest of the day, I spent wandering aimlessly around the house or searching "how to know if your alphas are done with you" on the internet.
When the sound of the limo arriving reached my ears, I was on my fifth circle of the house.
I'd stopped by each of their rooms to sniff their scent, wondering if this was going to be the last time I smelled it.
Now, I walked demurely down the stairs to stand and greet them with a smile when they came in.
All three men looked exhausted. Finn had lost his suit jacket somewhere and his tie hung askew. Aiden was rumpled and tired while Mace was still looking pristine as always, but with circles under his eyes.
"I thought you were coming home last night?" I hated the way the omega whine crept into my voice. Even with suppressants, it was there.
"Not now, Liora." Mace snapped. He immediately turned toward the kitchen, looking for Miranda and coffee.
Biting my lip, I watched him go before turning my attention back to the others.
"We had a lot of work. One of the permits for the lab was misfiled and it took all night to figure it out," Aiden told me.
"I'll get you some food." I took the last three steps down and headed for the kitchen.
Miranda was in the middle of making dinner, but there was already a plate of the caviar topped crackers with the crème fra?che they all liked.
I picked it up and carried it into the living room where they were settling in.
"Thanks, babe," Finn gave me a tired smile when I offered him the plate. He shoved two crackers in his mouth and leaned back, groaning. "I need a fucking shower."
The other two looked equally worn out from their night's activities and I held my breath, not wanting to smell the scent of another woman on them. Once I'd served them each, I set the plate on the coffee table and went to mix them each their favorite drink.
They were talking in low voices, but stopped the second I came back into the room. My stomach clenched. Something was very wrong here. None of the men looked at me as they took their drinks, giving a quick nod.
It was obvious they didn't want me here, so I darted back out of the room, trying to keep from crying.
The next half hour, I sat out on the balcony overlooking the gardens and waited until dinner was ready.
Then, gathering myself, I forced down the urge to cry, reapplied my makeup and went down with a smile.