Too Much
Adrian
Iride in the back of Nico's company truck with my head against the window. The world blurs past me, but I don’t focus on any of it.
I can't stop thinking about Lyra.
That sweet, stunning omega has consumed my every thought.
I keep replaying the way she looked up at me from the floor of that closet, wedged between a mop bucket and a stack of boxes, sure I was there to hurt her. I can still smell her blood in the air.
My fists curl as a sudden wave of rage grips me. Stop it, I tell myself. She’s okay. Safe and sound and maybe even lying in my bed.
I really hope she’s awake. I want to see her.
Talk to her.
Maybe even stand close enough to scent her one more time.
I close my eyes and lean my head back, and think about her small body tangled in my sheets.
I’m sure the sweet warmth of her scent has soaked into every inch of my room by now. I bet it smells like heaven in there. Sweet vanilla with warm almond all along the edges. My cock twitches, and I quickly open my eyes.
Stop it.
"How long do you figure the omega’s staying?" Mack's voice comes from the passenger seat, pulling me back to reality. My eyes snap to the side of Nico’s face, waiting for him to answer.
"I don't know yet," Nico says, keeping his eyes on the road. "Why?" A small smile plays on his lips. "Tired of her already?"
"I’m not saying that." Mack shifts to better look at the pack alpha.
"I'm all for helping some scared girl who's got nowhere to go. You know me. But I was thinking, once she’s awake, it's going to be weird pretending we aren’t a pack.
I mean, I wanted to slap your ass so damn much this morning, but I was worried she was gonna walk in at any second.
" He blows out a breath. "And she's a Van Houten on top of it.
One wrong move in front of that girl and we're not just outed, we're outed to the daughter of the man who wants our kind obliterated. "
"I know." Nico reaches over and sets a hand on Mack's leg, squeezing once. "I don't like it either. Believe me."
I shift in my seat, realizing that I hadn’t thought that part through.
Every hour that Lyra’s under our roof, is an hour that I have to pretend that Owen isn't mine. I have to stand next to Nico and act like he's a guy I split the rent with. I fucking hate that.
But then I think about her leaving. Walking out our door and disappearing into the city, alone, hurt, and with someone possibly hunting her.
That's so much worse than any amount of pretending.
I'd rather act like a stranger in my own home for the rest of my life before I'd let her go.
"I've got so many questions," Mack says, dragging a hand down his face.
"Like what?" Nico asks, turning the wheel into our neighborhood.
"Is she staying long-term, you think? And what do we do about her dad? You think he's already got people looking? What if somebody saw Owen bring her in? Should we be watching the street? Are we telling Renata, or—"
"Honestly? I don't know." Nico pulls into the driveway and cuts the engine. His tone is a little tired, a man with no real answers. "I’ve been thinking about it nonstop, and I feel like I’m a little out of my depth.
" He shakes his head, pushing out a heavy sigh.
"I'll be honest with both of you," he glances over his shoulder at me, "I don't know how to keep us safe from a man like her father, but I can’t bring myself to kick her out either. "
"Good," I blurt out.
Nico turns a little more, looking at me, and Mack shifts completely in his seat.
"You know what?" Mack's grin spreads. "I think our Adrian's got a little crush on the girl. Just like Owen." He points at me, delighted with himself. "That's what this is. You want the pretty girl to stay."
"I’m just saying." I keep my voice level and my face easy, like I'm agreeing with my pack alpha, like this is any other decision about the house.
"She's got nowhere to go, and what's out there is worse than anything her dad could do if he found her here.
We keep her. We figure out the rest as it comes. At least that's my vote."
What I don't say is that the thought of her leaving makes me want to snatch her up and mark her hard and deep, forcing her to stay with us forever.
Nico's eyes narrow at me, slow and knowing, and for a second I'm sure he can hear every word I didn't say. I hold still, waiting for him to say or do something. But he doesn’t do anything.
He simply looks back out the windshield.
Mack, thank God, is completely oblivious.
"You know," Mack's grin slips, going unnaturally quiet for a second.
"I lived on the streets for a while, back in the day. I did a lot of things I deeply regret, just tryin’ to survive.
" He lets out a heavy sigh. "It's no kind of life for anybody, and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy, let alone an omega.
" He nods like he’s made a firm decision. "So yeah. She stays."
Nico reaches over and pats Mack's leg. "Let's go inside, eat something, and figure it out from there." He glances back at me. "It’ll all work out." He waits for me to nod, then he pushes his door open.
We all file out of the truck, and Mack catches my eye. He gives me an exaggerated grin, before patting me gently on the back.
Maybe he can sense I’m a little off.
I hope not.
"Well, hello, gentlemen," Renata says as she slips out the front door. "How was work?" She steps off the porch, going still when she sees the big, white truck. "Where's the pickup?" She looks past us at the company truck like it offended her.
"It sounded a little off this morning," Nico says as he shuts his truck door. "I dropped it off at Duke’s during my lunch break."
"A little off?" Mack snorts. "The damn thing was rattling louder than skeletons fucking on a tin roof."
That makes Renata laugh. She moves toward me, arms out, and pulls me into a quick hug, up on her toes, her arms tight around my neck for a second before she lets go.
Then she turns to her brother, and her voice goes light and wicked.
"Soooo." She crosses her arms. "I have to say, I’m a little surprised you finally got yourself a sweet little omega. She’ll be a great addition to the pack. She’s—"
"Renata." Nico's tone instantly changes. His eyes cut down the street, one way then the other, making sure no one is around to hear. "You know better than to say shit like that out here."
The she-alpha lifts her hands, then quickly apologizes.
"My bad. I was just saying I like Lyra. She’s sweet, with incredibly good taste.
" She glances down at the tattoos along one arm.
"And she smells honest, which is more than I can say for most people who walk through our door. " She tips her head toward the house.
"I’m surprised you like her." Mack leans against the hood of the truck.
"Why?" Renata pulls a face, clearly not understanding.
"Cause that sweet little omega in there is the Van Houten. The one you were cussing about the other day. Rich’s daughter.” He frowns. “Or something like that.”
Renata goes still. "Do you mean Aldric Van Houten’s daughter?" she corrects him, and Mack nods.
"Yup. That one."
Her mouth falls open as she turns and looks back at the house.
"You're kidding," she whispers as she looks at Nico.
Then at me. Then back at the house. "That girl is a Van Houten?
" She hitches a thumb at the door. "In your house with your mate?
Surrounded by pictures of your pack." She mouths the last word.
"Yes," Nico says simply, but I can see it in his eyes. He’s sick of talking about this. And I get it, there’s no easy answer here.
"Are you out of your minds?" Renata’s voice goes hard, still whispering, as she rounds on Nico.
"Why in God's name would you bring her here?
Do you have any idea what happens to you guys if that man traces her to this house?
To your door? And he figures out what you are? Letting her come here was —"
"She was attacked," I blurt out, and Renata's head snaps around. "She was hiding at the library. Somebody hurt her real bad." I make myself hold her eyes. "I wasn't going to leave her there. I couldn't."
All at once, the anger drains out of Renata's face. Her brows draw together with deep sadness as she slowly looks back at the house. "What?" she whispers, before turning back to look at me. "Who the fuck would hurt an omega?"
"We don't know yet." Nico steps in close and sets a hand on his sister's shoulder. "But we're handling it. She's safe, Ren, I promise you. Nobody's getting near her." He squeezes once. "You staying for dinner?"
Renata blinks at him, clearly stunned. "I can't," she finally says. "I've got plans tonight." She glances at the house one more time, then back at him, and her voice drops. "Be careful, Nico. I mean it. This is…this is crazy."
"I know," Nico says, but I don’t hear whatever Renata says after.
I'm already moving. Up the walkway, onto the porch, and stepping inside.
All this talk about Lyra has me anxious to see her face. I need to see her.
The house is quiet. The TV's on in the living room, the news running with the sound off, headlines crawling silently across the bottom of the screen, but nobody's watching it. Then I hear low voices coming from the kitchen, Owen's easy murmur and then Lyra, soft and sweet.
I follow the sound then stop in the doorway.
The pair are at the counter with their backs to me. Owen's got the kettle going with a mug set out, teaching Lyra how long to steep the tea leaves.
Lyra leans in close while Owen talks. She's wearing one of his old college shirts, and a pair of my shorts. Her long hair flows loose down her back, teasing the top curve of her ass.
Every inch of her is stunning.
"Shut up," Lyra says, laughing, and God, she's pretty when she laughs. Her eyes go bright and her cheeks flush pink.
"I'm just saying." Owen bumps her with his shoulder. "A woman who eats fruit loops with raisin bran has officially lost the right to judge how I make tea."